The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Santal Exclusif Jubilé was launched in 2025 by VIVE Perfume, created by perfumer Nantapat Dejsidchanaporn. The name points directly to the fragrance's center: sandalwood, supported by cedarwood, cardamom, frankincense, vetiver, cacao, iris, and Thai cocoa CO2. The composition places creamy sandalwood against an aromatic mix of spice, dry wood, resin, and softly bitter cacao. The material choices carry the idea beautifully, balancing smooth wood and aromatic spice with the dry depth of vetiver and resinous frankincense. Iris keeps the heart polished, while cacao introduces a warm, semi-gourmand shadow. Nothing about the construction is ornamental. Every note seems chosen to give sandalwood a wider range of expressions, from smooth and meditative to dark and quietly addictive.
The composition's distinction comes from tension rather than a simple celebration of sandalwood. Powdery iris and airy cardamom bring a cool, polished lift, while cacao gives the center its warm, faintly bitter sweetness. Vetiver pulls the scent toward dry earth, and frankincense adds a clean resinous edge. Cedarwood extends the woody structure, creating continuity from the brighter first impression into the darker base. Thai cocoa CO2 makes the cacao note more vivid and textural, giving the drydown a distinct dark richness.
The evolution
The opening begins with a clean aromatic snap. Cardamom lifts the composition with cool spice, while iris lays down a soft powdery surface and frankincense introduces a pale resinous glow. Sandalwood quickly makes the scent feel smooth and substantial, with cedarwood adding a drier grain. Then the cacao side opens. It doesn't read as chocolate syrup; the Thai cocoa CO2 gives it a darker, more tactile character, slightly bitter and roasted. As the bright cardamom recedes, vetiver and frankincense become more prominent, pulling the drydown toward mineral earth and resin. Sandalwood remains the anchor throughout, creamy rather than overt, while iris leaves a cool, suede-like trace in the background. By the final hours, the fragrance settles close to skin as a blend of polished wood, dry earth, cacao, and faint incense.
Cultural impact
Santal Exclusif Jubilé presents sandalwood through a contemporary lens, with cacao bringing a modern semi-gourmand turn to a classic material. Its appeal lies in the contrast between smooth, polished wood and the sharper accents of cardamom, iris, frankincense, vetiver, cedarwood, and Thai cocoa CO2. For wearers who appreciate distinctive compositions, the fragrance offers an inviting balance of warmth and dryness, moving from a bright aromatic opening into a darker base of woody depth, resin, earth, and cacao. The result is familiar in its core material but more layered in how that material is shaped and worn.
The House
Vive PerfumeVIVE Perfume is a Thai fragrance house that blends regional botanicals with classic perfumery techniques. Founded in Bangkok, the brand offers a line of niche scents that reference the country's diverse landscapes, from citrus groves in the south to teak forests in the north. Its portfolio includes Santal Exclusif, a sandalwood‑centric fragrance released in 2020, and newer releases such as City Pop (2024) and Oud Monarque (2025). VIVE positions itself as a bridge between Thai heritage and contemporary olfactory storytelling, inviting collectors to explore aromas that feel both familiar and unexpected.
The Creator
Nantapat DejsidchanapornNantapat favors a minimalist structure, often layering a single dominant accord beneath subtle supporting notes. She works frequently with Thai jasmine, kaffir lime, and teak wood, pairing them with European absolutes such as Bulgarian rose or French ambergris substitutes.
