Santal Blanc (2001)
by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

Gorgeous and certainly very unique distinctive take on Sandalwood.

To my nose it opens with cool spicy notes similar to cold green grapes mixed with white wine/champagne/martini...it does evoke younger memories of morning vermouth/aperitif drinks just before lunchtime as a student in Spain...the scent of those drinks mixed with green olives as an accompaniment to nibble on, sums up Santal Blanc. These notes last forever and allow the sandalwood notes to emerge slowly but surely for the following 8 hours...

A Great Discovery for me; I shall certainly make sure this scent belongs to my collection.

Great Longevity.

Big thumbs up...!!!

15th April, 2011.

Having spent a few months with Santal Blanc now, I am quite puzzled as to why this scent doesn't get much love around here. One may be put off by the fenugreek note that it opens with, but I personally love it. I was informed by another member that the slightly metallic pencil accord that I experienced comes from Black Sesame/cumin, which happens to be used in many local traditional desserts. The Sandalwood though lightweight, is nice and silky. Overall this is a very easy to wear semi-gourmand-ish spiced sandalwood scent. I particularly love the dried fruit sweetness in this one.

7th January, 2010. (Last Edited: 19th March, 2010.)

Sweet medicinal, ethereal sandalwood.

In the vein of Tam Dao or Ormonde Jayne Man, but much sweeter. Apply very little and this might even work.

21st November, 2009.

Lasted all day and with good sillage on my skin, but ultimately this powdery sweet sandal wasn't masculine enough IMHO. Nice, but not my style.

26th June, 2009.

Didn't like this at all on myself. A heavy sweet carmely or brown sugar base is always lurking. I agree with the flour some have mentioned.The sandalwood is just clinging and monodimensional. It is hard to get out of your nose. If it could only be sampled in very brief doses as it is worn it could be a very intimate and exciting smell on a woman, exotic and musky. Her companion certainly wouldn't forget it. All the associations of that evening would surely come rushing back if smelled again; hopefully heated ones, because it is the farthest thing from a light or cool fragrance that may be suggested by the name.

24th April, 2009.

What a weird, interesting smell this is. One of the biggest oddballs in a whole Lutens line. To me it is very near to being just a cozy, almost dull woody fragrance....but then, that foody (almost bread-, flour-like) nuance makes it very twisted, and although I basically admire this and it`s bold originality, I always seem to end up gagging when I smell this one. Can`t help it, it`s really offputting in the end.

Neutral just because it`s that impressive.

Btw, like with all fragrances, by any means do not judge this by the first sniff.

16th September, 2008.