Best Santal 33 Le Labo Dupes 2022: Affordable Fragrance Alternatives

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There’s a reason why apparently half of fragrance wearers call Le Labo’s iconic (and best-selling) Santal 33 their signature scent. The unisex cologne smells pretty damn good anyone. As we all know, the same scent can smell very different from person to person, and while that’s certainly the case with Santal 33, it’s also surprisingly universally flattering.

However, it is not cheap, and if you choose to wear it on the reg, you also run the risk of smelling a bit similar to half the bar every night you go out — at least in LA, that is. Unfortunately, finding solid dupes of Le Labo Santal 33 isn’t exactly easy, as the legendary perfumery likes to keep its proprietary blends uber-exclusive (despite the massive cult following they have clear reached).

If for some reason you’ve never caught a whiff of this beloved scent, it gives off a woody-sweet whiff that smells harsh but not overly masculine; that’s why it smells equally seductive for every gender. Santal 33 contains a fairly hard-to-copy blend of Australian sandalwood, cardamom, leather accord, iris and ambrox.

I mean, it’s kind of an olfactory piece of heaven if you’re into warmer scents that exude an aroma with equal parts musky and smoke and are meticulously sensual. However, if you’re worried about smelling like all your co-workers (colleagues, other bar-goers, etc.) who are equally If you’re obsessed with the scent, there are some similar (albeit more nuanced) alternatives to try instead. The following options smell strikingly similar to OG’s gender-neutral cologne/perfume, and they’re also a lot on the wallet. It’s a win-win situation.

Courtesy of Le Labo.

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

If you just can’t live without the real deal, here you are. The good news is that Saks offers a variety of sizes starting at $198, so you can try it out before committing to a full size (which will set you back a whopping $289).

Courtesy of Burberry.

Burberry Touch Eau de Toilette

Don’t be put off by this fragrance for men – good fragrances are for everyone and everyone, regardless of gender! Burberry’s Touch Eau de Toilette has notes of cedar, violet, pepper, thyme and geranium, so it has that same musky yet feminine vibe that Le Labo is known for.

Courtesy of Maison Louis Marie.

Maison Louis Marie No.4 perfume oil

I’ve said this before, but I discovered this delicious scent thanks to my boss, who admitted that it was basically the legitimate replica of Santal 33 and also only costs $82. It’s almost a spot-on dupe and a fraction of the price.

Courtesy of Kierin.

Kierin NYC Santal Sky Eau de Parfum

Aside from its super-cool pop-art-inspired packaging, this luxe sandalwood-forward scent is inspired by the energy of NYC and seems to have converted Le Labo loyalists to this cheaper alternative for life (according to the Amazon reviews).

Courtesy of Clean.

Clean Reserve Sel Santal Eau de Parfum

The name might give it away, but this sandalwood-based scent smells pretty darn similar to La Labo. Plus, it’s cruelty-free, formulated with sustainably sourced ingredients, and comes in eco-friendly packaging.

Courtesy of Dior.

Dior Fahrenheit

Another OG scent, Dior’s classic Fahrenheit is infused with several of the same notes as Santal 33, including sandalwood and violet. However, it does get a pinch of sweetness with a hint of vanilla bean, a slight difference that I personally enjoy.

Courtesy of Diptyque.

Diptyque Tam Dao Eau de Parfum

While Diptyque is undoubtedly still known as a luxury fragrance brand, this dupe starts at just $98 for the smaller size, and the full size is just $140 ($100 less than Santal 33).