The 5 Best Le Labo Santal 33 Dupes!
The downside? This stuff is expensive.
You can opt to push off your car payment for a month to get your hands on a small 50 mL bottle, or check out some of these affordable dupes below!
What does it smell like?
Santal 33 is truly unique. While other fragrances play with new combinations of the same old song - floral, citrus, and musk - Santal 33 is a little different.
It has familiar scents with iris, sandalwood, and amber, but there’s something different in the base notes. Some say it hints at the concrete of a freshly painted room.
The ‘pickle’ note smells acidic and vinegary, like celery or mustard. These fragrances may not sound like they work together, but when blended with your natural scent, they sing in harmony for something that few fragrance brands can touch.
Its popularity grew partly due to its unique yet clean scent and its androgyny.
Much like cK One of the 1990s, the blend of floral and musky scents appeals to both men and women looking for a clean and captivating long-lasting aroma.
What’s in it?
Another reason this signature scent gained so much steam is the type of ingredients found in every bottle. The contents are not tested on animals (big bonus points!), which is 100 percent vegan.
It combines essential oils and synthetic oils (Australian sandalwood, cardamom, amber, violet, leather, papyrus, Virginia cedar, and iris).
Utilizing essential oils in its blend eliminates the need for extra preservatives that you may not want to spray directly on your skin!
Dupes
There isn’t a brand that has captured the essence of this Santal eau de parfum (because the secret formula is locked up tight!), but there are a few brands that come pretty close.
We’ve gathered a list of some Le Labo Santal 33 dupes that offer similar vibes that won’t completely drain your bank account.
Our top 3 picks
Our Top Picks!
1. Maison Louis Marie - No.04
If there were a contest on what scent was most similar to Santal 33, Maison Louis Marie - No.04 would be the clear winner.
Read moreFrom the simple design of the bottle down to the spicy, powdery scent, this option is the clear winner. The similarities are striking with very notes of sandalwood, amber wood, and vetiver. Plus, it’s also listed as cruelly free and vegan!
Many users also found that this fragrance is better than Santal 33. If the mystery ‘pickle note’ is too strong for your tastes, Maison Louis Marie - No.04 is far more subtle. Plus, you can’t beat that price point!
2. diptyque Tam Dao
Tam Dao has similar features to Santal 33, but it isn’t a carbon copy. Overall, it possesses more spicy and woody key notes without the same subtle floral notes.
Read moreIt’s designed as a unisex fragrance, but it certainly leans more towards the masculine side. Users love that it smells fresh and clean, but it’s missing that certain something.
If you are on the hunt for a fragrance that captures the essence of Santal 33 with more masculine notes, this is a scent worth checking out!
3. Commodity Book
This fragrance strikes that same balance between woodsy and sharp vinegar notes, much like Santal 33, but at a much more approachable price.
Read moreAt first scent, Commodity Book possesses more punchy top notes of cedarwood and sandalwood, which feels more masculine right out of the bottle. However, as you wear it throughout the day, these sharp notes melt away into something that has slight hints of vanilla.
It doesn’t last as long as Santal 33, but the affordable price tag is worth an occasional mid-day reapplication!
4. Miller Harris Peau Santal
Don’t let the pinkish bottle fool you - Miller Harris Peau Santal is just as creamy and woodsy as Santal 33.
Read moreIt plays with many of the same overtones as Santal 33, such as pink pepper, saffron, and bergamot, with more subtle amber, vanilla, papyrus, and violet notes.
While it strikes the same notes as Santal 33, it doesn’t have that same enduring scent. Some find it’s a bit too potent at first and quickly fades.
5. Dior Fahrenheit
Dior Fahrenheit is worth checking out for those who find that Santal 33 needs a little more sweetness.
Read moreIt boasts many of the same undertones as Santal 33, such as bergamot nutmeg, cedar, and Hawthorne, but goes a bit heavier on the floral scents.
With a hint of sweetness from honeysuckle and violet, some find this option is more subtle and pleasing than Santal 33!
Conclusion
q: Why Slightly Different Is Better
Since its debut in 2011, everyone has clamored to get their hands on Santal 33. What started as a unique spin on classic fragrances turned mainstream.
Fragrances are a way to express your individuality, and Santal 33 loses a bit of its magic if everyone at the party is wearing it!
If you love the scent (it’s hard not to) but want to keep things fresh, opting for one of these Santal dupes is a great way to capture the essence of Santal 33 without getting lost in the crowd.
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