Best Perfumes for Women

11 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Santal 33

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Santal 33 really exploded in popularity about a decade ago. Since then, it has been endlessly praised, rehashed, and even copied to a large extent. Due to so many people talking about and wearing this Le Labo perfume, there is of course a ton of people who want something similar smelling or just plain cheaper.

This is my page tracking the alternative options which smell alike or have a very close style to what you get with Le Labo’s Santal 33. Many will be inexpensive choices, while others may be around the same price (with different smells).

Key Takeaways

Here’s a short list of some of the best options. I go into further detail about all of these and more perfumes, down further on the page.

What Perfumes Smell Like or have a Similar Style to Le Labo Santal 33?

So, the first part of the list is going to consist of those fragrances that are actively trying to match what you get with the Le Labo perfume. While the latter half, will be those that have a close to style. At least to whatever degree, that may be the case.

Shaded Woods

33 Shades of Santal by Dua– Our first entry is from the Dua Brand. Their ‘inspired by’ scent is called 33 Shades of Santal. Which, by name alone, I think that you can tell what they’re going for.

The thing is, 33 Shades does strike an extremely close chord with what you get from the Le Labo original. Dua says it’s based on the sandalwood they use in their formula, and I’ll take them at their word.

With that sandalwood, the usual papyrus, violet, iris, and leather coming through the base. All the same notes are there, the weighting is very much in line with what you’d want, and the price is very affordable ($55, as of update, without any discount codes).

Add to all of that, a great performance level from it being an extrait de parfum concentration. This is for sure a near dupe to check out.

Santal Similarities

Woody Sandalwood by Dossier– Woody Santal is the second of our ‘inspired’ takes of fragrances that try to duplicate the Santal 33 formula.

Now, I haven’t tried this one out from Dossier. I have tried other scents from them, they have been good at getting close to the designer fragrance they’re based on.

I cannot speak to this one personally, but the reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the general consensus is that Woody Sandalwood hits the mark.

If it can get the weighting of the notes mostly correct, you should be fine with this one. It’s slightly cheaper than the Dua (without discounts), but not by much.

Alexandria’s Kiss

Santal’s Kiss by Alexandria Fragrances– Another of the ‘inspirations’, that are based on the company’s idea of Santal 33.

Alexandria is a brand that is generally quite good at these sorts of creations. Plus, their scents also have great performance. So, while it’s pricier than some of the other inspired alternatives, it can be worthwhile.

Santal’s Kiss is an addition to this list, for those who want to try and find the perfect potential dupe.

Sandalwood-Cha

Ruhe by Oakcha– Ruhe from Oakcha is another option for those looking for an ‘inspired by’ version of Santal 33.

I haven’t tried anything from this brand as of yet, but they seem to have a good reputation and plenty of positive reviews.

Adding this to the list, to give yet another potential alternative. I’ll update, if and when I try this Oakcha scent out.

Simple 33

Simply Santal by ALT Fragrances- ALT Fragrances is a brand that I’m familiar with, and they usually do a good job at matching much of what you get with popular designer scents.

It’s an extrait de parfum, vegan, and matches all of the same notes as what we’re looking for. Yes, even a leather note (just not actual leather).

The pricing is right in line with the other inspired by perfumes, on the list. Simply Santal has a ton of reviews, to help you decide if this is one to try out.

Nothing Neon, but Santal-ish

Neon Moon by Pacifica– This one isn’t exactly like our Le Labo target, but Neon Moon, gives you a very similar style…but not really matching its own packaging and name. Plus, it’s extremely inexpensive.

Neon Moon is a streamlined perfume, when compared to Santal 33. You get the sandalwood, you get smokiness, and you get cardamom. The floral note here is jasmine, which comes across a bit differently than our target.

Yet, Neon Moon still has a violet-like aroma in there somewhere. I do think this is a sweeter fragrance in comparison. The cardamom, I suspect is based on a more ‘citrusy’ variety of that note.

The dry down is fresh, a bit smoky, and with a decent sandalwood note at this price point. Not as good as Santal, but for somewhere in the $20 range, I like this Pacifica.

Bookish Woods

Book Commodity– Book is a fragrance that has similarities to Santal 33, but is by no means an exact replica of what you get with the Le Labo. It’s more of a ‘if you like Santal 33, you’ll also like…” perfume.

I believe the concept here, is that it’s supposed to put off an aroma that is like reading a book or at least inspired by it.

What you get is a mix of dry woods, fresh eucalyptus, and some light powdery accents. It doesn’t have the violet, that the Le Labo does, but there are similarities it how it smells.

The rosewood and sandalwood are more balanced in the dry down. It’s not a pure sandalwood dominant fragrance. Early, you get lots of cypress and eucalyptus. I like the differences, that make this one distinct.

However, for some people they report getting more of a ‘dill’ aroma, like others get with Santal 33. I do pick up hints of it in both perfumes, but it’s not much of a factor on my own skin.

Maison Woods

No. 4 Bois de Balincourt– Another great alternative to our Le Labo scent. This time, from Maison Louis Marie.

No. 4 has a fresh crispness about it in the early stages. Slightly greenish, but with a similar powdery undertone to Santal 33.

Cinnamon and nutmeg, at the start with the freshness of the woody notes, can be punchy. However, Bois de Ballincourt ends up being quite soft, and loses some of the rougher edges that Santal can have.

This one has more vetiver and cedar, flanking the sandalwood note. Spicier and a different mix of the wood notes, which prevents it from being an exact match. But, it’s very close to 33.

santal 33 dupes

A Cheaper Woods

Palo Santo Cremo– Palo Santo is a great value play and alternative. This isn’t trying to be exactly the same, but it has plenty of similarities, while remaining distinct.

Cardamom gives this an opening freshness and some light citrus touches. This Cremo fragrance has less of that potential ‘pickle or dill’ aroma, that many people seem to get with the Le Labo.

Yet, Palo Santo is very much a fresher scent, less powdery, and is closer to a men’s cologne rather than unisex. Though, I don’t think it’s overwhelming ‘manly’. Papyrus is still a play in this scent, giving it a great dry aroma.

Tam Santal

Diptyque Tam Dao Eau De Parfum– Another option for a sandalwood scent. This one is definitely a woodsy/forest type of scent with other notes such as cedar and cypress. Has a very dry and soft aroma.

Tam Dao opens with more of the cypress note, before the dry down transitions to having the santal be the leader of the pack. Lots of wood notes with some amber and slight spices.

This isn’t the same as our target and is a good option for those who want a more balanced array of woody notes, but with a similar style.

The cypress and cedar, are also joined by rosewood. So, this one can get quite dry and forest-like.

Masculine Virtu

Virtu by Vince Camuto– A decidedly more masculine fragrance than the others on the list. This Vince Camuto cologne is listed for men and not unisex.

Yet, it has plenty in common with Santal 33, even as it remains a distinct fragrance.

Earthy and greenish moss, more leather, dry birch, and a pepper kick up top separate it from our target.

But, Virtu still has papyrus and sandalwood coming through loud and clear. Virtu is greener and smokier, at times than the Le Labo. It does still have a powdery accord underneath, just not to the same extent.

Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita by Guerlain

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Pera Granita is a release which is a part of the Aqua Allegoria series by Guerlain. It’s one that I’ve already tried and enjoyed before, but I decided to buy another sample, in order to write up a full review. It came out in 2016. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Pera Granita Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, grapefruit, apricot, lemon, bergamot, musk, orange blossom, osmanthus, hedione, cedar, moss

Click here to try: Pera Granita

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: Savour a granita in the shade of the pear trees in the garden of the Hesperides, then gather their fruity treasures.

Pera Granita starts off with an explosion of its citrus and other fruity notes. Early on, you’re going to get plenty of lemon, sour bergamot, and the grapefruit coming through. Yes, the pear will be there throughout, it’s just overshadowed in the beginning.

Add to all of that, some osmanthus, which gives off it’s own sweet fruity sort of aroma as a floral note. Lots of sweet, sour, and sharpness happening in these early stages.

The next phase is fresher rather than sweet and sour. Some of the citrus notes burn off, which gives more play to the pear note. However, it is also going to share the stage with an array of floral notes and musk.

Actually, the grapefruit stands out on my skin, as it seems most of the burn off is from the lemon and bergamot notes.

The jasmine (hedione) and musk create a clean and somewhat shampoo-like vibe in the middle act. Add the freshness of cedar, sparkling water effect of pear, and the citrusy aroma…and Pera Granita really starts to give off the cleanliness.

The back half of this one is a fruit/musk/floral mix. The jasmine, orange blossom, osmanthus aren’t really sticking out as individual notes. More of a generic floral aroma.

It’s fresh with musk and wood at the base, a bit green, some light spice, and the fruits still jockeying for position.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pera Granita opens up with a moderate strength. It’s fruity notes, definitely have reach in the early stages, and will be noticed from more than 7 feet away from where you sprayed.

As it moves along, this Aqua Allegoria fragrance will be much more of a lighter moderate scent, until it begins to disappear.

On my skin, it’ll last for 6-7 hours, with those last few hours not being particularly powerful. However, Pera Granita is for sure still present.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear, all the way. A great one to wear outside, relaxing around, or other daily wear functions during this stretch of time.

It’s an upbeat and clean one to wear in the daytime. Not going to be a sexy nightlife wear or one that is super formal. Though, you’ll still get plenty of use out of Pera Granita, even without the nighttime functions.

Overall Impressions of Pera Granita

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do.

The freshness, the mix of sweet, sour, pear, and floral notes. The energy of it and how it has some depth for a summertime wear. It’s an Aqua Allegoria perfume that I enjoy quite a bit.

The performance itself is pretty mid. It’s not awful on me, but I wouldn’t expect a marathon wear or super beastly performance out of Pera Granita. 7 hours, on the high end, with  the last few being skin scent territory. Fair enough.

Still, this is one of my favorite pear perfumes that I have tried. It’s not completely dominated by that note, but I like how it stands out within the mix.

Pera Granita is a very good warm weather option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. Definitely worth trying out. But, with how pricey it can be, maybe not a perfume that you’d want to blind buy.

Also, if it doesn’t sound like something that’d fit your style, I don’t think it’d do anything to change that fact.

4 Perfumes that Smell Similar to Prada Paradoxe

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Prada Paradoxe has enjoyed a good deal of success since its release. The formula is very familiar to other popular releases, but doesn’t exactly overlap any one in particular. Are there fragrances that smell like Paradoxe? This is my ongoing list of perfumes that are similar, cheaper, or just have a close style to the Prada scent.

What Perfumes are Similar to Paradoxe by Prada?

Inspired Alternative

Enigmoxe by The Dua Brand- Enigmoxe is The Dua Brand’s take on the Paradoxe formula. So, if you want a cheaper alternative that tries to mimic the Prada, this is your best bet at the moment.

With this, you’ll get the same note structure, while trying to nail the exact weighting. I haven’t tried this Dua fragrance, in particular. But, I have purchased over 10 of their other scents which were inspired by other designer perfumes, and they’ve all been extremely close.

I don’t see why this one would be an exception to that record. I’ll come back and update, if I end up giving this perfume a try.

Intensa Paradox

Voce Viva Intensa– As far as designer perfumes go, Voce Viva Intensa is the one that has the most striking similarities between it and Paradoxe.

However, they are not exactly the same, as Intensa is a thicker and heavier scent better for autumn and winter wear. Intensa sticks close to the original, Voce Viva, while doing some different things.

Mainly, that opening citrus accord is without the ginger spice and is an area where Intensa has a lot in common with Paradoxe. No pear note, but you get bergamot, orange, orange blossom, and jasmine.

I’ve described a lot of the wear of Voce Viva Intensa as a vanilla-soaked orange blossom, with some jasmine added. The dry down is much more vanilla based and has a slightly mossy finish.

The Prada perfume is fresher, lighter, and sweeter than this Valentino. But, Voce Viva Intensa could be a good alternative for those who want a more floral and vanilla heavy perfume. Voce Viva Intensa Review

voce viva intense review

Shocking Similarities

Black Opium Floral Shock– This is another designer scent that has a good deal of overlap with our Prada target, while having enough distinction to be wholly separate.

The main differences will be with the coffee note in this YSL, the gardenia in lieu of the jasmine of Paradoxe, lack of vanilla,  and less of the citrus influence. But, you do get the pear and bergamot up top (teamed up with lemon).

This one is a creamier white floral, with fresh influence, both from the fruit notes and the light freesia. The base features amberwood and musk. The white floral ingredients, ‘solar’ notes, and the rest do give this a creaminess that sort of simulates a vanilla influence…just not the same.

Paradoxe is a tad lighter and fresher. More of that citrus sweetness. Though, both have a close structure and the great white floral heart.

One Intense Paradoxe

The Only One Intense by Dolce & Gabbana Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 3.4 Ounce– This D&G scent is somewhere in the realm of Paradoxe Intense and the original. Like, Intense if you stripped out the moss note and added coconut in its place.

A substantial difference, I know. But, this one is more about having a similar style than trying to be an exact copy of Prada.

It’s also like its predecessor, The One Desire. But again, distinct enough to be noticeable.

Sweet, creamy, white floral notes, with a light citrus/apple start. It’s got plenty of jasmine in there as the main flower. Vanilla, cashmere wood, and coconut give it that milky warm embrace.

Not too heavy and can actually venture into warmer weather. Maybe not the height of summer, but it’s not a bad reach in the spring. Fantastic performer.

7 Best Smelling Hugo Boss Perfumes for Her

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Hugo Boss is a design house that has been around for ages and is still going strong. One of the highlights of this brand is their fragrance line for both men and women.

From this line, one can find very nice scent choices that are in the more moderate price range than something like Bond No. 9 for instance.

In this post, I want to put forth 7 Hugo Boss perfumes which could be considered the best smelling of the bunch. 

What are the Best Hugo Boss Perfumes for Ladies?

Note: It seems like there has been a lot of purging of product from the Hugo Boss women’s fragrance line.  Nonetheless, I’ll put forward my picks from the past, and link to them since they can be found elsewhere. I’ve added to this list, however, and retained some of the older scents.

Fresh Floral/Fruity Perfume

Femme 2.5 Oz Eau De Parfum Spray Women– Boss Femme is highlighted by floral notes such as freesia, rose, jasmine, and fleur de lys along with fruity notes such as tangerine and apricot.

It has a fresh floral scent that is good for everyday wear without being overbearing and the tangerine provides a subtle citrus undertone.

It opens with the mix of the fruit and floral notes before, the freesia and rose become the main attraction.

It’s a citrusy sort of smell with a bit of sharp black currant added, as well. Boss Femme is a fairly light fragrance, that fits in well during the day time, and can be safely worn every day.

A-lively Perfume

Boss Alive– Boss Alive EDP is the initial release from their newest line, which isn’t so new anymore. This one isn’t as sweet, but has more of a crisp juiciness and tartness, thanks to apple and plum.

Actually, I’m a bit reminded of their Boss Bottled No.6 for Men, due to that apple and cinnamon. Obviously, not the same, but I can certainly detect the similarities. This is indeed still feminine.

Jasmine and thyme are the heart of this scent. It’s initially fruity and spicy, then, it becomes a cleaner jasmine and woods in the dry down. While, still maintaining some level of sweetness throughout.

 

Sweet Orange and Chocolate

Boss The Scent Private Accord– Cacao and coffee team up here in a big way, along with a nice mandarin orange note. The coffee plays less of a factor, later in the wear.

This was probably the best offering from the ‘The Scent’ line of perfumes for her (Intense was also decent).

Update: They’re no longer on Boss’ website, so, it may have been discontinued. The newer ‘The Scent’ offerings, don’t strike me as being quite as good.

It is sweet and light, with a bit of a floral heart and some added spice. Not a super complicated fragrance, but a nice gourmand for those who love that orangey chocolate aroma.

I like that it never gets too heavy or overwhelming, even if that mean sacrificing a bit on the performance end of things. 

Sweet, Dry, Woody

Boss Ma Vie Pour Femme– Boss Ma Vie brings together the unique (cactus) with well worn ingredients like rose and freesia. It opens up with a fresh, green, and distinctive smell. You definitely get the full cactus experience, that is flanked by mainly the freesia. 

Ma Vie Pour Femme is a fairly light fragrance, that gives you sweet elements, with dry/fresh woodsy base notes. Up top, it does have a little bit of a sour tinge, but overall comes across as clean and very enjoyable.

The performance is good enough to last all day and one that can be worn in almost any situation. 

Best Winter Boss Perfume

Deep Red 3.0 Fl. Oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Women– Sexy and energetic with citrus notes provided by blood orange, mandarin, and clementine. Plus, black currant. Very sweet fragrance and the floral notes including vanilla become more apparent as it wears on.

As the dry down develops, the vanilla is joined by ginger, sandalwood, and white floral notes lead by tuberose. It becomes drier and warmer the deeper that you get into it. Yet, it is upbeat and rather sporty.

Deep Red is fresh and has a nice cold weather vibe, with good versatility, so that it can also be used as a nighttime scent. Sillage isn’t too heavy and has a solid wear time.

 

 

Unique Fruity Scent

Xx 3.4 Fl. Oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Women.– Blueberry, mandarin, rose, jasmine, musk, and amber. Semi-sweet fragrance but not overly so and also it’s quite feminine and fresh.

Plenty of jasmine and rose up front, but the mandarin, litchi, and blueberry are also sitting up top, giving XX a fruitier aroma from the start. What’s unique about this one, is that it also features basmati rice.

I’ve literally never seen that listed on any other fragrance (the basmati variety, at least), but it adds a bit of uniqueness to things. XX isn’t a very complex fragrance, but it is definitely one that can catch attention.

Fruity Aquatic Fragrance

Hugo By Hugo Boss For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.3 Ounces– A juicy/aquatic type of perfume that is dominated by fruit notes like apple, berries, and peach. Hugo Woman is clean, soft, fresh, and has some light floral notes to complement the fruits.

The fruit notes start out the top of the perfume, with a crisp and juicy aroma of mainly, the apple and melon notes. It smells fairly aquatic at this stage, quite light, and hangs gently in the air.

As it dries down, Hugo Woman reveals more flowers: jasmine, hyacinth, and lily and very light woods. It’s a great everyday wear option for the warmer months, as it is office safe, pleasant, and versatile.

Private Show by Britney Spears

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In today’s review, I have another entry from the Britney Spears line of fragrances, that are produced by Elizabeth Arden. This one is the popular, Private Show, which was released in 2016. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, what’s inside, and if this scent is even worth giving a shot to.

What does Private Show Smell Like?

Notes include: coffee, nectarine, clementine, musk, orange blossom, jasmine, whipped cream, dulce de leche, and amber

Click here to try: Britney Spears PRIVATE SHOW,EDP 3.3 OZ/100ML L

My Full Review

Wow, so, upon opening Private Show strikes me a totally sweet and delicious. You can tell from the listed ingredients that this one is going to have a lot of gourmand qualities, with plenty of floral aspects.

In a lot of ways, I am reminded of the more expensive, Black Opium by YSL when I get a whiff of Private Show. Not exactly the same, but quite a similar effect.

I get a lot of coffee, whipped cream, clementine, and orange blossom from the start. It’s sweet, creamy, warm, with citrus/floral undertones. The citrus notes are there and have an impact, but they really aren’t too heavy in the mix. Nice touch of fruit.

Add to that the dulce de leche (basically a caramel scent), is quite prominent and is the main sweet note, along with the coffee as this Britney Spears fragrance moves forward.

This perfume starts out with a heavier sweetness, but really mellows out, as it spends time on my skin. As the sweetness calms down a bit, the jasmine and musk, come out more and add depth to Private Show.

Not that this is a particularly complex fragrance, but it does have more character than a lot of the perfumes at this price point.

Finally, what I mostly get is a warm blend of coffee and the dulce le leche. Those are the two strongest aspects. Then, comes the layer of amber and orange blossom.

Then, is the musk, citrus, and jasmine as the main undercurrents. So, this one is more gourmand/floral, than is something like Sunset Fantasy and its load of fruity notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this is a moderate scent. Not overpowering or too strong to wear in close spaces, but noticeable. Private Show isn’t a sillage bomb, but you won’t forget that you’re wearing it either.

Also, the longevity is pretty good. I got about 6-7 solid hours of wear, when spraying it on my skin. Not incredible but very useful. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that. Though, at least it gets to that point, when many inexpensive scents do not

Seasonally, this is cold weather. Very enveloping and has a great warmth to its aroma. It wouldn’t be awful in mild temperatures, but it just really shines in the cold.

Just stay away from the summertime use, as this one will melt in that climate…or if you’re in a tropical region.

While some of the Britney Spears lineup caters almost exclusively to teenagers, this one has more maturity and can be worn by older women as well. It’s got a versatile ability to be worn on almost any occasion.

It’s safe for work, casual wear, school, and even nights out on the town. It does have a certain sexiness to it, I would personally find this extremely attractive on a lady.

Overall Impressions of Private Show

Overall, is Private Show by Britney Spears worth a look? Yes. If you’re looking for a sweet fragrance, that has more maturity than the average Britney perfume, and like the coffee/caramel-like aromas.

This has such a great sweetness. The vanilla and coffee notes here, really catch a lead at times in this perfume, and make this one a beautiful one to wear. Though, if that style isn’t your thing, you’d probably want to look elsewhere.

The performance is pretty good when compared to most perfumes. However, at this price point, it’s actually more than respectable. Outside of some reformulations that have taken place, over the years, the Britney lineup has good value with the performances.

I really enjoy the coffee, amber, and orange blossom notes. No, it’s not super unique, but if that doesn’t matter to you…go for it. The creaminess from the dulce de leche adds another layer that makes Private Show wonderfully delicious.

Update: This one has been discontinued for a while and it seems that most of the inexpensive bottles have been bought up. So, you probably won’t get a chance to come across Private Show, at a reasonable price.

Then, this one might be a good choice for you. It has enough similarities, that it could also serve as a way cheaper alternative to Black Opium. Again, it’s not exact, but produces a very approximate vibe.