Living in a economically depressed region of West Virginia has its benefits. Aside from houses that cost less than cars, I also benefit from never feeling unoriginal. Ever.
Case in point is the cult fragrance Le Labo Santal 33, which has, over the course of 8 or so years quickly gone from being an it-girl, you-only-know-if-you-are in-the-know type scent, to being so ubiquitous that (apparently) 1 out of 5 New Yorkers now smell like the $270 perfume.
Not here though. I am still free to soak my pulse points in the sultry unisex fragrance that smells, at once, like woodsy campfires and sophisticated soirees and not worry that some small child will confuse my thigh for that of their own Santal-scented mother.
But $270? No. I refuse. I was lucky enough to get quite a few sample vials of the addictive juice over the years, but I could never in good conscious spend more on a single bottle of perfume than I do on my mortgage payment. Fortunately for me, and for other Santal devotees, there are two more affordable options that I have come across that are not only less expensive, but they’re also free of phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and other not-so-great ingredients you might want to avoid.
These two dupes are certainly not drugstore-dupes though, as they are beautiful, well-made fragrances in their own right. If you were looking for a dirt cheap version, look elsewhere.
CLEAN RESERVE SEL SANTAL
I first received a sample of Clean’s Sel Santal fragrance during the first trimester of pregnancy, a notoriously rough time to be alive. My first thought was “hamster cage” but as the day wore on I realized I was really drawn to the scent which was both exotic and familiar at the same time. I also realized that it was the first perfume I was able to tolerate during those queasy days of heightened senses. The fragrance is very alluring with a nice warmth but fresh and green too.
Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody/Oriental Green
Scent Type: Warm Woods
Key Notes: Mandarin, Violet, Sandalwood
Smells Like: fresh, earthy, woody, warm, salty
MAISON LOUIS MARIE No.04 Bois de Balincourt
This lovely fragrance will never run the risk of becoming ubiquitous due to its impossibly long name. Seriously, just play the scene out in your head. “Okay, I don’t usually do this, but I have to know, what is that scent you are wearing?” “Oh, uhhhh….Louis something or other! Yes, you’d better look that up just to be certain.”
Anyway, this perfume is beautiful and one that I ended up buying in the oil option. It’s also available in the classic spray parfum and, in case you want your entire life to smell like it, a candle as well.
Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody
Scent Type: Warm Woods
Key Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber Wood, Cedarwood
Smells like: warm, spicy, vanilla, musk, sultry, earthy, woody
LE LABO SANTAL 33
Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody
Scent Type: Warm Woods
Key Notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Leather, Iris, Violet Accord, Cardamom
Smells like: soft, sweet, woody, earthy
