3 thoughts on “Persolaise Review: Santal Majuscule from Serge Lutens + Alien eau de toilette + Alien Essence Absolue from Thierry Mugler + Amazingreen from Comme Des Garçons (2012)

  1. Real Sandalwood is gone, Persolaise.
    Just the other day, I tested Indian sandalwood perfume oil from a perfume connoisseur's collection using those porcelain dip-sticks. I sat there absolutely dumbfounded. I realised I had forgotten in the interim what the real ‘Santal’ smell is, since the market has been invaded with every tom, dick and harry molecule pretending to be the real thing. It brought back memories of my grandfather’s perfume made of damask rose and sandalwood oil, it reminded me of the sandalwood Chinese fans fluttering in lazy hot afternoons, and worse of all… it reminded me that it is gone, I can’t have it, perhaps small moments of deliberate relish now and then (like the one above) but it won’t ever be a part of my life the way it use to be.

    Can people who have never smelled it (in perfume form) even begin to understand what all the fuss is about: I don’t think so! It is so difficult to make another comprehend the feeling, that elusive, evasive feeling of true, genuine sandalwood scent. Perhaps something like that shocked serenity when your beloved finally gives in, the utter unbelief that it has happened… that it is happening.

    1. Ash, thanks for writing. I think real Indian sandalwood is still used in some niche scents, but yes, generally speaking, it's going the way of the dodo. Having said that, I confess I do love some of the synthetic substitutes.

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