Review (5/5): A reference Sandalwood, pure
Perris Monte Carlo Santal Du Pacifique Parfum is almost pure sandalwood. If you're looking for a straight-up reference sandalwood, put this high on your list of candidates.
On initial spray the topnote has a distinct alcohol sillage, quite like a vodka and orange juice screwdriver.
The vodka topnote evaporates in only a minute, fading into a spicy and floral heartnote which to my mind evokes "geranium". I've also heard it described as violet, orchid and even carrot. When I smell it, a little voice inside whispers "geranium", so I'm sticking with that.
In about ten minutes the geranium heartnote fades cleanly into a pure sandalwood base. Or perhaps Sandalwood with a tiny hint of vanilla. It has a certain smoothness which suggests quality natural sandalwood and not some synthetic substitute.
The sandalwood basenote lays close to the skin with little sillage. I find that overspraying onto my shirt-collar makes it detectable throughout the day, without having to keep raising my wrist to my nose for a sniff.
As is typical of a parfum, it is strong, and I find that my usual routine of spraying five times is way! overkill. At most use three sprays of this parfum, or even just two. One on the wrist and one on the collarbone, that's enough. Much more than that and it gets cloying. At two sprays the scent lasts for four to five hours.
Santal Du Pacifique is listed as unisex, but my wife won't even try it; she much prefers florals. Labelling things "unisex" seems to be a bit of a fad, these days, but to my nose this is a soft masculine cologne.
It doesn't feel like an office scent to me, more of a sophisticated evening wear. I imagine wearing it in dimly lit surroundings, it's purity contrasting with and refining many competing earthy scents like red wines or dark beers, braised meats or fried appetizers, old wood floors and sweaty dancers. Enjoy!
summary
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Topnote: vodka
Heartnote: geranium
Basenote: sandalwood