Santos Concentrée (1982)
by Cartier

Usually, I enjoy identifying the different components in a fragrance as if discovering threads in a tapestry through mist. But this is so dense and tightly 'woven' that I cannot be sure the 'mist' isn't part of the projection of the fragrance, itself. What's more, I don't care. It's enough that something this potent is swirling about me. My nose seems more alive - more sensitive and attuned than it was. My mood is equally uplifted. This fragrance is in a league of its own. This sets a standard by which supposed powerhouse fragrances might be measured. The quality of its ingredients is unparalleled. My nose is tingling and the front of my forehead is tingling, also. Only essential oils cause me to feel this. I cannot stop smelling my arm where I spritzed a little over two hours ago. It is no less potent over that time and has lost nothing from my nasal vacuuming and I remain utterly distracted. This is sublime - a kind of oriental and gourmand concentration with concentrated herbal astringents and a little green element that create a sillage that warrants its own distinct classification.

5th January, 2012.

interesting, i was layering santos concentree with must de cartier this morning... and i kept smelling obsession for men!! initially i thought the obsession was from somebody else, until it dawned on me that those 2 scents combine to smell just like obsession. hahhaha... people with these can try out this little experiment just for fun.

11th October, 2011.

A gem, the perfect evolution of an almost perfect fragrance, the original Santos. This one stresses some elements in the way it turns out more woody, ambery and incensey but a touch less sweet and herbal. I don't smell more stressed the neroli accord and i perceive as unadulterated the original dosage of spices and green notes that anyway are here either less prominent at perception. Obscure as a dark forest, aromatic, woodsy and spicy. Look at my review of the original. Obviously longevity and projection are more powerful.

28th May, 2011.

I bought this by a blind buy, because i liked the standard version of santos. Totally different. The Standard version has a powdery basenote, almost none herbal (except the first minutes) and good spices that daoen´st last much. 1 hour and its gone. But its heart it so good that its acceptable this "fast go-away". The concentree is another perfume... It smell´s horrible the first seconds, really smells cheap, but soon this bad smell go away, within minutes, what you get is heavy herbal notes and good spice too, but the dry herbs are soo strong that i wold prefer the heart of the standard version... But this concentree lasts for as long as 8-12 hours. Basenotes are resinous or woody/herbals depending of the weather, not smooth as antaeus, its stronger. It will dare you discovering the occult notes...

7th October, 2010.

I am on a quest to find a non-vintage (I can't keep the whole "searchin for vintage" game up), dark destroyer, and unfortunately, this isn't it. I get the whole sandalwood and patchouli spice bomb thing, and I like it, but it seems strangely powdery and artificial. I know I've detected this strangeness before, and it's in the reformulated Tiffany for men AND the reformulated Heritage, both of which seem to be a little bit better than this particular version of Santos Concentree that I tried (tester at Bloomies). This is why I've come to the conclusion that what I tried today is a reformulation of some past titan of a fragrance that has been left impotent by uncaring corporate and government bureaucracies. It must be the case with everyone waxing nostalgic about something that I deemed to be just above average with really bad longevity.

20th August, 2010.

In a way I'm a bit reluctant to write this review, because if I told you how good this was, then everyone would start wearing it and it would be less "special".

But it is that good. No, really it is.

Nothing Cartier produce smells as good as this. The opening maybe a little eyewatering, but it has to be in order to clear the way for one of the most sublime heart and basenote combinations out there.

It's smoother than the EDT, it's better blended, richer and longer lasting.

Is it masculine? Oh yes, unashamedly so, it's no blushing violet that's for sure. But what it projects is magnificent. Warm. strong, deep, spicy woods.

There are other fragrances which attempt what this does, but none do it quite so effortlessly as Cartier Santos Concentree.

Elegant class in a bottle. For men.

18th March, 2010.