Le Labo
4 fragrances are widely sold as cheaper versions of this. Ranked strongest match first.
Check best deal on Santal 33Like sandalwood and cardamom on worn leather, iris and violet softening the papyrus-cedar-amber dryness
Main accords: woody, powdery, leather, warm spicy, violet. 2011 · Eau de Parfum
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Widely agreedParis Corner
Emir Rich Santal
Around 95 percent there, with one clean swap — the leather of the original reads as suede here. The original stays the more complex of the two, and this one needs a generous hand if you want it to project.
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Widely agreedCremo
Palo Santo
About 95 percent of the profile for a fraction of the price, and it actually softens the divisive dill-pickle note the original is famous for while adding a little smokiness. The catch is performance — it is a skin scent inside two hours, so it suits being around the house rather than a day out.
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Often citedGame of Spades
Bid
The direction is right but it runs sweeter than the original, and that sweetness pushes the pickle note forward rather than taming it. Where it wins is performance — comfortably over eight hours, well past the original.
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Often citedDossier
Woody Sandalwood
Divisive. An owner of both says they are hard to tell apart after the first ten minutes, with the original only slightly denser, and performance is the better part — six to eight hours on skin and days on clothes. Others find it sharp and one-dimensional, landing hard on the pickle note without the sweeter, papery side that softens the original.
Check best dealRanking combines how widely wearers agree a fragrance is a dupe with how closely its notes and accords line up. “Strong match” means both signals agree; “loose match” means it is in the same family but noticeably different on skin.
Paris Corner Emir Rich Santal is widely sold as a dupe of Le Labo Santal 33. Around 95 percent there, with one clean swap — the leather of the original reads as suede here. The original stays the more complex of the two, and this one needs a generous hand if you want it to project.
Cremo Palo Santo is widely sold as a dupe of Le Labo Santal 33. About 95 percent of the profile for a fraction of the price, and it actually softens the divisive dill-pickle note the original is famous for while adding a little smokiness. The catch is performance — it is a skin scent inside two hours, so it suits being around the house rather than a day out.
Game of Spades Bid is widely sold as a dupe of Le Labo Santal 33. The direction is right but it runs sweeter than the original, and that sweetness pushes the pickle note forward rather than taming it. Where it wins is performance — comfortably over eight hours, well past the original.
Dossier Woody Sandalwood is widely sold as a dupe of Le Labo Santal 33. Divisive. An owner of both says they are hard to tell apart after the first ten minutes, with the original only slightly denser, and performance is the better part — six to eight hours on skin and days on clothes. Others find it sharp and one-dimensional, landing hard on the pickle note without the sweeter, papery side that softens the original.
Paris Corner Emir Rich Santal is the closest we have on record. It is the one wearers name most consistently. Around 95 percent there, with one clean swap — the leather of the original reads as suede here. The original stays the more complex of the two, and this one needs a generous hand if you want it to project.
Yes — 4 of them, including Paris Corner Emir Rich Santal, Cremo Palo Santo, Game of Spades Bid. Each is listed above with what it gets right and where it falls short.
No. A dupe is built to the same idea, not the same formula, and cheaper materials usually show in the opening and in how long it lasts. That is why every entry here says how it differs instead of giving a percentage. Of Paris Corner Emir Rich Santal, for instance: Around 95 percent there, with one clean swap — the leather of the original reads as suede here. The original stays the more complex of the two, and this one needs a generous hand if you want it to project.
Like sandalwood and cardamom on worn leather, iris and violet softening the papyrus-cedar-amber dryness It opens on Violet, Cardamom.
Santal 33 is one of the most recognizable fragrances of the past two decades. Le Labo's 2011 release became a cultural touchstone — the scent you could find in boutique hotels, on creative professionals, and in countless recommendations. This EDP version delivers the full experience in spray form.
The opening is spiced and powdery. Cardamom brings a warm, slightly eucalyptus-like spice. Violet contributes a soft, powdery quality that immediately gives the fragrance its distinctive character.
The heart is where the magic happens. Iris adds more powdery depth — that cool, root-cellar quality that makes iris so distinctive. Papyrus (Egyptian sedge) brings a dry, slightly musty, almost smoky quality that sits somewhere between wood and paper. Together they create the signature Santal 33 dryness.
The base is clean and precise. Sandalwood is at the center — creamy, smooth, and enduring. Leather adds warmth and a faintly animalic edge without going heavy. Amber ties it together with gentle sweetness.
The result is something that smells both old and modern, both masculine and feminine. Wear it at any time of year — it shifts with the seasons.