Sandalwood, one of the oldest aromatics in the world, is now among the most popular. Santal 33 Cologne, Leopoldine shaped.Sent by Leo Crace via InstagramAs a staple of personal grooming, it has become unisex; and as a blend of natural and synthetic ingredients, it is complex, evocative and memorable. What are the key ingredients for this modern-classic fragrance, and why is its combination such a success? This article will look at the elements that make Santal 33 Cologne a signature scent, from its composition and tenacity to its versatile quality and the emotions it arouses.
Table of Contents:
– What makes Santal 33 Cologne unique?
– The composition of Santal 33 Cologne
– Lasting power and sillage
– Versatility of Santal 33 Cologne
– The emotional appeal of Santal 33 Cologne
What makes Santal 33 Cologne unique?
Santal 33 Cologne is good because it is unisex. Unisex by nature of its scent. Unisex because it needs no differentiation between man and woman – it is a universal scent for all. Santal 33 Cologne is good because it blends with your natural smells, your natural musk, making it a personal cologne that is yours alone. Santal 33 Cologne is good because it was made in that crazy place called the American West – that frontier of freedom, of adventure. That crazy place where anything is possible. You got that Santal 33 Cologne?
A further aspect of Santal 33 that I find extraordinary is its marriage of natural and synthetic materials – the interplay of which allows for a complexity that offers a considerable longevity to its wearer. Santal 33 defies the conventions of a conventional parfum, moving away from the old standard of top, heart and base notes to provide an olfactory linearity, a quality which allows its full complexity to be sensed whether hours later on the wrist of its wearer, or during its great nineteenth-century battle scene. In bringing together these inspiring elements, Le Labo’s creator – Fabrice Penot – has created a truly original and unforgettable fragrance that is, in my view, the most dynamic contemporary personality in beauty and personal-care culture.
And we can also give a nod of recognition to the packaging and marketing of Santal 33 Cologne, which also adds to its distinctive status. Its minimalist design and attention to sustainability speak to a contemporary audience that cares about the aesthetics of its everyday products. But the thought that has clearly gone into the presentation of this cologne ties in nicely with its ethos, and makes it seem somehow authentic and deserving of its niche status.
The composition of Santal 33 Cologne
The perfumer’s art of layering different notes to create something beyond the sum of its parts is also on display here: in Santal 33 Cologne, the warm, woody soul of sandal is brought to life by ‘aromatic and fruity top notes’, including pink pepper, cardamom and rum. Cedarwood and cardamom give it a spicy, luxurious edge, and there’s a ‘leathery vertigo’ from the leather notes, that is enveloped in ‘powdery, floral Iris’ at the base.
The papyrus and amber add an earthy, mysterious quality that enhances the cologne’s operation. The violet and musk add complexity and provide a contrast between the bold and subtle. The mixture of these ingredients, carefully balanced, is what makes Santal 33 a cut above its competitors. Every facet ties into the whole and that allows the perfume to please a wide range of sensibilities. It can be worn any time.
Even the composition is special – not just the notes but the way they are crafted, in such a way that each of them is clearly distinguishable yet remains a unified whole. The moment the Santal 33 Cologne is sprayed onto my wrist, the intricacy of its formulation is as apparent as the musk that lingers on my skin.
Lasting power and sillage
This is a cologne with a longevity that is much longer than most. Its scent lingers for hours after it has been applied – this has to be seen as a key attribute in the enduring success of Santal 33 Cologne: it keeps the scent of the perfume on the skin and around the wearer for many hours – maybe a full working day, if one is immersed in scent. This is one quality that gives some longevity to life and makes it worthwhile.
In this case, we can think about the sillage: the duration of the trail left by the fragrance. ‘Long’ sillage was another qualifier for Santal 33 Cologne: the cologne projects well, without anyone being hit over the head with it. And moderate sillage strikes me as that ever-elusive yet ideal balance between all-or-nothingness, making a statement without making a mess. Remember how the fragrance ‘behaviour’ functions on your body chemistry to provide a unique, individualised perfume? That sillage is moderated accordingly, and is likely different for each wearer.
The longevity and sillage of Santal 33 Cologne are key elements to what makes the perfume so valuable. In a saturated market of ephemeral olfactory experiences, Santal 33 expands its return on investment due to the fact that it can linger and offer a trail, providing a truly enriching and quality experience of perfumery.
Versatility of Santal 33 Cologne
But its versatility is its most attractive aspect: it works for every season and every occasion, complicating the whole idea of fragrance categories, making Santal 33 only the second universally wearable modern fragrance (my first being Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille). Whether you wear it to the opera or to the grocery store, Santal 33 adapts to the occasion, adding a layer of beauty to whatever you are doing without overpowering it.
Such fluidity extends to the gender fluidity of the fragrance itself. While Santal 33’s blend of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ notes is part of his magic – its appeal is not confined to one gender or the other. Instead, it appeals to everyone. Part of this openness speaks to wider trends in contemporary perfumery, where orientalised florals and woody musks are becoming more popular, often at the expense of fruitier fragrances.
But I’d also argue that 33’s versatility as the ultimate do-anything, go-with-anything woody fragrance – how it feels at home with countless types of personalities, the she-wolf and the mouse alike – guarantees that it will endure. 33 is a fragrance that works with your individual personality rather than defining an external one. That’s why it will likely be celebrated for a long time to come, regardless of what the fashion pack does or doesn’t do in the future.
The emotional appeal of Santal 33 Cologne
Fragrances evoke emotion, and memory; Santal 33 Cologne does both, mixingly. The olfactory cocktail can transport its wearer to a romantic place, a place of solace and nostalgia – open landscapes, salt-scented air, the intrepid traveller, a life well-lived. That’s part of its appeal.
The feeling of familiarity and comfort that the smell of Santal 33 offers is not a mere bonus or a fleeting sensation, but instead it adds a dimension to the wearer: to the person who has made the scent their own. This results in a loyal, committed relationship with the scent as it becomes linked to a series of personal memories and moments.
Moreover, the emotional significance of Santal 33 Cologne makes its wearers feel as if they belong together. When we share a signature scent, we all feel part of a subtle, invisible community of people who have all somehow been moved by the bottle’s page, the artist’s brush strokes. The aura of a shared attachment takes the cologne into another realm – it becomes not just a personal choice, but something that we’re engaging in together.
Conclusion:
There is simply nothing else in the world of fragrance exactly like Santal 33 Cologne, with its unusual raw ingredients, staying power, charm, complexity, versatility and emotional resonance. Unlike many fragrances whose stylistic ambitions eschew the wider world for the label of art, this cologne harnesses its powerful, evocative ingredients for a modern classic that defies narrower categories and appeals to the wearer on a deeply personal level. Regardless of whether you are drawn to the artistry or the craftsmanship of its composition; the longevity of its wear; or the memories it evokes for you, Santal 33 promises a fragrance experience that is enriching and transformative.
