Just Received Creed Original Santal

[mesaboogie]

Needing to get my Creed fix, I ordered up a bottle of Original Santal on Amazon from Notre Dame De Paris Perfumes. This was a complete blind buy for me, just like every Creed I've bought. I did the research and it seemed like something I'd like with excellent longevity and projection. I received an authentic bottle with lot number A411S01, making this a 2011 batch. Upon initial sniff, it did NOT smell like Joop! Homme as I've been led to believe it would from the reviews. It's far too natural smelling. As a matter of fact, I got a Himalaya vibe from this one. I sprayed 1 spray on my hand and 1 spray on my neck before taking a nap. I woke up 4 hours later and smelled Original Santal very strongly. In those 4 hours it took on a slightly sweet powdery smell with a hint of cinnamon. This one is very sweet and a little uncharacteristic of the other Creed's I own. It does smell incredibly natural. I'll give it a proper full wearing and report back with longevity, but so far it's already beaten SMW and MI. I'm pretty happy with it so far.

[mikesc]

Joop is just too in your face and overpowering to be compared to OS.

Now go try Mont Blanc's Individuel and see how close you think they are. I think they are extremely close to each other on the drydown.

[mesaboogie]

Which do you think is better between OS and Individuel?

[Jer350]

Good buy, one of my favorite Creed scents, and I despise Joop.

[mrcologneguy]

Original Santal is a real treat, IMO. I don't wear it often, but when I'm in the mood for sweet/spicy and a little on the daring/trashy side, OS fits the bill. And you have to admit that the packaging is beautiful. Overall, welcomely out-of-character for Creed. A nice addition to the Creed collection, and my collection too.

[mesaboogie]

I hear this one was potent. I do 5 sprays for all of my Creed's except for Aventus, which gets 3-4. I'm gonna go full blast with OS today and see if I can make it out alive!

[cologne connoisseur]

I don't have Joop, but I like OS a lot...the sandalwood and cinnamon notes are unique to my experience and nose...and on my skin, OS will go 12 hours.

[mesaboogie]

I don't have Joop, but I like OS a lot...the sandalwood and cinnamon notes are unique to my experience and nose...and on my skin, OS will go 12 hours.

That's some seriously impressive longevity for a Creed sir. I have gotten 13 from Aventus but it's exceptionally strong.

[cologne connoisseur]

I hear this one was potent. I do 5 sprays for all of my Creed's except for Aventus, which gets 3-4. I'm gonna go full blast with OS today and see if I can make it out alive!

I'd be willing to bet you'll picking up the OS 24 hours later! I wore it last Friday, sprayed it on my body only, but it still permeates my shirt from that day.

[mrcologneguy]

I enjoy semi-frequent and somewhat guilty-pleasure reapplication, but only in tiny doses, so I can repeatedly indulge in OS's sparkling, spicy topnotes.

[Vince23heat]

looking to test this one out... I like sweet scents like new haarlem, pure malt, Allure sport, lolita lempicka but Joop was nasty to me when i tested it from a sample.

[Jack Hunter]

Feels good does it not when a blind buy is successful, enjoy the fragrance!

[canuck21]

This is the creed I've been most wanting to try, the notes sound great. and the bottle and presentation are outstanding. Will definetly be in my next samples purchase.

[hednic]

Congrats and enjoy this fine fragrance.

[Vince23heat]

i never cared to try any creeds because of longevity and batch problems. this would be the first because it doesnt seem to have those problems

[Nersh]

Its a good one. Enjoy your new find.

[mikesc]

Which do you think is better between OS and Individuel?

I really can't say for certain. I have only tested OS on paper. I just thought they were very similar. If you're ever at a Perfumania give it a try. Curious what you think.

[mikesc]

Just found out Pierre Bourdon was the nose behind both OS and Individuel.

[checker]

Good choice, OS gets me lots of compliments along with excellent longevity and sillage...

[M.T.]

Good choice, OS gets me lots of compliments along with excellent longevity and sillage...

Agreed.
I don't wear it much, weather is too warm out here for it.
When I do, I can smell it the next day.

[mesaboogie]

Feels good does it not when a blind buy is successful, enjoy the fragrance!

Yes sir it does! I've had tremendous luck with good blind buys including all my Creeds and L'Instant De Guerlain/Extreme. This Original Santal is good stuff. Very potent!

[mesaboogie]

looking to test this one out... I like sweet scents like new haarlem, pure malt, Allure sport, lolita lempicka but Joop was nasty to me when i tested it from a sample.

This one is very natural smelling, unlike the highly synthetic Joop! I can see where people draw comparisons to them but I don't think I'd mistake one for the other. Since you like sweet scents, you'll love this one. It's sweet!

[CityFan21]

I can definitely respect it for what it is, but for some reason it smells sugary to me, and not in a good way. Almost an overload of granulated sugar if that makes any sense.

[mesaboogie]

I do not recommend 5 sprays of this one. I put it on 4 hours ago and I can't get away from it! It's sooo loud! But I like it

[heperd]

I guess i have to try this again.

[M.T.]

I do not recommend 5 sprays of this one. I put it on 4 hours ago and I can't get away from it! It's sooo loud! But I like it

Personally I only use 2 sprays of Original Santal & Bois du Portugal.
Can't imagine doing 5 sprays. lol

[mesaboogie]

Personally I only use 2 sprays of Original Santal & Bois du Portugal.
Can't imagine doing 5 sprays. lol

It's a bit much!

[mesaboogie]

Approaching hour 6 and still going strong! This is the point at which GIT usually starts to die down for me. So far longevity and projection have been fantastic.

[AnthonyDG]

I agree with those who feel it isn't very "Creed" - it's an interesting departure, for sure, but I find it gets cloying.

Whenever I read Creed and Santal together it's impossible to not think of the best sandalwood fragrance ever made, Creed's discontinued Bois de Santal. A masterpiece, as cliche as that adjective has become on the boards!

[dollars&scents]

glad it worked out for you ... enjoy !!!

[mesaboogie]

Today I got a good 9 hours out of Original Santal. I put it on at 4pm and at 1am it is now barely detectable. I would have probably gotten more but I had to shower. It projected loudly for the first 5 hours or so. I'm very impressed with this one and I'm glad to have it in the collection.

[LloydLlewellyn]

Not my favourite Creed, I find it too sweet... Then again, I like my sandalwood more smoky...

[mesaboogie]

Ok so 13 hours after application I can still smell OS on my left wrist. Incredible.

[tiberije]

I have probably 20 Creeds but this one and Tabarome Millesime I don't like at all. No matter what everyone say this is just more expensive JOOP to me.

[Charlie2000]

Love OS.....Nice buy

[mesaboogie]

Okay so 14.5 hours in I can still smell it on my wrist. This stuff outlasts Aventus! It's actually scary how long this lasts. Creeds aren't supposed to have this kind of longevity!

[Bonoanimoes]

OS will be my next Creed. Enjoy it!

[derekp]

Still one of my favourites, but I envy the longevity you seem to be getting with it. Not the case for me.

[mesaboogie]

I can still smell it but it's faint. It stopped projecting at about the 9 hour mark and hung close to the skin.

[ChuckW]

OS is an awesome scent. 2 sprays is adequate, 3 sprays is the max you can get by with.

[mikesc]

Just sprayed OS on me today to compare with Individuel. They are extremely similar. I can't imagine someone liking one and not the other. Definitely worth the time to try if you like OS. Also just realized Pierre created Individuel for Mont Blanc in 2003 and later did OS for Creed in 2005.

[Oupavoc]

Congrats, and enjoy your new juice.

[starshipvelcro]

I usually end up liking this, but it overstays it's welcome. Still, nice cold weather (to me) Creed.

[MOONB]

I like it but it doesn't wow me. Also don't think it smells anything like Joop!

Frankly, between the two, I think I might like Joop! better because it has a strong floral component that OS doesn't have (except for the lavender).

[mesaboogie]

Am I the only one that sees a similarity with Himalaya? I think it's soapy freshness.

[jamwires]

Am I the only one that sees a similarity with Himalaya? I think it's soapy freshness.

Don't get that association personally, but I can see how you might. I'd have to say, Original Santal is MUCH better than Himalaya to my nose. OS is an absolute beauty.

[RHM]

I LOVE Original Santal! Doesn't smell anything like Joop! when I wear it.

OS was one of the fragrances I wrote about for The Perfume Magazine. http://theperfumemagazine.com/Mens-F...wandowski.html

[dollars&scents]

@ RHM - Interesting article, I hope that you are right about sandalwood. Enjoy your OS !

[CHSeifert]

Don't get that association personally, but I can see how you might. I'd have to say, Original Santal is MUCH better than Himalaya to my nose. OS is an absolute beauty.

Joop! Homme does have a bit of cinamon in it, but other than that it's far too sweet and synthetic to remind me of OS.
I do wear JOOP! Hommer once in a while though......

If you want a fragrance that's really really close to OS, then get Mont Blanc Individuel - after 10 minutes on your skin this fragrance is very very close to OS.

You think it's a coincidence that Pierre Bourdon made Cool Water (Creed GIT), Kouros (Creed Orange Spice) and Individuel (Creed OS) ?

[Cologniano]

[QUOTE=RHM;2563934]I LOVE Original Santal! Doesn't smell anything like Joop! when I wear it.

OS was one of the fragrances I wrote about for The Perfume Magazine. http://theperfumemagazine.com/Mens-F...wandowski.html[/Q

Excellent review! I used 3 sprays to test this past Saturday morning. 1 behind each ear and 1 on my inside forearm. WOW! I had it on a good 10 hours before showering and a trace still on my forearm afterwards. I woke up Sunday and went to the gym, my sweat reactivated what was behind my ears. I couldn't believe it. My girlfriend said I was very huggable on Saturday but I didn't put 2 and 2 together, duh. It had to be the Original Santal.

I ordered a 2.5 from Creed Boutique. I spent the extra money because I'm sure this UNIQUE scent sits around the discount warehouses. Also, I was ripped off from a discounter and do not want to go through that again.
Don't buy it if you haven't tested it. It's all about skin chemistry, I have oily skin so it worked well for me. I never liked JOOP! But I love this one....I'm impatiently waiting.

[chili_willi]

What this thread taught me: mesa's naps last 4 hours. Holy crap!

[Shiny Beast]

What this thread taught me: mesa's naps last 4 hours. Holy crap!

lolz, the power nap.

[paradigm]

i never cared to try any creeds because of longevity and batch problems. this would be the first because it doesnt seem to have those problems

What a wonderful world you are missing out on! Get out there and try a few! Dont let the hype nor the gripe deter you. They really are great IMO.

[joe mcclaine]

Meh.

It's Joop!

Wouldn't thank you for a bottle.

[Francolino]

the juice is amazing|

[El_Guapo]

Love Mont Blanc Orignal Santal. I actually use it on my sheets... smells amazing.

[mesaboogie]

What this thread taught me: mesa's naps last 4 hours. Holy crap!

Haha yep. I work weird hours so I take extravagant naps!

[comfortablynumbbg]

its only flaw is that it copies Inviduel couple years later and sells at much higher prices, and by copy I mean 99% similar, by far the most similar colognes I've ever smelled (way more so than GIT and Cool Water).

[CapriDog]

I used to like Creed Original Santal some years back... but probably not that "original" any more.

[PhillyFresh]

Seriously? I loved this scent, and bought an entire bottle myself.

Unfortunately it llasted about 45 mins on my skin. Literally. And instantly returned the bottle.