Santal Noble
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier (1988)

Too many sandalwood candles, incense sticks, FOs & EOs, car fresheners, frags, soaps, etc., are flowery messes to me. SN is NOT one of these.

So few come off mainly as subtle, a little nutty, a little creamy, a little musky in a sunkissed, skintight way... with supporting spice or other notes providing just that, a supporting role. SN IS one of these. Definitely unisex. A favorite, along with Profvmvm Santalum. I have not smelled newer formulations.

Even though they only have one note in common, for some reason Santal Noble reminds me of Cadavre Exquis, except Santal Noble is a much less ‘in your face' fragrance. Thinking I might be losing my mind, I asked my husband to smell each of them and he agreed that there is a similarity, but the Santal Noble was much more restrained. Spiced vanilla coffee and sandalwood with a big dash of patchouli, warmed up by the amber. This is good stuff.

This is nice, agreeable, a little sweet, but still formal, and subtle.

It is lovely. I only see one note listed, sandalwood, and it does have an artful minimalism, but I think I also smell oak moss, and I think the sweetness comes from "amber."

Santal Noble from 1988 is the fourth entry in my late 80s / early 90s smell alikes, for reasons I wish I knew, joined by Pour Monsieur Concentree (1989), Tiffany for Men (1989), and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Heritage (1992).

Rich, creamy and opulent sandalwood fragrance from MdG. I have read all the high recommendations for Santal Noble and finally obtained a sample. They're all spot on. This is an absolutely exquisite sandalwood composition, where the wood note actually rises to the surface of the scent. The sandalwood is blended with vanilla to give it a soft, yet deep and sweet fragrance. I get hints of nutmeg, incense and perhaps another island spice, but the essence is still urban and refined. It's a masculine scent, although it might be worn by a woman with confidence as well. It's a bit light on sillage, but longevity was good. An excellent fragrance and absolutely bottle worthy. Definite Thumbs Up

An opulent and very satisfying sandalwood fragrance, Santal Noble is another great Maître Parfumeur and Gantier accomplishment. Together with Ambre Précieux and Route du Vétiver, it makes up something like a “Great Trio” in Jean Laporte's original 1988 lineup, those three remaining to this day the crown jewels of this house. Santal Noble is all about sandalwood, highlighting the rough and woody aspects of the note over its more conventionally accentuated creamy or balsamic sides. During its development, the sandalwood finds itself elegantly backed up by a large assortment of supporting notes like amber, spices, and incense, as well as a distinctive touch of coffee, making this an impressive and truly gratifying woody oriental. Like most other fragrances in MPG's “Parfums du Levant” series, Santal Noble makes an audacious statement: it is baroque, grand, even monumental, yet, amazingly, it is also very easy to wear and never gets heavy or cloying. Well executed, masterfully blended, and one of the best sandalwoods out there.

This is a nice sandalwood (more woody like planks of wood than typical incense) sweetened with vanilla and an enjoyable ambergris. The opening is a bit harsh and very earthy but it softens to a nice exotic scent not unlike Timbuktu (but without the fruit). The sillage isn't great like Timbuktu but it probably would be a monster if it did project too much. Very enjoyable and recommended for sandalwood and gourmand fans. Ambergris fans will also like how it dries down and how it plays with the vetiver and oakmoss to give it an outdoors character.