The Wedding Velvet Santal | 35

Okay wow I'm in love! This fragrance at first sniff isn't the most compelling scent to write home about, and neither is it on the mid and dry down, but it's a very well done sandalwood fragrance. Perhaps the best that I've tried aside from vintage Samsara, which to track down is nothing shy of a bloodbath (man those ebay bidders are cutthroat!) But I digress this fragrance upon its opening is complex, with the layers slowly peeling away as you wear it and get to the yummy drydown. I detected the benzoin right away, with a somewhat sweet/savory mix of an amber accord weaving through, could it be tea I was smelling that provided the sweetness? Whatever it was, I adored it but I was trying to put myself in the headspace of how I could write this review, because this scent, while it's still available on Kayali is worth getting your nose on, but it's not for everyone. This scent is what I'd classify as androdgynous, rather than unisex. By stating that both men and women could easily wear it would be misleading. Those that buy fragrances comfortably in one gender marketing camp and don't like venturing outside of it will find that for a major part of its development, its too feminine to be masculine and too masc to be fem. So who is it for? Well, it could be for anybody. But not everybody. As I approached the drydown and the final layers were stripped away I was delighted to find a creamy sandalwood note at its base with little else so that it is truly allowed to shine. The best way I can describe the scent is that it's everything I wanted Santal 33 to be and unfortunately on my skin, fell short. It was too much of everything else so that I got barely any sandalwood at all. The notes in the Labo drowned the sandalwood and took away it's voice, where the notes in Velvet Santal are like the opening act, they dazzle and put on a great show, then the main performer takes the stage and it's just as dazzling as the fjrst part. I find myself entranced in the entire production from opening to close, where the sandalwood solinote performs quite compellingly for hours until drying down into a hazy skinscent that feels like you've stayed after to meet the band and the lead singer embraces you in a big bear hug that smells like cashmere and feels even better. Smelling this fragrance I wish I could get married all over again (to my same husband!) just so I could make him wear this fragrance. With some sweet talking perhaps he may wear it on special occasions such as my Birthday or Christmas, but I know just from smelling it that it's not his style. I'm the one who has to wear the sandalwood pants in this household, and I'll do it gladly. But I understand exactly why Mona chose this scent for her partner (or at least the concept of this scent, because who know how much of that was all marketing mumbogumbo), because it smells exactly like the idea of what you hope to smell when you go to hug someone you love. If she brings back Silk Santal I'll be the proud owner of both, I just know that they're better in tandem than apart. But this is still worth trying out if you like Sandalwood scents.

I absolutely adore this fragrance! As someone who appreciates woody notes, I find this scent to be an absolute gem, especially during the summer season. Normally, woody fragrances can be overwhelming in the heat, but this particular blend of musk and benzoin creates an astonishingly airy and light composition. The fragrance delicately incorporates subtle woody facets, adding a touch of depth and intrigue to the overall experience, which becomes more pronounced as it settles into its dry-down phase. It truly embodies the essence of summer while maintaining an unmistakable woody allure. I've put away my beloved Gris Charnel Extrait for the season, and am glad to have found a hot-weather replacement. I also echo the sentiments of those who draw similarities between this fragrance and Lovefest Burning Cherry. However, personally, I made the decision to part ways with Lovefest Burning Cherry due to my lesser affinity for Palo Santo. What sets this fragrance apart is its remarkable creaminess and approachability, which, in my opinion, make it more appealing and enjoyable. Tldr; It's good. Light for a woody fragrance - so perfect for summer.

This fragrance is 🔥I imagine attending a wedding where the groom to be is wearing The Wedding Velvet Santal and the ceremony going something like this. Pastor: Friends and family, we are ... Bride: "I DO!" Me: "Well that escalated quickly." 😂 I acttually think this fragrance is unisex. My experience with TWVS is so different to most other people's. I don't get dirty diaper/urine/cherry at all from this. Instead, the benzoin coupled with the sandalwood and white musk comes across as a dirty musk on me and I'm here for that adjective 😍 It's a little bit Musc Shamal, a little bit Musc Ravageur and a little bit Dates Delight. It throws somewhat medicinal and somewhat animalic on me. That's why the bride in my story skipped the whole ceremony and went straight to "I do" LOL. It evokes that carnal desire. This is definitely one fragrance which could trigger a visceral effect and get you some WAP, or for the ladies wearing it, you already made him brrr brrr in his pants. This lasted on me for 25hrs but sat closer to the skin after about 7 or 8 hours. I give it a 9/10 for scent and 7/10 for longevity.

I've written some very harsh reviews about Kayali perfumes in the past, but I'm not a hater. I actually love Vanilla 28, Vanilla Royale, Oud Vanilla, Oud Café and Lovefest Burning Cherry (I haven't tried Invite Only Amber, but I think I might like that one as well). So I always approach Kayali perfumes with an open mind, but with caution. This was a smash hit with me. It's not mentioned in the notes, but I do get a strong tonka/coumarin smell from beginning to end. Also, despite having both cedar and sandalwood, I wouldn't particularly call it a woody scent. I'm also not the hugest fan of florals, but I can't pick out the jasmine. Also, this is 100% unisex. This is definitely sweet, but without relying on sugar or vanilla, which makes is softer and more refined and it's a refreshing change for Kayali. If you enjoy the same Kayali fragrances as me, I'd say give this one a try next time you pass by a Sephora.

This is one of my favorite perfumes. I bought both of the Wedding perfumes Kayali came out with (this and the Silk Santal) in travel sized. I enjoyed them both, but the Velvet Santal I actually ended up buying a full sized bottle. I do love a slightly masculine scent to wear as a woman, but I truly feel like this perfume is one that is genuinely unisex. My husband wears it sometimes and it mixes with his masculine chemistry so well and smells sexy, yet today when I wore it, he leaned and said, “You smell good.” I think it’s the jasmine that gives this just enough softness that it can smell feminine enough for me. But the whole composition is so perfect that it comes across suitable for each of us. The sandalwood is beautiful in this as well. I love a sandalwood base note, but some perfumes the sandalwood smells too harsh to me. I hope Kayali doesn’t discontinue this one.

If you are like me and have been chasing the dragon that was Nirvana Black, this may just satisfy that craving. I blind bought this and was hoping it might be in the same vein, but in my opinion this is more than similar! It's like an elevated, more expensive, more rich and spicy version. Like a pokemon evolution of Nirvana Black! My best blind buy to date - I am OBSESSED! Edit: I also agree with some of those saying this has Mon Guerlain vibes - yes for sure - without the lavender. Also it pains me to say that as I've been wearing it more and more, I find this does not perform as well as I'd like it to (classic Kayali curse). I also experience this issue with Mon Guerlain funnily enough. Both are so exquisite - I just wish they had better longevity on my skin and clothing!

The dry down is a very creamy sandalwood but it's only at the very end. It takes about 4/5 hrs to get there so I'm not sure it's worth it for me since I only like the dry down. At first spray it smells like an herbal spicy woody scent. But after about 30min-1hr it has a bit of a tiger balm-esque smell. It's faint but it's definitely noticeable. It's like you washed your hands after putting tiger balm on your grandpa's back but the smell doesn't wash all the way off and lingers on your hands for a while. Really disappointing for me since I love the dry down but I just can't get over the tiger balm. May be different for different skin chemistry so I think it's still worth sampling if you're interested

This is a new love for me! In a nutshell, this is Mon Guerlain without the strong lavender. I do enjoy Mon Guerlain but the lavender is just a little too strong and makes me want to only wear it at bedtime. Velvet Santal is just absolutely gorgeous and super cozy. This does not smell masculine at all, to me this is totally feminine! I am not a huge fan of sandalwood, but the sandalwood is done sooooo beautifully in this. It's the perfect blend of sweet vanillic/ambery benzoin and very creamy sandalwood, but I personally get more benzoin that woody notes. Loooooove this, definitely backup bottle worthy! I think I even like this more than Silk Santal!!!

I love this one much more than new Silk one. But, for me this is hard to describe. I can't pick out any distinct notes that are listed. Smelling this on my skin, it leans feminine and very sweet, but that doesn't seem to match what the notes indicate. slight florals, slight fruits and slight vanilla? That's how it smells to me. I don't smell any woody notes in here, but maybe they are just too subtle for me to pick them out. I think if you are a fan of Kayali frags in general, then you will like this one, but if Kayali is is hit or miss brand for you, then definitely get a sample of this and the Silk before buying a full bottle of either one.

I find this to be warm, comforting, cozy and delicious. My favorite, and I think the most wearable if the Kayalis. Wish I had grabbed a bottle. I don't find it to be masculine. To those noting a diaper scent- I actually found that all of my Kayali samples had this off-putting wet cardboard or pee like scent on the first spray. Some worse than others. My utopia vanilla coco especially. I was super disappointed, shoved them in a drawer for two weeks, took them out and it was gone. I'm not sure what it was, maybe something in packaging? Bottles didn't have the same thing. So.. spray your samples once and come back to them before judging.

I’ve been hunting for a woody fragrance that doesn’t feel too masculine for my taste, and I think this is it. It’s definitely unisex. In the opening, I detect something a bit boozy and cherry-like (maybe the mixture of tea and benzoin?), and that gives way to the jasmine and dry, soft wood later in the dry down. This reminds me a bit of Guerlain’s SDV, minus the baby wipe accord and sickeningly sweet dry down that put me off that one. Really so lovely. Can’t wait to try it in the cooler weather, as it is quite strong on me (for my preferences) in the warmer weather.

The softest teasing jasmine mingling with notes of tea, pear, cinnamon, sugar crumb and rice. All laid against light but present skin-like musk. Very different. It's definitely elevated, elegant, sexy in that comfortable, confident way. I think the name is spot on, this does evoke images of a wedding day. Of a bride. Light, sincere kind of vibe, softly inviting. Edit: Have to add that I was shocked how much skin chemistry can change this fragrance. On another this became very deep, very masculine, full on leather and almost like garage oil and rubber type of scent.

Out of the wedding duo, this is the winner for me. I do think it’s unisex, and I think this layered with the The Silk would actually make that one better. I love them both, but the female one of the duo is too simple and redundant. I think if Kayali had taken the notes from both and put it into one fragrance, it would have been a super smart move. The benzoin in this perfume is gorgeous. Benzoin can sometimes come across as medicinal, but not in this. The sandalwood is creamy, and it’s not overly sweet. Love this one!

I’m a big KayAli fan. I got samples of this and the feminine version. This is my favorite of the two. I’m considering getting a bigger bottle. It reminds me slightly of Mugler Angel Amber Intense. But more likable. Def get a licorice vibe from it. Smoky without being overly smoky. Amber fans I feel would love this. Update def needed the bigger bottle it’s on the way to me. I also realized it reminds me of Amber romance from Victoria secret. Yet a perfume.

I own every fragrance from this house and this is definitely in my top 5. I definitely recommend sampling this before deciding not to buy it. To me this is amazing .the sandalwood and tea is so well done. This is definitely a cozy scent and very beautiful great for everyday, office, travel.the projection is mild . This doesn’t turn sour on me and I’m not smelling anything off putting.

This is very well rounded and smooth and delicate. I also get a bit of a marzipan/ cherry from it, I’m not sure if it’s just me. The woody notes are also very creamy and velvety, not sharp at all. Also, I was worried that this would smell too masculine or cologney, but it is not like that at all! It is perfectly unisex 🖤 Great longevity and sillage! 6-8 hours.

A very light, smooth and subtle fragrance.A beautiful unisex fragrance.At first spray, smells rather feminine and as it dries down, more masculine.Longevity & sillage are moderate, lingers very well as I have received several welcoming compliments 😊 Not your typical overpowering unisex fragrance😁Blends quite well with its counterpart Silk Santal 😍👍

I love this scent. It is soft and spicy. Usually I do not like cedar notes but this fragrance does it beautifully. I think it is more unisex than just for men, I wear it all the time. I also blind bought this on the recommendation of a Sephora employee and I am not disappointed. I reach for this over more expensive scents all the time.

Amazing. I thought I had ordered the Silk Santal but I received the Velvet Santal and decided I was going to give it away. Uh uh...not anymore! This stuff is absolutely gorgeous! I don't care which gender this is geared towards. It works with my chemistry! I love sandalwood and this gives me just enough. Stunning.

Like others said, it smells similar to Mon Guerlain without the spice and a touch of sandalwood. I don't smell much tea in this. It's a cozy woody scent, not a typical sandalwood fragrance. I can see why others would say there's something in it that smells bad, it doesn't smell bad to me, but I can understand.

I love a sweet woody fragrance! This combination is stunning. I bought this to potentially give to my boyfriend, but it’s mine. It is in the fall rotation and it is not leaving. Well, this does lean towards the cooler times of year. I do think this could absolutely be worn all year, and it’s signature worthy.

initial test: love at first sniff. BUT it is almost instantly a skin scent. it does last a few hours as a skin scent but there is no projection at all. I will retest and enjoy but i think it may be best as a layering scent. not sure it's worth a big bottle but i would certainly buy a small one.

Tried this on my husband and he really liked it, which is rare since he doesn’t care about perfumes and his sense of smell is wonky. He thinks it smells like chai, apple, and vanilla. I have no idea how he smells that but it is a nice, cozy tea scent that is slightly sweet.

Sweet woody powder a bit of cinnamon and coconut, floral element of jasmine woven in. Sits close to the skin. Yum😍 definitely leans feminine. I’m happy I took the plunge despite some concerning reviews.

This is such a gorgeous scent, but not worth the price when it is a 99% dupe of Guess Seductive Noir which costs so much less. Love it to pieces, one of my fave scents of all time.

Velvet Santal is so lovely. It is unisex, but leans feminine on me. This a really creamy smooth amber. I do find it a little sweet. Love this more than Silk Santal.

So cozy, perfectly unisex. The sandalwood and tea are great together. This is a very down to earth scent. I wear this when I need to be more centered.

Warm and cosy, smooth and unisex perfume. It absolutely smells like a perfume I already have though and it honestly took me ages to work out what it was, but it’s like if you take the sage and syrupy sweetness from SJP Stash, the smooth sandalwood from Adam Levine for her and a pinch of the lavender and vanilla from Chill Out from the Oriflame Feel Good range. Chill Out, in turn, smells very similar to Mon Guerlain but even more unisex. Chill out cost me about £8 for 50ml so it’s rather more affordable than many of the perfumes it smells like! Guess seductive Noir too. It does have a bit of a Mon Guerlain vibe but there’s no hint of patchouli or licorice here. It’s been a while since I smelt it but I do wonder if this is maybe closet to Santal Blush by Tom Ford?! Same warm sandalwood and benzoin. Either way I really like this one but I wouldn’t pay Kayali Prices for a full bottle. I can definitely see the comparison to Nirvana Black but the tea note in this makes it less powdery and less cloyingly sweet than that perfume (as beautiful as it is) so velvet Santal would probably be an easier wear than that one!

I’m a little baffled by the labelling of this fragrance. This is not for men, it’s totally unisex. There are more masculine fragrances out there that are labelled as unisex. Also, this is not a wedding fragrance. It is super soft wearing and cozy, not something memorable enough for anyone let alone a man to wear to his wedding. All that aside, this is a beautiful warm and cozy sandalwood fragrance, the kind of scent profile I loooove wearing for myself and also to bed. This is not a heavy and gunky type of sandalwood, rather a smooth and light-wearing fragrance. Just the slightest hint of musk and benzoin to round it out. Slightly reminds me of the drydown of Obvious Une Pistache but stripped back a little. Much prefer this over Silk Santal. A well done fragrance and would totally enjoy wearing it, but not really worth the price.

Can’t believe it took me this long to smell it . I always assumed it would be more geared towards mens cologne. I finally picked it up and honestly I can barely smell it at all . I’m letting it sit and macerate now but after a few days of letting it sit, I sprayed and I really like it , I hope it develops and gets stronger though, I want a full bottle depending on the maceration process . It’s sweet and resinous , reminds me ever so slightly of killian angels share, Skylar fall cashmere and also killian phantom just a little . I almost smell a cherry or almond note and a touch of santal . There’s not a lot I can pick up yet but it’s quite cozy and addictive. Sweet, sticky resinous amber and spice , tea, cherry ? I am not sure but I like it more than I thought and I do want a full bottle but not if it stays so weak on me .

I'm honestly astounded with how unisex this fragrance is..... Even though it's not listed in the notes there is something is pretty sweet in this, for a mans marketed fragrance anyway. It almost smells like there is a very pronounced tonka note, or amber. I totally see the cherry vibe that another person mentioned. Also, I smell in this. Not like the type used for church, but the type you would smell in a middle eastern fragrance. But this fragrance leaves a LOT to be desired. It just smells like a sweet/slightly woody fragrance with some incense nuances. It sits close to the skin too. and that's it. In my opinion, this is incredibly boring, over hyped, and insanely over priced. But, it's definitely blind buy safe, especially if you're a man looking for a subtle fragrance that is pretty sweet.

Wasn’t a love at first sniff for me. Although it is a good fragrance, and I will wear it, I was expecting a bit more. When compared to other Middle Eastern frags on the market, this is expensive - and I’m not sure the higher cost is paying off. This one doesn’t last a whole tonne of time, around 4/5 hours. The main problem for me, I think, is that this smells like the dry down of a fragrance, rather than being full and complete in its own right. It reminds me of Gris Charnel, of Baldessareni’s Ambre, Margiela’s Fireplace, etc etc. It’s not really stand out at anything it does - there are better sandalwood frags, teas, jasmines, ambers, musks... out there. Ill use as my date night/nighttime drag until it runs out but probably won’t replace. 5.5/10

I thought this scent would pack more of a punch like some of kayali’s other scent with jasmine, but is surprisingly softer and calmer. It is a very subtle white floral with tea leaves. The woody notes are soft and just blends together to make a really soft unisex scent. As it dries down, a sweetness comes in that is a little bit laconic and comforting. It reminds me of a zen garden and it’s almost a “your skin but better” scent. It was barely there on my skin yet was pleasing and a little surprise. Would be awesome for those who like intimate sillage. Good for any occasion or season. I do not detect dirty diaper smell as some have, but I do think it has a little bit of a clean unused diaper smell perhaps if anything.

i bought the sample. i try so hard to detect the stinky diaper smell but i got nothing. to me this is very beautiful and elegant for a man. definitely unisex and definitely special occasion worthy. to my nose it does resembles slightly to Gris Charnel without the sweet cardamom. it's really soft and intimate scent. the performance is rather poor. i wished it has longer longevity. on skin i smell nothing after an hr! like wth? being a groom im sure u got no time to re-spray but hey u can always count on ur groomsmen. however, with the groom image in mind, i don't find it manly enough for a wedding. it's more like a honeymoon scent where it's just u and your bride.

Update <<< This did not work out well for me. I sold it. It started to actually smell like piss ?!?! @dreamsicle818 below said it smells like warm pissy diapers and honestly I know exactly what they mean. I think it’s the benzoins when they warm up ?!? This feels like a softer, less incense-heavy cousin to Akro Glow and Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille, with a shared benzoin-rich amber base and a very similar dry-down. There is a faint background note (maybe cedar or tea) that doesn’t fully work for me, so I’d avoid overspraying. Still, while Glow remains my go-to, I’m glad to have this and will happily use it up.

I love this but it is so soft and I can only smell it for about 30 minutes to an hour if I press my nose right to my wrist.... Even right after spraying it :( This would be a beautiful bedtime scent and perfect for layering if it was a bit stronger but I can’t bring myself even to spend money on a travel size. This is still definitely worth sampling and seeing if you are able to smell it better than me. Its a beautiful fresh musky sandalwood with a refreshing spa like tea note. I’ll probably cave one day and buy a bottle when they have a sale. 🫠

If you have Mon Guerlain Intense, you don't *need* this one. But, the dry down is so tea-fresh and lovely that I think it's worth having both. I bought the mini, just in case I ended up not liking but now I wish I'd gotten the big bottle. I'll probably buy it next pay day if I can't get it out of my head. This is unisex, leaning feminine, to me. It's soft but depending on your chemistry can turn more woody (on my male bff vs on me). It does smell best layered with Wedding Silk, IMO. 8/10 frag in my collection.

Just like the name suggests, Velvet Santal | 35 is creamy, woody and velvety. It's a great new addition to the Kayali collection being their first ever fragrance for men, which can also be seen as unisex. I think Hassan did a great job at creating such a classy scent that immediately allows you to create beautiful memories with. This perfume will get you hooked on its magnetic blend of gentle Jasmine, refreshing Tea and White Musk, accompanied by the velvety warmth of Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Benzoin

I am shocked that Eau Duelle does not appear in the 'this perfume reminds me of'. On first sniff this instantly reminded me of Eau Duelle EDT, and of course it is the same perfumer! This is very pretty but there is something in this, that I can't put my finger on, that puts me off loving it, just as I found for Eau Duelle EDT which I decluttered. I do agree this is unisex, and I'm really enjoying it layered with Lovefest Burning Cherry so I will be using up my little 10ml.

I MUCH prefer this to Wedding Silk Santal, even though Velvet is meant to be the boy version lol I'm not a fan of white florals, and while Wedding Silk doesn't give off too much white floral, it's there enough to not call it a favourite. Wedding Velvet on the other hand has just enough jasmine and everything else right about it. There's nothing overly masculine leaning about it at all. The sandalwood isn't overpowering.

Soft and pleasantly unisex. The sandalwood has no pickle-y nuances, and the jasmine gives it a touch of sweetness without it being overbearingly floral. The tea note is very subtle and makes this just fresh enough for warm weather, though I find the whole composition warm and comforting, so better for fall and winter. I would rate this higher than Silk Santal.

Hmm... This is nice, yet definitely doesn't smell like the notes it has in the description. To me it smells like a light amber scent with cherry! It definitely has cherry... I personally don't like smelling like cherry or fruits, yet this is made in a classy way. Low projection and about 2 to 3 hours of longevity where you can barely smell it.

A lightly smoked jasmine black tea opening quickly fading into a musky, milky sandalwood-laced benzoin. The vibe I get is black tea with lots of milk and some honey. After the initial blast, I get very few florals. Close-wearing (especially after the first hour) and I get a few hours out of this - which is perfect for me.

I purchased this in a 10ML; I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or my Husband for that matter he’s pretty picky. I’m ordering Us both a 50ML! This smells like a more refined version of Love Fest Burning Cherry. It’s just something about this scent that I absolutely Love.

It's a very nice, light male-leaning fragrance but I can see myself wearing this. Definitely for weddings or other occasions when you don't want your fragrance mixed with others'. If only the wedding version for women had such a dry down it would be great.

Dark sweet longlasting and the perfect amount of oud for me although it is not listed in notes . You can easy layer it with many perfumes to create one unique scent. Do not blind buy. A little bit masculine energy in it

Really beautiful. I got the mini and immediately purchased the full size. Although it's not listed, I am picking up a cherry note that does remind me of Tom Ford Lost Cherry & elements of Kayali's cherry fragrance.

This is very unisex but I prefer this on my husband if worn alone. If I wear it, I like to layer it with Silk Santal to give it some brightness. This is good for events and night time occasions, like a date night.

This fragrance is gorgeous!! I regret buying only the 10ml. It really does smell similar to Mon Guerlain, however it is a bit spicier and less sweet on me. I still love it though. It will be amazing in the fall.

I love the scent of this! Unfortunately it doesn’t project or last on me, but maybe if I let the bottle sit for a while it’ll become stronger.