Santal Gray

I'm surprised this perfume hasn't blown up yet. I'm really quite surprised by it. My scent profile these days is fragrances like You, Another 13, JHAG Not A Perfume, etc., and this slots in so easily into that family -- the suave older sibling of that family, if you will. It's reminiscent of the pervasive Santal33, but it's not a dupe of it. Santal33 pulls a lot of dill on me, which it does for some people. The first spray of Santal Gray smells like nothing but dill, but give it an hour, and it blooms into this gentle, warm, expensive cardamom-and-sandalwood (but never hippie) scent. Violent comes out at times, a soft sort of sad, a powedery grey smell (I know, how does grey have a scent? but it does, here) -- It's truly unisex, it would be alluring on anyone regardless of gender, and it really just blossoms wonderfully on skin. It also lasts and lasts, unlike the more common offering from this house, 11:11. I dunno man. This scent is really wonderful and I'm really glad I've found it.

I am absolutely obsessed with this fragrance. I spent a lot of time in Mexico recently and copal santal was such a key fragrance during my time there that I wanted to find something that was the embodiment of that for me. Le Labo's approach is much more sharp and spicy than the blanket warmth of the mexican copal and so when I came across this fragrance, I was immediately in love. It's more approachable, but still distinctively santal. I find the fragrance evolves to give an air of mystery to the wearer. I think a lot of the credit goes to the cardamom for adding balance to the sandalwood. I don't get much violet, and typically I avoid overly musky scents, but they have balanced it here very well. It is long lasting and definitely a head turner. I recently smelled Santal Vanille The 7 Virtues to see how it compares, and I think Santal Gray is kind of like the baby of that fragrance and Santal 33. Not as soft as Santal Vanille and not as harsh as Santal 33.

This is a super lovely warm, creamy sandalwood scent that is squarely unisex (a little pickley at first spray), and I think it's somewhere between Santal 33 and Gris Charnel as a frame of reference. There's a creamy undertone that almost feels fig-like, though I know there is no fig in this! It's very smooth and clean with a distinct warmth that is really lovely during the colder months. If you are more in the woody, spicy, clean arena of scents, give it a try, especially on skin. Its creamy and warm and so cozy!

Lake & Skye describes this as "a discreet sexiness with an uplifting warmth." I think the sexiness is debatable, but I do agree that it has warmth. There is a chicness to this fragrance, but also a comforting coziness as well. The sandalwood is quite prominent. I think the scent is versatile - you can wear it to the office or out on a date. However, I think this is a fragrance best suited to fall or winter so it is limited in that regard. It is a unisex fragrance and works well for both men and women, but I feel it has a slightly more traditionally masculine impression. If you asked me who I picture wearing this, I would say a charming man in a tailored suit or a very chic woman with a bold but classic fashion sense. The wear-time for this fragrance is crazy - it has immense staying power! Depending on what you're looking for, you should definitely be aware of that. I went to bed after wearing this scent all day and when I woke up in the morning, I could still smell it on me. Despite that, it is not overpowering and the sillage appears quite moderate. I was not a fan of 11 11 and I do think this is a much better offering from Lake & Skye. Despite that, I think it is overpriced as the scent is relatively simple and somewhat generic. There is nothing all that special here, but I would recommend it.

This was not love at first sniff. But like a true love story, it needs to unfold. This is now one of my favorite perfumes to wear. There is a depth to it. Not your typical type of fragrance. This makes me feel like a rich woman draped in cashmere, who lives in Northern California with a home overlooking the ocean. And the staying power on this is incredible! 8+ hours on my skin. And I will smell it on my clothes the next day.