Yazhini ManimudiMy first interaction with the fragrant wood was seeing a stick of it in my mother’s wardrobe. One end of the stick was dipped in water just enough to wet it and it is then rubbed against the rough surface of a slab. Apply just a little of what rubs off on your skin and the soft fragrance will have you feeling heavenly throughout the day. I didn’t know its value as a child, but here I am, in love with the ingredient.
Perfume trends come and go, but I can count on one hand the fragrant ingredients that have a storied past, enjoy popularity at present and will undoubtedly have a glorious future. Here are just a handful of the most wonderful sandalwood perfumes…
Guerlain Samsara
Key Notes: Citruses, Jasmine, Sandalwood
Feminine
Samsara is a sensual partnership of powdery florals and sandalwood. It brings an effortless elegant femininity we associate with classic perfumery. The florals bring out the softer side of sandalwood. The ambery base brings out a mild sweetness. The beauty of the other notes all rest upon the magic of sandalwood that manages to bring out the best in them all for a beautiful harmony.
Versace Crystal Noir
Key Notes: Pepper, Coconut, Ginger, Gardenia, Sandalwood
Feminine
Crystal Noir is the right combination of spicy, comfy, and sensual. It starts as fresh and spicy and evolves to a sweet floral, eventually becoming dark and mysterious. While sandalwood isn’t the most prominent note, it is soft, lightly sweet and creamy, adding to the alluring quality of the fragrance.
Le Labo Santal 33
Key Notes: Cardamom, Sandalwood, Leather, Iris
Unisex
It was one of the first perfumes to become internet famous, boosting the popularity of niche internet darlings in the perfume community. Santal 33 is a very modern sandalwood perfume that focuses on the clean aspects of the classic ingredient. With fame comes conflict, so this perfume isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a gorgeous blend of sandalwood and sensual cardamom with a bit of sharp leather. The longevity is so good, staying on even after the 10 hour mark.
Montale Wood and Spices
Key Notes: Sandalwood, Incense, Ebony, Vetiver, Spices
Masculine
We have a fresh, spicy opening that leads into a clean sandalwood perfume. It’s sweet and woody with some soapiness. It’s a simple and perfect sandalwood that can be worn anytime of the year. If woody fragrances are your things and you like something straightforward, Wood & Spices is for you.
Vilhelm Parfumerie Poets of Berlin
Key Notes: Blueberry, Lemon, Sandalwood, Vanilla
Unisex
Poets of Berlin begins with a fruity sweet blueberry. I usually expect blueberry notes to be very sweet and gourmand. There’s the natural blueberry and with it, a touch of earthiness from the vetiver in the base. It gets sweeter as we progress, offering a kind of comfort and cosiness of a rainy evening at home enjoying baked treats. The sandalwood and vanilla together create a creamy accord. All of the freshness, fruitiness and elegance of the fragrance is boosted and made more sophisticated by the sandalwood.
Amouage Reflection Man
Key Notes: Sandalwood, Jasmine, Rosemary, Orris Root
Masculine
There’s a cold, icy sort of freshness in the opening with the spicy notes. It has a thing about it that infuses a person with confidence and makes them prepared to take on the day no matter what lay ahead. The florals in the heart are just so beautiful and lend to a confident and refined masculinity. It lasts a good 10 hours and is mostly woody with floral hints towards the end. It’s great to wear everyday and is the kind of fragrance you grow so attached to that not wearing it feels like you’ve left a part of your personality behind.
Yazhini Manimudi
