Year: 2014
Notes: Calabrian bergamot, Mexican lime, Indian saffron, New Caledonian sandalwood, Indian guaiac wood, Indian papyrus, Texan cedar, Madagascan vanilla, white musk
Comment: Santal Carmin is part of the Collection Métal
Santal Carmin focuses on sandalwood, using vanilla and other woods to bolster its olfactory profile.
With mild citrus and saffron top notes, the sandalwood reveals itself almost immediately. The guaiac wood also plays a significant role, with the cedar lending a peppery nuance. Overall, it's a buttery rendition of sandalwood, with the vanilla adding a slightly caramelised tone to the proceedings.
Needless to say, it's certainly no substitute for the real thing, but its general performance is very true to that of sandalwood essential oil – providing low projection and average longevity. Actually, if given the choice between Diptyque's Tam Dao and Santal Carmin, one would prefer the latter – largely due to the fact that it's richer, has a stronger sandalwood presence and features a less imposing cedar accord.
With mild citrus and saffron top notes, the sandalwood reveals itself almost immediately. The guaiac wood also plays a significant role, with the cedar lending a peppery nuance. Overall, it's a buttery rendition of sandalwood, with the vanilla adding a slightly caramelised tone to the proceedings.
Needless to say, it's certainly no substitute for the real thing, but its general performance is very true to that of sandalwood essential oil – providing low projection and average longevity. Actually, if given the choice between Diptyque's Tam Dao and Santal Carmin, one would prefer the latter – largely due to the fact that it's richer, has a stronger sandalwood presence and features a less imposing cedar accord.
