Santal Pao Rosa

This is a really cool fragrance - something out of the ordinary. It has several stages in the journey which is quite unusual these days. Most fragrances are very linear or have a quite boring and predictable journey. This one is quite different. The opening is beautiful - rose, cardamom, some oud (light version, not barnyardish at all) and all underlined by woodsy notes. Pretty quickly it transforms into kind of a abrasive australian santal. Not the mysore kind but the one used in Santal 33. It's like a prettier, more rounded up version of santal 33 mixed with rose and cardamom. The dill aspect of it is there. If you know you are sensitive to this kind of saw dusty, dill-ish smell then this might put you off. I personally don't like fragrances that are only pretty. I want them to be more, to add something that sticks out. And this works well here. After an hour or two it turns into santal royal, or might I say - what santal royal should have been. Much more well blended and harmonious. And now about 6-7 hours in the figs are really coming out. All in all - this is not for everyone. It's not your average scent by any means and definitely not by Guerlain standards. (Guerlain is usually more of the creamy Samsara sandalwood and less dirty). For me this is one of the most interesting perfumes to leave Guerlain i recent years. Most of the new stuff is IMO pretty boring. All of my favorites are in the past. With that being said - I'm happy I bought it and will cherish it!

Review #2... almost a year later... revisiting. What a beautiful, comforting scent. If anything could fall under relaxing aromatherapy — Santal Pao Rosa would definitely qualify. It's a (not so much) understated regal, mature calmness. Sandal wood is very different from Guerlain's Santal Royal. You could get both and have completely different frags. I do get that "pickle brine" vibe - which I embrace and love, because it somehow connects me to my grandparents' old house where they used to cook and make preserves (yes, pickles, too) with lots of fragrant savory herbs. I guess it is this savory nature of SPR that keeps the sweetness in check, subdued, but somehow very present - as a potential that never truly realizes. There is that tension that I find most exciting about this scent, its vehicle if you wish. I am also getting patchouli, which doesn't seem to be among the notes. In the Chanel M-lle Coco direction, that is. I really like how, as the scent develops on my skin, the saltiness fades out a little and yields to sandalwood, oud and some creamier notes never crossing into the openly sweet territory. I first got a 2ml sample as a compliment from Guerlain and then got myself a 10 ml splash-on bottle for a reasonable price (which is, 1/10th of the 100ml bottle),I will be on the outlook for a FB if I luck out to find one for less than the Guerlain's exorbitant price. Bottom line: definitely worth trying if you're into mature sandal-creamy-salty-savory

Ok, I'll start by saying I fell in love with this fragrance the second I sprayed some on me at Neiman-Marcus. It's just fabulous, dazzling even. Understated, at least for me; I usually go for the heavily asserted stuff. This isn't, at least not for me; most of the other reviewers who were put off by the oud must seldom wear oud. To my nose anyway, it's all about the sandalwood and to a lesser degree the cardamon. The oud that is there isn't the Middle Eastern influence oud/oudh I'm used to. The big problem for me is the price. This stuff retails out at $385 a bottle, and even rosequeen isn't rich enough or reckless enough to drop that kind of money on a perfume. And I'm fairly certain most people aren't either, even here. I managed to get a 10ml bottle apparently made by Guerlain (same bottle design, label, etc.). Not a spray though, and it really smells better sprayed than dabbed on. At least the little 10ml mini has a screw top, which is fortunate since it was pricey enough too. There were enough negative reviews of this here that you'll really want to test this a couple of times before you take the plunge. But I find it delightful. It lasts about 5 hours on my skin when dabbed on, and maybe 6 or 7 hours when sprayed. I don't think the sillage is very strong. If you love it, you may not mind if a roomful of people can't smell it.

This one took me by surprise - especially because it says Oud. Guerlain typically has gotten quite bold with the way they use Oud but this one sits different. This feels like if you took either Papyrus Oud 71 from Parle Moi De Parfum or Comme Des Garcons' 2 Man and added a creamy sandalwood to it. All three have a very similar vibe to them. The oud is more wood than fecal and there's very little by way of sweetness. I will say it's quite masculine. But it's Guerlain - so it is blended spectacularly with the best ingredients and that's very apparent. This feels like an evolution for Guerlain with Delphine Jelk. Considering the big shoes she has to fill, she's doing a spectacular job. This collection has always been "pretty" to me, if a little safe. I'm now excited again because if this, Tobacco Honey and Cherry Oud are any indication, this collection is finding some bondage gear in the closet. 9/10

OMG !! This is wonderful to me. The opening of myrrh, figs and sandalwood is spectacular on my skin. Today it is colder here and windy, this fragrance is so beautiful on my skin. I don't detect anything from Oud, which makes me really happy. If you are a fan of the Oud, it is not here. On my skin it is a mixture of sandalwood, fig and dark roses, which give an almost gourmet background, (as @fragancias has said, it is a raspberry vibe) but nothing overpowering. Really for me it is an exquisite fragrance, more on the feminine side, but in a man I think it would be super too. The sensation of a woman wrapped in pink satin on the bed, would be the image of this fragrance for me, I find it really sensual. It has spectacular duration, 24 hours on the inside of the elbow. I cannot stop recommending this, for me it has become my favorite perfume at the moment.

Well, there is a first time for everything. Normally I avoid pronounced sandalwood; and oud is the note I loathe more than any other note. All I can think is that Guerlain's ingredients are of a different or better quality? These notes are smooth. No sensation of my nostrils being burnt. What a turnaround for me. All of the above listed notes are in there but somehow Santal Pao Rosa ends up being more than the sum of its parts. It is smooth with no jagged edges. On me, the scent lasts for over 24 hours. It is powerful but not annoying. One or two sprays was more than enough. I would probably spray a little of this on a scarf or on some part of me that isn't too close to my nose. I would say that a bottle of it would last me several lifetimes as it is so intense to my nose. A decant would be more than enough.

Simply sublime! This fragrance smells personal, during the winter we would have torrential downpour. My friends and I would step out of the foyer and watch the rain form into puddles, the bark of the trees were soaked and turned red, the air was cold and gentle. When it would brush up against your face it felt so special and would create this fizzy feeling in my airways which honestly made me feel alive. Ohhhh, gone are the days... I do not get the resemblance to Santal 33 which smells rather rancid to me, Santal Pao Rosa is so smooth, spicy, cold, and yet manages to capture that childhood memory so effortlessly. This is definitely something that would wouldn't want to smell like but definitely something that I want to smell.

When I got into the Guerlain boutique, I was looking for a new fig note. I tried Santal Pao Rosa, and a very old scene from my 5-year-old childhood memory triggered: my father holding my hand in the old streets of Madinah city, heading to the Prophet’s Holy Mosque. Those streets were full of Attars’s shops burning myrrh and frankincense to attract clients. The memory was full of colors and scents, full of a secure and peaceful feeling. To me, it was nostalgic. I bought it without hesitation. Memories hold more significance than olfactory analysis! If I have a chance to rename it, I would call it the Orient’s Bazaar

I sampled this one on a blotter strip while I was in Paris and it was a hard pass. I purchased a few other fragrances and the associate put a sample in the bag. I recently tried it on skin one evening after my shower and couldn’t keep my wrist away from my nose. I immediately placed an order for a 100ml bottle. Sandalwood and cardamom are the major players here. The rose adds a slight sweetness to the dry composition. My nose doesn’t detect much oud. Its not for everyone, but those who can pull it off will be pleased. It’s divine. Commanding. It exudes elegance, sophistication, and confidence. Beautifully crafted.

Oh, wonderful stuff, instantly put a smile on my face. I have samples and have been enjoying Santal Pao Rosa for several wears now. It's almost like meat roasted on burning sandalwood, served with ketchup. In a good way. The woody and milky aspects of sandalwood come through strongly, it's myrrh probably that reminds me of barbeque, some nuttiness and sweetness... Very interesting and unique, strong yet soft, quite unisex. Lasts all day and survives a bath. Guerlain site lists notes of sandalwood, damascus rose, fig, hazelnut, cardamon, agarwood and myrrh.

I really, really enjoyed wearing this. I didn't look at the entry before wearing, so really had absolutely no idea of what to expect. On my skin it was mainly sandalwood, oud and (I thought) labdanum. Its quite an inky oud. After about two or three hours, I came here and saw that fig was listed. I tried to find it in there and thought I did but it may just be a case of mind over matter. Who knows, really. It's fairly linear on me after about 30 or so minutes, but I don't see that as a bad thing necessarily.

Spicy, dry, woody goodness. I’ve been searching for a sandalwood dominant fragrance, and came across this by chance. While this is a bit more spicy than what I was looking for, the sandalwood is exactly the type I have been hoping to find. I bought a 30ml decant to see me through until I find the ‘perfect’ sandalwood, but this is a great fragrance in its own right. Ever so slightly sweet yet spicy and woody meaning it’s perfect for my tastes.

So, so grateful this perfume has come into existence. I feel magnificent wearing it. Friends around me literally inhale me when I have it on. I could not help myself; I bought a back up bottle of 200ml. I never want to be without it. This even might be my all time favourite perfume, also because how I feel when it is ‘a Santal Pao Rosa’ day. I get giddy in bed in the morning knowing that I am going to wear it.

I've marked this one a "love" on the rating, but it doesn't come without its criticism. Lovely rosey/wood opening and great longevity. But most of this longevity is just the sandalwood being a one-trick pony. And for the really high price, I want the pony to do more tricks. They could add another note to it or something so the mid and drydown isn't so one dimensional.

Smells like a more woody & spicy version of L’Ile Pourpre from Liquides Imaginaires. A beautiful composition of florals, woods, spices & fig. I also get a strong oriental incense. So far, Neroli plein sud is my favorite in this line from guerlain. Followed by Herbes Troublantes, Oud Nude & Santal pao rosa.

Having received a sample of this one I was initially, MEH but I went back to it and decided to give it a couple of consecutive days of wear and I actually love it . This is a much thicker scent from the L'Art and la Matiere collection. On the hunt for this one now, if anyone is moving a bottle on.. msg me

There's something sharp & varnishy in the scent but I don't hate it! Definitely a standout of the collection; interesting direction for Guerlain 😉 *Btw the green "sandalwood" here is a fantasy note made popular by Santal 33, so don't expect anything milky/buttery, musty, warm, or tranquil/meditative.

Beautiful fragrance. Love the sandalwood + rose. Got 4 samples from L'Art & La Marière from Guerlain (unexpected, thanks G.!) and this one stands out, along with Neroli Outrenoir. $360 for 100 ml is a bit too much though. I don't care as much for the bottle (it is beautiful).

Could smell pungent to some. But very deep and mysterious. It fills the room with a nice mix of floral, amber, oud and woodsy notes in a soft, whispering manner. It encapsulates and forms a scent bubble around me. A very high quality and nicely blended parfum.

I remember really loving this - a very sweet, spicy opening, almost cinnamon-like, with woody depth. With time the sandalwood showed up more but it didn't feel too sour, it was smooth and linear in the drydown. STUNNING

To me, once it settles it smells exactly like those old wooden folding fans made out of sandalwood. We had one when I was small I loved to smell it. It reminds me of exactly that smell and I love it.

This is my most favorite perfume! A combination of grace and elegance!

Difficult to find, and way over price. Perfect smell and notes.

I just love this. Nutty, milky, comforting sandalwood

Extension on July 4, 2026 If I confess some truth about Santal Pao Rosa. After a few wear, I think this is still one of good fragrance. However, it might lacks a craftsmanship of Guerlain, even being part of L'Art & Materiale. It isn't a bad fragrance per se. It does smell good. But the partial truth is, Santal Pao Rosa is smell wonderful by Material itself. Australian Sandalwood, major component of this fragrance. As per natural origin, it will age better overtime. I brought my bottle back in 2024. As original intent, I find the scent a bit rough after 2 years now scent is pretty much mellow out. How scent arrange, You could feel Watery Rose being a support ride with Australian Sandalwood. That's craft aspect of Santal Pao Rosa. it is really good.. The most beautiful part of this fragrance, is : when amber starts to peak though a sandalwood and Rose. Feel like Textured Amber by Sandalwood & Rose. That's wonderful part. still, we must aware that - It comes from Material isn't the tenchique... As it mellow out, a smooth ride. - I feel that the fragrance eventually leads to Guerlain Classic. The one with Amber, Smooth Sandalwood some spice and rose. I think.. that is : Habit Rouge. And eventually when a fragrance play out at one point it feel smooth and sexy dirty ambery vanilla. Pretty much feel like "Tabu", let's say Tabu pour Homme. The Technique, uhm.. how can I say. If I have to critique I feel that Santal Pao Rosa still walk on traditional Rose - Amber Oud scent, strong and authoritative but leans nostalgic vintage instead of modern; a new way. --- Eventually, if I have to summary at this point - I think Santal Pao Rosa is good fragrance. Stellar material. An Ok blends and a bit mild on Innovation. However a user that doesn't feel much need "newness" (Traditional fragrance user) I think Santal Pao Rosa really new enough for you too enjoy... It Guerlain Lui Situation, same old good blend better material. is it justify "L'art & Materials"? No.. not really that is Cuir Beluga or Iris Torreffie. ==== Full Review on October 30, 2024 Santal Pao Rosa is dry wood fragrance. Today, wear using only 1 spay per pulse point. And I think this smell much better compare to double sprays (I am double sprayer). In Thailand, this is when the weather is transit from The humid one to dryer one. I trends to wear woody fragrance more during this time, compare to Floral shine brighter when it is humid. I feel this is somehow very hyper contrast fragrance. It is soft yet clean, strong yet warm. Even the dorminant is dry wood. It is also feel lactonic underneath, kind of certain lactone note. But it stay layered separately between the wood and the creaminess. The nuttiness feeling in this, is kind of wried in a charming way. It provides no clear image of certain nut (like Almond / Pistachio) but more l like nut oiliness, Feel like the oil of wood and that sour Balsamic touch. Really smell like the cut piece of wood, one of my instructor come from USFS (United State of Forest Service). And he bring the wood as a gift to delegates that piece of wood do smell Balsam, sour in kind of sweet way. Similar in Santal Pao Rosa. The red undertone in this, this is where I can't unlock yet. During top and mid wear, this do feel smell like red wood. But like not a typical kind of red where you can either familiar with the traditional red note. In this, It kind of blend in with the wood. All I can smell is the Red Wood truly. I haven't really sniff something like this. Ah.. I believe there is miss communication in the "Oud" in this.. This is doesn't smell like the infect part of Agarwood which normally have Animalic, Wet, Woody-semi floral undertone. Agarwood in this is woody aspect. To enhance more on the sandalwood, the natural powdery note in old perfumery. I also swear there is minimal amount of Guerlain's vanilla softly in the base. When I sniff awarely, I think Delphine do bring Guerlain to new direction at this point. The way that She doesn't stick with Traditional Guerlain Vanilla dry down. And use key materials of Guerlainade, even tho there isn't strong Guerlainade blend. I do have element of Vanilla of Rose, and the new Sandalwood to new direction. The scent completedly dry down around 6 hours post wear where the powdery woody Shine the most, loose it Nutty and spicy quality and Powdery wood is shine. Such a cozy scent to live with. I think, Santal Pao Rosa is not a true linear scent, I do have it develop into few stage. However, the massage is mostly clear on Santal and Wood. So It can consider linear. It develop more in deepening kind of way. I think, I can classified this to my kind of woody fragrance. The dry-balsumic-slight rough texture however it creamy woody fragrance somehow. I think I can give this strong B+ Tier from Guerlain. Personally, I am sucker for Guerlain traditional dry down at this moment. So yeah, it doesn't take my heart space much but I think I can come back to enjoy this More and more. :) 8.75/10 ===== Review (October 22, 2024) Today, I wear Santal Pao Rosa. This is new way woody fragance, red cedar, if to be hornest. The texture of wood is slight rough. This, feel like sniff a real wood. But add the spiciness tone and nutty element. I don't recommend overspray this one. I think this smell better when lightly spray. This one is strong fragrance.. ===== Santal Pao Rosa Guerlain (Store test, Skin test) First impression. If we talk about direction of L’Art collection from Guerlain. This one is right before launch of Feve Gourmand, 3 Ouds and Neroli plein Sud. I think this might be blends that follows direction of L’art & La Material. “Art of playing with Material” It is sandalwood fragrance surely, but it so dense. Mild balsumic, slight green hue. Almost creamy but not so. Clay paste texture (?) if I may say. Rosy hue, is there. Beautiful one. strong contender. Opening : 7/10 As scent progress, nutty creamy wood. Classic modern interpretation of Sandalwood could be, rosy tint still linger, give inpression of mild nutty aspect. This is tasty one. I don’t except to develop this way Progress 9/10 Ending of fragrance is so devine, bathing in Rose-Woody Milky with mild spicy experience. Guerlain ain’t play when it comes to Sandalwood or Leather and their 5 ingredients Guerlainade. Ending 9/10 Mon guerlain.

Santal Pao Rosa opens in a strikingly dry, woody, almost hyper-realistic way. The sandalwood feels raw and unvarnished, leaning into a sharp aromatic bitterness that can come across as dill-like, even borderline bodily in the very first moments. This phase is brief but unapologetic, and it will absolutely catch some noses off guard. As it settles, the fragrance undergoes a remarkable transformation. The harsh edges smooth out, revealing a composed, elegant dryness that feels intellectual and self-assured. The woods become refined, airy, and mature, with a quiet sophistication that never tries to charm or seduce casually. There is no sweetness to soften the blow and no crowd-pleasing gestures here. This is a contemplative, grown scent. Reserved, austere, and confident in its restraint. It rewards patience and experience, and it is very much aimed at seasoned noses rather than casual wearers. Those who appreciate dry woods in their purest, most uncompromising form will understand what Guerlain was doing here.

Fully synthetic smelling. No oud, as with other Guerlains. If they're using oud, it's trace amounts just to say it's there, and this one doesn't smell remotely like oud. People who talk about "the oud" in this perfume haven't smelled oud. Very strong cardamom (like the opening of Épices Exquises) with some fig and patchouli and an enormous whack of sandalwood aroma-chemicals (I'm getting a LOT of stemone and probably janavol). This type of thing is fine, but the price is criminal considering you can buy perfumes with real oud and real mysore sandlewood in them which smell infinitely more beautiful and special and which cost the same or less per ml.

It’s incense/myrrh with a smooth, creamy and shaven sandalwood. It’s light oud. Not the animalic kind. Think the oud in fly me to the oud. The fig and woody/almost hazelnut like notes also add to keep it lively and adds sweetness. Like a mock vanilla. This is something else. I hated the notes for the longest time and denied I’d ever like it. It’s growing on me and fast! EDIT: after a few hours, this falls into a mess on my skin. sad because I was enjoying so much! It runs into a harsh woods with soapy sandalwood. Never a good mix

This is one of those that i regretted after using for a couple days. I could not think of anything else but that this scent smelled like Dill or pickles of the skin. Very strong projection. I have so many fragrances that i decided to a do a layering experiment with this one. I layered Tom fords Ombre Leather with this one. Boy did it make a difference! loved the scent it was giving off on my skin. A bit more masculine. If your stuck like i was layer a leather fragrance with this one and you may enjoy a bit more!

This is the driest sandalwood fragrance I've ever smelled. The wood spice of the sandalwood and cardamom are made deeper and more elegant by the oud. A fully dried out oud, almost as if dehydrating a beautiful log to preserve it as a museum relic. To me this stands out from other sandalwood fragrances as the driest and most elegant of the bunch. (Santal 33, Bois de Balincourt, Armani Prive Santal Dan Sha)

Guerlain Santal Pao Rosa - rose sandalwood - #delphinejelk creates this very woody & dry sandalwood accord. Starts with Cardamom and fruitier notes. I also get Rose, Hazelnuts and Almonds. But the heavier ingredients come out earlier in the life of the fragrance. The mixture of Sandalwood-Musk make it smokey, dry, yet very well rounded. A great addition to to the Arts collection.

Sandalwood, oudh, rose, fig, in that order. Although rose isn’t listed on this page, this is quite a heavy “new rose” fragrance. The oudh isn’t too much & pairs nicely with the sandalwood. Gives me 10 corso como vibes, another sandalwood/oudh/rose fragrance. Santal Pao has the added fig/fruity notes making it sweeter. Performs like a beast. 8-12 hour wear with decent silage

This fragrance is like a love/hate relationship. The opening just smells like dill. the dry down is this sexy complex scent with depth and has this dense feeling that's perfect for winter nights. (DO NOT BLIND BUY IT) Opening 2/10 Dry Down 9/10 Value 5/10

Now THIS is some good stuff So smooth, sultry, feminine, not too intense. The sandalwood really gives this a comforting vibe while the sweet oud makes it sexy.

Very floral but interesting, I smell Palo Santo, which is very nice. Lasted on me for days even if no perfume does. But for the price this is not worth it.

Hmm, this might be my least favorite scent in the L'Art & LA Matière collection. It's not bad by any means, I don't think I have ever met a Guerlain that I really disliked, but it doesn't move me in any way and I don't think it fits in with the rest of this wonderful line. Like the name suggests this is a very woody scent. I get equal amounts of sandalwood and clean oud. Everything is very dry texturally, so this is not the very milky kind of sandalwood that I enjoy the most. Even the hazelnut note feels woody like raw unsweetened ground hazelnuts. Nothing gourmandish here! The fig is not juicy either, it's very subdued and doesn't feel very fruity, but not as green as a fig leaf. I can't say that I would have thought of fig or hazelnut if I hadn't read the notes list. The most noticeable non-woody, non-dry note is a deep red rose, which is intertwined with the oud as it often is. The drydown feels a little more balsamic, but the two woods still dominate. Santal Pao Rosa is a warm, pleasant, wearable fragrance that I wouldn't mind to smell on others, but never chose for myself. It's smooth and not scratchy or overwhelming, I just expected something a little more exciting from the notes. If you're really into woodsy scents and find the rest of this line too vanillic and powdery, this might be worth a try.

Santal Pao Rosa is a refined, woody floral that reminds me of a lighter version of Reasons by Amouage. Where Reasons is creamy, buttery, and richly dense, Santal Pao Rosa is drier and more restrained, with a polished sandalwood profile and a softer touch. It’s elegant and well-composed, but it doesn’t have the lush depth that makes Reasons so compelling to me. It’s a sophisticated sandalwood scent that’s clean, wearable, and understated in a Guerlain way. A solid choice for sandalwood fans who prefer restraint over decadence.

Super dry and spicy, tries to do what Santal 33 did, but fails miserably. This is a sad and overpriced release from Guerlain. There is a pickled feeling, and the rose feels just pathetic here. This feels like a directionless, Guerlain-less release. There is nothing in here that reminds me of Guerlain, at all. If i smelt this without knowing it is Guerlain, i would say this was made by a b-tier niche house. Hard pass. Just imagine pickles and roses. That's exactly the picture i get.

This isn't very good tbh. The sandalwood comes across as very flat yet there are synthetics in the background that create a very invasive diffuseness which is headache inducing. Overall it's a weird effect where there is a quiet sandalwood in the background but a very off-putting cloud of woody molecules that separates itself from the flat natural base (instead of smelling like a single accord of sandalwood). Quite possibly the worst of the L'art et la matiere line.

This one surprised me! Because i have never heard of this ever mentioned and also due to low rating. First, it hits you with the sandalwood in the opening, accompanied by a hint of oud. Oud dissapears almost entirely, the sandalwood softens and dries down to sweet, figgy, creamy slight incensy scent. Gorgeous!

Sandalwood fragrance Strange Different Is it something special (no) Is it unique (yes) Performance (above average) Disadvantages: pricy - sandalwood is annoying Advantages: performance - unique The most important question: did I enjoy it No So it’s a pass

Another sandalwood with some spicy support. Nice, but not creative - at all. And thus, not worth my money. I already have several in that style. This is not a Guerlain fragrance. This is an LVMH fragrance.

Dry, bitter, salty, nutty. Probably my least favorite of the line. It definitely needs a creamy/sweet counterbalance as Angelforgd points out. Will probably not even finish my sample.

Eh. Normally a new Guerlain would send me in raptures but I've learned my lesson this last year as they have "regrouped". The sandalwood is dry, definitely not the creamy lusciousness of Santal Royal. The oud is inky, no depth, the myrrh is medicinal which overpowers the cardamon (hard to do to my nose, but Jelk accomplishes the task admirably). I don't really get any fig unless it's that vague something that wafts up every once in a while. Not impressed. Why they thought this would be a good scent profile when Wasser has already created a masterpiece with Santal Royal with basically the same notes, is beyond me. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Santal Royal on "budget", nothing to write home about. I had hopes that it will be something in the Rose Nacree du Desert shelf, but I hoped in vain. The rose is weird, the note of this beautiful flower has someting fruity and nouseating in it. The oud should not be used here IMO. After dry down, you got a punch with a fruity salad and a tone of artificial santal. Not quite bad, but for this price, it s a fail and definitely a pass from me. The bottle ks tacky. This could be a CH or D&G but not a Guerlain. Exclusive? Considering the price, yes! All in all, big no.

Pickled rose overload opening, very pungent. Was initially horrified by it and was a hard pass till one day wearing my sample it just clicked for me. I develop very strong love feelings for it and ordered a bottle. Guess this one takes time to grow on you and the colder it is outside the better it gets. Still doesn't cancel the fact that LVMH seem to have recycled the Santal royal and added more rose to while cross-breeding it with MFK satin oud.

Dry, spicy sandalwood without any real direction. The oud is lackluster, like it can't make up it's mind if it's ashy or if it's nasty. But it really doesn't matter because the myrrh and cardamon take over and leave a spicy medicinal twang. No fig to my nose, which is a shame. It definitely needs a creamy fig to give it some counterpoint to all that dry.

I don't know why my SA at the Guerlain counter in David Jones gave this to me as a free sample... it just smells like pure oud and sandalwood with a hint of myrrh! It's such a strong and incredibly pungent perfume that reads super masculine on my skin and it honestly gives me such a headache. I personally don't know why anyone would want to wear this perfume on their skin, but different strokes for different folk. People who do like it though will be happy to know that it is super long lasting. I had to scrub it off after the scent was taking forever to go away... it stayed there for like 8 hours and was still there!

The New Sandalwood I adore vintage Samsara vs. Santal 33. In fact "new" sandalwood is not really sandalwood to me at all. I feel like Santal Pao Rosa is a good bridge between the two though. This fragrance is cold. The sandalwood is dry, the spices are raw, the oud is agarwood, unlit and yet to be burned. There's actually a coldness to the whole composition. I feel a flash of green, leafy fig over cold cardamom and that dry, airy sandalwood. Impressively there is a bit of rose but I feel and I swear there is rosewood in here, flowing over the sandalwood and adding a touch of rose, but rose that comes from woods and not flowers. Eventually this does warm up, a tiny bit, the rose becomes more floral, and the sandalwood becomes, well, more woody and less airy. Still there is something elusive about this, and I think it's because I become very anosmic to this scent. I put it on at night, I can't smell it very well, and then sometime during my sleep I will wake up and be inundated by Santal Pao Rosa. I think using a scant few sprays, and not inhaling too much at first, will lead to better "performance." It really does last forever. I do like this a lot, and crave to wear it occasionally. It has an aromatic quality I do enjoy -- the cold, green spices, a hint of fruit, demure rose and rosewood, the soft incense stick agarwood, the dry Australian sandalwood. If you think you are getting that lactonic heavy sandalwood you are not, and there are a lot of more, say, blatant "rose & sandalwood" perfumes out there.

Everything about this perfume mesmerized me, from the design of the bottle, to the color of the juice, to the name given. Sprayed on a plotter and was blown away by the cardamom beauty as I love it in perfumes and in pastries and food. Went back and forth smelling it on plotters every time. Did their extensive personality test, and the result yeilded Santa pao rosa among couple more perfumes, so I was compelled to go try it on my skin. I was intriuiged by the beauty of cardamom, myrrh, and some dry woodiness in the opening UNTIL the dry down just sent me to MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT, I'm a big fan of incense oud agarwood etc, the lasting smell of oud in the dry down as well as some of the wood used was very low quality and disappointing, it has a funny smell on my skin, loses the richness of a good agarwood, and I'm left with a watered down version of cheap oud and agarwood smell on my hands. I was so determined to get this as a birthday gift with the birthday gift card I received, but I am sad with the end result. Will give it one last chance and see how I feel about it.