How the Santal 26 candle inspired the creation of Le Labo’s most iconic scent, Santal 33

First created as a scented candle, here’s how Le Labo’s Santal 26 inspired the now inimitable Santal 33 perfume beloved by fragrance lovers worldwide

If you were to ask perfume enthusiasts about their favourite fragrances, you’re highly likely to hear “Santal 33” uttered. Le Labo’s iconic eau de parfum has won fans around the world with its intoxicating bouquet of scents, that is in turn woody, spicy and leathery. Its description on the website is just as evocative: “imagine sitting in solitude on the rugged, wide plains of the American West, firelight on your face”. If the smell of a crackling campfire or a gorgeous sunset could be bottled, this might be it. With smoky hints of Australian sandalwood and cedarwood, the spicy notes of cardamom and the fresh scents of violet and iris, the resulting fragrance that is the Santal 33 has an enduring allure and is among the niche brand’s most popular scents.

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Above Choose from 13 scented candles and 19 perfumes, each hand-blended in France and packaged in a box with a personalisable label

Choose from 13 scented candles and 19 perfumes, each hand-blended in France and packaged in a box with a personalisable label

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Few people may know that this blockbuster hit had its origins as the fragrance of a scented candle, Santal 26. Founded in New York in 2006, Le Labo had offered the Santal 26 fragrance as a scented candle and room spray for several years since its inception. It was only close to 2010 that the brand decide to turn the scented candle into a wearable fragrance, created in collaboration with French perfumer Frank Voelkl; Voelkl himself had already been using it as a personal fragrance for years, and was delighted to finally turn the prototype into an actual product. Hence the Santal 33 was born, made to carry deeper notes than its predecessor, and becoming the iconic yet subtle scent many quickly became besotted with. Today, Santal 33 continues to be revered and selected as a top choice of Le Labo customers worldwide.

Above An assortment of the brand’s body, hair and face products

An assortment of the brand’s body, hair and face products

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The brand currently offers 19 genderless perfumes and 13 candles, with a variety of accompanying formulas crafted for use specifically for the body, face and hair, along with a grooming line for men. Each Le Labo location is referred to as a “Lab”, with all Le Labo fragrances hand-blended with the finest ingredients in front of its clients upon purchase. Each scent comes with a personalisable label; it indicates the date and location it was made in, and also includes a message chosen by the client.

Photo 1 of 3 The Le Labo Lab in Ngee Ann City, Singapore

Photo 2 of 3 Another view of the Le Labo Lab in Ngee Ann City, Singapore

Photo 3 of 3 The entrance of the Le Labo Lab in Ngee Ann City, Singapore

The Le Labo Lab in Ngee Ann City, Singapore

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The interior design of the Le Labo Labs complete the experience. Taking inspiration from the look of the apothecaries of the past with deliberately worn furnishings, each location is a modern-day laboratory for the scent-curious. Whether you’re in search of fragrances to add to your scent repository or want to replenish treasured favourites, take the time to touch, smell and experience the raw ingredients involved in the making of each scent to find the perfect olfactory concoction that’s just right for you.