5
Santal Impérial by Creed
I had such high hopes for Santal Impérial - the fragrance so famously designed for the Habsburg Emperor, Austro-Hungarian Kaiser und Koenig Franz-Josef and reportedly popular among the crowned heads and the nobility of Europe, and blended from the very finest of ingredients.
Some years back I managed to obtain a vintage 75ml bottle, in pristine condition.
I was impatient to savour the scent that had graced the royal nostrils of Czars, Kaisers and Emperors, the rich and powerful, and hoped that this wondrous scent might anoint me with an aura of dignitas and grace.
Now I must stress that the box housing my bottle was marked "Eau de Toilette" (see pic). I have a number of other Creeds in my collection, and have seen and sampled many more, but this is the only one I have ever seen to bear that designation. I don't know whether there were also EDP versions of Santal Impérial but if not, the imperial courts of Vienna and St Petersburg must have been rather stinky on a hot Summer's day because this is without doubt the weakest Creed I have ever experienced.
It opens with a citrus-y note that seems to be typical of many Creed fragrances, which transforms very quickly into a pleasant, multifaceted transitional phase in which I find it extremely difficult to discern individual elements before the drydown, which to my nose is a pure, heavenly, sublime white sandalwood with ambergris.
And then it's all over.
I can only comment on the EDT version that I have, but the longevity is abysmal and the sillage is at first moderate, but within minutes it becomes a skin scent.
I imagine the reason for this would have been that, unlike 21st century metrosexual dandies, I imagine that the average 19th century Emperor had certain notions about masculinity and as such probably didn't want to appear as a "perfumed ponce" at his State Receptions and garden parties.
it is evident that Santal Impérial is made from extremely high quality raw materials - like all Creeds - especially because of its pedigree as an imperial favourite, but I was disappointed by the brief but glorious blossoming of its sublime, magnificent aroma.
In summary: a classic Creed citrus overture followed by the appearance of an exquisitely beautiful sandalwood, which all too quickly fades to become almost undetectable. Reminds me of something I read once in a book on the rules and manners of "polite society" which stressed that in social situations, one ought always "leave while they still want you to stay", and perhaps such was the thinking behind the fleeting beauty of Santal Impérial.
I have tried some old 19th century tricks for extending the longevity like applying cured ambergris before applying Santal Impérial, but have yet to find a successful means of boosting this wonderful, but dismally weak, legend.
if you're looking for a quality sandalwood, then this is undoubtedly that - but it's really just a tease, because it vanished so fast.
Along with a love of sandalwood (I grew up surrounded by the aroma of White / Mysore Sandalwood and it invokes happiness, comfort and serenity) I was primarily motivated by a sense of historical curiosity and nowadays I mainly wear this on special occasions for my own enjoyment, since I know that very few people will even detect it after half an hour. But if you can find this in an EDP concentration I imagine the experience would be much more satisfying.
Some years back I managed to obtain a vintage 75ml bottle, in pristine condition.
I was impatient to savour the scent that had graced the royal nostrils of Czars, Kaisers and Emperors, the rich and powerful, and hoped that this wondrous scent might anoint me with an aura of dignitas and grace.
Now I must stress that the box housing my bottle was marked "Eau de Toilette" (see pic). I have a number of other Creeds in my collection, and have seen and sampled many more, but this is the only one I have ever seen to bear that designation. I don't know whether there were also EDP versions of Santal Impérial but if not, the imperial courts of Vienna and St Petersburg must have been rather stinky on a hot Summer's day because this is without doubt the weakest Creed I have ever experienced.
It opens with a citrus-y note that seems to be typical of many Creed fragrances, which transforms very quickly into a pleasant, multifaceted transitional phase in which I find it extremely difficult to discern individual elements before the drydown, which to my nose is a pure, heavenly, sublime white sandalwood with ambergris.
And then it's all over.
I can only comment on the EDT version that I have, but the longevity is abysmal and the sillage is at first moderate, but within minutes it becomes a skin scent.
I imagine the reason for this would have been that, unlike 21st century metrosexual dandies, I imagine that the average 19th century Emperor had certain notions about masculinity and as such probably didn't want to appear as a "perfumed ponce" at his State Receptions and garden parties.
it is evident that Santal Impérial is made from extremely high quality raw materials - like all Creeds - especially because of its pedigree as an imperial favourite, but I was disappointed by the brief but glorious blossoming of its sublime, magnificent aroma.
In summary: a classic Creed citrus overture followed by the appearance of an exquisitely beautiful sandalwood, which all too quickly fades to become almost undetectable. Reminds me of something I read once in a book on the rules and manners of "polite society" which stressed that in social situations, one ought always "leave while they still want you to stay", and perhaps such was the thinking behind the fleeting beauty of Santal Impérial.
I have tried some old 19th century tricks for extending the longevity like applying cured ambergris before applying Santal Impérial, but have yet to find a successful means of boosting this wonderful, but dismally weak, legend.
if you're looking for a quality sandalwood, then this is undoubtedly that - but it's really just a tease, because it vanished so fast.
Along with a love of sandalwood (I grew up surrounded by the aroma of White / Mysore Sandalwood and it invokes happiness, comfort and serenity) I was primarily motivated by a sense of historical curiosity and nowadays I mainly wear this on special occasions for my own enjoyment, since I know that very few people will even detect it after half an hour. But if you can find this in an EDP concentration I imagine the experience would be much more satisfying.
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