By Kilian By Kilian Sacred Wood was launched in 2014, created by Calice Becker. Released as part of the Asian Tales collection, it was originally intended to be the base for other fragrances, Kilian loved it and made it a solo fragrance. A tribute to Mysore sandalwood, it veers more into a green sandalwood than a red Mysore sandalwood.
From the brand - "Sacred Wood is a portrait of Sandalwood, especially the most coveted variety from Mysore with its spicy, woodsy, and milky facets that are simply incredible. The fragrance opens with ambrette seed absolute and carrot seed essence for spicy and earthen elements, only to unfold into a multi-layered sandalwood accord with cedarwood oil atlas sourced in Morocco and amyris oil from Dominican Republic. Copaiba balsam oil adds warmth with an animalic aspect of apricot. A malted milky vapor rises like incense for an exceptional and long-lasting silage."
Kilian Hennessy launched By Kilian in 2007. Yup, the Cognac Hennessy, grandson to the founder of Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Group, he followed his interest in scent, writing his thesis on the semantics of odors. After spending time with leading perfumers, he launched By Kilian with the Collection L'oeuvre Noire (Black Masterpiece) series. There are now 10 fragrances in that series. The over-the-top marketing copy drew a lot of criticism in the early part of his launch, but the gorgeous packaging - black lacquer boxes and black bottles - started to win us over, as did the artistry of the fragrances.
Colognoisseur - "Sacred Wood is kin to other sandalwood “soliflores” like Diptyque Tam Dao but here the effect is to take it and allow the character of the sandalwood to slowly erode down to its most basic nature. On top Mme Becker adds a steamed milk accord to create the characteristic creamy quality of Mysore sandalwood. In the real thing that never leaves but in Sacred Wood it persists for a while. Carrot and elemi turn the cream into sweet but not sugar sweet. This is a sweetness of wood and vegetable; it works very well together. For me one of the hallmark characteristics of Mysore sandalwood is what I describe as an “ashy” quality in the heart of it. It smells to my nose like it has been through a fire and this is the remains of it. I think Mme Becker also smells this and so she uses cumin to add that quality to Sacred Wood. In the end cedar with all of its very straightforwardness turns Sacred Wood to just wood over the final few hours."
Fragrantica - "Gorgeous sandalwood! To say I like this fragrance is an understatement....I LOVE this one! It's perfect for cooler weather, but I certainly think it could be worn in warmer months. I think it leans somewhat masculine, but I could see a woman wearing it also.. It has solid performance and projection - I'm glad to have it in my collection!"
Fragrantica - "My Loooord, Sacred Wood is divine. FBW for me. I was looking for a sandalwood fragrance that didn't have the pencil shavings smell I get from Tam Dao. Pilgrimage is complete. Lots of compliments when I wore it through Southeast Asia."
Fragrantica - "Dusty, chalky, milky, nuanced, sophisticated, bittersweet powdery sandalwood. Mysterious, elusive, subtle but complex. To me, if sandalwood is a note you love. This would surely be appreciated, highly. Similar to a few other fragrances faintly, but this has its own mystique about it. Worth the hype this gets IMO"
