Le Roi Santal

J'adore le Roi Santal - and true to its name it is indeed the King of Sandalwood - a tribute to his sublime majesty of the holiest of woods. In a very weak cologne. The bottle I have smells like natural Indian Sandalwood or a blend of sandalwood varieties, subtly enhanced by cedar and iris. Or it’s maybe orris. Sandalwood and iris seems to be a popular combination. In any case it’s harmonious and the resulting sandalwood note is quite lovely. Sandalwood has comforting associations as well as a kind of spiritual dimension thanks to fond childhood memories, and this is a very pleasant, linear, straightforward sandalwood fragrance. If only the concentration were higher and the performance better this would be utterly perfect - although the scent itself evokes a beautiful woody sandalwood, it doesn't last very long. On my skin it becomes undetectable within an hour. For those seeking a perfect sandalwood scent, this is one of the better ones, but given its very crappy performance it seems to be more for personal enjoyment than actually wearing out. Le Roi Santal is a beautiful sandalwood fragrance but its appalling longevity and performance - barely that of a cologne - don’t really justify buying it to wear unless it’s for a brief moment of olfactory indulgence. I managed to slightly extend the longevity by applying Le Roi Santal over an attar, essential oil, or fractionated coconut oil as a kind of “fond de parfum” but even then, it doesn’t last as long as I’d like. Although Le Roi Santal seems to be rare and elusive everywhere else it’s still readily available in France, and at a very modest price, but for some reason Comptoir Sud Pacifique doesn’t seem to export it or sell it internationally. But if you’re a sandalwood lover and you happen to be in Europe with a spare 50 euros or so burning a hole in your pocket, go for it.