Santal Royal
Guerlain (2014)

Oriental scent revisited in a western key. Rose (synthetic), Oud wood (synthetic), amber accord and something very slightly sweet spicy in the background (cinnamon and peach, the latter obviously synthetic), all embraced by synthetic musks that bind and give longevity and projection helping to convey that smell that clearly reminds me of feminine make-up (and I don't mean it in a negative sense). Sandalwood not received and anyone who says otherwise has obviously never put their nose on a natural sandalwood oil. Having said that, it is a pleasant and not at all ugly perfume, from the performance to the "montale" to be clear. Definitely feminine according to my canons and, indeed, I would add that I don't understand how a smell like this can be associated with a man or how a man can get up in the morning and think of wearing a perfume like this (which then really lasts all day ), bah... Anyway, as I said, the perfume isn't bad, I would also find it rather pleasant on a woman but it doesn't make me cry out to be a masterpiece... it smells like I've already heard it and for me it goes to throw itself, without having distinctive characteristics, in the immense and confused sea of oriental perfumes with oud and rose (synthetic).

A beautiful synth woody scent, as beautiful as they go. Super loud, too. The natural parts are enhanced with synthetic ones to make this into a very potent, yet rich, deep and intoxicating blend. Stays well into the next day, and it feels warmer, balmy, even slightly honey-like the next day - there's something in it that reminds me of the drydown of Coco, yet it's not the same. Leans slightly masculine to my nose, yet still very suitable for all sexes. One spray fragrance for me.

I smell mostly piney juniper berry mixed with saffron, played against peppered fruitchouli. The top, where a flash of oud makes things interesting, is the standout, while the rest feels like a standard rose/saffron fruitchouli formula twisted just enough by the juniper as to not smell completely formulaic.

There's nothing bad about this - the interplay of sweet patchouli fruitiness, smoky juniper, and leathery saffron is well orchestrated. But like other reviewers here, I can't help but feel like this showed up late to a competition where the winners have already been announced. That being said, it still deserves a thumbs up for composition and craft.

The oud is there right from the start. A soft oud note - as synthetic as possible - of medium darkness - with the nigh-obligatory rose adjoined to it like in a Janus head. Some floral notes are also present, mainly a tender greenish Jasmine with a smooth glowing neroli of some brightness.

In the drydown some fruitiness sets in, involving which peach and whiffs of apricot. The rose is still there, although a bit attenuated in strength, but the other components of this creation prevent this Guerlain from becoming another oud-rose lemming stampeding towards the edge of the cliff. The oud is still dominant at this stage.

Approaching the base a cinnamon arises that, when we proceed further towards the base, will challenge the oud and surpass it as the dominant nots in this mix eventually. The oud is still there, but it is enveloped in the rich, smooth and intense cinnamon that has just the right amount of sweetness to be never intrusive or cloying. And slightly ambery leather as well as a touch of white musks turn up on this olfactory stage towards the end.

I get moderate sillage, good projection and seven hours of longevity on my skin.

This autumn scent is another oud-centric product, but fortunately it is a bit more than that. The cinnamon as it's main counterpart is a nice concept, but apart from the two main players the other components are quite generic at times, and this fake oud is not particularly original, albeit it lacks the shrill and scratchy side found in ouds a lot these days. Not bad, but not great either. 2.75/5.

Marvelous. Love this fragrance. Definitely in my top 5. Great sillage. Enjoy wearing it out on special occasions. I find it unique.

This is a style I like (the clean-feeling floral-oud), so it fills me with dismay to say that I dislike this.

The scratchy synthoud here is pretty irritating to me, and the floral bouquet isn't rich enough to offset it.

It's hard, if not impossible, to recommend this given countless other options in this category.