You’ve likely smelled it before. Maybe on a colleague who passed by, or on a friend who went in for a hug and you could not help but notice their scent; warm and woody, creamy yet seductive, mysterious yet cozy. The intense richness of sandalwood is undeniably captivating. To better understand the scent of sandalwood, its allure, and what it’s like in perfume, we spoke with Tripta Holtz, Senior Fine Fragrance Evaluator at L’Oréal USA.
What does sandalwood smell like in perfume?
Sandalwood in perfume is often described as having a warm, rich, and woody aroma. It has a smooth, slightly sweet, and creamy quality that can be very comforting and grounding. The scent’s soft creaminess is almost velvety in texture which can make it feel luxurious. “Sandalwood is a very lush, creamy, woody note” explains Tripta, “it adds comfort, longevity, and richness to a fragrance. Sandalwood notes drive a fragrance from the back for an intense, long-lasting scent on the skin.”
What is the scent profile of a sandalwood note in perfume?
The scent profile of a sandalwood note is “woody, warm, rich, textured, creamy or milky, and soft.” says Tripta. “While other woods can be smoky or dry or damp, sandalwood is a creamy wood, like soft, delicate wool or cashmere that feels enveloping, but in a nurturing kind of way.”
What kind of mood does sandalwood evoke as a scent?
The scent of sandalwood is often associated with calm and relaxation. “But sandalwood evokes comfort just as much as it evokes opulence.” explains Tripta. “Its coziness will have you craving a warm cuddle, while its rich and sophisticated allure makes you the star of the show—or any room you’re in.”
What scent notes does sandalwood pair well with?
Sandalwood is extremely versatile. “It’s one of those scent notes that are textured and faceted, allowing it to pair well with nearly any other note.” explains Tripta.
“In perfumery, sandalwood is paired with other scent notes to either balance or complement each other. Sandalwood has a woody depth to it, and because of that, it pairs well with citrus notes. For example, bergamot balances the creaminess of sandalwood for a fresh pairing.
The creamy heart of sandalwood pairs well with florals, like white flowers, and roses, but also pairs well with creamy fruits, like peaches and coconut, and berries, like raspberry, black currant, and lychee. Fresh fruits like apple also balance out sandalwood nicely.
Because it’s a woody note, sandalwood can be juxtaposed with other woods, like cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, and guaiacwood. Cedarwood paired with sandalwood is another example of creating balance within a scent through contrast. Cedarwood has a dry, woody scent that balances the creamy milkiness of sandalwood.
Sandalwood also pairs well with gourmands, like caramel and ambery, boozy notes, like rum and liquor, and spice notes too, inclusive of refreshing cool spices and warm spices.”
Where does sandalwood sit in the layers of perfume notes?
“Like most woods, sandalwood is a bottom note.” explains Tripta, “It’s a large molecule and as a result, it nuzzles close to the skin and lasts longer. Because it drives a fragrance from the back, you can smell the sandalwood in your perfume on your clothes or blotter anywhere from 5-6 hours, to up to 2 days later.”
How do I know if I like sandalwood scents?
“When testing perfumes with sandalwood in-store, don’t throw out the blotter cards.” a pro-tip from Tripta. “Toss them in your purse or bag so you can come back to them and experience how the scents evolve over time. For a more accurate read on if you’re going to like a particular scent, test it on your skin. You’ll get to experience how it mixes with your body’s chemistry and decide if it’s the right choice for you.”
Is sandalwood a masculine or feminine scent?
Sandalwood is considered a unisex scent, with both masculine and feminine facets. It’s creamy, woody, comforting, and warm, which can bring power and sophistication to any fragrance, regardless of gender.
Lancôme Perfumes Featuring Sandalwood Scent Notes
Idôle Power eau de parfum Intense is Idôle's first fruity and woody floral fragrance, blending a fruity pomarose reminiscent of a candied apple with creamy, vibrant sandalwood. This powerful woody base is complemented by the signature Idôle rose at the heart of the perfume for an intense eau de parfum with a warm and fruity, long-lasting scent trail.
Belonging to the Absolue Les Parfums Collection, Rose on the Moon imagines the rose under moonlight, illuminated, coming alive in the night, almost cold, mineral and intriguingly mysterious. The sweetness of the rose comes together with deep, enveloping santal notes—santal here is synonymous with sandalwood—to transport the mind and senses to a mystical state of inner peace. Perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin elaborates on their scent note inspiration, “A hypnotic rose, magnified by the sumptuous texture of sandalwood. I chose to create a synergy between the rose and the sandalwood note; in this composition, the flower and the wood seem to intertwine with each other.”
Rose on the Moon
Incense & Santal
