Sandalwood fragrances and their dupes
Sandalwood is a base note that smells creamy, soft and milky-woody, with a faint sweetness. The closest sandalwood dupe in our data is Lattafa Vintage Radio, a 90% note match for Initio Paragon, at $30 instead of $330.
What sandalwood smells like
Creamy, soft and milky-woody, with a faint sweetness. The most comforting of the woods, less sharp than cedar and less smoky than oud.
Sandalwood is a base note that lends a smooth, expensive woodiness and long wear. Real Mysore sandalwood is rare and costly, so most scents and their dupes use a cultivated or synthetic sandalwood that shares the same creamy character.
In the fragrance pyramid, sandalwood is typically a base note in the woody family.
The 17 fragrances we track with sandalwood, and their dupes
Ranked by note match. Average match 85%, average saving $234 a bottle. A ✓ marks a dupe that shares the sandalwood note itself.
Sandalwood in fragrance, answered
What does sandalwood smell like in perfume?
Creamy, soft and milky-woody, with a faint sweetness. The most comforting of the woods, less sharp than cedar and less smoky than oud. Sandalwood is a base note that lends a smooth, expensive woodiness and long wear. Real Mysore sandalwood is rare and costly, so most scents and their dupes use a cultivated or synthetic sandalwood that shares the same creamy character.
Is sandalwood a top, heart or base note?
Sandalwood usually sits as a base note, in the woody family. Base notes last longest and anchor the dry-down for hours.
What is the closest sandalwood fragrance dupe?
Lattafa Vintage Radio, a 90% note match for Paragon, at $30 instead of $330.
What is the cheapest sandalwood dupe?
Dossier Woody Sandalwood at $29, a dupe for Le Labo Santal 33.
The best new fragrance dupes and celebrity scents, weekly.