I wore Le Labo Santal 33 today. Every fraghead might be bored of Santal 33, but the majority of the population has no idea what it is, and you know what? It’s not a bad scent, it’s just one that has been copied so many times since it was released in 2011. We have come a long way since then in acknowledging the work of perfumers, because the early creation myth about this scent credits the Le Labo founders as making the scents and hitting on the right formula, when actually it was Frank Voelkl.
Santal 33 is a woody blend with hints of leather and iris. It’s a shame that the scent profile has become so common, because this really is something special – I’ll even say that it has grown on me as I’ve worn it today, becoming creamier in the drydown than it was in the opening. There’s a dry cardamom that I never noticed, but I’ll be honest and say that the last time I had a sample, I ended up giving it to someone so although I “know” this scent, it’s not one that I’m super familiar with. It’s one of those that’s blended so well that the notes don’t announce themselves, and it seems to work.
I received this Le Labo Discovery Set from my sister for Christmas, and nothing beats getting a gift with your name on it! Even if I had tried all the scents in the collection, this is a nice set that travels well and offers a generous amount of perfume. The scents included are: Another 13, Lavande 21, Rose 31, Santal 33, The matcha 26, and The Noir 29. The names of the scent stand for the main note and the number of “ingredients” in the scent.
And if Santal 33 smells like pickle juice to you… try wearing more and see if it goes away!
And I feel like it needs to be said, because we’re coming out of an era of minimalism, of Marie Kondo-ing your life, of having sparsely furnished, insta-ready living spaces and I’m over it. It sometimes feels like people aren’t allowed to have things, but give yourself permission to be extra, to have pretty, beautiful objects, for no other reason than you wanting them.
