Sandalwood Fragrance Is the Rich Girl Scent of the Season

Comforting, grounding and somehow still mysterious, there’s only one scent that enriches any fragrance with a true sense of luxury. Sandalwood fragrance is truly a world-class scent with long-lasting notes that elevate smoky perfumes. It brings an earthy warmth to musky scents and adds a creamy sweetness to fresh citrus. This rich note isn’t just perfect for your winter fragrance of choice; it’s your secret to smelling undeniably luxe all season long.

Sandalwood, Explained

A class of woods known for its lasting aromatic scents, sandalwood is often claimed to be the most expensive wood in the world. As one of the oldest materials to make incense, it has been used for roughly four thousand years. It’s also still the most commonly used incense material in China, Korea and Japan, and is used frequently for ritual purposes.

A particularly expensive note, sandalwood trees must be at least 15 years old before harvesting and need to be removed entirely from the ground rather than felled. That’s because the stump and roots contain high amounts of the sandalwood oil that remains so fragrant.

The Perfect Perfume for Winter

The scent is rich and warm, a woody fragrance with a buttery and creamy roundness that helps it blend seamlessly between spicy edge and earthy comforts. The slightly sweet nature of sandalwood makes it a sensual fragrance perfect for heightening skin scents and elevating comforting gourmands.

The warmth of sandalwood is what makes this note a standout for winter fragrance. And in the combinations that lean into sweet and comforting, the scent inspires a luxe richness that would make any heiress happy. A rich girl needs rich notes, after all.

Additionally, the long-lasting nature of this scent makes it a loved companion in fragrance, helping other notes stick to the skin for longer wear.

Our Favorite Sandalwood Fragrance

1 / 12

BDK Parfums Gris Charnel Eau de Parfum ($230)

Inspired by Paris, this perfume holds sandalwood at its heart, grounding it in a fresh, earthy scent with the inclusion of green vetiver.

• BUY NEIMAN MARCUS – $230
• BUY ON BLUE MERCURY – $230

KEY NOTES

Fig, Black Tea, Iris, Bourbon Vetiver and Sandalwood

 

2 / 12

Le Labo Santal 33 ($107)

Inspired by the American West, this scent takes you fireside in big sky country, where the world is big and the stars are endless. Iris and violet meet Australian sandalwood with a touch of musk and leather accord.

• BUY NOW – $107
• BUY ON BLOOMINGDALES – $107

KEY NOTES

Australian Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Iris, Violet and Leather Accord

3 / 12

snif Way With Woods Eau de Toilette ($65)

Embracing the fresh and clean side of sandalwood, this scent combines bright lemon and Timur pepper with amber and wood notes for an earthy, open fragrance.

• BUY ON ULTA – $65
• BUY ON AMAZON – $65

KEY NOTES

Mandarin, Lemon Zest, Amber Woods Sandalwood, Musk and Frankincense

4 / 12

Clean Reserve Sel Santal ($110)

The smoky heart of sandalwood grounds this luxe fragrance, while sweet mandarin and salted fig round out the warm and rich feeling of an open forest.

• BUY NOW – $110

KEY NOTES

Mandarin, Violet and Sandalwood

5 / 12

Fragrance Du Bois Santal Complet Parfum ($345)

Relax into the comforting arms of buttery sandalwood, lightly brightened with delicate lemon and coconut for a scent that transcends the season to a year-long meditation of warmth.

• BUY ON NEIMAN MARCUS – $345
• BUY ON SAKS FIFTH AVENUE – $345

KEY NOTES

Lemon, Coconut, Black Pepper, Sandalwood, Amber and Vanilla

6 / 12

KAYALI The Wedding Silk Santal ($100)

Uplifted by the brightness of bubbling champagne, this scent is a creamy and rich indulgence in sugared musk and warm sandalwood.

• BUY NOW – $100

KEY NOTES

Sparkling Champagne, White Freesia and Sandalwood

7 / 12

Kilian Paris Sacred Wood Eau de Parfum ($295)

A direct ode to sandalwood, this fragrance focuses on the delicate blend of spice, wood and creamy notes present in the most prized sandalwood in the world, sourced from Morocco.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $295
• BUY ON BLOOMINGDALES – $295

KEY NOTES

Ambrette’s Seeds, Amyris Sandalwood and Myrrh

8 / 12

Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Eau de Parfum ($93)

Earthy vetiver mingles with a spiced cinnamon and nutmeg blend to create the perfect compliment to a sandalwood heart in this woody scent.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $93
• BUY ON AMAZON – $93

KEY NOTES

Sandalwood, Vetiver and Amber Wood

9 / 12

PHLUR Somebody Wood ($99)

Sandalwood is married with fragrance-favorite bergamot for a citrus burst of brightness, softened by warm leather and amber accords for the perfect autumnal breath of fresh air.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $99
• BUY ON AMAZON – $99

KEY NOTES

Sandalwood, Amber and Musk

10 / 12

PRADA Amber ($165)

Made with pure essential oils for a long-lasting scent, this heart of amber, sandalwood and vanilla is introduced with citrusy bergamot and herbal patchouli for a layered and rich fragrance.

• BUY NOW – $165

KEY NOTES

Patchouli, Sandalwood and Vanilla

11 / 12

Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Afternoon Delight Eau de Toilette ($85)

More of a gourmand than most sandalwood scents, the marriage of vanilla creates a deep, warm feeling of being warmed by the late sun.

• BUY NOW – $85

KEY NOTES

Madagascar Vanilla, Madeleine Accord and Sandalwood

12 / 12

Tom Ford Santal Blush Eau de Parfum ($300)

Seductively scented with sandalwood and Eastern spices for a textured experience of deep woods and light florals, this fragrance grounds itself with an earthy, mysterious edge.

• BUY NOW – $300
• BUY ON NEIMAN MARCUS – $300

KEY NOTES

Cinnamon Bark Oil, Ylang-Ylang and Australian Sandalwood