When a fragrance is rated 8.7 points here, the expectations naturally rise significantly, and I truly expect an absolute industry highlight. That said, I want to add that Birkholz does not position itself as a mass producer and thus in the industrial corner; no, they refer to themselves as a manufactory, meaning that craftsmanship is done at the highest level here.
Sir Santal, sandalwood for the well-groomed gentleman then. Let's see. The connoisseur of the Birkholz manufactory knows that before the spray head can be activated, a leather-covered cap must be removed. Just touching this cap is already something special, especially in comparison to many partly quite noble and elaborately crafted metal caps. From the very first moment, it suggests that you are holding something special in your hand.
Sprayer engaged and the opening eagerly inhaled. Yes, a very pleasing composition from the start that the Birkholz manufactory brings to the table.
Positively expressed: An almost perfect blend of wood, pepper, leather, and musk, harmoniously balanced, elegant, not overwhelming, extremely pleasant, a modern and high-quality men's fragrance in my opinion. The slightly floral note at the beginning (I assume it's due to the iris) adds a softness that is gradually replaced by the musk. Leather and wood form an excellent bond, making the fragrance an overall absolutely rounded experience.
Negatively: Wait, is there something negative to write here? The point is, the more fragrances you know, the more comparisons to other creations naturally arise, the more you seek what is new and what you have never smelled before. With Sir Santal, I get associations with Leather 6 from Schwarzlose, which in direct comparison gains a very special touch due to the existing vanilla. And then Sir Santal also vaguely reminds me of (the Birkholz people will stone me for this comparison) Penhaligon’s Sartorial, which, however, represents the small and delicate, understated brother from the barber genre.
The longevity is perfectly fine, on my skin it lasts a good 8 hours, the sillage could be a bit stronger in my opinion. When wearing such a beautifully composed fragrance, the environment should also benefit, especially since compliments can really be earned here... Overall, the scent progression (at least for me) is very linear, which is not a drawback, as the composition of the individual ingredients is so successful that it would almost be a shame to force a progression of any kind with a sledgehammer.
The bottle is unparalleled, elegantly made, extremely high-quality, Birkholz has evidently made an effort to package a top product appropriately and present it well in the bathroom. Everyone would surely love to display this bottle; it is simply an eye-catcher.
Enough of the flattery, let's return to bare facts.
A wonderfully arranged fragrance, no question about it. Aside from certain weaknesses in the sillage, a thoroughly successful presentation. This rounded quality makes it, in my view, even wearable for the ladies, even if the name promises otherwise. Tending to see Sir Santal due to its spicy leatheriness in autumn and winter, for summer it is simply too heavy for me.
Will I buy it? No. First, because in the end, it is too similar to Leather 6. Second, because the price tag is a hefty one; 276 bucks don’t just casually go over the counter. Third, because the fragrance, although overall perhaps one of the best, just lacks a bit of edge and character. Everyone will like you with Sir Santal, but I don’t have to and don’t want to be everybody’s darling. Therefore, I need to take a closer look at Cedar’n Pepper; for me, that is the unrefined, big, cheeky, and brash brother of Sir Santal, not the crowd-pleaser, but one that stands out, one that can also be a bit rough around the edges, but that’s what makes it intriguing.
Testing recommendation for all ladies who want their Sir to smell good at home for Christmas (and of course also daily), testing recommendation also for all fellow beings looking for a fantastic fragrance that also comes with a hefty price tag.
Top Notes 
Pepper
Cardamom
Heart Notes 
Leather
Orris root
Base Notes 
Benzoin
Amber
Musk
Sandalwood
Hermesh
Luwa
Rieke2021
Kollerl
Sniffsniff
Tabla
Couchlock
Quercus
CharlAmbre
BGentle90
