Santa Sangre

Bortnikoff – Santa Sangre Anointed by Holy Blood, and thus consecrated by an infusion of tranquillity, the scent of the Yogini. If you ever wanted a perfume opening to spritz you with a shower of Grapefruit, the first spray of Santa Sangre will do just that, a beautiful tart opening only momentarily manages to disguise that which awaits you on this olfactory journey. The Tahitian Vanilla Flower and Jasmine Sambac have a beautifully smoothening effect, which despite this being an indie creation makes for a very pleasant and likeable opening, I say this because of the few indie creations that I’ve tried, quite a few primarily aim for a shock and differentiation factor. However, coming from Sayat Nova, this I think is where Rajesh’s creative genius married to Dimitry’s style of perfumery truly shine, there’s something in it for the novice and there’s something in it for the discerning aficionado. Sure a creation can boast of exotic, rarely witnessed ingredients, but if the final result isn’t greater than the sum of the parts, it might just be all for nothing. That I’m elated to say isn’t the case here. The blending is superb and so is the evolution of this beautiful melange of notes on my skin. The heart I find rather difficult to pick apart, I only smell a mild floral sweetness, I can’t say for sure if that’s from the Lotus, I understand that most Lotus accords/absolutes smell mildly sweet, somewhat aquatic, like the Water Lily perhaps? Though I’m not too sure, my limited experience with Lotus notes in perfumery I’m afraid don’t allow me to form a very concrete opinion here. Which to me is alright, because we’ve finally come to the base of Santa Sangre and that is where the senses are exalted to fathom a kind of spirituality that this perfume seeks to evoke. From the very beginning, Santa Sangre alludes to a kind of mysticism, for once I find a perfume removed of all sensual underpinnings and for the better. This is an intellectual creation, after all, it asks you to grow above your baser desires, it asks you to connect with the heart, mind and soul for your salvation. The divinity that the Mysore Sandalwood (+ Indonesian Sandalwood), Dragon’s Blood Incense and Red Siam Benzoin weave in conjunction is truly something worth contemplating. There’s a mildly sweet woody dustiness from the Sandalwood, almost as if a fine silken powder, and the Dragon’s Blood, is soft and sweet, to my nose it smells like a culmination of nuances which are earthy, spicy, minutely pungent, a bit musky and perhaps something that I’d describe as a bit rose-like, almost like a red powder, the scent of the colour Cinnabar or even a faded Vermillion if I must press for synaesthesia. I suppose the slight vanillic sweetness comes from the Red Siam Benzoin which rounds this base into an almost custardy (no, this doesn’t smell of any custard I know) offering that you’d present the deities in a Buddhist monastery. I only ‘liked’ it in the opening, but I must say by the time it dries down, I’m in ‘love’, a love that is devoid of all oppressive sins, a love for life, a love for perfumery and how it makes me transcend the material world that I inhabit. Goodness, Rajesh you shouldn’t tempt us time and again with such wonderful creations, because for now though I treasure my sample dear friend, I’m convinced that one will need quite a few flacons of this on their meditative journey through the trial and tribulations of life. So I must urge that you and Dimitry keep Santa Sangre in production so that all the world can smell of divinity, so that we may all come a step closer to experiencing art in olfaction. Your very own, The Perfume Vigilante

Disclaimer: This fragrance is so unique. It is literally on the verge of being a spiritual experience, so putting it into words is going to a challenge. And no matter what words I chose they will never do this fragrance justice. This is an experience that you NEED to try for yourself. Upon first spray I immediately get this insanely refreshing invigorating blast of citrus. Realistic citrus it smells as if someone took a blood orange and juiced it right in front of me and the juices splashed on me as oils were being expelled from the peel. This initial spray woke up my senses in a way I haven't had happen before. After a minute passes and it begins to warm up on skin this tantalizing warmth begins emanating from my skin. The only was I can describe it is a decadent, spiced, resinous, fuzzy vanilla beginning to blossom as it warms. It smells like pure energy; like it's vibrating and emanating from your soul. In lamens terms this is the most decadent madagar vanilla bean infused cake, filled with luscious vanilla cream, and covered with this syrup made of the juice of a blood orange and imbued with the warmth of otherworldy spices. This scent smells like what the Greek gods ambrosia would have smelled like. The honeyed nectar thats so unbelievably delicious no mortal could ever hope to fathom in one's wildest dreams. Well Rajesh Balkrishnan (the perfumer) has evidently broke into Olympus, because this perfume is that nectar. This scent is a meditative spiritual experience. It smells as though I have traveled to a beautiful secluded ancient temple atop a mountain in the middle of the rainforest. I walk into this temple and instantly am surrounded by the sirwling scents of spices, vanilla, and resins being burned in tribute to the divine. Fruits, honey, and desserts are laid out on beautiful silken tapestries as offerings. I sit in the middle of this temple and begin meditating. It's like something inside was unlocked just by gaining admittance into this sacred place. As I meditate my chakras begin vibrating and start to radiate this energy that's warm and fuzzy. I don't know how to describe it but it's like I can experience this energy with every sense including smell. It's sweet, warm, honeyed citrus, decadent vanilla infused cream, light intoxicating flowers, the softest warmest delicate spices, resins, and benzoin, and creamy on the verge of being milky sandalwood. And as I am being overwhelmed by this energy radiating from my soul it feels like I am floating out of myself to someplace higher. This perfume is spiritual, meditative, and serene in the best way possible. This is the smell of enlightenment. It is single handedly the most amazing scent I have put my nose on all 2021 and that's saying something because I have tried sooo many. Actually this is my very first Fragrantica review. I couldn't not share my thoughts of this beauty with the world. Everyone who appreciates fragrance NEEDS to try this. It is beyond perfume its an experience. It has lifting my spirits. I woke up this morning dreary with a headache from lack of sleep and feeling sluggish. Once I sprayed this on it opened my sinuses, awakened my senses, and changed my mood completely to the better. I am buying a bottle immediately because if I can start the day with a couple sprays of this it would start my day off happy, calm, and revitalized. It's like a meditation session in a fragrance. That calm zen you feel after meditating or just having some you time resting in a hot bath? That's Bortnikoff - Santa Sangre. Thank you Rajesh you have truly brought a masterpiece into this world and I cannot thank you enough!

Opening is slightly citrusy, very very lightly, but has this medicinal type of aroma to it, like those vitamins droplets you have, it's fresh and sweet, slightly spicy like accords in this opening. Dry and earthly, has that deep dark experience. The bitterness is also very clear and apparent from the Grapefruit, gives the start a real kick. It's where the citrusy and fresh notes come from. The tahitan flower is really at work, a sweet vanilla accord, with a warm velvety approach, dense and spicy. Further more deep and rich, custard like accords, creamy milky and Warmth being cooked on the stove, or partly a melted warm banana, its fumes coming from the skin. The jasmine sambac adds to the tropical warm nature , sweet and honey like accords. The honey experience is ever more encompassing as we reach further into the heart of the fragrance, and the scent has settled onto the skin, and rests effortlessly , we get this beautiful honey like accord. As we transition into the heart, a leather appealing note is making its way known, again warm and soft, but same time musky and earthy. More honey from the Pink lotus , a real sweet gourmand fragrance we have here. Tenacious and rich, fruity and herbal, greenery and spicy accords all interacting with one another. This is becoming like a very luxury sweet patisserie plus more. Yum. Heart / Base... Towards the end of the heart of this composition, we get that powdery incensy vibe, bukhoor, smoky and sweet, more sweetness yes, but so well balanced. This is probably from the dragon blood note, no its not actual blood, rather a resin that is omitted from.a flower. Need to do more research on this. The Sandwood mysore is clearly present for those of us that are aware and have experience of this, makes the composition more complete and gives it a heavier scent, allows its to perform more also and offers something different , the sweet vanilla, and incense from Siam Benzoin red is embraced with the previous accords and almost refreshed, factors itself in elegantly, these notes react so well with one another as they come from the same family group of accords.

The first thing I noticed when trying Santa Sangre was a note that I am quite familiar with: natural sandelwood. In this collaboration between Rajesh Balkrishnan and Bortnikoff, they have used an enchanting mix of Mysore and Indonesian sandalwood. Often sandalwood drown in the other notes, but this scent is a real sandalwood experience. The sandalwood is wrapped in a smooth pink grapefruit. As the fragrance moves down to the heart, another familiar note come to the surface: lotus. I have a special connection to lotus flowers. Both as a scent memory and as a symbol. I’ll come back to the latter at the end. Bortnikoff and Balkrishnan have applied Himalayan pink lotus absolute and white Thai lotus infusion. Inhaling the natural essence of this holy flower is rare in perfumery. After a while vanilla become present, which could be the combination of Tahitian vanilla flower and Siamese benzoin crystals. We also meet Dragon’s Blood incense resin, an ingredience I’ve previous have read about, but never tried. The beginning is like sunshine with the grapefruit. The grapefruit has disappeared at this later stage. The sun is setting and the heaven become a painting with pastell colours. The atmosphere is smooth and relaxing. Yes. Inner peace. A total unification between olfactive experience and the concept. According to Bortnikoff and Balkrishnan, «Santa Sangre is an infusion of new blood designed to bring peace and happiness in today’s troubled world.» Which bring me back to the lotus flower. I have a special connection to lotus flowers. This is therefore my personal interpretation and experience of Santa Sangre: Not only is lotus a scent of peace (litterally), but a symbol of peace and enlightment. In the same way that the lotus grow from the darkest mud, stretches towards the light and unfolds its beauty- I think a fragrance like Santa Sangre could contribute to peace and happiness. It does for me.

Anyone who has spent time discovering niche perfumery is likely to have come across Rajesh Balkrishnan – or rbalkris as most people know him on Fragrantica – as a tastemaker with discerning taste. It’s no surprise then that when he uses his creativity to co-create fragrances with respected perfumers, it’s at least worth paying attention to, if nothing, because pretty much every perfume he has co-created has garnered attention, if not admiration, and in some instances industry awards (like his creation with Di Ser) Bortnikoff’s perfumes are known to be strong, oud-centered creations that are likely to be challenging for a lot of people. But then he proved his skillfulness in manipulating diverse ingredients through his cologne series, and now in collaboration with Rajesh, they have created a scent that is artful and refined: Santa Sangre is a rather calming, meditative perfume, unexpected from Bortnikoff’s portfolio perhaps, but expectedly unexpected from the two. Santa Sangre opens bright and creamy, with a notable floral heart - to me the lotus is more prominent than jasmine. Santa Sangre’s large heart is an ethereal, vanilla-tinted resins and sandalwood, the florals providing just enough texture and sweetness to the base but mostly lingering in the background. On my skin Santa Sangre settles into a pleasant, mostly sandalwood-vanilla skin scent that is persistent, yet sheer. Weaved into the notes is an incessant cooling effect to Santa Sangre that feels like camphoric dissipating warmth – it makes me think of embers. I don’t know what holy blood smells like, but I’m happy to imagine that this perfume has given us a hint. Disclosure: I received a bottle of Santa Sangre as a giveaway on Fragrantica.

Santa Sangre by Rajesh Balkrishnan and Dmitry Bortnikoff Am outstanding fragrance, which I have been wearing a lot lately. It's soothing, captivating, enthralling which transports you to a place where there is no pain, sadness or anxiety. Santa Sangre starts of with juicy grapefruit note which is so subtle and unique that you will fall in love with it's first sniff. Vanilla literally add spark to the opening, a vanilla which is not cloying but honey like sweet extracted from its flower directly. It slowly transforms to its floral category when lotus comes into picture, a lotus (soft and else) which would put every lotus perfume to shame (honestly). Lotus complimented by vanilla and sandalwood makes a beautiful bubble around you that is so energizing, heavenly and unique that the aroma of this scent literally calms you down in a way that all your demons inside have gone off to sleep. The color of the juice is exceptional, thanks to dragon blood resine which is incense based and gives it smoky feel and I love it. Overall, a beautiful scent by 2 amazing people! I adore my Sayat Nova, and I would cherish this as well. Thanks Dr Balkrishnan and Bortnikoff for yet another successful project and a fragrance which is not only signature worthy but exclusive and royal.

This is an absolute love for me. The performance on my skin isn't the greatest, but with this scent I don't really care it's more of a personal scent that is for me to enjoy than a mass appealing compliment puller. I was drawn to this fragrance by the dragon's blood note. I've always love Dragon's Blood not the incense sticks, but the raw resin the Daemonorops. I've always burned it with my electric warmer when I'm not burning agarwood chips. I don't get alot of the piney/floral element that I get from the very sandalwood already vibes from Dragon's blood, but it definitely lifts the sandalwood up. I have to refer to luckyscent's video where he says it gives him the vibe of authentic mysore sandalwood oil. The opening is very sweet I get a mix to my nose of like a grapefruit and a orange, and then it fades and just turns into the most gorgeous sandalwood I've ever laid my nose on. So smooth and well blended. Bortnikoff's use of naturals has skyrocketed it up to one of my favorite and most unique houses. I don't know enough about the smell of the lotus absolute's he uses but all together this makes for a really special fragrance I will always cherish owning.

Dmitry Bortnikoff and Rajesh Balkrishnan have again created a masterpiece. Sayat Nova is one of my all-time favorites in my collection. Santa Sangre is also in my Pantheon but for different reasons. This new scent is ground-breaking, a Ying yang, oxymoron that promotes harmony, freshness, and subtle yet lasting sensations throughout its scent journey. The ingredients are all exceptional, they are blended perfectly, and the overall effect is hard to put into words. it transports me upward in ways almost no other fragrances has. It’s a paradigm-shifting scent that will be talked about for decades . If you are into top of the line scents, you should try this transcendent beauty. The notes are all rare, so you may want to get a sample ASAP or spring for the full bottle. To me it is well worth the price. Unisex, with moderate to strong silage and strong longevity. Subtle, nuanced, could be worn any time or season. Get it while you can.

I LOATHE grapefruit in perfumes (I am not a fan of citrus-based scents in general, so summers are hard for me fragrance-wise), but I wanted to try this because I do love Sandalwood, and the movie, Santa Sangre. It’s shocking to me how much I love this. It feels like being wrapped in the most comforting blanket. There is a perfect contrast between the tartness of the grapefruit and the warmth of sandalwood, vanilla, and dragon’s blood resin. Also, like someone mentioned below, I get a little warm banana cream in the dry down. It’s my perfect summer perfume, although I think I could wear it any time. I paid nearly $20 for a 2ml sample on ScentSplit, though, so I’m not sure what to do next. Maybe it would be appropriate for me to sell my blood to pay for a bottle? Edit 9/20/23: I got a full bottle and I’ve been wearing it all summer, including some cooler near-fall days. I still love it!

Opens with a lucious grapefruit and vanilla. Shortly after, the grapefruit takes a step back and a warm comforting vanilla emerges, leaving a mouthwatering sherbet. 30 minutes in another beautiful transition takes place. A warm woody resin appears. Perhaps the Dragons blood with sensual soft jasmine. Nothing indolic, just smooth. The third transition is what I find spectacular. Settling down on a powdery lotus infused sandalwood. The sandalwood experience is phenomenal. Top quality here as one would expect from a Bort. This is not an in your face oud bomb or musk. Totally different and unique and a true testament to Dimitry Bortniroff blending skills and Dr. Raj Balkrishnan's unique vision and artistic creativity. Always unique and pushing boundaries. One can expect a totally unique experience. Sensual, warm and luxurious.

Santa Sangre radiates warmth akin to that of an embrace from a best friend. Swoon-worthy vanilla, non-indolic sweet jasmine, and sparkling grapefruit sit on top, and quickly transition into creamy sandalwood, rich benzoin, and resinous dragon’s blood. These heart notes are all wrapped up, and supported by waves of pink and white lotus. On dry down, one is left with the scared scent of sandalwood incense; as if a heartwood chunck of mysore, handfuls of lotus, and tears of both dragon’s blood and benzoin had previously been burned up in a temple, while one is left to walk through the memory of what was spiritually consumed. The overall experience is numinous, warm and rejuvenating...a true cure to the melancholy nature of our times. Signature scent worthy for me, and my favorite release of 2021. Here’s to a brighter 2022!

I remember I first purchased a decant of Santa Sangre because I wanted to smell Mysore Sandalwood in a natural perfume formulation. The added advantage was the use of dragon blood resin! I had never even heard of that note... when I sprayed the perfume for the first time, I became SO HAPPY. Soft, sweet, citrus amber paired with sandalwood. The lotus behaves like a good team player. She shows her presence felt without overpowering the base-notes or without getting shadowed by them. To me it’s, a perfect amalgamation of the mid and base notes... for some reason I don’t detect Jasmine, but I am sure, if I tested it on a warm day, my experience will be more dynamic. I will always prefer it on an autumn/winter day due to the comforting profile of the beautiful Santa Sangre! Eager to add a FB in my collection! 8/10

Astoundingly beautiful. The opening is a dazzling, crazy fanfare of florals, grapefruit and pâtisserie, which is lovely, but it's only right that this doesn't go on for too long, as it would definitely wear thin very quickly. I have to echo what many others have said, that it soon transitions into a creamy sandlewood and lotus scent, but this part is just DIVINE to me. Yes, it sits very close to the skin, but when you're up close, the sandalwood is pretty strong, and I think if it projected more it would ruin the delicate beauty of the scent bubble. I'm very familiar with the smell of dragon blood resin, and while it is here, it's not the main player in the scent. I wouldn't necessarily identify it if I wasn't looking for it, it just serves to provide a sort of nutty, tart sweetness to the sandalwood.

What is to be said about this fragrance? For me, it's an experience it opens with an insanely photorealistic grapefruit that reminds me exactly of me picking up a grapefruit with some dirt on it that has fallen off of my tree. It's followed by a gorgeous earthiness. I then start to smell two very unique types of lotus that intertwine with the resin and real sandalwoods that each have their own unique identities and scents. This fragrance has 4 noticeable stages until it's beautiful buttery woody lotusy drydown. It's a very calming scent perfect for grounding yourself or meditation. It's very comforting in a chaotic and discomforting world.

Santa Sangre is truly worn for personal enjoyment. The opening features elements of spices, candied orange (grapefuit + vanilla) and whisps of camphor, which I believe radiates from the beautiful lotus materials mingling with all the other notes, rather than drawing attention to themselves. The composition is enveloped by the omnipresent dusted balsamic tonalities of dragon blood incense and distinct sandalwood. The main accrods list is fairly accurate = citrus, vanilla, balsamic, woody. The result is another unique and successful offering from Bortnikoff & Balkrishnan.

Opens with an almost vanilla custard note mixed with citrus that I find to be very beautiful! Mmmm....love it! I already know that I'm going to have to get a bottle of this one. Santa Sangre is a triumph if smelling good is your goal. I love the creamy citrus and then the sandalwood just sings. Brilliant collaboration by Bortnikoff and Balkrishnana that I prefer over Sayat Nova. As I mentioned, this is a "gotta have it" bottle for sure!

Beautiful fragrance that is build around dragons blood resin.Its very unique and sweet and creamy.All the notes are blended well and it has a high dose of lotus and sandalwood.Definitely unisex and great longevity.If you looking for a unique blend this is something to try.Quality ingredients for sure.

This beauty reminds me of whisky with orange syrup cocktails ❤️Heavy thick orange ...ironic there’s no actual orange in notes listed. I am thrown back to classy or cheap lounges in the 1970s. Summer nights heavy with humidity and a sweaty glass with ice and a delightful mixed drink 👏

Luckyscent has just shipped this to those who have pre-ordered it. This will be a wonderful way to help start off 2022 with a masterfully crafted fragrance. Congratulations to Dmitri and Rajesh!

SS opens up with a juicy, almost fizzy pink grapefruit that is quickly followed by the most prominent of the composition’s florals, vanilla flower. The vanilla flower is nectar-sweet but more floral than your standard vanilla note. I felt like the jasmine and pink/white lotus were in a supporting role to the vanilla flower and were somewhat ethereal, floating on top of the sandal and resins. For me, the best part of the fragrance was the hefty, slightly musky dose of sandalwoods that kept the fragrance from going into cloying territory. I felt the benzoin and dragons blood resins were substantial and honeyed in scent amongst the heavy sandal. Between the grapefruit, florals, and resins, make no mistake this is a sweet fragrance. At times, I was wishing for more of a grounding quality (such as an animalic) to curb the sweetness. This fragrance toes the line between incensy and gourmand, but it certainly felt more gourmand overall. Knowing and loving Rajesh’s creativity and avant garde style, I was surprised SS was a bit simpler and more approachable - more “Dmitry” than “Rajesh” in feel with nothing particularly groundbreaking happening. Regardless, this is a very nice gourmand-leaning fragrance with some exotic touches between the materials. Cheers!