Best SANDALWOOD Perfumes | Top Ten Woody Fragrances 2023 

More sandalwood beauties to check out: Santal Blush - Tom Ford Santal Massoia - Hermes Sunny Side Up - Juliette Has a Gun Sensuous - Estee Lauder Sandalo Nobile - Nobile 1942 Oh La La - Teo Cabanel Santal Austral - Matiere Premiere Soleil de Feu - Tom Ford Adam Levine - Adam Levine Hanami - Phlur Samsara - Guerlain Santal Carmin - Atelier Cologne

Hi Veronica, Sandalwood is one of my favourite notes (Samsara...The Queen, I will always be infactuated with this legend)...recently I found Sandalwood Neroli from Bohoboco...this reminds me of The Body Shop Bawhanti but in an expensive way. Fun fact: in the Arabic culture particularly The Arabian Gulf, a married couple would wear, inhale and lightly moistrize their upper arms with Sandal Oil, to elevate fertility.

I just got into sandalwood scents this year. I’m obsessed! Gris Charnel, Santal Complet, and Milky Musk are some of my faves. I can’t wait to try many in this video!

A TikTok creator put me on to this layering combination - Gris Charnel and the OG Alien. I was skeptical but it blends into a mysterious beauty with Crystal Noir vibes. It made me a believer.

There is no note that relaxes me more than sandalwood. Just received a decant of Sandalwood Temple yesterday. The name and fragrance are both heavenly. Milky Musk is another one. It reminds me of a Swedish sauna in the woods. A beautiful zen-like experience.

Hi Veronica. Another great video! Really enjoyed it. I am a sandlewood devotee to say the least - being Indian American - and because I am both of Indian origin and a sandlewood lover - Samsara is a my all time favorite. Nothing even comes close - imo - as far as the transportive and meditative qualities of sandlewood go. Samsara immediately beams me back, Scotty, to my earliest childhood days in India before my family emigrated here. Btw - if you are, like me, a lover of India inspired sandlewood scents - several of the Neela Vermeire Creations offerings are fantastic but unfortunately they are hard to find here in the U.S., and even if you do, boy oh boy, are they super pricey! Specifically though - NVC's Trayee - if you can get your nose on it - is simply to die for! I believe both lucky scents and scent splits carry NVC full bottles and samples - but again - $$$! But moving on, like you, I also adore Maison Lancome's Santal Kardamon. You're absolutely right - it's a spicy sandlewood - but it's a mature and elegant spicy sandlewood. A close third is - for me - is L'orchestre Parfum's Piano Santal. Have you tried that one, Veronica? It's heaven for lovers of creamy, lactonic sandalwoods. To end - (phew!) - and just as an aside - myself, I absolutely can't stand Santal 33 - it's totally puke worthy imo - that nasty sour pickle smell - ugh to the nth degree! Sorry to be graphic - but there it is! 🙂 Appreciate you, Veronica...

Sandalwood, yay! I found your channel about a year ago when I bought Santal Vanille and then wanted to find more sandalwood fragrances. Your previous sandalwood video came up and I’ve been a fan ever since. Thanks for putting out great content and good vibes. Happy holidays!

I love my sandalwoods!! Great video!! I love Santal Vanille, Santal Blond and Santal 33. Probably won’t rebuy Le Labo but I do enjoy it especially in the Winter. It’s a Aromatique oil I use in my house/scent warmers during the cold Winter months. Right now Santal Blond is my favorite!! So glad to have a Veronica fix to start my day! With such a big family my Christmas season starts at my home on Friday!! Hope you have a great week and a Merry Christmas!!❤️

What a fun video!! Thank you! I love almost every perfume 🤗

Pure sandalwood oil wearer here. This was my scent in the 80s. Every season. My very favorite note with bergamot coming in second. I wanted to give you and Darren a thank you. Because of your video guessing his scents (my fave vid of yours), I bought Cremo Palo Santo and received it a few days ago. I'd bought it for BF but he only wears scents for going out. I tried it on myself and adore it! Light, crisp and yet cozy woody. I get a very light sandalwoody scent with the papyrus lingering throughout. It was a blind buy mostly on Darren's reco and I don't regret it for an instant. You can tell him so. Perfume is a rare luxury so... Again, heartfelt thanks. 🥰 Can't wait to see what you're serving.

It's true - BDK Gris Charnel smells amazing when it's rainy and damp. Love your videos.

Hi Veronica! I adore sandalwood 😍😍😍 A very transportative note 🥰 From fresh to creamy, definitely versatile! Thank you for sharing these beauties 🙏❤️

This is such a perfect time of year for the sandalwood lovelies ♥️♥️♥️always love your picks!💗💗💗

Santal Basmati I love! That rice note 😆!

Thanks so much for this list..I’m def going to get samples for a few.. I love creamy sandalwood the most.

Navitus new fragrance Lost in a Dream is a beautiful milky semi sweet sandalwood with some resinous vibes. Love it soooo much. I also love gris charnel (the dua version), Zara’s fields at nightfall, and santal blush are some in my collection that are, to me, heavy on the sandalwood. Definitely a gorgeous note

I’m new to fragrance. I just have a few designer scents like Mon Guerlain, Black Opium and By the Fireplace. I’m a woman (20s) and I bought a Serge Lutens set so I could try a bunch of different notes, and I LOVE Santal Majascule. It’s why I’m watching this video. Funny to hear it called adventurous, mature and masculine.

Yay! Another video from Veronica and one of my favorite notes 😊❤😊❤

Good morning Veronica 😊 Can’t wait to see this lineup. I love Sandlewood in a fragrance 😊

I’ve been playing a sample of Gris Charnel. I really like it. I’m such a sandalwood newb so I need to get my nose on a bunch of these but, I really enjoy Kayali Velvet Santal. In fact, these two remind me of each other lol! Great video. Thanks for sharing 💙

I saw your Femme Fatale vanillas vid, and bought Vanagloria based on your adoring description of it, and I absolutely love it! Vanagloria is an addictive creamy vanilla!

Hello my friend!! I'm a big sandalwood fan!! ❤ But I do definitely get the dill pickle smell in some of them, (like Santal 33, Bois de Balincourt.. and yes, Santal Vanille!) 😅 So that's the type I don't like.. but I LOVE the type that's in Nirvana Black, Gap Om, This is Her, Piano Santal, Sandalwood Temple, Nothing but Sea & Sky, and soooo many more!!! 😍🫶🏼🤍

Hello Veronica! Looking beautiful as always. You are so entertaining and informative. I always get a little bit sad when the video is over. I need a full two hour video of you talking to us about perfume! 😂

Great list Veronica. I know everyone says Gris Charnel is a cosy fragrance for rainy days but I think of it as a "cool girl" fragrance. I'm far from being a cool girl, but love wearing it! Have you tried Santal Austral from Matiere Premiere? It's gorgeous.

I too love sandalwood, but I haven’t found MY sandalwood fragrance. I need to try some of these. For now I have a small bottle of sandalwood essential oil that I smell when I need a hit. 😊

I love sandalwood like the one in Santal Blush. I have added a few from your list. I also added some tea scents to my wish list from yesterday’s video. I don’t have any tea scents and I’m excited to add some to my collection. Happy Saturday! 😊

I love Santal Blond. I'm so curious to try Santal Blush now that you mention it here. I also love milky sandalwoods like Milky Musk 39 from Parle Moi de Parfums. It is such a comforting, lovely, milky sandalwood.

You explained Gris Chanel perfectly!!! I love it!!

This is the best sandalwood fragrance review, i've seen in youtube! :) you are actually talking about these fragrances and trying to characterise them, not as others, who just name a fragrance and say that it is beautiful/good

Liking this video before watching bc I love the note 😆🫶

Gosh, I've learned so much about fragrances in just 2 videos! Thanks for the great recs - had no idea how much I loved sandalwood and tea as main notes! 😅 My 2024 wishlist is starting off strong! ❤

Some of my favourite Sandalwood perfumes (in no particular order): Amouage - Guidance Sana Jardin - Sandalwood Temple Van Cleef & Arpels - Santal Blanc FdB - Santal Complet JHAG - Sunny Side Up Tom Ford - Santal Blush Ex Nihilo - Santal Calling BDK - Gris Charnel Parle Moi de Parfum - Milky Musk Zadig & Voltaire - This Is Her

I own the Serge Lutens and after your words, I can now smell rose and cacao! I find it special, sometimes calming, as I would feel traveling to a nostalgic memory of a beautiful home made of sandalwood.

That basmati note sounds divine but I have a lot on my wishlist to get first. Saw an amazing deal on a FB group for Santal Granada that got reposted. should i get it?!?! hahaha so tempted because I trust your opinion! i love that you arranged the video from lightest to strongest and really appreciate knowing where it sits on a range

Thank you for sharing. I love Sandalwood a lot. I agree with you about Sandalwood as a note. Samsara is the best Sandalwood creation IMO but I understand that it's not everybody's cup of tea. Bois des Iles Eau de Parfum is another sandalwood masterpiece. I would also name Initio Rehab, Yves Rocher Venice, and Versace Crystal Noir EDT. You have just sold me on Santal Basmati. Many thanks, joan

Santal Majescule is one of my favorite sandalwood fragrances 🫶🫶💯

Sandalwood is a very tricky note for me, it’s either I love or a dislike for me😉😉. Spot on description of Gris Charnel and I find it to be my windy weather type of fragrance as well😍😍. Yes I do pick up dill or pickle juice in some sandalwood fragrances like Piano Santal, Oh La La and Santal de Kandy gave me masculine barbershop vibes so I gifted it to someone who appreciated it🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️. I also love Sandal Ruby, Sunny Side Up, Nothing But Sea & Sky and I will be adding 001 Woman from Loewe to my small sandalwood collection😍😍. Appreciate the diverse selection👌👌. Stay gorgeous🥰🥰

great list as always... Santal Blanc, Milky Musk ,Piano santal and Nothing but sea and sky are also really good.

I am obsessed with Santal Austral so this video is right up my alley! I know some people get dill but sandalwood can smell like mint on me; it does in Santal Complet. I need to get Santal Kardamom

Hey Veronica! I hope you are well😊 I haven’t gotten my nose on a lot of Swood forward fragrances. I do love kayali wedding silk santal but I was only able to get a mini bottle of this. I want to get my nose on the group of lighter ones you mentioned early in vid and the fun one mid vid😂 Those sound up my alley!

Veronica, you have such good picks…I love Gris Charnel, Samsara and I think I need to look at that serge lutens. Thank you ❤

My fave right now is Piano Santal by L’Orchestre. It’s so creamy and smooth and a bit sweet. So in love with it!

Good morning Veronica!!😍😘🥰❤️ I just bought a vintage quarter ounce of Samsara! Haven’t received it yet. Just a couple more days! Also got 7.5 ml of Dior Dolce Vita. Excited to that too!😂 I really want to find a bottle of Sensuous😊 Are you having any company for Christmas? 🎄 My granddaughter isn’t coming this year. We are now the permanent caretakers of her dog. She had to move suddenly (mold) and the only acceptable place was on the second floor…with no little yard. She also travels quite a bit for work. The back and forth was hard on him. We have him because of her love for him!! It usually takes between 3 and 6 months for a pet to forget its previous day to day routine. We don’t want to upset or confuse him, so we’ll have a Valentine’s Day dinner. That will be the 6mo. mark. The real test of his adaptation will be when she comes over and leaves without him. Great seeing you, as always…❤😍😘🥰

Enjoyed hearing about about the different version of Sandalwood perfume scents. Thanks for sharing. New addition to channel. I will stay in touch.

Hi Veronica! Sandalwod makes me want to hug myself! 😂 Santal Vanille, This is her, Gris Charnel and Hanami by Phlur are my favorties! Santal Blond is gorgeous too but zero lasting power on me… 2 hours and I can’t smell anything unfortunately.

Hey Veronica!!❤❤I def need to pick up more sandalwood fragrances😊

I have the Julianna’s version of Santal Complet (I actually got to name it.) It’s one of my absolute favorites! 😍

I had seen you talk about Santal Kardamon before so I blind bought (it was just delivered today) it and it is AMAZING! Best blind buy in a long time...thanks!

Great picks! Some of my sandalwood faves are Meander by Amouage, Sandal Ruby by Carolina Herrera, and Jeux de Peau by Serge Lutens

I love all your picks and descriptions! My favorite sandalwood is santal de mysore from Serge Lutens. It is also in my top 5 perfumes of all time. I layer it with Kyse Funnel Cake often and it is heaven. Like any loves, it is divisive and many people dislike this one and says it smells like curry (at least it isnt dill pickle, lol). I dont get it myself but I can see how people might get there.

I jusr spent 2 days in the stores at South Coast Plaza.. just got back home about 45 minutes ago. One really good new one that I discovered on this trip is Cartier "Oud Santal" it's from their Exclsifs line. It's Beautifully blended and smoooth. It retails for $360 and they were having 15% off but I still didn't want to spend that much right now. I liked it the best out of the 10 different Cartier fragrances that I tried. I was given a few samples of the ones that I liked the most, so that was nice. 😊

Hi Veronica! You’re so knowledgeable about so many scents. I like creamy sandalwood (mainly in the base), so I haven’t encountered the dill pickle smell (nor do I want to)! I enjoy the sandalwood in Commodity Bois, YSL Caban, Kayali Velvet Santal, and Kilian Sacred Wood. - Ms. Charlette

I’m loving Kayali Silk Santal and I hear it’s coming back 👏🏻

One of my favorite notes from one of my favorite fragrance friends! Cheers

My favorite Sandalwood is Rosendo Mateu No. 6. Jasmine, Sandalwood, and oriental musk!

My favorite sandlewood fragrance is from Henry Rose - Queens and Monsters. It has this green opening from the neroli and the dry down has this creamy sandlewood and cozy coco musk. It’s also a beast of a fragrance. It’s one of my top 3 fragrances for life. Thank you for this video ❤

Hi Veronica ❤️❤️❤️ Santal Basmati sounds wonderful. The only fragrance with a rice accord I have is Katana Hayal, it got me into this rabbit whole. I never knew rice can be so addictive 😄

Thanks for sharing ❤

Hi Veronica! This is one of my favorite videos from you! 🤎 I have a love / hate relationship with Sandalwood as a note, but my Mother adores Sandalwood perfumes and Sensuous is one of her signatures. I usually get her a bottle every year to stock up. I want to gift her something new this year, so thank you for these recs! Have a great weekend.

I can never figure out if I like sandalwood forward fragrances. My most worn is Maison Louis Marie Balincort#4 in small doses. Did want to thank you for doing the extra pinned comment choices in your videos so I have more choices and context. Cheers

I don’t have many sandalwood fragrances. I thought I had more. I bought Sandal Granada after you recommended it a while back and I love it. It sort of reminds me of Serenade by Navitus Parfum but the honey is much more punchy and yummy in Sandal Granada. I love it. I really want to try that Santal Majuscule. Does it last better on clothing? I’m trying to gauge if it’s a fragrance that will need to be reapplied. 🤔 Thank you for so many great recommendations Veronica. 😊

I love sandalwood! Let’s see what you got ❤ ☺️

Fig Infusion by essential perfumes is in my mind more heavy on the sandalwood than the fig. So good 🙂

🎄☀🎀Happy Holidays, dear, Veronica. ☀🎀🌲 // Sandalwood is my favorite note from childhood until today. // My favorites are too many to mention but Crabtree & Evelyn Mysore is my number one, since age 16. AM Santal Blond is calling my name! ... she's on my Want List as is Piano Santal by L’Orchestre Parfum , Amouage Guidance and the soundingly simple but yummy BARE by VS, which I first heard of from you. :)

You chose perfect sandalwood perfumes!

I love sandalwood! My favourite for every day is Voile D'Ocre by Yves Rocher. It is so good!!!

I'm wearing Santal Noir (Dior) to a holiday party tonight. To me Santal Noir is bold and has a strong rose, and the santal is not of the creamy variety, but is more of the dry version. It's mature and formal to me. I recall reading a review on fragrantica in which the person said "makes me feel like a whore, but in a good way" or something to that effect, and I'd agree. I'll be playing the "high dollar escort" at the party, ha ha! It's not a perfume I'd wear very often, because it's formal and/or "whorish," as I actually prefer the creamy version for everyday wear. Most often I wear Gris Charnel or the extrait version. To me the extrait is not more masculine but has more vanilla.

I appreciate the versatility of sandalwood. So glad Sensuous came back in production.

Wow for me Santal Blush smells way more spicy and less aromatic and citrusy than Santal Blond. The first one has a curry like note that I don't like, I perceive them very different. For me the extrait version of Gris Charnel is my weapon of choice between the two! I love Santal Austral by Matiere Premiere 😍 I have tried or own 90% of your choices (including the extra list written in the comments)😅 I love cardamom too so Santal Dan Sha and Santal Vanille are a perfect combo for me.

Samsara is indeed THE QUEEN of sandalwood but sadly I could not get it to work on my skin. I used to like the Santal 33 DNA but I'm really over it now. Thanks for recommending these.

My favorite sandalwood fragrance is Serge Lutens Santal de Mysore. Some find it too spicy. It's also only available in bell jars. More vintage Chanel Bois des Iles and Egoiste are also really good. I also really like 10 Corso Como and Sacred Wood by Kilian (I wear this a lot lately).

“A good sale will change my mind” 😂 so true 😂😉

Sandalwood I love and can use more in my collection!

Hiiiiiii! Yummy sandal wood, yes I said yummy..😂 Piano santal will always be a great love of mine, still can't get enough.❤

Hey! I totally know what you mean by the "dill" scent. I didn't get that from santal vanille until you said that and I put it on but it didn't ruin it for me. I actually get the dill smell in kayali invite only but I still love that perfume.

Hi Veronica 😊 I get pickles sometimes, definitely from SJP Stash. I have and love Santal Basmati, you’re right, it’s soft but so good. 💛 I got so much smoke from Santal Kardamom, I couldn’t get over it so I sold it. I don’t think everyone picks that up. Hope you have a good weekend 😊

I love Gris Charnel and I agree that the Extrait is more masculine

Sandawlood is one of those notes that boosts my happiness. Samsara though I adore it I definitely think it can be HEAVY. but all perfume is so subjective and according to body chemistry! Love Sensuous, 10 corso como, Tam Dao, Adam levine, Sacred Wood, Gris charnal, Soeil fe Feu, Lush All if full of love, Alkemia Arabesque.

Love this note! My favorites are Le Labo Santal 33, TF Santal Blush, LI Blanche Bete, and Gris Chanel. I agree Santal Majescule is getting more roses on me as the bottle gets older. I don’t get too much sandalwood but it’s gorgeous❤ TK Santal Wood has been on my radar and I might just have to blind buy it.

Hey gorgeous Veronica! I love the smell of basmati rice. I wonder how it translates into a perfume. Sounds like an interesting one ❤❤

Hey Veronica. I love watching your videos. Anywho, I have never smelled any of these that you share in this video. But I have heard a lot about Santal 33. And I had heard there’s a good and cheap dupe for it called Cremo Palo Santo. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, I think you were the one I heard it from. So I ordered it on Amazon for my husband. I must say I’m rather new to fragrances and my husband even newer than me! All that to say that neither of us enjoyed it lol. It was a bit too spicy for me. It was very sharp and edgy. I felt like huge magnified doses of like black pepper. Even in the dry down. But I would like to get my nose on BDK’s gris charnel. I have heard lots of good things about that one.

Best note in I'm obsessed with finding the perfect Sandlewood perfume. Lol So far Tam Dao Diptyque is my favorite.

Great video as always , I don’t think I own any Sandalwood, I enjoy others when they wear it, whether in natural oil form . Mwaaa , loved everything 🙋🏻‍♀️🇦🇺❤️🩷🧡

I agree Julianna's perfumes version of Santal Complet is good

I do not pick up dill pickle LOL Thanka for sharing your sandalwood fragrances Hugs ❤❤

Hola Vero! Definitivamente Gris Charnel es mi favorita!!

love the vintage samsara it was my wedding scent LOL, oh la la is lovely too. For me santal blush was too indian food spicy that I couldn''t detect the sandalwood. Now adays I'm loving Kayali the black wedding velvet scent .

First time I smelled Santal Du Pacifique, I smelled dill pickles and thought I was going crazy 😂 Once it dried down, I don’t smell it as much. No dill for me in Santal Complet, Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple, or 7V Santal Vanille 👍🏻

I think my two "straight up" sandalwood loves are santal 33 and gypsy water though I don't reach for them as much as I used to. sometimes sandalwood can be overdone, like tonka bean. sometimes its just too much of a good thing. I more prefer sandalwood as a supporting note.

Yes! Sandalwood ❤❤❤

Veronica you have some Sandalwood bangers in this video.

I enjoy Commodity Book+ 🌹

Let's get Liz naturally to 1k! She's so close, and a great creator!

My favorite sandalwood fragrance is Kierin NYC Santal Sky.

I do not get dill pickle but I’ve never tried a really strong sandalwood perfume. I really want to try santal blush now!!

I absolutely love both my Gris Charnels. I prefer the Extrait, though, and my husband goes for the OG. I also get a lot of sandalwood out of Guidance, which has become a love for me. And Santal Vanille is fantastic. I tried Santal 33 a while ago, and hated it. But I have seen it in the Costco app, if you are looking for it cheaper? I am so curious about Santal Kardamon, but I see that it's similar to other stuff, and I'm not trying to have a million things in the same vein. Do you get that, or is it pretty original?

I agree with many of these! Santal Vanille is a better version of Santal 33 in my opinion but when I want true sandalwood I reach for Tam Dao EDT. It’s like a Buddhist temple.

Please make a video for CEDAR!!!❤

Hi Veronica, do you have any apple 🍎 note videos or suggestions? I am looking for a fresh sweet apple fragrance ( not a cooked or boozy apple)

Gris charnel is coziness in a bottle❤❤❤