Le Labo is launching a new fragrance Santal 33 on May 1st. It is the second addition to the classic perfume collection. Santal 33 includes notes of Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox and leather accord. Update: the perfumer is Frank Voekl. Le Labo has already collaborated with him on Iris 39, Baie Rose 26, Musc 25 and their Santal 26 candle. Santal 33 contains 30% of essential oils, and it is classified as the Eau de Parfum. It is currently available from Colette and is priced at 170 euros/100ml.
Inspiration: “Do you remember the old Marlboro ads? A man and his horse in front of the fire on a great plain under tall, blue evening skies – A defining image of the spirit of the American West with all it implied about masculinity and personal freedom. This man, firelight in his face, leaning on the worn leather saddle, alone with the desert wind, an icon so powerful that every man wanted to be him and every woman wanted to have him…
From this memory is born SANTAL 33: the ambition to create an olfactive form inspired by the great American myth still a source of fantasy for the rest of the world… A perfume that touches the sensual universality of this icon… that would intoxicate a man as much as a woman… that introduces our use of cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox which crackle in the formula and bring to this smoking wood alloy (Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood) some spicy, leathery, musky notes, and gives this perfume its unisex signature and addictive comfort. Here are, in a few words, what SANTAL 33 is… An open fire… The soft drift of smoke… Where sensuality rises after the light has gone.”
Via Le Labo
20 Comments
lulllull: I am a total Sandalwood nut! The note just seems to click with my skin. I can’t wait to try this! April 26, 2011 at 11:19am
Victoria: Me too! I love sandalwood in all of its forms. Looking forward to trying it. April 26, 2011 at 11:21am
dee: Yeah, this sounds DIVINE. I love sandalwood… and I love the imagery they’re trying to evoke with this scent! April 26, 2011 at 12:02pm
Anatole: I’ve tried it and sorry to tell that it was a scrubber for me. The sandalwood on the opening is really beautiful, until the ambrox comes into the game. After that Santal 33 turns out to be one of those ouds, synthetic, that are invading the shelves since a few month. On me Santal 33 is a creamy, rubbery oud. Too bad. April 26, 2011 at 4:09pm
lulllull: Really love 10 corso como! April 26, 2011 at 4:26pm
Victoria: I'm with you, the notes and the story sound interesting. In fact, it made me think of my favorite sandalwood fragrances: Diptyque Tam Dao, Guerlain Samsara, Serge Lutens Santal de Mysore and Jeux de Peau… April 26, 2011 at 3:35pm
Victoria: Hmmm… I'm still looking forward to trying it myself, but now I'm worried about the oud note. That effect is not something I like.
I wonder how it compares to 10 Corso Como, another sandalwood+oud blend (but a rather successful one.) April 26, 2011 at 4:12pm
Victoria: I find it an underrated niche fragrance. Just excellent in terms of its structure, character and tenacity. Wearing it is such a pleasure. It feels halfway between velvet and silk on the skin. April 26, 2011 at 4:28pm
vanessa: I have been on a bit of a Le Labo kick lately since discovering Labdanum 18. I love sandalwood and cardamom, but I don’t normally care for oud, though the Le Labo Oud 27 was surprisingly okay, actually. Anatole has got me worried now, but I would still like to try this… I am probably even less of an oud lover then you, mind, for I don’t care for 10 Corso Como! April 26, 2011 at 4:28pm
Victoria: I am lukewarm on many Le Labo fragrances, to be honest, but the line has some gems. I love their Rose, Oud and Patchouli. Baie Rose was also fantastic.
Let's see, sandalwood ideas are rare today, so I look forward to trying this one. April 26, 2011 at 6:41pm
jcparodi: I did not get Oud on this one, and the smoke was well tempered by violet and iris, the sillage is VERY powerful, can’t wait to have this baby in my collection. Does anyone know if the price is from the regular line, or the city exclusive price due to concentration? April 27, 2011 at 9:06am
Victoria: It is a permanent addition. Still waiting to hear about its price, so I will add the information later. April 27, 2011 at 10:07am
kjanicki: Stop, you had me at Marlboro. April 27, 2011 at 1:23pm
jcparodi: I looked on Colette’s website, it’s priced the same as the global Le Labo’s. This is excellent, the exclusives are WAY overpriced.l April 27, 2011 at 5:24pm
Victoria: 🙂 April 27, 2011 at 1:25pm
Lynn Morgan: I am looking forward to this. Sandalwood is such a spiritual, meditative fragrance for me. It sounds promising. April 27, 2011 at 6:47pm
Victoria: Thank you! 170 euros is not cheap, but it is much better than the city exclusives, to be sure. April 27, 2011 at 8:34pm
Victoria: It sure is! The most unique of woods that actually smells more creamy-floral than woody. April 27, 2011 at 8:36pm
jcparodi: The blog lines are very quiet on this one……………tic toc tic toc
Sandalwood, HUGE opening, cardamon, leather, violet, musc, when the skin begins to heat the scent, the sillage rivals Oud27, and Patchouli24, apply lightly, you have been warned. SHHHHHH let’s keep this a secret for a little while 220 for 100mls. BTW May 3, 2011 at 2:26am
jcparodi: You will know how good it is, EVERYONE will tell you. May 3, 2011 at 2:32am