Papyrus Moleculaire

This might be a little esoteric, but bear with me: Papyrus Moléculaire by Maison Crivelli reminds me of the midcentury furniture of Cuban-Mexican designer Clara Porset, specifically her butaque chairs. Porset’s designs embraced both industrial and handcrafted production and, like the Bauhaus teachers and peers she studied with, she aimed at elevating living standards and bringing modernist aesthetics to the masses—while also preserving Cuban and Mexican folk art traditions. Her celebrated butaque chairs were based on a colonial-era hybrid of Spanish X-frame seating and pre-Columbian ritual stools. Their ergonomic forms are crafted from polished wood and materials like wicker, leather, or woven agave reeds. When I read that this woody, tobacco-accented perfume was inspired by Thibaud Crivelli’s first encounter with papyrus root powder among a group of tattooed women smoking cigarillos, I immediately imagined Clara Porset’s wood-and-woven chairs being crafted by women smoking Cuban cigars. The fragrance is deep, warm, and smooth, but with bright and peppery vegetal and mineral top notes. I find that papyrus comes across a bit like vetiver: grassy, both green and dry, it feels grounded and a little serious, but the addition of coriander and elemi resin makes this fragrance zing with citric greenness. Like Porset’s designs, this scent is like modernist aesthetics encountering the rootedness of natural materials and craft traditions. I initially noticed this fragrance being touted as a more interesting alternative to Le Labo’s Santal 33, and I’ll say that they’re very similar, but Santal is heavier and more leather-ish, creamier and more enveloping, while this one is fresher and more lively. I tried them at the same time and Santal’s luxurious soft-focus felt almost flat, dull even, compared to the witty crackle of Papyrus Moléculaire, which rings out as bright and clear as a laugh. It’s an incredibly well-balanced fragrance, delicious and satisfying, totally unisex, that I think could be worn in any season for almost any occasion. I burned through my sample vial of this in record time and promptly bought a full bottle.

I want to start by appreciating Maison Crivelli design - the esthetical appearance is just so so so pleasant to the eye, the minimalistic design with a sort of metallic cap with a stamp on it creates a very luxurious minimalistic feeling with very thought-out details. Beautiful design indeed - that is pleasant also for a male and female! Papyrus Moléculaire is one of those scents that put me in this deep deep 'zen' zone, such a relaxing, calming and enveloping perfume. I love this slight greenish lactonic note that I get, the perfectly pronounced carrot seed note gives this perfume a light sweetness and gourmand feeling, maybe it's tonka also, but I don't get a lot of tonka notes personally. To me, it's not a powdery scent but a juicy one - that just proves how differently we found and smell the scents! To me, this is a warm hug of a loved one... Yes... I found those kinds of perfumes like an expression of love, they give me those warm feelings, very calming and soothing. I just relax in those scents, I let my mind flow and daydream. Every time I smell this I get this warm warm feeling when I just want to close my eyes and enjoy the smell. BEAUTIFUL! Such a great creation! I was very surprised to find out that there is no sandalwood in this perfume! I don't know how a single note of papyrus smells like so that would be very interesting, but to me, it does have this pickle-like sandalwood note that I adore. The scent is unisex 100%, I see this as a versatile perfume for all seasons! The projection is strong, definitely creates a huge aroma cloud around you, and the same with longevity I would even say enormous! I can smell this strongly on my clothing the second day and the sillage is still there - RADIATING! The perfume is worth your attention for sure!

I blind bought Santal 33 immediately when it first came out in 2011. I was excited about the notes but I could not stomach the scent back then. I found it too strong and too weird to wear and so found the people around me. I soon sold that bottle.. Years later I started noticing this fragrance again. People started wearing it. It became one of my best friends favorites and I thought it smelled great on him. I wondered if Le Labo changed the recipe a bit or did everybodies nose change? Today, I got a sample of Papyrus Moleculaire and I got immediate flashbacks to Santal 33. I find it less heavy though. It is more fresh and less sticky then Santal 33. I love it and I ordered a full bottle. Also for me this is finally a parfum with Elemi done right. I tried many parfums before with Elemi. I found Elemi always thick and nauseating. DIOR for example ruined in my opinion the amazing Eau Sauvage Parfum with Elemi. The original note in the composition was Myrrh but DIOR reformulated ESP with Elemi instead of Myrrh. The Myrrh in ESP made it one of the best fragrances I have owned. Anyway, my encounters with Elemi were never good until my review here. Going into the dry down of Papyrus Moleculaire I get more of the Papyrus. I have been to Cairo several times and it reminds me of visiting the Nile Delta. This scent is very nice and easy to wear. It has indeed similarities with Santal 33 but in the end it is a different experience.

I went hunting for a new fragrance with no criteria, if only to just trust my nose, as I took in the many options the Scent Bar in Los Angeles had to offer. Upon smelling this fragrance I immediately loved the powdery, fresh, woody, yet subtly sweet notes, and placed it on me to see how it would mature with a little time on the skin. As i shopped around some more, and made a few more sprays up and down the arms, i found myself continuously coming back to the spot I had placed on Papyrus mellowing out to a warm pleasing scent of wood and tobacco while keeping a little bite of some fresh spicy tang to it, it had what i would consider a modern-masculine appeal to it but certainly unisex enough to be categorized as such. I was finally able to dwindle my choices down to two, when the lady working the counter suggested for me to go outside of the shop, away from the taint of the other fragrances, and see how the sun would brighten the scents and Papyrus came off as the clear victor. After wearing this a few times, i can say it’s definitely a crowd pleaser and good for about any occasion, its inoffensive and versatile, good for daytime group settings, but also sexy enough for a date at night with someone you may wanna show off a little masculinity too while not coming off as a total machismo. This one will be in my rotation for a long time, and am very happy with this purchase.

I blind bought this based on the notes: papyrus, coriander and tobacco being the standouts. I already had tried Diptyque Papyrus and liked it very much but something about it felt flat not inspiring. I own DS& Durga Coriander and it's one of my all time favorites but more of a summer fragrance. And recently I bought Diptyque Volutes, a sweet tobacco fragrance, and I really like it. Maison Crivelli has impressed me first with their presentation. The bottle design and fonts are very appealing to me. I know that is superficial but I would never buy certain fragrances that come out gaudy bottles. Crivelli is modern and understated. So what does Papyrus Moleculaire smell like? When I spray it on, it immediately reminds me of a mash up of favorites: Le Labo Santal 33, Diptyque Volutes, and Diptyque Papyrus. There is a warm, sweet, tobacco, honeyed, papyrus group of notes that is expertly balanced by the subtle addition of pepper and coffee notes. Olibanum is also listed in the notes and whenever I smell that note I think of baby diaper creme, which is a strangely pleasant sensation to me. Nothing in Papyrus Moleculaire is overdone, it all works together like a well practiced orchestra. I like it so much I'm going to explore the other Maison Crivelli fragrances and see if there's anything else to buy.

A light green, powdery papyrus that seems effortlessly clean and fresh. There’s a really airy and well-blended accord of aromatic spices that lift everything up and keep things open, similar to good aromatic fougeres. Nothing is too overpowering and grasping its complexity is a little hard. Iris sits at the heart and contributes a lightly woody aroma rounded out by hay and tonka. I get more sandalwood towards the end. I forget what Santal 33 smells like exactly (I remember it being more sour) but papyrus seems like one of those notes you’ll either like or dislike. My first time smelling this I thought it was a little too simple because it was too easy to simply label it “papyrus fragrance”, but I’ve grown to appreciate it. There’s a subtle earthiness here that feels almost damp- not parched and sterile like paper, but dewy and alive and almost stony (I think someone below mentioned this). Sometimes I like it, but then randomly I’ll really dislike the peppery notes and question whether I like papyrus at all. Edit: bought it! Thoroughly enjoy the clean, papery texture and subtle tobacco notes.

I have both Santal 33, Maison Louis Marie n4 and Papyrus Moléculaire in my collection and I can give you are description of all of the scents. First of all, all 3 smells almost identical. Santal 33: more sandalwood heavy, pickle juice and lasts 7/8+ hours Maison Louis Marie n4: more powdery, fresh cucumber and smooth, lasts 4/5 hours Papyrus Moléculaire: more herbal, aromatic and deeper, lasts 6/7+ hours Now, there are very very similar to each other. A “normal” person who is not into perfumes will not pick the difference between the 3, unless they smell your skin directly. It all comes to your preference and budget. If you want the ultimate niche experience, go for Santal 33. If you are on a budget and don’t mind reapplying go for number 4. If you are looking for herbal spa and mix between Santal 33 and Maison Louis Marie n4, go for Papyrus Moléculaire. It’s like identical triplets. They are identical but have different personalities.

Papyrus Moléculaire gives the same genre as Le Labo Santal 33, but immediately feels smoother, creamier, and more grounded. It removes that sharp, metallic “sandalwood screech” that people often get from Santal 33 and replaces it with something more calm, elegant, and balanced. The result is this creamy, woody aura that smells therapeutic and quietly luxurious. The kind of scent that instantly makes you feel composed the moment you wear it. The blend is seamless and very refined, and the best part is how expensive it smells. I actually got complimented right away, my friend literally said, “oh my god, you smell so good,” just from the immediate aura it gives off. If you like creamy woods with a sophisticated, calm presence, this is a must-try. Go for Santal 33 if you want something sharper and more aggressively woody; choose Papyrus Moléculaire if you want refinement, silkiness, and a more serene aura.

If Santal 33 is a pop superstar (for its strength and loud projection), Papyrus Moleculaire is the back up singer - similar voice, similar vibes, but with quirks making it unique on its own. I find this to be a softer version, fresher and a little balsamic. Also a distinct absence of the leather note as in Santal 33. I detect a pine-like note but put it down to my confused (for lack of a better word) interpretation of the coriander seeds and pepper. Ultra modern and fancy hotel vibes. Although not a dupe in the slightest, I think this is an excellent and more wearable alternative to Santal 33 at a better price point. Downside is that it probably won’t last anywhere near as long as Santal 33, but for me the trade off is the beautiful fresh spicy aspect. I also see some resemblance to Van Cleef’s Santal Blanc but without the fig. Full bottle worthy.

This scent is so peaceful for me. It's clean and meditative. It reminds me a bit of the cold, clean interior of an art gallery. But man the performance is just not what I want. I actually smelled this before Santal 33, and I got a sample of the latter to see if I could get the same DNA that lasted longer. But to my nose, they are too different. S33 is dirty. It only lasts slightly longer anyway. From Papyrus, I get about 3 hours of being able to smell it. After that I have to stick my nose up to my skin to smell it. I also think it could be mistaken for ambient scents. Like how some places just smell a certain way. It's natural smelling, almost. Which I think is a pro and a con of the scent. As others have said, it smells like paper. But like, really good paper? It captures an ambient scent you wish you could bottle.

Longevity on this stuff is great. I sprayed it on at 1pm yesterday afternoon and it's almost 9am the following morning and I'm still catching wafts. I only sprayed on skin, too, not my clothes. Really impressive. I recently won a discovery set featuring 10 of their fragrances and I'm increasingly impressed with the house the more that I try. So far, the standouts for me are Papyrus Moleculaire, Bois Datchai and my favorite so far, Iris Malikhan. This Papyrus Moleculaire smells amazing. It seems as though a lot of people compare it to Santal 33 from Le Labo but I have never smelled the Le Labo, so I can't compare. I have heard that Santal 33 can give off a dill pickle type vibe which I did not detect in Papyrus Moleculaire at all, so that's good because I'm not sure I'd enjoy smelling like a dill pickle.

Not going to lie I've been looking for an alternative to Santal 33 (because I'm obsessed with the scent profile) and wasn't expecting to settle for anything else. But somehow, I think I like Papyrus equally! I don't think it's an outright clone whatsoever. Papyrus feels clean + dewy, whereas Santal feels dry + bitter, and both are really satisfying. I'm leaning toward Papyrus for myself, as my impression is that it's more likeable to others and I don't want to put people off with a polarising fragrance. We'll see! Strange that Fragrantica doesn't mention the sandalwood, tonka, leather, or iris that are present on the official Crivelli website. Also, the longevity is decent! I was still getting some projection even after 6-7 hours at work, catching it in the air at times. Very happy about that.

Only after I smelled this scent, I realized that what I picked up the most prominently in Santal 33 wasn't the sandalwood or leather, but the papyrus. I LOVE the papyrus in both this scent and Santal 33. Papyrus Moleculaire has even better longevity than Santal 33. To my nose, PM is a bit sweeter but a tiny bit thinner than S33. I don't think I can tell the difference between the two on a wearer. For that reason, I'd only own one of them, not both. Although I find both scents of excellent quality, I'd still pick S33 over PM, as I think the former has just a sliver of an edge over the latter in terms of complexity. Both are 100% unisex.

Normally, I prefer strong Arabic spicy oud scents. However, Papyrus Moléculaire is exceptionally good for a scent that caters more to a Western/East Asian palate. Such an enjoyable scent! It’s clean, smooth, soothing, and yet somehow luxurious. The top notes are grassy, sweet, yet gently woody, before drying down into a soft and gentle sandalwood note. The main downside is that the sillage and longevity aren’t something to write home about. It’s a bit overpriced for its performance. Yet, it’s too delicious not to wear. 8/10, would highly recommend.

I love this stuff. This is crisp, complex, and tight at the opening with some warm papery, woody, pepper and spice, incense maybe, and antique notes floating around. The core is very sandalwood for me, light and airy. Overall, I think it’s beautiful, but a touch serious. Not overtly masculine or feminine leaning for me, crisp, pleasant, agreeable but with plenty of character. Both projection, sillage, are modest which is fine for me. Wish it lasted a bit longer. I would gladly wear this on all but the hottest of days.

Really really really addicted to this scent. It’s very nice to just smell it off of yourself when spraying it, I don’t know what it is if it’s the papyrus or carrot seeds, but something is very attractive to me when I wore this and it’s definitely not the Tonka, can’t even smell the tonka personally. I bought this scent very recently, and I think it’s a very flexible scent. 8.7/10 for me at the moment. Stays on for up to 6-7 hrs.

It's a higher quality Santal 33. It makes Santal 33 smell like Elmer's glue or a little bit cardboard. I think they made it more impactful and stronger (god forbid) than Santal 33 by omitting the 50% Iso E Super found in Santal 33 and maybe some of the musks, letting some of the louder aroma chemicals truly scream.

Its a captivating fragrance that blends earthy papyrus with warm spices and resin. It evolves into a harmonious mix of woody and floral notes, anchored by a creamy amber base. With impressive longevity and versatility, its perfect signature scent that sparks compliments everywhere you go!

creamy & delicious, kinda sunscreeny or beachy to me, doesn’t smell like coconut but has a buttery texture that feels reminiscent of it somehow. this works really well on my skin in the summer but for some reason gets a bit headachy in colder weather.

I recently bought Maison Crivelli Papyrus Moléculaire, and it’s now one of my favorites. The scent is unique and works well for any occasion. I’m really happy with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great perfume.

Absolutely divine. Subtle, balanced, breezy. A perfect daytime scent. I don't think the automatic comparisons to Santal 33 are merited. This is a much more understated and classy scent. Excellent longevity, too.

This was the one that I decided to splurge on after I tested the whole sample set. Fresh green raw woodsy, it really reminds you of the stemmy plant. It is chic and minimalistic, absolutely unisex. ♥

Spicy, dry, warm, super pleasant. I mostly get pepper, a bit of tobacco, and a papery scent that must be the papyrus. It's subtle, but I pick up nice whiffs throughout the day. Love this one.

Feels like an elegant cashmere sweater or a trench coat, in a very quiet luxury way. Woodsy and spicy but there is a sweet almost gourmand quality to this. Starchy, earthy and doughy.

If you want a unique, clean, a bit green signature scent, this is the one to get, perfect for everyday use, a bit underwhelming if you're looking for a party fragrance.

This is an incredible blend. The Santal 33 comparisons are justified, but I think Papyrus Moleculaire is a classier older brother.

Very similar to Santal 33, with a smoother suede and milky sandalwood feel. Softer palette. Beautiful.

sandalwood 33 smells like dill. this smells more like a cake, as mentioned below

lovely low profile woody that lasts!

I could write a novella but let's keep the story short. Do you love paper? Cardboard? Wet or dry, fresh or aged - does the smell of yellowed old paperbacks, stacks of freshly-folded unused pizza boxes or a big old wad of paper mache make you happy? Even in the digital-first 21st century, do you still like to stick your nose into the middle of a physical book and huff it? For me it's the smell of inspiration and good times (library nerd typing, obviously) - so this is unexpectedly the biggest win from Crivelli, a house whose publications often don't really light my fire. Their tasteful, transparent, quirky approach often lures me in with great, surpising, creative opens... and then the plots fail to thicken and the scents run out after a terribly short run. On this one longevity is much, much better (3-5h, though getting discreet after a couple of hours) and the unifying thread - that dry, papery, vegetal aura of papyrus - keeps a nice strong spine throughout. So I paradoxically LOVE it. What does papyrus smell like? Well, papery, yes - powdery, dry, but also with a sort of herbal, vegetal 'stalk-iness' about it - like snapped reeds (logically enough). The note is recognisable from some more complex scents I've tried (TF Sahara Noir, Carner Black Calamus, Parle-Moi's Papyrus Oud, L'Artisan Timbuktu) - but here it's really allowed to take centre stage and dominate far more - which is only good news. Smelling this also makes me realise that papyrus shades really easily into some of the drier, whiter/greener, more savoury ends of sandalwood - and that a lot of scents I've loved in the sandalwood genre have definitely been stirring some papyrus into the mix. It's sort of flaxy, sisal string-y, really fibrous, something like raw wet linen (another happy natural smell) ... but far from green-juicy. More like papery... almost scratchy, and deeply dry as dust. There's a sort of spicy sweetness, too, again, conjuring sandalwood from a different direction. It's interesting to read the blurb above about 'balancing warm and cool' because that's the first thing you notice about it - it seesaws beautifully between light-green botanical plantishess and pinkish, almost cinnamon spice. Yes, akin to 'Santal 33 but not as dill-heavy' - but on me somehow much more charming (and definitely way softer.) In my book: a winner. Not for blind buying and not all that well priced, but if I tripped over a bottle of this at discount it would be a very happy accident. A Crivelli which truly delivers on its original take on the central note, and won me over? Yes, reader, it really happened. PLOT TWIST! It seemed most unlikely but this was no pulp fiction.

Papyrus Moléculaire is a woody, musky scent, smooth and papery, and beautifully-balanced throughout. It is a dry, dusty take on a woody scent without being harsh. I get a prominent creamy sandalwood note, despite it not being listed. Soft, dry and aromatic, PM is a nicely nuanced scent that is pleasant and comforting. PM is woody from initial spray, with the dry, aromatic papyrus note prominent up top. The sandalwood follows, adding smoothness and body, rounding out the woody accord. Soft, savoury spices follow, complementing the woodiness to peppery perfection. There is an underlying muskiness that slowly comes to the fore as the scent progresses, adding softness and depth while complementing the woodiness to perfection. A hay-like tobacco note follows, adding a light, herbal earthiness to PM. More plant-like than smoky, it melds well with the smooth woods. It is very dry here, becoming dusty in texture. The carrot seed note gives an orris-like effect to the later stages, powdery and earthy, yet also adding an element of refinement (though perhaps this is simply due to my association of carrot seed with iris). It remains dry, with ambroxan smoothing things out as it fades to a musky, woody skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is a unisex year-round scent, discreet enough for everyday use. A subtle, high-quality musky-woody scent, PM is wonderfully smooth in texture and immensely satisfying. A comforting yet wearable scent, this brings to mind quiet luxury. I prefer this to Santal 33. 4/5.

The reviews below are really mixed, I would advise to stay away from some of them. As a reviewer, you really have a responsibility with words. We all know the power of suggestion when it comes to perfume. You can suggest certain notes, with certain words – and then they can't be unsmelled. Some reviews below are just plain nonsens. And some of them are good. Papyrus moleculaire was an instant like. Definitely get that ’luxury spa’ associations (I mean it in the best way possible). It is calming, as many have mentioned. It's very soft, round and unoffensive for being somewhat spicy. For me, the coriander comes through. Very distant associations to DS Durga's Coriander , but this is better (and something entirely different). It's masculine, but not in that stereotypical, overly masculine way. Perhaps more unisex, rather than masculine. It surprises me so few have mentioned its lactonic quality, because it's really prominent, and what characterize a large part of the overall composition. It's lactonic, essentially green and fresh, a soft spiciness (coriander), cosiness-roundness from the tobacco. Unusual, but extremely pleasant. Very nice. Versatile and pefect for autumn, early winter, early spring. Since I first tried this in Galilu Warszawa, this has become a love for me. One of those scents that puts you in a relaxed and very good mood. I will have to acquire this soon. It’s beautiful.

I see the similarities people are drawing between this and Santal 33, but I do not think that they are interchangeable AT ALL. I don't believe that this is a dupe, I find that it was made with far better quality ingredients and has a beautiful originality. I think it's an interesting look into how unrelated ingredients can combine to create the illusion of a familiar note. In this case, the savory nature of coriander combine with the green herbal note of papyrus to suggest the woodiness of an authentic sandalwood. It's further amplified by black pepper and elemi, which accentuates the spicy and creamy facets often found in sandalwood fragrances. Each ingredient is easily identified when you search for it, but all together, they meld into a gorgeous rustic sandalwood. I have never liked Santal 33 - to my nose, it's sharp and synthetic (an ambrox bomb) and the 'dill pickle' accord is inescapable. Papyrus Moleculaire is smoother, with more peppery and root-like nuances. It veers away from pickled veggies and stays safely in the casual, woody territory. Is this similar to other well-known fragrances? Sure. Is there anything wrong with creating an improved version of that well-known fragrance? I don't think so - I prefer quality over authenticity.

I decided to re-write this review after some thought The opening is kind of difficult. It is relatively green, but not in a fresh juicy way. It's papyrus, like a dry herb. The start smells a lot like you're flipping pages of an old dusty book. This goes on for about 30 minutes. The dry down is really nice, and more smooth than S33. It's really sheer with the sandalwood. I think this is a great alternative to Santal 33 if you’re wanting a more affordable lighter everyday wear. I’d say relatively versatile too. Probably one of the more unique fragrances that is commonly compared to s33. Longevity is relatively moderate; it is relatively close sillage once it surpasses 5 hours. If you want something more demure and lacks the “pickle” note , this is a great option. For context: I am currently sampling fragrances that are similar to s33 - I own Lovers LV and was wanting a more daily option as I feel Lovers is for night outings/special occasions. This would be unique enough to own as a daily driver compared to the others I have tried so far (Parsian Musc Matiere Premiere and Santal Blanc Van Cleef & Arpels) I may change my mind as I dent through these decants but who knows

This is in the same vein as Santal 33 (a fragrance I don't care for), but I think this is much better. This comes across as a sandalwood and papyrus scent, with a hint of tobacco and some spice. It starts largely as papyrus, but it warms up on the skin and spice & tobacco become apparent. The tobacco is soft & powdery--similar to the tobacco in Chergui and Volutes. As far as spice, I get what smells like cardamom. While it does warm up on the skin, it's not a warm spicy sandalwood....it goes a bit in the fresh-spicy and aromatic direction. Despite the name, I don't find this overly "molecule-like" and it's not nearly as synthetic smelling as the Le Labo. Given the name, I was afraid I'd get a lot of aromachemicals (specifically Iso E Super), but I don't get anything like that. This is pleasant, but I wish the performance was better--it sits very close to the skin on me. Is unisex IMO.

So here's the thing I don't like this kind of papyrus fragrance, it's that wet, fresh, but with a haunting background of incense type papyrus, rather than a big dark nagamotha/cypriol. This vibe/accord was made popular by Santal 33 from Le Labo and the association is instant and it would be so easy for Crivelli to copy, however I'd actually say that this has a different character. It does! It's a wholly palatable and in depth study of this note/accord and whether my tastes are changing or what I don't know, but I can appreciate it for what it is without wanteing especially to wear it. There's a fresh cucumber/celery note in here with coriander seed, it's oddly spicy, herbaceous fresh and just like santal 33 gets better the more it wear on. I think if you're a fan of this genre you'll appreciate the similarities but also the differences.

It's fascinating how the scent of papyrus is so distinct, making itself known amidst a crowd of notes. As time passes, it gracefully retreats to make room for black pepper and tobacco. The transition is truly delightful. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, like a long-forgotten memory. The notes blend harmoniously and subtly, creating a fragrance that, despite its gentleness, is not one for a blind purchase. It's undeniably papyrus-centric and delivers an impact akin to Santal 33—unexpected, yet warmly inviting. An hour later, it strikes me as the kinder sibling of Santal, and I appreciate both for their unique qualities. When you get to know them, you love them for their distinct characteristics. However, the price point is a letdown, given how faint the scent is (from my experience). 7.5/10

At first I got a beautiful fresh, wet green scent upon application. 2 sprays to the chest and one on the wrist to check with its evolution throughout the day. The first hour or so I got this lovely cucumber-adjacent scent that made me think of this one lotion my mom swore by, with subtle hints of elemi and tonka to back it up. As that green scent faded, I still had the other two stick by for another hour or so. Unfortunately, after a few hours there's no trace of it on me. I don't use strongly scented laundry detergent or deodorant and I can smell those more than I can this scent. Its a lovely scent (though I crave those other notes listed), the frequency of the application needed is not worth it. Maybe if you need a safe and subtle scent, but I'm rarely chasing that.

This is my third sample of Papyrus. I still consider this very similar to Santal 33. However, there is no sandalwood! It smells like there should be. It's hard for me to process the fact that there is not. I changed my mind a little bit about this fragrance. It seems like before I was in love and this was in my top three, but now I think I’m going to pass because it smells like every other sandalwood I have. Tam Dao by Diptyque also smells similar. I do want to say one thing. After about three hours or so it registers something really gorgeous. It turns Home more resinous and sweet. Now it becomes distinct from all of the others. That's why it's hard for me to say no. I do want it. For me to come back again and again after seven months says something as well.

Beautiful, minimal, sober—Papyrus Moleculaire seems like a slept-on scent from the Maison Crivelli family. Everyone seems to tout Patchouli Magnetik and Iris Malikhan, but this one deserves some love too. If you're keen on papyrus and soft, woody scents, it smells like: A) quickly flipping an old paperback book through your fingers and seeing the ensuing dust float through air, lit up by the late afternoon sunlight filtering through a linen curtain. If you don't like it, it's probably because it smells like: B) any and every boutique hotel lobby in LA or C) the kind of shop that displays stacks of photography books on 80s post-modern, tessellated coffee tables and charges $340 for an artisanal, ceramic bowl.

Easier wear than Santal 33. No dill and not as “dusty”, santal comes through more creamy in here. Same fragrance profile (woody, gently spicy but at the same time airy). However more warmth in this than S33 and feels like a more refined, better blended composition. One aspect where S33 is better - longevity. Papyrus wears very close to the skin and lasting power is a bit lacking. But nevertheless a beautiful scent, one of the best by Crivelli. Unisex. Spring through Fall no brainier reach. Can see this being a signature. Update: on the 3rd time testing some very camphorous and eucalyptus-like notes emerged. Does not ruin the scent, just comes to show it is worth testing multiple times.

I can see the comparisons to Santal 33 with this one but I do think it's more unique--at the very least, it is less straightforwardly creamy sandalwood to me and more aromatic overall. The papyrus really comes through on the first spray and as it dries down a get a lot more of the spice elements: coriander, pepper, tobbaco, etc (though I would say this is a pretty linear fragrance--what you get on that dry down is what it's going to stay the whole way through). Lasted between 6 and 7 hours on me and was intimate the entire wear.

Testing my sample; this smells like a thin sheet of dry parchment starched within an inch of its life in a warm, powdery, and spicy powder that makes the parchment that much drier. Leans cool and fresh despite it leaning on the spicier side. Reviews citing Santal 33 are right, save the lack of the pickle note in this that's inescapable in Le Labo's creation. I'd wear this all year round save the dead of winter aka the current season, because this needs some external heat to be appreciated. Sits just at arms' length.

The similarity with Santal 33 is striking, yet papyrus moleculaire feels a bit more smooth, more streamlined. It is gentler, perhaps more easygoing and it might be less polarizing. But when wearing this composition, it’s hard to not think of Santal 33 as it is such an iconic perfume with a huge following. When sampling I sprayed abundantly so I can’t tell if that’s the reason I find it projects well and it has a good longevity. I just woke up after a good night rest and I still smell it on me.

This one does imitate the famous Santal 33. The weardown after 2 hours is also amazing. Lasted with projection about 3-4 hours at most, then becomes like a lotion. Great perfume with medium performance.Absolutely unisex, and great for any time and day. I also believe this type of scent is a signature worthy. Only issue is that everyone has santal 33 in their collection. I even met a guy by sniffing him out of a crowd wearing santal 33 at a local car show lol

This smells just like Santal 33 (or my memory of it — I haven't smelled it since, like, 2012). It's definitely pleasant, but I don't know if it's for me. I don't know if I can associate this kind of milky sandalwood with anything other than Brooklyn hipsters. But this is the only scent from the discovery set that I like, sadly! So, we'll see... UPDATE Yeah, we saw. And 'twas not for me. I officially don't like anything from this house, booo.

“Moleculaire” made me nervous because I generally don’t like “molecular” fragrances, but as far as my nose can tell the name is just a name and has nothing to do with the formulation. This is a really nice, fresh, green, woody aromatic. It’s both well-blended and uses some less common ingredients which makes it hard for me to identify particular notes, but I like it.

Papyrus Moleculaire is a unique and refined creamy papyrus scent. Silky smooth woods like papyrus and amyris beat powerfully at the heart of the fragrance, and soft spices like elemi resin and coriander provide a subtle sharpness that cuts through the air. Unfortunately, it is held back by its slight bright-green tang—an inevitable characteristic of its genre. 7/10

Lightly spiced wood. Drydown is nice. I can see where this would be considered therapeutic. Like Teddy Swims, "I've tried everything but therapy." I normally don't want therapy. Mostly chaos. So while this is a good scent, it's not for me. Gave the remaining sample to my wife who really enjoys it. Got about 5ish hours with light projection.

It's soft yet sturdy. It's a familiar drive home. It's a foggy morning in San Francisco. This fragrance is the first embrace of a man who unravels your soul and quiets the Ocean. It's familiar yet glaring and unsettling. Feels like working in wood shop at midnight with the door Open and a dog barking in the distant sky.