Santos is Cartier's first men's fragrance, released in 1981 as a tribute to Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Brazilian aviator for whom the house had designed a wristwatch. Lavender, basil and juniper berries open an aromatic woody scent that nutmeg and vetiver thicken, before a base of patchouli, sandalwood, cedar and vanilla. Cartier still sells it as an eau de toilette.
Varanis Ridari holds Santos to be a restrained mossy woody scent from 1981, less demonstrative than its contemporaries, and recommends it without reservation.
Olfastory’s review
The Scented Devil, Varanis Ridari, 15 November 2019
Varanis Ridari places Santos among the 1981 releases that stayed clear of the din around Kouros or Antaeus, and credits it with a lasting effect on the men's perfumery of the decade. He describes an opening of lavender, basil and bergamot, at first close to the barbershop, until the arrival of cumin and nutmeg gives it a darker grain than any strict barbershop fougere could. Sandalwood and cedar dry out the patchouli, beneath an oakmoss he holds to be the mark of the old batches. He judges the recent versions satisfactory and the fragrance cut for the dark suit, never for display.