I really don't know at this point if it's a "my nose" thing or a "my skin chemistry" thing, but to me sandalwood always always smells like pickle brine.
I thought it was strictly a my-skin thing, because like, obviously sandalwood is a popular note and I never have thought "wow, that jerk over there reeks like pickles", so clearly I'm not noticing it on other people in that way.
But today, my sample set order from Sorce came in.
It's their Spellbound discovery set, a sampling of their Halloween-adjacent scents. Or rather, fall-ish? I dunno exactly. Basically, four scents that are very obviously Halloween inspired, and then we've got English Major randomly in there too. English Major is a very popular scent by them and a lot of people associate it with fall, so I guess that's why it's here.
Anyways, I'm extremely excited to try most of the set. Vampire Husband, Ephemera, and Stuck on You are ones that I greatly look forward to. Meanwhile Vampire Wife and English Major I was apprehensive about. But anyways, I figured I didn't want to wait and let the perfumes settle (the way you're supposed to do after they've been through the temperature changes and extreme jostling mail system), so to scratch the itch, I should start trying the ones I don't have high hopes for. So, today was English Major.
English Major's listed notes are: library books, orris absolute, marshmallow, carrot seed, sandalwood, fallen leaves. It's described as an earthy gourmand. And lots of people say it's cozy, smells like a lofi studying video. But for me, all I see on that list is that dreaded sandalwood. I figured this would go pickles on me.
Aaaaaaaaaaand it did. I sprayed it hours ago and still all I get from it is pickle juice. Like an open jar of Vlasics.
But here's the weird thing?
My wife smelled it on me and she loved it. She said it's nice. I asked her to describe it to me and she said "it reminds me of the Texas Roadhouse rolls, with the cinnamon butter spread. Very creamy, very soft and sweet butter."
And I'm like damn. Wish I could smell that. I love that smell. Unfortunately all I actually smell is PICKLES.
So yes. This is probably a very great scent. For other people. But unfortunately I am afflicted with some sort of sandalwood curse which taints all perfumes which have it.
