De Los Santos by Byredo

I belong to the generation that played in the street, and even better, I lived near the countryside. Right where the road met the grass, there was a poorly sealed pipe outlet that slowly leaked water. We’d all go there to drink when it was hot; the ground was always green and blooming from the puddle. I forgot that scent until I found De los Santos by Byredo: it smells exactly like that corner of my childhood. To me, it’s a miracle; I bless myself every time I wear it. It smells of green, of lushness, of damp nature and solitude. It isn’t sophisticated, but it feels very close, or that’s what it conveys to me.

Delightful, with an amber base, warm and with a sweet touch.

De los Santos is a perfume without artifice, simple and a perfect example of less is more. Everything revolves around intelligent choices with the materials, proving it is well-crafted by the perfumer. It is one of the few with a very marked Palo Santo note, beautifully rounded. It has sweet and slightly green nuances. Accompanied by simple woody accords, mainly Ambroxan and Iso E Super with a touch of vanilla, it creates a woody and slightly sweet fragrance that is easy yet very enjoyable to wear. To balance the green notes of the Palo Santo, the perfumer adds sage sclarea, with a fresh character and spicy nuances. This sage, very present at the start, gives it a touch of formality and its own character. Simple but chic, it does not need to mix a multitude of notes seeking something overly complex. It is a good scent that denotes quality, perfect for everyday wear, although it has enough presence for special occasions. Best wishes.

I have an extra table from an IKEA piece of furniture, okay? I didn’t want to throw away the solid wood, so I left it on top of the washing machine on the terrace in the sun. From time to time, I wiped it with a damp cloth, and wow, that unmistakable scent of wet wood (like the planks at the beach bar when people who have just had a shower walk on them) is De los Santos. At first, it is lovely, a realistic impression of water falling on beach planks. And then… it turns into that wet wood of a summer storm dragging something dirty along. In fact, it is the pure scent of the Tajín on a michelada. There is a third phase, tested on blotting paper (not on skin, where it develops crystal clear and luxurious), which is the scent of a car that is not very new, nor old, after being parked in the sun on the coast in September following a holiday. You open the car and there is that mix of overheated upholstery, remnants of rain, calima, and the dusty residue of a worn-out air freshener. It is strange, but exactly as it is. De los Santos is original and passes through unsettling moments. As an olfactory rollercoaster, it is a marvel. I have not seen similar perfumes.

Totally green and spicy, a delight for me, but if you are of the ‘vie belle’ persuasion, forget it, hahaha, this is not for you. It is very unisex, not very feminine, but I wear it even as a man without any problem. It is enjoyed personally; when I sweat, the spice aroma emerges. It is not a beast, so do not expect a minimum duration of six hours; if you want to get an idea, buy Sam Edelman Signature 😄. Another piece of information: my mother used to say it smelled like medicine.