Firehorse

I have owned Fresh CANNABIS SANTAL for a while but don't wear it that often as it is a big sillage patchouli fragrance. Big patchouli for me is generally a stay-at-home scent. Tonight after my bath I sprayed this perfume on and was somewhat taken aback at how strong the chocolate note was. Added to that, it reminded me very much of Thierry Mugler A*MEN! Perhaps the first time I reviewed CANNABIS SANTAL I had yet to try A*MEN. I definitely felt that it overlapped with ANGEL, though. Now I am quite convinced that the composition is very similar to A*MEN, only with cocoa in the place of the coffee, and a more natural-smelling combination of basenotes, including musk. I am aware that these days all musks are synthetic, but CANNABIS SANTAL smells much more pleasant to my nose than A*MEN, which I only wear immediately prior to a coffee bath. The interesting thing about CANNABIS SANTAL is that, despite the quite marked chocolate note, the overall feeling is somewhat masculine, so that must be the combination of the musk and the patchouli, on top of the fact that the chocolate note is really more of a cocoa bean than a bar of candy. True to the house name, CANNABIS SANTAL also smells somehow fresh, as odd as that may sound--unless you've tried some of the Fresh perfumes... CANNABIS SANTAL is a solid offering from the house of FRESH, which for some reason has not jumped on the bandwagon to launch endless new releases. I do not believe that they have launched anything new whatsoever in a few years, which seems odd, but they have an aisle at Sephora, so I suppose that they are pulling their weight with their small but respectable cluster of "backlist" fragrances. My favorites are this and CANNABIS ROSE, but the citrus scents are pretty nice as well. I definitely recommend CANNABIS SANTAL for testing by anyone who likes cocoa or coffee notes in perfume and also loves patchouli, as there is a lot of it here. The cannabis and sandalwood, on the other hand, are pretty low key, if even detectable by me.

Fresh was founded in 1991 by Lev Glazman and Alina Royberg. This team has created some very interesting fragrances, with a concentration on using natural ingredients. Cannabis Santal was created for Fresh by perfumer Caroline Sabas of Givaudan. She is responsible for Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy, Glow by J. Lo and CK Free Blue by Calvin Klein. Sabas seems to have her creative energy aimed directly at what is young and popular. Cannabis Santal encompasses some of these culturally trendy elements, but leans more towards a fresh, woody fragrance with a slightly musky fringe. Cannabis Santal lifts off with bright, fresh citrus blend of bergamot and orange. The true star of this opening act is black plum. The plum in Cannabis Santal is sweet, overly ripe and almost candied, but a perfect complement to the tart citrus start. As the plum note subsides, a patchouli heart enters with a green, light, fresh and vibrant quality, and not at all heavy or dank. The cannabis accord enables Cannabis Santal to have a wonderful aromatic freshness with a woody core. So far, Cannabis Santal is a perfect masculine combination of fresh and woody. This continues right through the heart to the premier of a subtle and soft rose note. Rose is always a safe flower choice for a men’s fragrance and an interesting partner for such unlikely components. The rose here is well-mannered and polite, with a spicy and pure quality. The base of Cannabis Santal introduces a delectable dark chocolate with bitter nuances. This note is not overly stated but a very nice reference. The vanilla lays very quietly in the base with just enough presence to suggest something nutty, and a great combination with the woody heart. There is a clean suggestion made in the base, but not overpoweringly so. Grassy vetiver complements the green factor and completes Cannabis Santal’s surprisingly fresh persona. My lovely Italian friend, Carla, insisted that I try Cannabis Santal and I’m glad I took her suggestion. I’m not completely sure I would have sought out this fragrance for myself based on note structure alone. I found Cannabis Santal a very pleasant surprise and a bit addicting. There was nothing in my collection that even came close to the harmonious sweetness and fresh green quality Cannabis Santal had to offer. Fresh’s creation is the perfect answer for a warm weather day. Cannabis Santal is great worn solo, but if you really want to experiment with an interesting combination, try wearing Cannabis Santal layered with another great fragrance from Fresh, Hesperides. The duo is delightful.

Arriving a shocking 14 years after Mugler's Angel, Fresh's Cannabis Santal is pleasant, but...a missed opportunity, I suppose. I liked what I smelled at first, but it was so familiar. I think it was when I read the review below that compared it to A*MEN that I immediately recognized it as Angel. It's all of Angel's sweet patchouli, but more subdued and passive. The tropical fruity notes are swapped out for plum, but at it's core, it's still quite similar. In its defense, it's more streamlined and more wearable than the original Angel. It's the SFW for work version. I just feel that 14 years is such a long time to develop a similar scent. If we're following in Angel's legacy, I think it would've been more appropriate to add depth or a twist on something so well-known. Maybe a heavier woody note in the base. I mean, they called out Santal in the name, but I don't get any sandalwood whatsoever. I like it and I'll wear it, but if I had to choose a patchouli, I prefer Diptyque's Tempo.

Once upon a time, I was insanely in love with a man that reeked of cannabis. He may not have been the healthiest or the most stable of men, but the smell of him was almost intoxicating, and it was indeed a very toxic type of love. When he left me for another woman, my heartbreak led me to a sample of this fragrance, Cannabis Santal. It smells nothing like him. However Cannabis Santal has a very potent and green patchouli accord, and for that, I love this fragrance more than I ever loved him. I admit that at times it does smell a little bit like Thierry Mugler's Angel, however it's not really a gourmand. The name Cannabis Santal is actually quite misleading, seeing that cannabis barely features in this composition. I know that hippies back in the 70's used patchouli oil to cover-up the scent of cannabis, so perhaps this scent was what Fresh was attempting to emulate. Either way, I enjoy wearing this fragrance. It's perfectly unisex, and dare I say, quite sexy. I can't see how anyone could hate the scent of patchouli, although I know there are many haters out there. Some may think that Cannabis Santal smells vile, however for others, like myself, it's the essential Autumn and Winter fragrance. The heart and drydown is surprisingly vanillary and chocolatey, which blends beautifully with my chemistry. I must admit that it's much more likable than Angel or A*Men. I think you'd probably get more compliments on this cheaper alternative too. The sillage and longevity are both excellent, and the price has now dropped considerably which makes it a good contender when out shopping for a new fragrance. I highly recommend this perfume. And once again for those that are a bit fearful, no this fragrance won't result in you smelling like a hippie or a stoner. Original review written: November 2012.