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?

I liked it very much, it is very useful, contrary to what everyone says, it is not an old man's scent, but yes, it is a mature scent. It is a great option to smell clean and pleasant without any discomfort in all seasons except very hot weather. My criticism is that I should be getting all-day performance from a fragrance like this, especially considering the price. This one lasts only half a day. It's definitely on my radar so I'll test it in detail later.

I don’t understand the hate. I’ve owned an older style bottle and now have a newer one - F batch. To me this is more lavender forward, more powdery, projects and lasts longer than the older style bottle.

Nice clean, old-school fragrance. Great projection and performance.

Thank goodness. New bottle, but same scent!

Sampled them all at Creed inside Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Aside from Aventus which I already have this is the one that stood out for me. Doesn't seem to have quite the same scent though bought thru Jomashop and seems legit. FreshCheck indicates ascription lacking on my product and those on Ebay for a batch check so haven't been able to determine and though they share same name etc. printing on bottle Creed Boutique indicates on current ones it has been changed. Wife's only comment is that it smells 'woody' and my response is been yes, it's Santal and I enjoy the scent of woody parfums. Currently spraying Cartier Oud Santal High Perfumery on chest and this one on arms and neck...

Original Santal smells nice. It is a very mature fragrance. I enjoy more mature fragrances, but this one is a much more mature. I'm trying to write this in a way to let everyone know I truly appreciate this fragrance. I'm 34 year old male, but this fragrance will be a reach for me in my 40's or 50's. Picture your at work and an older co-worker walks by and they don't smell bad, but their scent trail is ugh omg. I don't know if that makes sense, but that's how I feel about Santal I like it, but imo very mature. Great longevity Great projection Smell is nice, but imo won't be enjoyed unless you are older.

I hear you all saying that this is just an updated bottle and not a reformulation, but I don't know about that. I was just at the mall last week and tested Original Santal from the old red-gradient bottle, and it was more citrus forward. I purchased it online and received it in this current brown bottle (red is the better color), and it doesn't smell the same. It's not really citrusy at all. The most prominent note is the ginger and is more of a photorealistic ginger than the sweet, more pleasant rendition found in LV l'Immensite. I dunno, I'll continue to try it but I'm suspicious...

This one lasts forever on me. We're now at 12 hours and going. At the start I had some really intense bergamot and ginger, but it disappeared for me after dry down. For the most part I've had tonka bean with a hint of soft wood, but on my skin I don't get sandalwood. Still it's a very pleasant scent. Sophisticated.

Tried it today, and i instantly liked it, so classy so masculine, a little old school done in a modern way, very office friendly and can probably become someones signature scent.

Very nice woody gentleman smell. Just too weak for the price in my opinion.

This is pretty decent but it smells a bit to ... Familiar. Ralph's club new york came instantly to mind as its something iv been wearing recently. That it itself is very "designer" This is simpler. I feel like there's better options for less money even at a discounter price

Niche price, designer DNA, average performance. For that price, performance should be way way better. Unfortunately performance is no better than 30$ parfumes, which is a shame because the scent is very pleasant

Boring Santal. I’m not sure if the real “original” version smelled better, but this is borderline criminally boring.

Absolutely done with this brand and their bs. They’re really digging their own grave.

I could finally smell this. I do strongly like Individuel's DNA and I hoped this will push it to another level. This smells like Individuel and I mean in each and every way. Might be a bit smoother, but other than that it is basically the same scent. The Fragrance Apprentice once expressed that this doesn't expand on the idea and I have to agree. It smells great, but at the evaluation of 10 to 13 times the price of Individuel? No thanks, I will stock up on Montblanc. Like the new presentation.

This is a rebottle, not a reformulation or a new release. Fragrantica should simply update the bottle image on the original listing- same goes for Original Vetiver, Royal Mayfair, etc.

I acquired this in a swap, and despite the hate, I actually really enjoy this. Its woody with a touch of fruity citrus id say this is a modern fougere

For some bizarre reason this reminds me of aoud lemon mint by Mancera. Zero clue why. But they share the same creaminess. Love it tho 8/10

Worst bottle redesign of all time. The red gradient was the most gorgeous bottle in the Creed catalogue.

Are the low star reviews for the new bottle design? They smell the same..

Why they fup the bottles lately..?