Etro Sandalo

Etro fragrances are among the most pleasant of the fragrance market’s unsung heroes. A bottle of Vetiver has graced my bathroom vanity for the last seven years, and when I go anywhere on extended vacation a bottle accompanies me. Etro Patchouli was my first official “adult” perfume purchase, and it goes down as one of the benchmark interpretations of that most mercurial of notes. Etro fragrances are such a perfect evocation of their brand, as, like the scarves for which Etro is known, you can never have enough of them – and, quite pleasantly, they complement each other. And what’s more, they are among the best (and most affordable) scents to buy en masse for daily layering combinations. (I won’t lie. I also find the bottles possess a plain perfection.)

These days, I’m reaching for Sandalo (1989). I admire its dry, well-bred aspect: Mysore sandalwood, myrrh gum, amber and some subtle florals lurking in the background. It has greater tenacity than Floris’ classic sandalwood scent and, owing to the myrrh gum, a touch more of the exotic. Picking up the bottle is like discovering some careworn old accessory that works perfectly with today’s look. A great daytime scent, Sandalo can be worn easily after a shower or with a loose-fitting weekend shirt. Or with nothing at all.

It begs contemplation.