Santal 33

Santal 33, inspired by Le Labo Santal 33 (2011)

Santal 33 is more about parched wood and leather than about sweet sandalwood. Cardamom and violet give the opening a cool, spicy-floral tone, and iris adds a faintly powdery note. A leather accord with cedar and papyrus then takes the centre, slightly smoky and very dry, before Australian sandalwood and ambrox (an amber-woody material) round off the finish.

About the original

Frank Voelkl composed Santal 33 for Le Labo, which launched it in 2011 after two years of work and some 400 trials. He had first suggested the idea for the brand's 2006 debut, and it became the Santal 26 candle before returning as a fragrance. Estée Lauder Companies acquired Le Labo in 2014, which widened the brand's distribution. It remains in Le Labo's Classic Collection.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Le Labo stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Anyone hoping for a creamy sandalwood should know that dry woods and leather lead here. Reviews are polarised, though: some wearers detect a pickle- or dill-like facet, and one published review found it turning to a sweet, candied musk later on.

Related scents

• Creed Original Santal
• Ex Nihilo Santal Calling
• Le Labo The Noir 29

Notes of the original fragrance, as given in the launch information.

Notes: Australian Sandalwood, Papyrus, Cedarwood, Cardamom, Iris, Violet, Ambrox, Leather, Musk

Cardamom, violet and iris open it, cool and slightly powdery.

The leather accord rises with cedarwood and papyrus, dry and smoky.

Australian sandalwood, ambrox and musk finish it, with a rounder, more mellow wood.

Is this Santal 33 or Santal 26?

This is Santal 33, Le Labo's 2011 eau de parfum. Santal 26 is the earlier Le Labo candle from which the idea grew.

Does it smell like classic sandalwood?

Partly. Sandalwood is there, especially in the drydown, but cedar, papyrus and the leather accord give it a drier, smokier character than a creamy sandalwood scent.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. In the EU you can also choose FedEx Express for €14.99. To the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the US and Canada, delivery is €5.99. To all other countries, it is €9.99. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Le Labo and Santal 33 are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Le Labo in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.