Armani SWY Sandalwood (1/3) · Brotherhood Of Scent

Armani SWY Sandalwood (1/3)

I recently saw

’s post where he reviewed SWY Sandalwood and gave it a really high rating. That reminded me that I also had a sample lying around that I still hadn’t tried. I gave it a go yesterday, and here’s what I think.

It’s a relatively simple fragrance with saffron, lavender, chestnut, sandalwood, cedarwood and vanilla. To me, it felt quite linear. The opening brings saffron, followed by the classic SWY lavender-chestnut combo, and within seconds, the rich, smooth sandalwood comes through, supported by cedarwood and a gentle touch of vanilla sweetness.

The sandalwood here is probably the most realistic I’ve smelled. It feels oily, thick, and creamy, while the cedarwood quietly supports in the background. The vanilla adds the right amount of sweetness without overdoing it.

To me, this smells like a religious temple on a mountaintop. Growing up in India, especially where I’m from, this style of sandalwood is common and often paired with offerings like nuts, fruits, flowers, and saffron. The scent took me back to an exact moment where sandalwood, saffron, and something reminiscent of ambergris filled the air in a temple.

Although it didn’t blow me away, I’m impressed they managed to replicate a scent style I’m so familiar with. Anyone outside India who hasn’t experienced this profile before would probably find it quite special. It definitely deserves the high praise.

Unfortunately, the performance on me was average with around six hours of longevity and less than three hours of projection. The same thing happened with SWY Absolutely, so I guess my skin just doesn’t get along with Armani fragrances lol.

Overall, I’d rate the scent profile an 8/10 and performance a 6/10, giving it a 7/10 overall. I don’t think I’m the target audience for this one, but I’ll try it again and definitely keep exploring the SWY line.

What are your thoughts on SWY Sandalwood?

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