Original Santal 2024

I recently picked up a redesigned bottle of Original Santal in the new brown colorway after years of wearing a bottle of the older reddish two tone colorway. I also have a bottle of Santal Imperial, which I've been wearing for ages now. Immediately upon wearing the new brown bottle of Original Santal, I noticed that it has more in common with Santal Imperial than with the older bottle of Original Santal. I don't think there's been a massive reformulation here--this is still undeniably the same DNA as the red two tone bottle of Original Santal. But it is a bit less cloying and sweet, and just overall delightful. I much prefer my new brown bottle of OS to my older red bottle. They toned down the excessive projection that I found grew overwhelming, and brought this more in line with the classic subtlety of Imperial Santal. However, it is not toned all the way down to the EDT nature of Imperial Santal. This is still undeniably an EDP, and has the performance as such. I think they dialed this in to the perfect degree. Still a bit too strong for an office scent, and not something I'd wear on a hot day. But for a cool evening date or a nice night in by the fire, it is exceptional. It smells so rich and creamy without being smothering. If you love everything about the red bottle batches of OS, you may not be as happy with the changes. But I think they managed to do a great job with the new bottle redesign and whatever reformulation took place. It is subtle, but there is definitely a difference between this juice and the former red bottle variety.

This is an easy to wear, sweet and spicy, woody scent. It's a high quality scent, very complex and well blended. It's mature and elegant and I can comfortably claim that this scent is unisex, but leans masculine. This would work well for a man in his mid twenties or later. Longevity is there, 8+ hours on my skin with proper lotion and hydration. 12+ hours on clothing. The projection settles down after the second hour of wear, but is not very aggressive to begin with. This makes it great for a indoors work environment. This fragrance can be worn year round, it won't be cloying in hot weather. This would work well in the summer, despite the "When to Wear" ratings. Anything with tonka bean and vanilla in the base notes is immediately relegated to winter and fall by fragrance nerds, but this just isn't the case. This would be far from offensive in a hot southern summer. I like the new bottle design.

Extremely beautiful and easily signature worthy. The sweetness feels measured, coming from a cinnamon-tonka warmth that never turns cloying. Aromatic touches of lavender, juniper, and ginger give it lift, while the sandalwood keeps everything calm and rounded. It reads mature without feeling old, balanced without being boring. On my skin it’s smooth, poised, and quietly confident. It’s one of Creed’s most wearable releases and among the house’s better everyday elegance options. Don’t listen to the critics about performance issues. I get a solid ten hours, even when I go nose blind, and people still stop to compliment it. Such a beautiful woody sweet aromatic; refined, effortless, and far better than its reputation suggests.

I don’t normally post reviews, but this new bottle deserves one . This is definitely a reformulation, while maintaining the original DNA. The new look of the bottle reflects this perfectly. This replaces the red fruit opening of the last bottle with ambery smoothness that makes the opening much more enjoyable and not sneeze inducing like the last one. I’m not one who cares for reformulations but this is one perfectly done. While still fresh, this fragrance is a smooth amber with creamy sandalwood that can be worn year round!

I don't know why the reviews on this are so bad, I tried it in the boutique and really liked it. Not enough to pay 4 or 500 for it, but enough to pay 250 at a discounter. It opens up super refreshing for 30 seconds, then turns into spicy lavender. This is so good IMO. Maybe people are just mad about the bottle redesign or something? I don't know how the original smelled, but this is good. I can see myself wearing this daily to any occasion and in any attire. I guess people would call that signature scent worthy?