Santal Blush by Tom Ford
Heya Posse! I found an old Surrender To Chance vial of Santal Blush by Tom Ford in a box. It looks like it got one swipe and then put away, or maybe it never even got that. I know the fragrance though because I’ve tried it repeatedly in store and one of my friends wears it, ever terrified of it being DCed. There was a 250ml but that has long disappeared in Australia. I understand the business reasons for discontinuing stuff but it’s so hard on signature perfume wearers. I can’t believe it was introduced in 2011! It came out with Jasmine Rouge, which I have a bottle of, and Violet Blonde. Was Violet Blonde not in the Private Collection bottle? Did it get demoted? Has it become a super unicorn, I’m a little out of the VB loop. Clearly.
Perfumer Yann Vasnier is a name you’ll know from Arquiste (Anima Dulcis is my fave), Divine Parfums The OG Divine EdP), Jo Malone, Keiko Mecheri (Love Oliban, sometimes have a strange hankering for Passiflora) and many others. Plum Japonais and Vanille Fatale are another couple of Tom Ford’s I really enjoyed.
Santal Blush by Tom Ford 2011
Tom Ford gives these featured accords:
Cinnamon Bark Oil, Sri Lanka Orpur®, Carrot Seed Oil, Ylang Ylang Madagascar, Sandalwood Australia, Cedarwood Texas Orpur®, Benzoin Tears Laos
Dumped the whole remainder of the sample on my chest and forearm backs to really live the Santal Blush adventure.
WHOA! I do love how top heavy many of the Tom Fords are. Explosive opening of that creamy, dreamy and slightly dusty ylang/sandalwood you’ll know from early Guerlain Samsara. It runs right through but has many different bells and whistles. It isn’t all the creamy and light filled experience of the Samsara drama. Santal Blush has a bitter almond and burning resin undertow that creates depth and interest.
The heart heads towards dry woods, like wandering the timber aisle in a hardware store but still maintains that sweet sandalwood vibe.
About an hour in all that’s left is a pretty wash of creamed woodsy amber. It’s not a complete collapse but becomes a comfortable whisper that continues pumping very close to the skin for hours and hours.
Unisex and I understand why it’s still a popular choice. So easy to wear and that first 15 minutes is really, really good. A particularly good choice if you want to know you smell low key fabulous all day but don’t want to be distracted by your perfume. Also, I’m thinking that though sandalwood is usually seen as a cool weather choice Santal Blush feels totally wearable for the high heat of summer.
Do you like, love or loathe Santal Blush?
Portia xx
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