Sandalwood (2004)
by Crabtree & Evelyn

I can honestly say this is one of the worst Sandalwoods I have ever encountered.

After wearing it for a few hours and it utterly refusing to die, despite me attempting one washing off of it, I felt faintly nauseous.

I find this cloyingly soapy and sweet to the point of being able to rot teeth.

It has a dry synthetic quality to it amongst the sweetness which I find off-putting.

There are much better Sandalwoods out there which have a far more enjoyable ride, TOBS Sandalwood Cologne and of course Trumpers, which are also from that barber shop tradition, would be two that spring to mind.

I would not recommend this and don't ever want to wear it again. A definite thumbs down.

27th October, 2010.

A very straightforward, linear sandalwood, this has a soapy, creamy quality to it that I find very attractive. To my nose, it doesn't change a great deal through its development, the base being perhaps a little more animalic than the top. That's no bad thing though - it's quite nice to come home smelling the same as you did after showering in the morning.

Sillage is decent, length moderate. A good every-day fragrance.

16th October, 2010.

This newer version of C&E's Sandalwood gets an undeserved bad rap, and I don't know why. Their original Sandalwood used mysore sandalwood, which is the now-endangered type of Indian sandalwood, and which has an inherently rich, warm, exotic and complex smell, almost as if it were an accord of various exotic wood oils. I suspect this new version uses Australian sandalwood, which is good but is nowhere near as complex and rich as the stuff from India. By itself, Australian sandalwood to me smells like dry, expensive sawdust.

If this newer Sandalwood uses Australian sandalwood, then C&E deserves a pat on the back, because this is a rich, exotic and complex fragrance. It smells like they did their best to replicate the smell of mysore sandalwood by adding other oils to the sandalwood oil. I think they succeeded. Though this doesn't smell quite as "creamy" as C&E's original mysore scent, it's pretty close. It's spicy, multifaceted and rich, unlike the new version of Santal Noble, which is clearly not mysore sandalwood and just smells like sawdust with fruit.

I just don't understand the bad reviews. I have to think the negative reviews are from people who aren't sandalwood fans. This is a discreet and elegant fragrance, with excellent longevity. A winner all the way.

MY RATING: 8/10

19th July, 2010.

I like it

It is still - calm and aromatic with a reconforting warmth

It is simple and classic

It has got the scent "from the exotic travels"

A great etiquette that will never date

20th April, 2010.

Found this on the Internet. It's not the same as the "original." I haven't been schooled in fragrances, but I noticed immediately that something was different. My nose knows.

16th May, 2009.

Although it is a quality Fragrance, this Sandalwood is very linear, and more akin to a cinnamon scent than any other Sandalwood I've known.

The staying power is very, very low, and dries to a spicy scent that seems more edible than enjoyable.

It's not an offensive or poor scent, but 'Eau de Cinnamon' would be a better name, in my opinion.

2nd October, 2008.