Santal Blanc Van Cleef & Arpels 2019

I think Santal Blanc is polarizing. It seems to be perceived very differently and is somehow special. The first time I smelled it, I could clearly smell the fig milk, figs, sandalwood and musk. My father used to make his own sandalwood-scented shampoo and the scent immediately reminded me of the past and gave me a well-groomed, secure feeling. I don't know why, but despite the creaminess, it is a very unsweet, almost cool fragrance for me. The woody note is sometimes stronger, sometimes less strong, depending on my mood, but it is always present, just like the fig. The most beautiful thing for me about the fragrance is the haptic component, because for me the bottle is perfection par excellence. The smooth, cool, white glass, the click of the cap and the soft jingle of the ribbon with the pendant round off the elegant, simple, almost minimalist fragrance experience perfectly for me. Some may find this strange, but for me the aesthetics of the bottle always play a part in the fragrance experience. If the bottle is made of plastic or is too ugly for my taste, I have to decant the perfume, otherwise it spoils the overall impression for me ... well.
Santal Blanc is creamy, neat, cool, quiet, unsweet, somehow calm, minimalist and slightly distant, but still has something comforting about it. A promise or a memory. Like a bright room with gently billowing white curtains. It is a fragrance for quiet moments or walks after the rain. For me, it's an autumn fragrance that is incredibly strong even with just one spray and lasts a long time. Incidentally, when my son (14) smells the bottle, it immediately smells of coconut to him and he has beach associations. He said Santal Blanc was like a cool beach for him in summer. He doesn't like many fragrances, but he finds this one incredibly beautiful. Sometimes I don't even know if it really suits me - I'm neither cool nor aloof, but the bottle is so beautiful ... and it gives me a soft, secure feeling and is just somehow special.