Sandalwood

Mellyhelly is right. Where this obviously doesn't have the Mysore Sandalwood of Samsara it does have whatever they're using as a replacement these days ( though VERY recently that's improved too ). It's simpler. Far less heady and complex. More clean. I also don't detect much of the top notes listed. It's the iris that comes through most then it dries down to a combination of woods. The santal though is pretty powerful though and very much lingers ( It's 12 hrs and counting ).

This is the one I had big expectations for. I cannot help it, when it comes to sandalwood I'm very partial and very critical at the same time. Who knows me also know my moaning for old formula of Samsara... I love love love first Samsara from 1990!! Since then I often subconsciously searched for a radiant, smooth, creamy and feminine sandalwood, but this world decided that Mysore sandalwood was too much of a fine material for the folks. Too harvested, too expensive. Ok, so now we are left with deciding which chemical replacer is better over the other ones. That said Merchant of Venice's Sandalwood came with a good vibe and it's good enough for me as single EdT. It works well with my chemistry and it's not harsh. I wanted to layer it with their Jasmine (a little fruity) and the combo did well on my skin while reproducing a small fraction of Samsara. A good one IMO.

This fragrance has similarities with Santal Noble by Maître Parfumeur et Gantier, yet it ́s missing the coffee note. Sandalwood has a very prominent pepper note. The pepper gives it spice but also freshness. Sandalwood smells elegant of Sandalwood. It ́s not thick or sticky. The staying power is good, projection for the first hour is also ok. Then it fades to a skin scent.

From the official site: "Sandalwood is a composition with fruity notes, bright touches of grapefruit and green accords of fig leaves, mix with white spices and open this elegant fragrance. The beauty of iris is accentuated by a flowery choir of sweet jasmine and exotic ylang ylang. The flowery heart is followed on the bottom by a magical cashmere accord, surrounded by warm sandalwood and sophisticated spicy vetiver creating a sensual, woody and balsamic fragrance." Official notes: Top: grapefruit, fig leaves, white spices Mid: iris, jasmine, ylang ylang Base: cashmere wood, sandal wood, vetiver ► Available also in EDP Concentrée version with dark blue label