Maison Louis Marie No. 04 Bois de Balincourt Perfume: A Dupe for Le Labo Santal 33?

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I have been going back and forth about purchasing a fragrance from Le Labo for a long, long time. One of the scents at the top of my list has been Santal 33. It is such a recognizable scent, the kind that you smell standing next to someone on an elevator and know exactly what it is. I was so surprised when I smelled what I think it a pretty decent dupe at a very reasonable price, that I had to pick it up.

I was strolling the aisles of Sephora a while back when I first smelled No. 04 Bois de Balincourt by Maison Louis Marie. It's a fragrance that I have seen plenty of times online, but had never smelled it in person before. I was so surprised when I initially tried it out at its similarity to Santal 33! Out of all the rave reviews I had seen about Bois de Balincourt, I didn't remember anyone making the comparison before.

One of the things that has held me back from buying a Le Labo fragrance thus far is the price- you can currently get a 1.7oz bottle for $192, or a 3.4oz bottle for $280. I will say there are factors that make paying that much for one of their fragrances worth it. If you are visiting in person, Le Labo makes you your own brand new, fresh, bottle of perfume. You're not just plucking a box off of the shelf and calling it good. They also personalize the label with the city it was purchased in and who the bottle was made for. Such a great way to commemorate a trip or special event. I have tried samples of a few of their scents, and the other factor that justifies the price in my eyes is the staying power. Other than Byredo, I think their fragrances have some of the best lasting power I have experienced.

No. 04 Bois de Balincourt- $85 for 1.7oz

Back to Bois de Balincourt now. It hits a lot of the same scent notes as Santal 33. It is a creamy, woody, and slightly spicy scent. It contains notes of sandalwood, vetiver, and amber wood. In contrast, Santal 33 contains violet accord, cardamom, iris, ambrox, cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood. What I love about both of these fragrances is that it toes the line between masculine and feminine. They both smell clean and warm, like a long hug from someone in a big fuzzy sweater. I gravitate toward this scent more in the cold months, but still wear it in the summer when I find myself preferring a sexy, woody scent.

Bios de Balincourt is much more budget friendly. It currently runs $85 for a 1.7oz bottle. I definitely plan on treating myself to a Le Labo fragrance at some point, but for now Bois de Balincourt is satisfying my needs for a woody type fragrance. It lasts really well compared to many other fragrances that I have tried. I can spray it on a sweater and days later it will be lingering there still. Even if you aren't in the market for a Santal 33 dupe but love a woody perfume, I'd give this one a try.