Sacred Wood

I was fortunate to receive a sample spray, one of the branded glass vials, with about 1ml left. So usually I like to at least use the whole vial or own and wear a bottle several times before leaving a review, but occasionally there are exceptions - if something really has an impact on me one way or another. So today is only my 3rd time wearing this. 1st time a single spray to arm in evening, second time a "full day forearm" test, and today, a full wear. But I feel I want to share my thoughts because, wow, what a scent! Sacred Wood has been an enigmatic scent to me. Only 2 notes (allegedly), but no, not to my nose. I get the sandalwood, and the warm sweet milk yes, but to me, I would say this also had some other woody notes alongside sandalwood...I am not able to discern what exactly but it feels there is something more...and definitely some soft, very soft warm spice notes, and maybe possibly the tiniest hint of wheat or immortelle? Is my nose playing tricks? And the milk note, oh my...this is almost more like evaporated milk (is that the same as condensed milk? The thick sweet creamy stuff in cans) - a Pakistani friend makes a drink that is hot steamed evaporated milk with spices, cardomon, chai spices, something like that, and the milk note here reminds me of this lovely fragrant sweet drink. And this scent changes so much as I wear it. The first time I sampled it, the opening felt very "masculine" on me. Very woody, very dry. I sniffed for the first few minutes, then rolled down my sleeve and carried on whatever I was doing. And pretty much forgot about it, thinking only I may give it my partner. But then, maybe 4 hours later I found myself doing the "what IS that amazing smell" thing we have all done at some point..."oh! it is me!" The scent wafting up through my sleeve was just divine..just beautiful, I can't even tell you! And it lasted all evening, and into bed, and the next day and the day after, my jumper smelled of this on the sleeve so much I didn't want to wash it! The second time I wore it, as soon as I applied it I thought of Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau, this shared many similarities in my mind, the rich creamy sandalwood and sweet hot milk, though JdP is much sweeter, more intense, and has gourmand notes this lacks - coconut, wheat, apricot, licorice. But still, this did very much remind me (and tested side by side they definitely ARE similar, though different). Anyway, similar thing, first 4 hours I thought this is nice, but I already have JdP...then after 4 hours "oh my god something smells awesome...its me!" Third day, today and a proper full wear (faulty sprayer made this difficult, so I had to do 4 sprays into my palm and apply attar style)and initially I actually couldn't smell it! I was disappointed. But then I walked into the room where my partner was sat, he was about 8 or 9 feet away and as I came to the door he asked what perfume I had on because it was STRONG! So maybe I am partially anosmic to the opening? I waited with patience and there it was, 4 hours in, oh divine scent! The richest creamiest and most balanced sandalwood with such sweet hot milk, this is lovely. I have found that longevity is very good, this lasts a good 12 hours on my skin, and on clothes, for days. Pretty huge sillage, at least initially, even if I cannot smell it. And over the day, as I move around I get wafts of this reaching my nose and I want to smile and hug myself! This started as a like but is now love! I am considering selling my remaining 45mls of Jeux de Peau to fund a mini of this. I only wish I could smell the opening others describe, it sounds amazing!

Okay first off, Fragrantica: I have a bone to pick with you. Not all of the notes are listed on here - actually, literally only two are. While those two might be the most detectable notes, I think it's only fair that people get to vote on the other accords that are also in the blend. And it's obvious that those notes exist - hell, they're listed on Kilian's official website. I'd appreciate it if they were listed here as well, so people aren't potentially turned off at the prospect of purchasing a fragrance that's only sandalwood and milk based on their knowledge. With my rant over, let me discuss my love for Sacred Wood. It's divine sandalwood. A pure, robust, sandalwood, expressed in such a careful and respectful manner that allows it to stand out instead of blend in with the other notes. It's got a smooth, ambrous tinge from myrrh and balsams, a smoldering, yet very attractive Straight to Heaven-esque cedar note, a vintage, almost gourmand smokiness from amyris oil, and finally, a clean, calming milk note. I love the concept, and how the sandalwood is taken in various directions from opening to drydown - leaning sensual and inviting in the opening, and powdery and lactonic in the drydown. I'd argue the latter is my absolute favorite part - ironic, considering I'm lactose-intolerant, but I find milky notes in fragrances to be comforting, and Sacred Wood is no exception. Overall, the scent profile does live up to its name, clearly holding the keynote sandalwood as a sacred medium throughout and only allowing supporting notes to enhance the sandalwood's presence and aroma. Performance-wise, it definitely does better than Straight to Heaven, in my opinion, lasting at least twice as long and offering a fairly nice sillage for the first 3-4 hours. After the 6 hour-ish mark, it turns into a skin scent, and fades away after about 9-10 hours. A big factor for me when it comes to rating a fragrance is usage and energy, and in regards to Sacred Wood, I'd honestly consider it a full-fledged winter fragrance. It's something I'd love to use around Christmas/other Holidays, as it gives off a bit of a cookies-and-milk vibe. Or maybe just on cozy days in general, where you feel like wrapping yourself up in a fuzzy jacket or blanket and adore the snowfall outside your window while curling up by the glow of the stone fireplace. Oddly specific scenario, I'm aware, but it's got that air of nostalgia, an invocation of childhood memories where snowstorms cancelled classes and you'd get to cherish your free time at home without a care in the world. I think for me, this successfully achieves the vibe that most people attribute to Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille - a childhood Christmas in a bottle. In conclusion... yeah, this might be my favorite sandalwood-based fragrance ever. Kilian has once again killed it with Sacred Wood, beautifully encapsulating the essence of sandalwood, honoring it in its entirety while still being complex enough to provoke thought and memory. I'm not sure if it'll be everyone's cup of tea - some people might find the sandalwood note here an overkill, and not blended in to a different, broader overarching scent profile, but it's objectively a masterful sandalwood scent. One that'll remain in my memory for a very, very long time, especially now that I'm a proud owner of a full-sized bottle.

Im not sure why reviewers mention price so often when it comes to the house of Kilian, which then drives the rating to the ground because of it. But if a frag is considered “cheap” and smells remotely good it’s an auto 10?. Listen, this fragrance is by far one of if not the best sandalwood fragrance I’ve ever smelled on my skin. I am going to compare this to Santal Blush by Tom Ford. Very creamy and soft with that seductive sandalwood and cedar, but not too feminine, it’s such a good scent. I can also tell you that woman in the city wear a lot of santal based scents, I smell santal 33 very often while in NYC. The reason is because sandalwood is a very alluring note, and Kilian sources their notes with the highest integrity. So, the old saying “you get what you pay for” is alive and well with this fragrance. But then again if people don't know what they’re smelling or don’t care to know then I can see why it’s being overlooked because of price. To each its own, this scent is a godsend on me. I feel... so calm, relaxed and confident when wearing this frag. I get so many people that ask not only me but people in the same room standing 10 ft away from me “What smells so good is that you?” And I just smile to myself and keep it moving. Don’t sleep on this one, it was discontinued once before, get a bottle of this.

I love this scent! LOVE it. Which is why my husband's reaction to it was so funny to me. While sampling at a high end store yesterday, I sprayed this on my wrist and was delighted by the rather natural smelling blend of notes I could detect: sandalwood, cumin, fig leaf, coconut and cedar. Its a very nice approximation of mysore, though obviously not the real thing. To my nose the overall effect was very luxe, woody, creamy, and sexy in the way that it suggests warm skin. Pleased with myself and how it smelled on my skin, I offered my wrist to my husband and asked him what he thought. He recoiled and pronounced "it smells like coconuts and B.O.!" He was most definitely not a fan of Sacred Wood. Despite his reaction, I still think Sacred Wood is wonderful and I don't agree that it smells unwashed. The cumin in this adds a warm depth that reminds me of skin. I wouldn't necessarily say this is beachy, but I can imagine wearing this in tropical climates. This sits squarely between the dry woodiness of Tam Dao and the spiced fig sandalwood of Santal Blush. I think I'll wait a few months and test it again and see what he thinks. Perhaps he'll change his mind. Perhaps I'll still buy even if doesn't. ;) Notes from Lucky Scent: Steaming milk accord, sandalwood, carrot, cumin, elemi, cedar wood.

Yesterday I tried an array of perfumes at Sephora, and this is the one I decided to spray on and wear home. And hmmm, looking several reviews down... Sacred Wood is not supposed to be mind-blowingly unique, as the focus is specifically on woodiness; it's about refining and perfecting a linear woody blend. That being said, the quality of the blend is what counts, here. It's stunning for what it is, and doesn't need anything extra - if you want bells and whistles, find a different perfume. If you want more out if it, layering is your friend (I'd bet layering it with vanilla would be top notch.) Sacred Wood is sandalwood wrapped in a milky haze of marshmallowy ambrette and warm resins... as if someone burned sandalwood incense in a sauna room. A foggy, humid, woody richness. I love it - not enough for a full bottle at retail, tbh, but it worked so well with my chemistry I could go for a decant. It doesn't change as you wear it, it has no secrets... the way it introduces itself is the nature of it, until it fades after 4ish hours. I had no issues with projection - I was catching ghosts of it until it wore down. Overall, it's beautifully done. Unisex. It's so languid that it has a melacholic undertone to it. Would make a perfect enveloping fragrance for when the weather turns cool.