Santal Noble (1988)
by Maître Parfumeur et Gantier

I'm very impressed by the quality of this perfume. You really can smell the difference for the extra $$$ your paying. On me it stays very close to the skin but it last almost 10 hours. I find it to be very elegant and refined compared to Bel Ami of Hermes wich is more ''sporty'' I guess it is because of the citrus notes.

One word to describe Santal Noble: Opulant! Not for everyday use but perfect if your going out with a refined lady.

23rd January, 2012.

I am enamored with this fragrance.

The first image that comes to my mind is gold: sparkly, rich and decadent gold. But I do not mean to associate with those images the secondary images of greed, stuffiness or "old money".

This scent has a cool elegance is unlike anything ive ever smelled. I actually get so much sexiness from this scent that im a bit taken a back in order to double check my intuition. All the notes are uncompromising but again, always in an elegant way. Cool Water is an example of a compromising cologne and I am also enamored by Cool Water, but Santal Noble has an uncompromising power which Cool Water does not. It is the base note I think I am most moved by. It is utterly empowering and sensual. The top notes simply project that spicy fury.

I have to end this review with a final impression. This scent is exotic. If anyone has studied 19th century opera one knows the stage in which opera goers went to experience different worlds completely alien to their own. Exoticism. Carmen - Latin love and sexuality. Madame Butterfly - The oriental customs of love and sacrifice La Fanculla del west - The American west...

My exotic impression may sound uncharacteristic of the previous reviews. Neon lights and beautiful olive skinned woman, tequila on the breath and sweat in the air.

18th August, 2011.

If you're looking for a pretty fragrance, carefully avoid Santal Noble. Instead if you're into challenging, deep and compelling scents you could be amazed and satisfied by this one.

It opens with a sweet coffee note immediately joined by sandalwood an incense. Then the sandalwood takes over showing its creamy/dry aspect. Bold and almost overwhelming for a couple of hours. If you're into sandalwood you won't be disappointed as you'll have plenty of it in this phase...Then it settles down and blends together with vetiver, incense (again) and a musky-amber for a truly fantastic drydown that's creamy, warm, quiet and very deep.

Personally I think this is one of the best sandalwood available on the market yet it's surely not a fragrance for everybody. A masterpiece.

31st May, 2011.

Differences in perceptions and taste constantly amaze me. I am at a loss as to how anyone could not love this scent. It is one of the finest commercial sandalwood scents available. Although some what sweetened with coffee, chocolate and spices, this is a very pure interpretation of the sandalwood note. It has the perfect balance between creamy and dry, no real rough edges to speak of, excellent longevity and very moderate sillage. It's everything and more I have ever wanted in a sandalwood scent. It is worth it's price and more. One of the finest offerings from this house indeed.

5th December, 2010.

I agree with Shamu1 this is an ok scent,a very little part of it reminds me of Eau Lente for some reason. Then im hit with a silly putty type smell that turns me off.I was hoping the silly putty smell would dissipate after an hour but it didnt. I was very excited to try this one but im kinda disappointed. Oh well...but i give this a neutral rating. Not the worst but not the best either.

10th September, 2010.

Eh.

I don't see what all the hoopla is about this scent. I absolutely love sandalwood, but this is just so-so. It just smells like high-quality sawdust to me, with some kind of subtle fruit note blended in the background. I love wood smells, and I like the smell of sawdust, so this does smell pretty good to me. But that's all. It's just a pretty good scent. It smells so dry I feel like I'll catch fire if I stand too close to a heat source.

I believe the sample I have is of the current formulation, so maybe everyone else is raving about the original version. It's an okay scent, but I would never pay real money for this.

And yes, people, I am talking about the holy Santal Noble.

MY RATING: 6/10

10th July, 2010. (Last Edited: 11th July, 2010.)