The first spray was juicy, warm... not a dry sandalwood spice or heat, very lush. Everything seemed dedicated to highlighting the wood and top notes were used to just that effect.
As time went on and the heart notes came out I found it incredibly unpleasant. At one point my notes read "dog kibble-y," though I'd be hard pressed to say just what it was causing that. The red fruits listed seemed to want to rot. There was a good hour there where I was NOT having a good time.
By the 3 hour mark, though, it was practically imperceptible, and something almost aldehydic made itself known - herby, clean, light... could it be the patchouli? The saffron? Some aspect of vetiver I've never encountered before? Whatever it was, I kept sniffing. By 6 hours it was mostly faded, but occasionally I'd get a little whiff, a moment of strong sillage wafting up to me when I least expected it. It stayed well on clothes and surprisingly well on skin.
I wish I had more to say definitively about Santal. I have no idea how I feel. Maybe it has to be experienced to be understood. I'm probably coming back to it again - I want to understand just what the hell happened to me.
