Hi Posse. I just found a Santal Blanc sample in my perfume room. Absolutely zero idea where it came from. It looks to be the new remake in the bottle below because it comes in a white sample pack, also below. By the way, there has been a LOT of chatter over the new Les Eaux de Politesse bottles. I held them in Paris in 2019 and found them lovely to the touch, hefty but not heavy and a good spritzing size for me. How do you all feel about them?
I went back and read March’s 2007 take on the fragrance. Just so I could get a reference to see how much seems to have changed in the 20 years since Santal Blanc’s release.
Santal Blanc by Serge Lutens 2019 remake
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Benzoin, Fenugreek, Orris root, Jasmine, Copaiba balsam, Musk, Pink pepper, Rose, Indian sandalwood, Cinnamon
OOOOHHH! The Santal Blanc opening is cool and slightly metallic roses after a rainstorm. The fragrance sparkles like icicles for a minute or two and then we smell;l some major development. The spices come through and the odd, dark green depth of fenugreek comes through. Most non Indians will tell you that cardamom is the flavour that finishes an Indian curry and makes your taste buds stand up and sing. They are right to a point but it is a whisper of fenugreek that does all the hard lifting and really gives it life. Fenugreek also makes your sweat and wee smell like maple syrup, even the most minute amounts. Here it has been tamed and watered down to manageable levels but still it is a game changer.
I want to say I smell the jasmine or some white flower but I’m not sure if it’s me smelling it or the note list giving me direction.
The opening settles and the fragrance really seems to melt into my skin and become a part of me. There is nothing brash or audacious about the heart of Santal Blanc. It is soft but beautiful. Warming through I’m picking up mainly that creamy sandalwood but dialled back to about a two and some lovely resins.
Ahhh, so further down towards dry down the white flower becomes more pronounced.
I’m not entirely sure how much Santal Blanc has changed. I’d love to hear if you’ve tried old and new please.
Santal Blanc is one of the easy wear Serge Lutens fragrances. Well named in the new collection Les Eaux de Politesse, waters of Politeness! Wearable anywhere, even to work. A serene fragrance for both sexes that has surprisingly good longevity even though it’s no stellar diva. Low key loveliness.
Also, should you wish to sample this beauty Surrender To Chance has it.
So, did you or do you wear Santal Blanc? What do you think of the new-isa bottles?
Portia xx
Dang, I THOUGHT I had a bottle around here somewhere. I doubt I could smell it but I’d like to try!
I wonder if its softly, softly approach would get through March? It would be interesting to find out.
Portia xx
Haven’t tried either. Haven’t paid much attention to Serge Lutens since the Berlin one.
Hey Eldarwen22,
Yeah, the company has gone off the rails a bit but you might have tried the original because it came out in 2001. It’s a bit easy though so many perfumistas eschewed it in favour of more dramatic and darker releases.
Portia xx
Those new bottles are pretty. Love the silver caps. I need to sniff this one. I like half the listed notes (orris root, Jasmine, sandalwood, rose, benzoin), and I’m not sure about the rest. Thanks Portia for your description. That surely made me more eager to give it a try!
Hey DinaC,
Don’t go expecting silver caps. they’re clear plastic. Still I like them.
If you’re wandering past the Serge Lutens section you could definitely get it on a card or even yourself if you’re feeling extra brave.
Portia xx
Still in awe over the perfume room! I like the new Santal Blanc-I had pretty much the same experience as you did, Portia. I haven’t seen the new bottles in person but I like this wavy glass. I think it’s pretty. I like the old 50 ml bottles, with the smaller lablels, the best.
Ha! Carole, the perfume room does triple duty. Two walls of perfume, one wall of wardrobe that holds both my dude wear and drag, last wall is my sewing wall with an industrial machine and a cupboard that holds most of my paperwork and business stuff. In the centre of the room is my desk and computer stuff. It’s usually a mess.
I’m with you on liking the earlier export bottles and the small label. The current 50ml export bottles are exactly the same size, just larger black labels.
The pebbly glass is only on the back and makes the bottle feel slip resistant, that’s a win for me.
Portia x
I sampled this a long time ago and probably dismissed it. Sandalwood tends to recede to non-existence on me for some reason (happens with Chanel Bois des Iles which is really too bad because I love it sprayed on paper). I think I really need to simply spray some things on a scarf, etc, and enjoy wearing them that way. As to the SL bottles why did Lutens shift Tubereuse Criminelle to one of those tall bottles from the Bell Jars????
Hey Cinnamon,
I cannot tell you what goes on in the minds of the Shiseido execs. It seems they’ve been trying to play catch up for a few years and it looks like the creatives may have been ousted from power in favour of accountants.
Portia xx
Imagine that! (snerk) xoxoxo
I hate the bottle. It’s cheap, way too light, and would look more at home in the corner drugstore. Where did the beauty of the bell jars, and simple rectangular bottles go? Pleeeeease. Lutens must have got a job lot of unusable shower doors and turned them into bottles. As for Santa Blanc, uhm ——- ?
WOW! Strong emotions on the bottle Val. A big trigger.
HA! Santal Blanc not for you too? No worries, there’s plenty more perfume to choose from.
Portia xx
okay… THAT made me laugh completely the hell out loud!
xoxoxo