Colonia Sandalo Concentrée

This fragrance is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion. I own around 150 fragrances and this is my favorite, period. I've tried or own all of the 'brown bottle' line of Acqua di parma fragrances and, for me this is the best and most underrated of all. Oud is also a masterpiece and Ebano and Ambre are very good (leather is far too animalic and not to my taste) but this is the best. The fragrance opens very citrus and aromatic, with bergamot, lemon and lavender dominating. This phase lasts about 20 mins. The mid looses the citrus and focuses more on the lavendar, cardomom and the sandalwood coming through. The aromatics are quite spicy but very sophisticated. The Sandalwood gives the fragrance a woody back bone but does not smell like your typical 'creamy' sandalwood you get in Lebo Santal 33, Creed original Santal or even YSL La Nuit D'lomme EDP. I think the creaminess is hidden behind the lavender, but the overall impression is very sophisticated and alluring. This phase lasts for 3-4 hours In the far dry down you are left with the lavender and sandalwood. I don't pick up any tonka really. Performance from my bottles (I have 100ml bottle and a 180ml bottle, yes I like it that much) is excellent. Projects for around 2-3 hours with a lovely silliage before sitting close for a total of 6-8 hours (which is great for my skin which really sucks up fragrances). I think this is a more mature fragrance, I always get a lot of compliments from this one (I'm in my 30s). It's complex and sophisticated but still approachable and easy to wear. It's also very versatile and suitable for all seasons and occasions. I personally like to wear it for spring/summer/autumn 'dressed up' evening occasions. If you want a sophisticated citrus/woody/aromatic fragrance with great performance and that will set you apart from everyone else wearing mainstream designers around you, this is an absolute gem.

Wow! So this was an exclusive at Harrods yet it’s taken two years to get a wider release? My opinion is that it was worth the wait. Seriously this is awesome stuff! Smells very classic and very masculine but you are paying a premium for it. I’d feared, with a name like Sandalo that it would be a very slight, sandalwood but it’s more of a classic, I detect oak moss and patchouli, and a dirty lavender with a kind of eathiness reminding me of Tom Ford for men maybe or RL Safari, VC&A Tsar or classic eighties fragrances with sandalwood. It’s an aromatic Fougere type scent, citrus top notes, herbal and woody, the soft, clean woods left at the end are like a oud and sandalwood combo. I think it’s fantastic and another classic masculine idea in the same way Quercia from this line was too. I hope it’s not wildly expensive because I want it.

Finally a true sandalwood! I really hope they make this a standard to the collection, getting it only at Harrods makes it exclusive though. From the beginning till the end an exquisite Sandalwood essential oil blast that lasts! Not hidden at all, I think that the opening faded quick, and the base could have a bit more thickness, like maybe a slight hint of patchouli. Anyway, you want Sandalo? You get Sandalo! Much better than Oud. This Sandalo finally brings back meaning into perfumery, the lost art. This is special, and takes some time to delve the layers. There were hardly any reviews for this one, so had to order it online. This was the best blind buy ever and I hope to enjoy this for a long time.

My first impressions after wearing Colonia Sandalo Concentrée 5 or 6 times: I really like this. I find it to be a kind of upscale analogue to Dolce and Gabbana Pour Homme (current). It doesn't smell similar, exactly, but it achieves the same effect: clean but not boring, masculine but understated, fresh but warm, refined but unpretentious. In other words, it smells like an easy going man with unaffected good taste. While suitable for formal occasions, I think you could wear this any time. This could be a great signature for a man who doesn't care too much about cologne. Might make an ideal father's day present. Will update later.

This fragrance is very special. If I have two sprays in the morning, I'm able to smell it for the whole day, after I take a shower and on my sleeping T-shirt afterwards. The longevity is amazing. As to the silage, I think it is just the right one - the fragrance is creamy and very warm, manly and yet not aggressive. Sandalwood, lavender and bergamot is an extraordinary combination - simple, subtle and yet quite strong especially when the ingredients are of the highest quality. The price is indeed quite high but I prefer to give my money for this fragrance than for one of the terrible overpriced fragrances by Creed or Kilian.