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7.7 / 10 561 Ratings
A popular perfume by Serge Lutens for women and men, released in 2012. The scent is woody-spicy. It is being marketed by Shiseido Group / Beauté Prestige International.
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Main accords

Woody
Spicy
Floral
Sweet
Oriental

Fragrance Notes

SandalwoodSandalwood Turkish roseTurkish rose CocoaCocoa

Perfumers

Ratings
Scent
7.7561 Ratings
Longevity
7.7425 Ratings
Sillage
6.8422 Ratings
Bottle
7.8387 Ratings
Value for money
7.4146 Ratings
Submitted by Kankuro · last update on 01/22/2026.
Source-backed & verified
Interesting Facts
The fragrance is part of the Collection Noire collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Jeux de peau by Serge Lutens
Jeux de peau
Santal Insolent by Molinard
Santal Insolent
Santal Complet by Fragrance Du Bois
Santal Complet
Adam Levine for Women by Adam Levine
Adam Levine for Women
Colonia Oud / Colonia Intensa Oud (Eau de Cologne Concentrée) by Acqua di Parma
Colonia Oud Eau de Cologne Concentrée
Tabac Rose by bdk Parfums
Tabac Rose

Reviews

39 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Coutureguru

237 Reviews
Coutureguru
Coutureguru
Helpful Review 8  
Of course I like it ... it's Roses!!
Thanks to my dear friend Ysbrand I have a sample of this to ruminate over ... and I must say that as a widely publicized Lutens sceptic, I find Santal Majuscule more accessible than many others from this house I have tried. I'm not going to rush out and buy it ... but I find myself in the position of giving it a favorable review :).

It's the delicious Rose, of course, that causes the smile on my dial ... in complete opposition to the same flower in Sa Majeste, which wilts, dies and then hangs around rotting on my skin. Here she is plump and delicious ... in full bloom and laid down next to a bar of 100% cocoa dark chocolate.
This effect is more than likely due to the addition of Tonka Beans creating a 'smooth' vibe. This note seems to be missing from the above pyramid, but I will take the word of my astute friend AromiErotici down below and work from his fuller pyramid. Indeed, their reminiscent fragrance of vanilla, almonds, cinnamon, and cloves are subtly present when I lift my wrist to my nose ... a definite olfactory treat.
Now, one would think that this fragrance would then veer toward the gourmand, which it does not. It retains enough bitterness leaving it just on the acceptable side of distasteful and rich enough to be interesting.
One would also think that, bearing the name in mind, one would be in for a Sandalwood overload but quite the contrary. All I can glean from the Lutens website is the following cryptic phrase:

"Sandalwood written in capital letters, full scale and life sized!
Oboedi silentiis meis non imperii: “Do not obey my orders, obey my silence”.
Turning powdery under the influence of bitter cacao, the sandalwood plunges deep into a velvety trap."

Hmmm ... if this is Sandalwood written in capitals then I'm a real girl and not a drag queen! The wood here plays second fiddle to the Rose (velvety trap?) in typical Lutens fashion ... with this house I have come to realize that what you see is not necessarily what you get.

That said, I find myself enjoying Santal Majuscule. Perhaps I'm more for run of the mill niche fragrances than for those that push the envelope too hard.
3 Comments
7Scent
Ysbrand

84 Reviews
Ysbrand
Ysbrand
Very helpful Review 8  
Nubian guard and grande odalisque.
Santal Majuscule is introduced by the brand as a big fat sandalwood, in capitals. The ingredient list is short: sandalwood, cocoa, rose (top/heart/base) For a start , even if the structure is far from linear, the ingredients are all noticeable from the beginning. As well, i would say that sandalwood is as important as the rose, but is the tannic cocoa what makes this fragance so captivating.

The opening is, as expected, big and daring. Of course a rich sandal is there, but also a delectable honey note, cool spices (clove) and a golden yellow tea rose. The honeyed facet of the rose mingles with the sumptuous wood and hints of incense, and a slightly burnt note. I really love the sweet, bold opening of Santal Majuscule.

This robustness continues as the tannin loaded cocoa unfolds. The puissance of the cocoa enrichens the sandalwood... for a moment i think i smell a high pitched patchouli, but i assume is the combination of cocoa and sandalwood and the rosyness, i am not sure. It is earthy and powerful. To round up i get a tobacco note when i get used to the cocoa. On each sniff i find a different facet of Santal Majuscule.

The drydown is also beautiful: once the vigorous cocoa fades, the sandalwood brings its narcotic milkiness, and the rose illuminates: is fruity and indolent, like the blonde slumbering beauty of Ingres "Slave and odalisque" A note of beeswax acompanies the lactonic sandal. It lasts soft and gentle many hours on my skin.

Santal Majuscule is very beautiful and well blended. Assertive, floral-woody, full bodied and with its dose of yummy. The cocoa/patchouli note immediately makes me think of L´Instant and Kokorico, but i find this Serge Lutens way more interesting and captivating, likable, easy to sell. It feels more traditionally masculine than femenine, but, as always we only care about this criterion in case we are buying a present for someone else. Well done, Lutens-Sheldrake.
2 Comments
Alihashmi87

5 Reviews
Alihashmi87
Alihashmi87
Very helpful Review 3  
Intoxicating, not an overstatement
I think the beauty of Santal Majuscule lies in its very simplicity. Starting off with three notes: rose, cacao and sandalwood, what we have at the end is sheer magic. One of the most beautiful scents in my collection. The rose - not a feminine one - with nice sandalwood and cacao supporting the base throughout makes for a pleasurable wearing experience. Every time I wear it, it reminds me of the amazing intoxicating feeling that I had when I smelled it the first time. I will cherish this masterpiece forever.
Updated on 09/15/2022
0 Comments
shengnu

94 Reviews
shengnu
shengnu
Helpful Review 3  
The rose that I love...and I usually hate rose.
I don't like rose notes - they are too sweet and rich smelling for me, and make my head hurt. Yet, this perfume with only three notes managed to make a rose that I love.

Sandalwood, cacao, rose.
Not supposed to be very complicated. Yet, the cacao - not chocolate - and sandalwood cuts down the sweetness from the rose, while still making it deliciously rich and deep. It's almost gourmand, yet simultaneously has a sandalwood incense quality which keeps it from going all the way there.

A sweet, but not-too-sweet perfume that I can almost taste. Warm, comforting, and nice to cuddle into in the wintertime, and sometimes even in the summer if you spray lightly. The sillage is strong. And I can still smell hints of it lingering on the tester after two days.
Buy after sampling first - but I think this one has a good chance to surprise and delight you like it did me.
Updated on 05/18/2025
0 Comments
ClaireV

969 Reviews
ClaireV
ClaireV
5  
A compelling rose-sandalwood
For a perfume that lists so many comforting notes - cocoa, rose petals, sandalwood, and so on - Santal Majuscule by Serge Lutens avoids falling into the trap of being overly comfortable or plush. Rather, it is full of accords that pull and push against each other, creating an interesting tension that keeps you on your toes for much of the ride.

The opening is dense to the point of sensory overload. It takes some getting used to, but once it clicks, it becomes as addictive as a drug. There is a strong boozy cocoa note interacting so violently with a jammy red rose that it almost conjures up a phantom note of coffee - aromatic, dark, rich. The first few times I tried it, the opening always seemed too intense for my tastes - too syrupy, too aromatic, too something.....but then I found myself going back for more, like a moth to a flame.

After the opening, the push and pull begins. The sour, lactic tang of the sandalwood clashes with the syrupy sweetness of the rose; the bitter dustiness of the dark cocoa stands off against the oiliness of the wood; these contrasting notes and textures rub up against each and then pull apart again in the most interesting ways possible. It is full of these little tensions, some of which are still unresolved by the time we get to the creamy, woodsy base.

I think that Santal Majuscule, like Chanel's gorgeous Bois des Iles, is an artistic reconstruction of the Mysore sandalwood smell without using the real thing itself. It uses the different textures and angles of the rose, cocoa, and woody notes to stand in for the varied range of tones you get in real Mysore sandalwood, i.e., rosy, woody, syrupy, dusty, milky, sour, sweet, and oily. At the base, there is a wonderful creamy woodiness, relieved only by a touch of fruity rose, reminding me of those delicate, creamy Indian puddings that taste oddly floral with rosewater and saffron.

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Statements

106 short views on the fragrance
4
1
Smooth, soft sandalwood and dry rose with cocoa in the underbelly keeping everything muted. LOVE IT
1 Comment
3
A transparent wash of rose, sandalwood so warm it’s almost spicy, and just enough cocoa to ground the composition. Opulent yet cozy.
0 Comments
3
Metrosexual, clean and reasonable sandalwood scent without much real nuance about it. Pleasantly smooth and delicate.
0 Comments
3
Cascades of lush heady roses dusted with dark cocoa and spices float over a generous sandalwood base.
0 Comments
2
I get an herbaceous almost mintiness from this. But otherwise a very wearable dry rose. Very unisex, and versatile but mature.
0 Comments
2
Awful dill pickle opening like in Santal Complet. Mild floral hint adds a make-up type accord. The hint of cocoa doesn't help. Sillage ~0.
0 Comments
2 years ago
2
no santal 33! not a boring sandalwood. deep and dark woody reminiscent of oud
0 Comments
2
I will cherish this scent forever. It reminds me every time of the first time when I smelled it :)
0 Comments
2
This fine sandal crust with a deep-red rose heart is simply intoxicating. Serge’s little rose bon bon.
0 Comments
1
Starts with a VERY strong rose, soon blends seamlessly with sandalwood; cocoa for extra smoothness. Beautiful; leans quite femme on me
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