The 13 Best Sandalwood Perfumes That Smell Great on Just About Everyone

Admittedly, shopping for perfume is an incredibly personal experience. However, if you're looking for a sandalwood scent that's a consistent crowd-pleaser, consider Ex Nihilo’s Santal Calling. “To me, Santal Calling is a final form of sandalwood,” says Vernon. “Like it plucked all the best parts of various sandalwood scents on the market to combine into one elegant, effortless, cozy, versatile scent.”

Halperin of Storied Senses agrees. “[It's] a soft textured sandalwood fragrance with a very bright top, but you can still immediately smell the sandalwood,” she says.

Key notes: Nutmeg, iris, milky accord, sandalwood, vanilla, musk

New to sandalwood scents? Sidestep the usual suspects and opt for Diptyque's Tom Dao, which fragrance expert Maria Helen Rue calls the most "easygoing and wearable." "Dry and spicy, yet lush and green from aromatic cypress, it has a soft, skin-close quality that feels calming and unisex," she says. "Understated and timeless, it’s the kind of scent that always feels right."

Key notes: Sandalwood, cedar, cypress

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Arguably the most famous sandalwood perfume of all time, this iconic scent is often imitated but never duplicated, thanks to its unique, woody, and sensual composition that smells great on, well, literally everyone.

Key notes: Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, smoky wood alloy, ambrox, leather accord, musky notes

While many top sandalwood scents can easily rise above $200, Maison Louis Marie's perfume is just $100. Top notes of sandalwood and cedarwood create a woodsy aroma that's easy to layer.

Key notes: Sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, nutmeg, cinnamon, amber wood

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If you want a sandalwood scent that skews more creamy than earthy, this Matiere Premiere perfume is worth considering. The iris and tonka bean absolute notes add a velvety, nutty layer that rounds out this scent.

Key notes: Iris, sandalwood, benzoin, tonka bean absolute

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Floral-forward perfumes are not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you aspire to smell like a garden in the best possible way, Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia makes it easy. Plus, its floral scent is nicely grounded by a base of sandalwood essence.

Key notes: Mandarin essence, gardenia accord, hedione, sandalwood essence

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For those who can’t get enough of the sandalwood scent, Bvlgari has created a sandalwood-only essence. This magnifying essence is also ideal for layering—you can add a woodsy note to any perfume.

Key notes: Sandalwood

Body mists are so back. Since these formulas generally use a lower concentration of fragrance oil, they don’t last as long as a typical scent, but that’s what makes them fun. Not only does Salt & Stone’s Santal & Vetiver version feature an effortlessly earthy essence, but customers agree that it lasts surprisingly long for a mist.

Key notes: Santal, vetiver, amber

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If you want to fill your beauty bag with eco-friendly formulas, Henry Rose’s Queens & Monsters perfume is a no-brainer. Of course, there’s more to this pick than its non-toxic, cruelty-free reputation. “This fragrance not only smells great on its own, but is also easy to layer with other scents and lasts for hours,” says Bazaar’s Tiffany Dodson Davis. “While it’s described as a floral scent, Queens & Monsters also wears as an earthy skin scent that’s best enjoyed up close.”

Key notes: Violet leaf, neroli, petitgrain, freesia, jasmine, vanilla, cocoa musk, sandalwood

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Sandalwood famously has an earthy edge, but if you’re looking for a cleaner, crisper take on the scent, Byredo has you covered. Halperin says hints of coconut water, aldehydes, and jasmine petals make this option an “understated sandalwood fragrance.” “It has a soft and clean feeling overall,” she adds. “The fresh musks add a cotton-like feel with undertones of sandalwood.”

Key notes: Aldehydes, coconut water, incense, jasmine petals, milky musks, sandalwood, cashmere wood, salted amber

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We're not going to sugarcoat it: Vanilla perfumes can be polarizing. This Tom Ford elixir might be billed as a vanilla fragrance. Still, Katie Intner, Harper's Bazaar's beauty market and commerce editor, notes that the sandalwood essence here lends a grounding quality to the sweet scent. "Even if you don’t love vanilla scents, you’re guaranteed to like Tom Ford’s take on a gourmand, which also includes amber, sandalwood, and jasmine," she says. "It’s sexy, sweet, and delectable without smelling juvenile."

Key notes: Vanilla tincture India, vanilla absolute, sandalwood essence, jasmine absolute, orris accord, animalis accord

Or, if you want to kick the sweetness up a notch, try Maison Margiela Replica’s Afternoon Delight. “Cookie-like and indulgent at first, it’s grounded by musk and sandalwood into something musky, woody, and cozy instead of cloying,” Rue says. “It’s lightly indulgent, yet wearable for every day.”

Halperin also loves this scent for its “sweet sandalwood, sunny quality.” “The madeleine accord gives the fragrance its deliciousness while the amber, vanilla, and sandalwood offer comforting warmth for the cooler months,” she adds.

Key notes: Madeline accord, sandalwood, Madagascar vanilla

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There’s a reason why Rue calls Belnu’s Chair Fleur, which, by the way, is a blend that focuses on one-ingredient transparency—the “epitome of a chic, cool sandalwood.” “Spicy cardamom and cinnamon, warm vanilla, and soothing lavender swirl together over a creamy sandalwood base,” she says. “It creates what smells like a lavender chai latte bottled into perfume.” The result: Sandalwood...with a little oomph.

Key notes: Nutmeg, cinnamon, green cardamom, lavender, citrus, violet, vanilla bean, cypriol, cedarwood, sandalwood

FAQs

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Meet the Experts:

• Ariella Halperin is the founder and creative director of the fragrance consultancy firm Storied Senses.
• Emma Vernon is a fragrance expert and host of the podcast Perfume Room.
• Maria Helen Rue is a fragrance expert and the founder of The Top Notes​.
• Tiffany Dodson Davis is the beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar.
• Katie Intner is the beauty market and commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar.

Is There a Difference Between Sandalwood and Santal Notes?

According to experts, there’s actually no difference between the two popular fragrance notes. “Sandalwood is the natural material,” Rue explains. “Santal is a French word that is specifically used in perfumery to describe a fragrance where sandalwood would be the main player.” But, like most plants, different sandalwood species will influence the overall aroma. For example, many perfumers incorporate Australian sandalwood for a fresh, earthy flair.

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How to Choose the Right Sandalwood Scent for You

Want to add a sandalwood fragrance to your aromatic arsenal? The first thing you'll want to consider is the amount of sandalwood you want in your overall formula.

“Sandalwood is most often used as a base note, which means it’s one of the last impressions left on the skin,” Rue shares. “After the lighter top and heart notes fade, sandalwood lingers with its creamy, woody warmth, giving depth and staying power to a fragrance.” She adds that perfumes with base notes of sandalwood can last for up to eight to 12 hours.

Another non-negotiable is how a perfume interacts with your body chemistry. “Your skin is the final ingredient,” Vernon explains. “All of our skin chemistries vary, and what blooms on you might go sour on me (or vice-versa).” Fortunately, many fragrance brands offer travel-sized options, allowing you to try a perfume without committing to a full-sized bottle.

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For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

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