Heya Posse! I found an old Surrender To Chance vial of Santal Blush by Tom Ford in a box. It looks like it got one swipe and then put away, or maybe it never even got that. I know the fragrance though because I’ve tried it repeatedly in store and one of my friends wears it, ever terrified of it being DCed. There was a 250ml but that has long disappeared in Australia. I understand the business reasons for discontinuing stuff but it’s so hard on signature perfume wearers. I can’t believe it was introduced in 2011! It came out with Jasmine Rouge, which I have a bottle of, and Violet Blonde. Was Violet Blonde not in the Private Collection bottle? Did it get demoted? Has it become a super unicorn, I’m a little out of the VB loop. Clearly.
Perfumer Yann Vasnier is a name you’ll know from Arquiste (Anima Dulcis is my fave), Divine Parfums The OG Divine EdP), Jo Malone, Keiko Mecheri (Love Oliban, sometimes have a strange hankering for Passiflora) and many others. Plum Japonais and Vanille Fatale are another couple of Tom Ford’s I really enjoyed.
Santal Blush by Tom Ford 2011
Tom Ford gives these featured accords:
Cinnamon Bark Oil, Sri Lanka Orpur®, Carrot Seed Oil, Ylang Ylang Madagascar, Sandalwood Australia, Cedarwood Texas Orpur®, Benzoin Tears Laos
Dumped the whole remainder of the sample on my chest and forearm backs to really live the Santal Blush adventure.
WHOA! I do love how top heavy many of the Tom Fords are. Explosive opening of that creamy, dreamy and slightly dusty ylang/sandalwood you’ll know from early Guerlain Samsara. It runs right through but has many different bells and whistles. It isn’t all the creamy and light filled experience of the Samsara drama. Santal Blush has a bitter almond and burning resin undertow that creates depth and interest.
The heart heads towards dry woods, like wandering the timber aisle in a hardware store but still maintains that sweet sandalwood vibe.
About an hour in all that’s left is a pretty wash of creamed woodsy amber. It’s not a complete collapse but becomes a comfortable whisper that continues pumping very close to the skin for hours and hours.
Unisex and I understand why it’s still a popular choice. So easy to wear and that first 15 minutes is really, really good. A particularly good choice if you want to know you smell low key fabulous all day but don’t want to be distracted by your perfume. Also, I’m thinking that though sandalwood is usually seen as a cool weather choice Santal Blush feels totally wearable for the high heat of summer.
Do you like, love or loathe Santal Blush?
Portia xx
I also loved sandalwood, so I should at least like this. I must have tried it, but I can’t remember. TF scents contain something that goes weird on me, and now I can’t get the image of Frank Burns out of my head either! So it’s goid that I have JHAG Sunny Side Up (great everyday sandalwood with a neroli note, nice mood booster, fine in warm weather) and Sana Harris’s Sandalwood Temple. I also like Rosendo Mateu’s Number 6, a sandalwood/jasmine combo that suits me better than Sanders but is best in cooler weather. Or maybe not – I just went to check my decant for spelling and sniffed the cap quickly. So. Gorgeous!
I’ve recently fallen for Santal Blush! Your description is so exceptionally accurate, what a pleasure to experience this scent through your lens! I have been draining my decant fast, and I agree it’s great in the summer, it compliments the weather rather than fighting against it. xo
I have a few samples of Santal Blush and while it smells nice it’s not anything I need to own. I do have a sample of Plum Japonais somewhere which I really liked! I’ll have to look for it.
My one Tom Ford fb is Shanghai Lily, now discontinued I believe but such a nice, cozy, cooler weather scent.
Growing up, my dad did some carpentry work and there was always the odd wood pieces and little piles of sawdust on his basement work table. Smell memories!
Shanghai Lily! I still have dregs of a decant. That’s another spellbinding opening JenniferS.
Dads and carpentry! Good memories. Did you ever get to help?
Portia x
I like a lot of the TFs which makes me cross since I don’t care for the man himself… whenever I’m in Cos Bar I add a spritz of something, often from him. I love the way his scents often bring the drama in the opening. This sounds lovely — I’m sure I tried it but don’t remember it at all! I’m going to give myself a nice drenching in it next time I get the chance. I agree that Sandalwood in the heat of summer can be fabulous, sort of opens it up. Xo
I’m interested in your lack of love for TF March. I’m ambivalent myself. Have I said before that he reminds me strongly of Major Frank Burns in MASH?
Portia xx
OMG, you’re right. lololololol
Thanks, Portia.mi forgot to add that I have a TF travel size of White Suede. It is a beautiful comfort scent.
OOOOH JillS! I have tried White Suede. I’m pretty sure it was with Tom in LA. I only remember because (in my memory) it was the same time I fell madly for Ombre de Hyacinth. So I have little memory of it.
What drew you to White Suede above all others?
Portia xx
I like a bunch of the early TF perfumes but never had a great urge to buy any. I had always wanted to try Santal Blush but never got around to it. I lost interest in the new ones after Lost Cherry. The laughs on me though. I love Black Orchid, should have bought a larger bottle, and am now checking out Black Orchid Parfum too. It even works in hot weather on me.
Hey Maya,
Black Orchid is amazing. So weird and wonderful.
Portia xx
I haven’t tried this, or really any of the Tom Fords. I love the way you compare this to a lumber yard. I have a very early childhood memory of going to a hardware store and lumber yard with my dad and smelling sawdust and wood shavings. That’s a good scent.
Yes DinaC,
Such a good smell, even better after rain.
There used to a big one in the next suburb to us and we went a few times to buy building materials for various small scale things as kids. I LOVED that smell.
Portia xx
The only Tom Ford that I like is Tobacco Vanille. I have tried Lost Cherry and a couple others. The tonka in Lost Cherry is what made me dislike Lost Cherry. So Tom Ford isn’t for me since what I have tried, I don’t like. For what he charges, I can find better.
This is a sad truth Eldarwen22.
A couple of them do seem to fit me like a glove though.
Portia xx
I have a decant somewhere I think. Must search it out. Or is that Jasmine Rouge?
I do remember enjoying SB when I tested it, usually when in Tenerife. You’re right, it is lovely in the heat, perfect on beachy skin!
I bet you rock it beautifully Alityke.
Portia xx
This sounds well worth a look, but I’m generally sceptical about TF — just too puffed up. My sandalwood is Perfumer H Smoke which dries down to a glorious not quite sweet gingerbread. Sigh.
Oh yes Cinnamon, I really like Smoke.
Portia xx
I remember liking it, but that it kind of fell off too quickly and too far. But I’ve never really loved a TF. Love his clothes, loved his movie, but most of his scents are just “meh” (on me anyway)
Yeah, the prices are eye watering. Especially for the ones that go from beast to banal in under an hour Tom.
I get why many perfumistas eschew the brand.
I’ve found a few gems.
Santal Blush is very nice but it doesn’t compare to a couple of the other sandalwoods I own.
Portia xx
Portia, which is your favorite Sandalwwod perfume?
Hi JillS,
There are a slew I love but only a couple that get spritzed often.
Samsara and Santal+++.
Though a new one that I’m loving is Headspace Santal.
Portia xx
Gah! I love Santal Majuscule but it’s hidden away in a box, in a box, in a box.