Santal Blanc Van Cleef & Arpels 2019

The bottle looks elegant and minimalist. It must contain a fine, milky essence. The name confirms this association. Expectations rise. The first spray is gentle. Fresh, milky and not sweet. But not yet fig milk. Some fragrances that want to convey milky components rely on pears. That's why I'm a little surprised that there's supposedly mandarin in the top note. The fragrance is not citrusy or fruity. After the very mild start, it turns green. The fig takes over everything. Embedded in powdery milk, the fragrance becomes a mixture of musk and nature. When I tested the fragrance a long time ago, I also thought it smelled a bit like cucumber. A bit of Moscow Mule is not necessarily bad in itself, but the milky component somehow fizzles out as a result. The fig definitely reminds me of Philosykos by Diptyque. Whereby Philosykos is even greener and more herbaceous. The dry down, on the other hand, is meaningless. Pleasantly soft and somewhat warmer, with a hint of tonka bean. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it stand out. I find the fragrance beautiful and, above all, suitable for everyday use. However, I don't buy the fragrance because I have Philosykos at home. What's more, the fragrance is just between the door and the door. If it is to be sandalwood, then more of it please. I really like the top note because it simply radiates pure milk. Unfortunately, I find the fig too strong as it progresses. It's strange to see me writing this, as I actually love figs. It somehow comes across as if you were looking for a note that gives the whole thing character. Out of love for figs, they went a little overboard. It should therefore rather be called "Fig Blanc". Unfortunately, the sandalwood theme is lost.