My Neutral Nest

My Fragrance Wish List

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Why Fragrance Collectors Can’t Stop Talking About Ex Nihilo Santal Calling

If you collect fragrances, you already know the hunt never really ends. There’s always that next scent people whisper about like it’s a secret handshake. Santal Calling from Ex Nihilo is one of those fragrances. It’s the kind of scent that makes seasoned collectors raise an eyebrow and lean in a little closer. This one isn’t trying to be loud or trendy. It’s refined in a way that only Ex Nihilo seems to pull off. The brand took sandalwood, a note that’s been beaten to death by half the industry, and somehow made it feel new again.

What Makes Santal Calling Special

Most sandalwood fragrances fall into two camps: either creamy and predictable or sharp and synthetic. Santal Calling sidesteps both.

Here’s where it stands out:

  • The sandalwood is smooth, modern and expensive-smelling. It doesn’t screech. It doesn’t go waxy. It just melts into the skin.
  • The musks are clean but not “laundry clean.” More like skin that naturally smells good.
  • There’s a soft sweetness that feels intentional, not sugary. Think elevated comfort, not a dessert bar.

It feels intimate but luxurious. If Baccarat Rouge 540 and Le Labo Santal 33 represent the extroverts of the sandalwood world, Santal Calling is the introvert who doesn’t need attention to be unforgettable.

How It Wears Throughout the Day

Santal Calling sits close to the skin but lasts surprisingly long. You know that perfect type of fragrance that people only smell when they lean in? That’s its lane. It’s quietly addictive, the kind of scent you catch on your sweater the next morning and immediately want to wear again.

Collectors love it because it’s versatile and grown up without feeling boring. Morning coffee runs, date nights, workdays, cozy evenings at home. It works everywhere because it behaves.

Who Will Love This Fragrance

This perfectly unisex fragrance isn’t for someone looking for a loud designer scent or a cloud of sugar. This is for the collector who wants sophistication without effort. If your shelf already includes Byredo, Le Labo, MFK or Diptyque, this fits right in. It’s the scent you put on when you don’t want to announce yourself but still want to smell expensive.

Final Thoughts

Fragrance collectors fall hard for Santal Calling because it’s timeless, wearable and genuinely beautiful. It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t rely on shock value. It’s one of those fragrances that quietly earns its spot in a collection and stays there.

If you’ve been looking for a sandalwood that feels elevated, comforting and incredibly refined, Santal Calling deserves a test at the very least. Chances are it won’t leave your wishlist once you smell it.

  1. Ex Nihilo Santal Calling Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz

    From the Initial Collection. Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu is obsessed with the unique properties of Sandalwood Album from Australia. His idea was to mix contemporary Parisian inspirations with the mystical energy of this ingredient to create a bright and soothing scent that leads to an ultimate addiction. As a captivating spell for the skin and for the soul, he created SANTAL CALLING, subtly mixing delicate Musks with an irresistible Milky accord. The smooth essence of Sandalwood is then curled up in an intense Vanilla Bourbon from Madagascar, for a mesmerizing sillage.


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