Santal Kardamon
Lancôme (2018)

This leans more toward a powdery leather and floral scent than a cardamom-forward one. There’s a woody backbone from the sandalwood, but a soft leather really takes center stage. It carries a Middle Eastern vibe with that dusty, slightly soapy mix of woods and amber. There’s no oud here, but it reminds me a bit of Qaa’ed—just without the oud.

The leather is smooth and approachable, nothing harsh or animalic, rounded out by a touch of vanilla. Any sweetness stays in the background, acting more as a softener than a main player. Still, it does smell a little cheap to me, especially considering you could grab something like a Lataffa fragrance for a fraction of the price and get a similar feel. The fragrance isn't bad but after smelling Qaa'ed and lots of other similar fragrances, I wouldn't recommend anyone to pay niche price for this.

I can’t say I’m particularly impressed by anything from the Maison Lancôme line so far. Performance is solid—it lasts all day and then some on clothing—but overall, it’s more interesting as an experiment than something I’d reach for regularly. I think Lancôme can definitely do better.