Original Santal by Creed is an Amber Woody fragrance for women and men. The fragrance was launched in 2005 as an Eau de Parfum. Original Santal was created by Olivier Creed, Erwin Creed, and Pierre Bourdon.
Original Santal is a popular fragrance from Creed. The keynotes of this Amber Woody are cinnamon, sandalwood, and vanilla.
A note by the brand:
Spicy, sensual and effortlessly indulgent, Original Santal Eau de Parfum is a uniquely complex scent, designed to turn heads and leave a lasting impression. Inspired by the opulence of India, this fragrance is both warm and luxurious, evoking the tranquility and spirit of the majestic landmarks and sense-tingling aromas that this infamous Asian region has to offer.
| Perfume Name | Original Santal |
| Brand | Creed |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Amber Woody |
| Gender | unisex |
I’m on a mission to try out some of Creed’s most popular fragrances, and Original Santal is the next sample on my list. This is how I experienced this fragrance.
What does Original Santal by Creed smell like?
Original Santal smells warm and smooth with an interesting spicy kick to it. I’d describe the scent as being an aroma of cinnamon, sandalwood, and vanilla.
This fragrance is incredibly similar to Joop, so it absolutely needs to be discussed at the same time. To my nose, Joop is a little bit synthetic, whereas all of Creed’s fragrances tend to have a more natural vibe to them, thanks to the high-quality ingredients. Joop is also more geared toward men, and Original Santal is very unisex.
I would also say Original Santal bears a lot of resemblance to Mont Blanc Individuel, but Santal definitely is a lot spicier and warmer.
The person that would wear this is someone down to earth but well-traveled. In control, but not in your face. Someone well-rounded. This isn’t a flashy scent.
| Top Notes | Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Juniper Berries and Coriander |
| Middle Notes | Lavender, Ginger, Rosemary and Petitgrain |
| Base Notes | Vanilla and Tonka Bean |
My Experience
This scent opens up with a lovely cinnamon spice and a smooth and creamy sandalwood note. I can detect a bit of the juniper berry, but it’s rather light. On some days that I tried the scent, I had more of the juniper berry come through, so there’s some variation in the strength of this note.
After a while, I also start getting a lot more of the coriander that adds to the warmth of this fragrance. After about 20 to 25 minutes, the vanilla starts coming through, and it lends the fragrance a bit of sweetness.
Quite some time after the vanilla kicked in, it was time for the tonka bean and lavender to come through. This combination gives the fragrance some extra warmth. At this point, I haven’t picked up any ginger, rosemary, or petitgrain. Once I could detect a hint of ginger, but it was really faint.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage of Santal is moderate – about 4 feet behind the wearer. On my skin, the projection was around 4 feet around the wearer.
Longevity & Versatility
The longevity of Original Santal isn’t great in my book. I can bargain on around 4 hours of wear. That’s quite disappointing for a scent at this price point. In terms of versatility, I’d rate it as being very versatile, as you can use it for any occasion. It’s a scent best kept for the colder months of the year.
Closing thoughts
If you like this scent but don’t think it’s worth the price, then Joop is the best possible alternative. Or you could consider Mont Blanc Individuel. Of course, if the price doesn’t put you off, then Original Santal is a bit more natural smelling.
But still, it’s not a super unique fragrance either, and people might just be thinking you are wearing Joop after all, so it’s simply not worth the money, in my opinion. While it’s a unisex fragrance, it does lean slightly masculine to me.
Overall, this fragrance is an easy-reach, pleasant and well-blended scent that will get the wearer a fair amount of compliments. However, if you are looking for a sexy scent to go out clubbing or on hot dates, this isn’t the best candidate. It’s for someone looking for a more pleasing and slightly more mature scent.