Santos not on Cartier US website--WHY?

[Kandad]

This much-loved masculine from the early 80's is not listed on the US website for Cartier. A quick survey of discounters reveals none that have it in stock. Does anyone know what has happened? i thought Santos would live forever!

 

[Varanis Ridari]

A sign of the times. The US loses more and more brands and legacy perfumes every year while Europe does not.

I don't think we're a major market anymore.

Too much wealth inequality, sociopolitical strife, organized retail theft, and cultural shifts away from people regularly wearing perfume. In another 5-10 years, we're going to be like Brazil, India, and select former CSS states, relying on gray market only to get a majority of things that aren't absolute best-sellers, including entire brands that decide to just not sell here.

 

[milkbaby]

A sign of the times. The US loses more and more brands and legacy perfumes every year while Europe does not.

I don't think we're a major market anymore.

Too much wealth inequality, sociopolitical strife, organized retail theft, and cultural shifts away from people regularly wearing perfume. In another 5-10 years, we're going to be like Brazil, India, and select former CSS states, relying on gray market only to get a majority of things that aren't absolute best-sellers, including entire brands that decide to just not sell here.

In 5 to 10 years? Heck I must've been ahead of my time relying on the grey market years ago... 🤷😂

 

[Hugh V.]

And for so long, it was around $45-60 at online fragrance sites. I should have got a bottle for myself when I had the chance. I'm gonna miss it, but I get why it's not being offered here any more.

Now it'll be interesting to find a replacement for it from that era, or maybe even a modern interpretation of it.

I'm eyeing Oscar de la Renta Pour Lui at the moment. Heard some great things about it, and somewhat in the same wheelhouse as Santos.

 

[hednic]

It's still available for purchase on the French Cartier website:

https://www.cartier.com/en-fr/santo..._cod25372685655544546.html#dept=EU_Fragrances

 

[FiveoaksBouquet]

A sign of the times. The US loses more and more brands and legacy perfumes every year while Europe does not.

I don't think we're a major market anymore.

Too much wealth inequality, sociopolitical strife, organized retail theft, and cultural shifts away from people regularly wearing perfume. In another 5-10 years, we're going to be like Brazil, India, and select former CSS states, relying on gray market only to get a majority of things that aren't absolute best-sellers, including entire brands that decide to just not sell here.

You mention theft-💡lightbulb goes on over my head—connecting with news reports. To what extent might having to deal with the fallout from theft be a factor?

 

[Varanis Ridari]

You mention theft-💡lightbulb goes on over my head—connecting with news reports. To what extent might having to deal with the fallout from theft be a factor?

While I can't say this is impacting the sale of one fragrance, it definitely makes brands wary of having things that don't sell so well in US distribution chains due to the potential for thievery potentially being higher than actually selling the item, so higher volume items get prioritized.

It's a consequence of costs for doing business skyrocketing, percentage of product lost to theft getting too crazy to make sense with business insurance having to reimburse, coupled with falling overall sales as mentioned.

Sending stock to boutiques or big department stores that carry the brand, both which have been getting raided by organized retail theft rings in growing numbers absolutely spiraling year over year.

Most of these rings are connected with or funded by the same syndicates pumping fentanyl (and now tranq) into the country, which then sell those goods on eBay, Amazon, Facebook, etc. It's just another growing hustle. Up to $150,000 a pop from a single store. Perfume is a big one alongside make-up, electronics, power tools, and luxury accessories (e.g. bags).

This is of course, on top of pre-existing internal theft in the distribution chain or retail side. If somewhere like a third of your inventory is stolen (the highest percentage reported at some of these stores), coupled with falling sales to begin with, there's a cut-off point for that store; and eventually you'd gather, a cut-off point for the entire market.

Hence brands like Atelier Cologne and Serge Lutens leaving outright. Risk and cost of doing business compared to actual sales (all factors combined) making the US not a worthwhile place to send product. Those of us who want it, can import it and bite the cost of sending it to us directly. :/

 

[Kandad]

While I can't say this is impacting the sale of one fragrance, it definitely makes brands wary of having things that don't sell so well in US distribution chains due to the potential for thievery potentially being higher than actually selling the item, so higher volume items get prioritized.

It's a consequence of costs for doing business skyrocketing, percentage of product lost to theft getting too crazy to make sense with business insurance having to reimburse, coupled with falling overall sales as mentioned.

Sending stock to boutiques or big department stores that carry the brand, both which have been getting raided by organized retail theft rings in growing numbers absolutely spiraling year over year.

Most of these rings are connected with or funded by the same syndicates pumping fentanyl (and now tranq) into the country, which then sell those goods on eBay, Amazon, Facebook, etc. It's just another growing hustle. Up to $150,000 a pop from a single store. Perfume is a big one alongside make-up, electronics, power tools, and luxury accessories (e.g. bags).

This is of course, on top of pre-existing internal theft in the distribution chain or retail side. If somewhere like a third of your inventory is stolen (the highest percentage reported at some of these stores), coupled with falling sales to begin with, there's a cut-off point for that store; and eventually you'd gather, a cut-off point for the entire market.

Hence brands like Atelier Cologne and Serge Lutens leaving outright. Risk and cost of doing business compared to actual sales (all factors combined) making the US not a worthwhile place to send product. Those of us who want it, can import it and bite the cost of sending it to us directly.

You could very well be correct. But, I see plenty of Pasha, L'Envol, and Declaration available in the US, so i wonder if the brand Cartier decided to discontinue selling Santos only.

 

[Kandad]

It's still available for purchase on the French Cartier website:

https://www.cartier.com/en-fr/santo..._cod25372685655544546.html#dept=EU_Fragrances

And on their England website, too.

 

[otterlake]

A sign of the times. The US loses more and more brands and legacy perfumes every year while Europe does not.

I don't think we're a major market anymore.

Yeah, I don't think we are. Fewer and fewer releases from the well-established houses make it over here.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

It's probably restricted to certain regions, the US no longer included in its distribution.

 

[raygsoko]

This much-loved masculine from the early 80's is not listed on the US website for Cartier. A quick survey of discounters reveals none that have it in stock. Does anyone know what has happened? i thought Santos would live forever!

Santos is a big reason I got into fragrances. Like you, I noticed it wasn't on Cartier's site, not to mention out of stock at Neiman's, etc.
I contacted Cartier a week ago and this was the response...

 

[Kandad]

Santos is a big reason I got into fragrances. Like you, I noticed it wasn't on Cartier's site, not to mention out of stock at Neiman's, etc.
I contacted Cartier a week ago and this was the response...
View attachment 449022

Well, I was already sure it was gone, but that's just depressing to read it in black and white. They kept it around for more than 40 years, and then just...poof, it's gone.

 

[woodnotes55]

Those of us who want it, can import it and bite the cost of sending it to us directly. :/

It seems that is another point circling back to income inequality. Some companies/lines may be happy selling smaller amounts at higher prices to those seemingly more interested in the product......

 

[Varanis Ridari]

It seems that is another point circling back to income inequality. Some companies/lines may be happy selling smaller amounts at higher prices to those seemingly more interested in the product......

Yep, basically saying the quiet part out loud, but you're absolutely correct.

 

[davidcalgary29]

This is still widely available at the Canadian online discounters. And I note that The Bay (a Canadian department store) has Santos Concentree in stock, too.

 

[Hugh V.]

Yeah, you can still get it plenty of places for a decent price. Not $40-60 like it was for the previous few years, but still a fair enough of price considering it's quality and reputation.

That said, I got back the ribbed-bottle version. I'm glad to have it back in my collection, but after wearing it a few times recently...I'm almost "meh" at having it back and/or being discontinued. It's nice but I don't see it as something worth unicorn prices for. I'm already considering and looking forward to blind-buying a couple inexpensive fragrances that are said to be similar to Santos, and are probably a little easier to wear.

If Cartier wants to discontinue Santos, then let's find suitable replacements and support those products and brands. The ones that continue to keep similar-smelling, classic-styled fragrances in production.

 

[raygsoko]

I'm already considering and looking forward to blind-buying a couple inexpensive fragrances that are said to be similar to Santos, and are probably a little easier to wear.

Would love to hear which ones you're looking at. 😁

 

[Hugh V.]

Would love to hear which ones you're looking at. 😁

Can't say I have suggestions that would be outright clone-level in terms of smell.

But one big name from in the "Reminds me of" section of this link: https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Cartier/Santos-de-Cartier-316.html
seems to get brought up a lot with Santos. I'm probably gonna pull the trigger on that one.

Another, more recent release is _______________ .
EDIT
Nvm. Apparently that one is going up in unicorn prices for some odd reason. It was a cheapie, but there's no point in paying $80+ to grey market resellers, for a once-cheapie to replace Santos, if you can just get Santos now for $20 more. Plus, I can't confirm if it has any resemblance to Santos. One trusted reviewer said it was like a slightly more modern or well-behaved Santos, but most everyone else compares it to old school fragrances that are not like Santos.

 

[Scentologist]

I've always appreciated this one and in my youth I never seems mature enough for it, as I've always preferred something in the Pasha range.