Like, seriously, I’ve been on the hunt for the *perfect* Santal 33 dupe for ages, and I’ve sniffed my way through a LOT of contenders. It’s a journey, lemme tell ya. You gotta wade through the cheapy, smells-nothing-like-the-real-thing imposters to find the gems.
One that keeps popping up is the Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt. Okay, the name’s a mouthful, I get it. But Sephora peeps seem to swear by it. I tried it once, and it *did* have that woody, kinda spicy vibe. Not a 100% match, maybe, but definitely in the same ballpark. Plus, it’s way more affordable, which is a HUGE win.
Then there’s the whole diffuser oil thing. I’ve seen Santal 33 diffuser oils mentioned, which is kinda cool because you can just pump the scent straight into your house. Honestly, creating an entire Santal 33 *atmosphere*? Yes, please! I haven’t tried any diffuser oils yet myself but have to say I am intruiged to say the least.
Oh, and Zara! Don’t forget about Zara. I saw something about their Santal Glow Eau de Toilette. Zara’s fragrances can be hit or miss, but hey, worth a shot, especially if you can snag it on sale. You know, for science! I’d say that its a pretty basic dupe though and definitely not one of my favorites.
What makes Santal 33 so special anyway? It’s that sandalwood, right? It’s gotta be front and center. And those other notes… cedar, maybe a hint of oud. It’s all about finding that perfect balance. I mean, a good dupe needs to *feel* similar, too. That whole warm, kinda smoky, sophisticated vibe.
And you know what else is interesting? Another 13, also from Le Labo! It’s not Santal 33, but apparently, there are people looking for dupes *of that* too! It’s more of a musky, clean scent, so totally different. But still, it just goes to show how much people love finding a good, cheaper alternative.
