- How to Find Your Scent No Matter How Long You Have to Explore Fragrance - December 25, 2023
- The 7 Best Personalized Perfume Services for Discovering Your Signature Scent - December 24, 2023
- The Best Scentbox Alternatives You Should Try ASAP - December 23, 2023
- Bottom Line Up Front
- My Top Picks
- How the Dupes Made It on the List
- Tips for Shopping for Santal 33 Dupes
- What Does Santal 33 by Le Labo Smell Like?
- The 9 Best Santal 33 Dupes to Try
- Dossier Woody Sandalwood
- Clean Reserve Sel Santal
- Zara Energetically New York
- Maison Margiela 'Replica' Autumn Vibes
- ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum
- Alexandria Fragrances Santal's Kiss
- Sarah Jessica Parker Stash
- Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait
- FAQs
- Conclusion: Santal's Kiss Is the Best Santal 33 Dupe
The best Santal 33 dupes can smell just as good, or even better (depending on preferences and how each fragrance wears on your skin), and save you quite a bit of money. Technically, you could get a tiny bottle of Santal 33 for about $100.00, but the 1.7 oz. bottle, average size, is over $200.00. I don’t know about you, but sometimes close–a dupe–is good enough. I like too many perfumes to put all my dollars in one bottle.
If you’re like me, spending that much on a bottle of perfume makes you feel obligated to wear it every day for months, which takes the enjoyment out of collecting perfumes and choosing the right fragrance to go with your outfit and mood each day. Santal 33 is a beautiful fragrance, but if you can get the same scent and feel from wearing a dupe and saving money, why wouldn’t you want to?
I’ve been sniffing, spraying, studying, and collecting fragrances for over 20 years and writing about them for over a decade. Dupes for expensive niche perfumes and colognes are getting better and better.
And even if a dupe only captures the essence of a fragrance rather than smelling almost identical, sometimes the same core notes–with a few differences sprinkled in–is precisely what you need to achieve the mood you want.
Bottom Line Up Front
There are enough Santal 33 dupes out there to keep you from ever truly needing the original if you like the scent but not enough to spend that much money.
The closest ones are Alexandria Fragrances Santal’s Kiss, Dossier Woody Sandalwood, and ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum. The designers behind these fragrances were consciously inspired by Santal 33 and wanted to create something similar, and the notes pyramids reflect that. If you want the closest thing to Santal 33 possible, choose one of those.
If, however, you like Santal 33 but there’s something not-quite-right about it on your skin or two your nose, you can choose one of the other options, like Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Autumn Vibes, which steers the scent more toward crunching leaves and cool coziness than a late summer evening in wide open spaces, or Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt, which boosts the spice and plays down the florals (not that Santal 33 is especially “floral”).
My vote would be for Santal’s Kiss, though.
One of our all time best sellers, Woody Sandalwood is a warm, minimalistic scent featuring an inviting mix of cardamom, cedarwood, and amber. For a limited time, you can get THREE of this best-selling perfume.
My Top Picks
- Dossier Woody Sandalwood: Carefully crafted dupe in an unassuming bottle from a site with a good return policy that allows you to get a refund within 30 days, even if you just don’t like the product.
- Clean Reserve Sel Santal: The notes don’t match exactly (there’s mandarin, nutmeg, and salted fig), but the vibes are similar. It’s available at Sephora for you to sample before you commit.
- Zara Energetically New York: Very similar, but it replaces the violet and iris with jasmine and is less leathery (so it’s one of the more feminine-leaning dupes). It’s relatively inexpensive but will most likely need to be ordered online.
- Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Autumn Vibes: Like Santal 33, but earthier and more fall afternoon in the woods than late summer evening around a fire.
- ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum: Very close dupe with a similar note pyramid, and it matches Santal 33’s vibe quite well. Store credit is available if you want to return the fragrance due to personal preference.
- Alexandria Fragrances Santal’s Kiss: Most likely the closest, best Santal 33 dupe you’ll find, so start here if you’re looking for an exact replica of the fragrance.
- Sarah Jessica Parker Stash: Similar enough to mention, but a little murky and heavy; this one is my least favorite.
- Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt: It’s spicier, earthier, and even more masculine than the original. You can buy it for as little as $16.00 if you want to try the .1 oz. mini-size perfume oil rollerball.
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait: Warmer and jammier than the Santal 33, but in the same price range.
How the Dupes Made It on the List
There were a few things I considered when gathering dupes for Santal 33:
- How similar the notes were
- How similar the vibes were (the notes may not be exactly the same, but some fragrances are reminiscent of Santal 33 because they evoke the same types of feelings and mental images)
- Price (I tried to go for less expensive alternatives, but there’s one exception on the list)
Tips for Shopping for Santal 33 Dupes
If possible, start with a sample of the original Santal 33. You can get a 0.5 ml sample from Surrender to Chance for under $5.00 (pre-tax and shipping). You’ll be able to figure out what you like about it if you wear it for several days before choosing the best Santal 33 dupe for you.
Do you like the vibe but want to downplay or switch out a note? You can use the guidance below to choose the dupe you’ll love even more than the original.
Absolutely love Santal 33 just as it is, but can’t stomach the price? No problem. You’ll know to search for an “inspired by” dupe, specifically.
That said, always check the return policy before you check out and have your dupe mailed your way. In some cases, you won’t be able to get your money back even if the dupe is a complete disappointment. However, a shop with enough variety and positive reviews that will allow returns and give you store credit (vs. a refund) might be fine with you.
What Does Santal 33 by Le Labo Smell Like?
Freedom and wealth. The smooth, crisp pages of a brand-new book. Wood and cool, dry air. Before I read the description on the website, I sniffed it on my wrist and immediately thought of wide open spaces at dusk in the summer, and the description on the Le Labo website is pretty close to that. It mentions freedom and sitting near a campfire under an indigo sky in the American west.
Its notes are cardamom, violet, iris, Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, leather, and musk. Most of all, I smell the violet and woods, with leather lingering in the background. At first, it smells very “dry,” but a light sweetness settles in as the day goes on. It’s not a “sweet” scent, but it becomes well-rounded and more comforting as you wear it.
The 9 Best Santal 33 Dupes to Try
Dossier Woody Sandalwood
Dossier Woody Sandalwood is inspired by Santal 33 and is one of the best dupes I know. The notes aren’t exactly the same, but they’re close enough to get you close to the same experience as spraying on Santal 33. Notes listed are: violet leaves, cardamom, orris, ambrox, cedarwood, cypriol, musk, sandalwood, and amber.
Pros
- Dossier’s Woody Sandalwood is inspired by Santal 33, so it’s designed to smell like it and has a similar list of notes. Its goal isn’t to capture the vibe–it’s to capture the fragrance and make it more affordable.
- Dossier gives you recommendations for fragrances to mix with it, so you can create your own signature scent that’s like Santal 33, but with your own twist on it. In this case, they recommend Ambery Saffron (a dupe for MFK’s Baccarat Rouge 540) or Powdery Coconut (a dupe for Soleil Blanc). I can imagine either blending beautifully with Woody Sandalwood, especially Powdery Coconut for the summertime.
- It’s much more affordable at $49.00 for 1.7 oz.
Cons
- The bottle could be more interesting to look at. Suppose you have other Dossier fragrances in your collection. In that case, it’ll look just like them (which comes with the risk of accidentally spraying the wrong one in a rush).
- It could be too masculine for some (but that’s also true of Santal 33).
One of our all time best sellers, Woody Sandalwood is a warm, minimalistic scent featuring an inviting mix of cardamom, cedarwood, and amber. For a limited time, you can get THREE of this best-selling perfume.
Clean Reserve Sel Santal
Clean Reserve Sel Santal is available at Sephora, so it’s easier to get your hands on. Plus, it costs much less (just over $110.00 for a 3.4 oz. bottle). The notes are mandarin, nutmeg, salted fig, violet, amber, and sandalwood.
Clean Reserve Sel Santal captures the same vibe as Santal 33. Still, it’s good for people who aren’t crazy about some of the notes in that one (cardamom, for example), even if they enjoy the idea of a perfume that smells like wide open spaces, freedom, and abundance.
Pros
- It’s easier to get your hands on than some of the other dupes or Santal 33, as long as you have a Sephora near you.
- Sephora offers samples and has in-store tester bottles, so you can try it first. You can even request a sample and try it for a week without committing to a full bottle on the spot.
- There’s a travel spray for just under $30.00 (before tax).
- This could be the solution if you’ve tried Santal 33 and found something about it to be just a little “off” on your skin.
Cons
- It doesn’t last as long as Santal 33.
- Just like Santal 33 and other dupes, it could be too masculine for some people, even though it’s listed as unisex.
- It may also smell too “green” for some people. The list of notes makes it sound as if it’s got a warmer, richer scent, so people who go by that may be disappointed.
An eau de parfum that blends crisp mandarin leaves with bright bergamot over a heart of rich salted fig and hazelnut cream.
Zara Energetically New York
Zara Energetically New York is one of the more affordable Santal 33 dupes. Still, it’s not as easy to try or find in a store before you buy it as some other options. Most people will have to blind-buy and hope for the best unless they live near one of the stores (as of this writing, there are only 99 locations in the United States).
Its notes are cardamom, jasmine, and sandalwood, so it’s similar to Santal 33, but not identical (that could be a good thing if you’re not a fan of iris or violet, for example).
You can get about 2.5 oz. of it for approximately $40.00, so the gamble could be well worth it if you end up falling in love with it and never jonesing for the original Santal 33 again.
Pros
- It’s incredibly affordable compared to the original.
- The notes are similar but not exactly the same, which could make all the difference for someone who loves the Santal 33 fragrance but can’t make it work for them because of one or two notes.
- Though the bottle is simple and minimalist, it still looks sophisticated.
- It’s fresh with a bit of spice, just like Santal 33, and brings up the same sort of mental images of freedom and being outdoors.
Cons
- You’ll probably have to order it online without trying it first.
- According to Zara’s return conditions, it has to be returned in the original sealed packaging, so once you open it to try it, it’s yours.
- For someone hoping to get the same unisex or slightly-masculine vibe of Santal 33, this fragrance from Zara might lean a bit too feminine because it lacks the leathery notes of the original.
Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Autumn Vibes
I’m usually a sucker for anything that makes me think of Autumn. Maison Margiela’s name says it all. While Santal 33 makes me think of late summer rather than the coziness and spiciness of fall, there are some similarities here. The notes are pink pepper, cardamom, carrot seeds, nutmeg, olibanum, cedarwood, moss, and fir.
You’ll get the same spice and barely-there warmth from the nutmeg, the woody, earthy notes from the cedarwood (also in Santal 33), moss, and fir, and warmth and smokiness from the olibanum (also known as frankincense). These two fragrances aren’t identical twins, but they’re still siblings.
Pros
- If you love Santal 33 but crave more warmth, this could be the dupe to give that to you.
- It’s more affordable–even the 3.4 oz. bottle costs less (about $160.00) than a smaller bottle of the original. You can also get 1.0 oz. and 0.3 oz. bottles too.
- You can find Maison Margiela fragrances at Sephora and some department stores to try before you buy.
Cons
- It could be too masculine for some people, a common risk with even the best Santal 33 dupes.
- It’s not as long-lasting as some other Santal 33 dupes (or the original).
- If Santal 33 strikes you as anything other than “Autumn,” you might be disappointed by how much Autumn Vibes lives up to its name. These fragrances are similar, but there’s definitely room for this one to hit differently.
This crisp, woody perfume balances a note of fresh fir balsam with spicy cardamom alongside the warm scent of cedarwood to re-create a familiar moment of escape and gathering on an autumn day.
ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum
ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum is directly inspired by Santal 33, so the notes pyramids are almost identical. It captures that “abundance” vibe that Santal 33 does so well.
Its notes are violet, cardamom, ambroxan, iris, papyrus, sandalwood, leather, cedarwood, and musk.
Pros
- I love that they listed papyrus as a note. It’s not something I picked out specifically in the original, but it reminded me of books. No wonder these fragrances evoke a feeling of abundance and endless possibilities in my mind–I’m associating them with books at some level!
- This note pyramid is one of the closest to Santal 33’s.
- It lasts a long time on the skin and has good projection.
Cons
- This is another Santal 33 dupe in a boring bottle (it’s my least favorite of the bunch). However, packaging plays a role in price. If the fragrance inside performs well, I’ll gladly sacrifice a fancier bottle to save hundreds of dollars.
- Unless you live near their store in Florida, you’ll have to order online.
- Though this is more affordable than several options on this list (and the original), $69.00 (for 2 oz.) is still a lot of money to drop on a fragrance you’ve never tried. They offer store credit or exchanges until you find a scent you like as long as you live in the continental United States. Still, it looks like refunds are off the table.
Alexandria Fragrances Santal’s Kiss
Santal’s Kiss by Alexandria Fragrances was also inspired by Santal 33. Its list of notes is similar to ALT. Fragrances’, which makes sense since they’re both dupes of Santal 33 on purpose. Some scents may smell similar by coincidence, but these two understood their mission and did what they set out to do.
Notes include sandalwood, papyrus, leather, Virginia cedar, violet, cardamom, iris, and amber.
Pros
- Several sizes are available, including 3.4 oz. (100 ml), 2.03 oz. (60 ml), 1.86 oz. (55 ml), and 1 oz. (30 ml).
- Prices range from just over $40.00 to approximately $110.00.
- It lasts for hours on the skin.
- This is an exceptionally similar dupe for Santal 33.
Cons
- I wish the smallest size were less expensive.
- You have to order online. Suppose you already know you like Santal 33, and you’re just looking for the closest dupe possible. In that case, this won’t necessarily be a big deal. However, if you’ve never tried it, it’s risky even though Santal’s Kiss is much less expensive than Santal 33. They don’t accept returns if you just don’t care for a fragrance (you can contact them within 24 hours if something is wrong with your order, though).
Santal's Kiss takes you into the woods for a calming stroll, accompanied by the sweet and luxurious comforts of your favorite memories. Creamy sandalwood and rich leather meet the bright green notes of papyrus and aromatic Virginia cedar. 
Sarah Jessica Parker Stash
I bought Sarah Jessica Parker Stash perfume years ago because I was intrigued by the pistachio note and wanted something unusual compared to what I already had in my collection. Unusual, it was. It never really grew on me, mainly because all the woody/earthy notes (like Atlas cedar, vetiver, and Massoia wood) drowned out the pistachio and warmth I expected.
However, there are some similarities between Stash and Santal 33. It’s not an exact dupe, but it’s worth considering before you go all-in on the pricier Santal 33.
Notes are black pepper, sage, Atlas cedar, grapefruit, patchouli, white ginger lily, Massoia wood, olibanum, vetiver, and musk.
Pros
- It’s a good fall and winter perfume that lingers.
- It’s unisex, leaning slightly feminine.
- It’s inexpensive at around $50.00 per bottle.
- This mix of notes is interesting and unusual, and may have your significant other leaning in closer to get a better whiff. It’s odd, but not in a bad way.
Cons
- This one doesn’t say “wealth” or “freedom” quite as much as Santal 33, nor does it sparkle in the same way. It’s like the buttery, weightier version–the blanket on the couch instead of the floating veil of fabric on a summer evening’s breeze. This is a heavier woody scent that men or women could wear, and it performs well in the cooler months.
- Like Santal 33, it’s a little standoffish rather than warm and inviting.
- The notes feel muddy to my nose.
The clean, fresh and warm fragrance of Stash is a delightful fragrance for women and men from the design house of Sarah Jessica Parker. Launched in 2016, this perfume features top notes from grapefruit, sage and black pepper.
Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt
Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt is available as an eau de parfum or perfume oil at Sephora. If you want to avoid committing, you can get a travel spray for around $30.00. It has the same woody, earthy vibe that Santal 33 does, thanks to sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, and amber wood. Still, there’s cinnamon and nutmeg in the mix, too (instead of jasmine and violet).
A word of warning: this is a love-it-or-hate-it dupe, as it smells like Santal on some and pickles on others. Try it before you buy it if you can. It’s available at Sephora. Don’t let the pickle thing completely turn you off; some people say Santal 33 has a strong pickle note, too. Everyone’s different.
Pros
- You can try it at Sephora before you buy it if there’s a store near you.
- The perfume oil should last longer than a spritz of Eau de Parfum (the version most of the other options, as well as Santal 33, are available in), and a little will go a long way.
- You can get a mini (I reiterate “mini” as it’s just 0.1 oz) for $16.00, which should give you a good idea of whether you like this scent or fragrances like it. Even if you don’t like it, you will only be out a little cash.
- The projection is good.
Cons
- It could come across as much spicier than Santal 33 because of the cinnamon and nutmeg (and lack of florals).
- It might be too masculine for some (at least without layering it with something sweeter or more floral) due to the amped-up spice, earthiness, and lack of florals.
This scent is a sandalwood fragrance with a dominant cedarwood and sandalwood accord supplemented by a spicy cinnamon nutmeg complex and an earthy vetiver note. 
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait
First, the elephant in the room: Buying this one will not save money. However, if you already have it, you have a fragrance that embodies a similar vibe to Le Labo’s Santal 33, so you might have less of an urge to buy anything more than a sample of Santal 33 (just for comparison’s sake). You might not need a whole bottle, even of a dupe, if this one’s filling that gap in your collection.
The notes are jasmine, saffron, bitter almond, cedarwood, musky woody accord, and ambergris.
Pros
- There’s a warmth here that Santal 33 doesn’t have. I still wouldn’t call it inviting or sensual, but this one has more warmth and depth.
- Sometimes jammy, berry notes come through and make this one smell sweeter, but looking at the list of notes, I’m not 100% sure where it’s coming from. I have never had that experience wearing Santal 33.
- It’s more complex than Santal 33. Every time I wear this one, I notice something new.
Cons
- It’s more expensive than Santal 33.
- It’s not a close dupe, but it has a similar “wealthy” vibe and the same type of leathery, woody notes that Santal 33 has.
- If you like unisex fragrances, this one has so much of that sweet, jammy note, it’s unlikely to be…well, your jam. That’s not to say it couldn’t work on anyone, but knowing what you’re getting is important, especially at prices like this.
Available in an XL size, Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de Parfum is a deeper and more radiant version of the original woody floral amber aura. In the extracted version, jasmine flowers and woody musks intertwine in an alchemy of the senses.
FAQs
Question: What scents are similar to Santal 33?
Answer: Dossier Woody Sandalwood, Clean Reserve Sel Santal, Zara Energetically New York, Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ Autumn Vibes, ALT. Fragrances Santal Parfum, Alexandria Fragrances Santal’s Kiss, Sarah Jessica Parker Stash, Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait.
Question: What is so special about Santal 33?
Answer: To me, Le Labo Santal 33 stands out because of how perfectly unisex it is. It walks the line of not being like any stereotypical perfumes (floral, fruity, sweet) or colognes (fresh, spicy). As I said above, it smells like wealth and freedom in the most beautiful, delicate way.
Question: Is Santal 33 more masculine or more feminine?
Answer: This is the most unisex scent I have ever smelled. It’s precisely in the middle, leaning neither male nor female. It’s a fragrance anyone can enjoy wearing.
Conclusion: Santal’s Kiss Is the Best Santal 33 Dupe
Santal’s Kiss is the best Santal 33 dupe because of its similarities in notes as well as it’s more affordable price. However, you can’t go wrong with Dossier’s Woody Sandalwood or ALT. Fragrances’ Santal Parfum if you’re looking for a scent just like Santal 33.
In the market for something slightly different because Santal 33 missed the mark for you, but it was close? Choose a dupe that amplifies (or at least contains) the notes you liked or omits the ones you didn’t. This is how you’ll maintain the general feeling behind Santal 33–whatever that is for you–without feeling like something’s missing (perhaps a sweetness to make it skew a bit more feminine) or overdone at the expense of balance (like woods).
One of our all time best sellers, Woody Sandalwood is a warm, minimalistic scent featuring an inviting mix of cardamom, cedarwood, and amber. For a limited time, you can get THREE of this best-selling perfume.