Fragrance comparison

Ambre des Abysses vs Original Santal

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 9 Oct 2026 3,485 ratings analysed

8 wins

Ambre des Abysses

Houbigant

4.38512 votes

Rank #22,727 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

40%scent match

Some overlap

Original Santal

Creed

4.052,973 votes

Rank #24,228 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ambre des Abysses takes 8 of 8 categories.

Ambre des Abysses
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, evening wear.
Original Santal
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Best in winter, evening wear.

Ambre des Abysses8/8

Original Santal0/8

Ratings & consensus: Ambre des Abysses
Community sentiment: Ambre des Abysses
Longevity: Ambre des Abysses
Sillage & projection: Ambre des Abysses
Value for money: Ambre des Abysses
Versatility: Ambre des Abysses
Note pyramid (duration): Ambre des Abysses
Fragranxe ranking: Ambre des Abysses

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

Ambre des AbyssesHoubigant

Original SantalCreed

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.38/ 5 · 512 votes

Have 84%Had 16%Want 0%

4.05/ 5 · 2,973 votes

Have 75%Had 25%Want 0%

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

60%Love

26%Like

6%Ok

5%Dislike

2%Hate

512 votes

41%Love

38%Like

8%Ok

12%Dislike

1%Hate

2,973 votes

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity76

〰 Sillage60

♥ Love / hate84

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate76

Category winners

LongevityAmbre des Abysses

SillageAmbre des Abysses

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value26

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

white floral84%

vanilla77%

citrus69%

amber61%

aromatic100%

woody88%

fresh spicy77%

lavender65%

powdery53%

warm spicy42%

Scent match40%Some overlap · both aromatic and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top20-30 mins

Orange BlossomMintBergamot

Heart2-4 hrs

GeraniumAmberPatchouliRosemaryJasmine

Base8-12 hrs

VanillaTonka BeanOakmossLeather

Top15-30 mins

Juniper BerriesCorianderGingerRosemaryBergamotMandarin Orange

Heart2-4 hrs

SandalwoodLavenderOrange BlossomGeranium

Base6-8+ hrs

Tonka BeanMuskCedarOakmoss

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesLongest dry-down: 8-12 hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer67

Fall0

Winter70

Day85

Night100

Spring96

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day86

Night100

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men68

Unisex29

Women3

Work 32%Date 28%Casual 25%Party 15%

Men69

Unisex28

Women3

Date 30%Casual 26%Work 24%Party 20%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#22,727

PerfumerAntoine Lie, Luca Maffei

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#24,228

PerfumerErwin Creed, Olivier Creed, Pierre Bourdon

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerAmbre des AbyssesHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Ambre des Abysses by Houbigant pulls off a rare balancing act on skin. The opening hits with cold garden mint and sparkling bergamot before bitter orange blossom warms up the center. It feels remarkably crisp. Then the foundation turns dark, unfurling rich amber, earthy oakmoss, and soft leather over a comforting base…

Reviews →

Original Santal by Creed turns the traditional idea of dry woody sandalwood into a bright, warm, and inviting scent. Right from the first spray, you get a lively burst of juniper berries, spicy ginger, and zesty bergamot that feels crisp and invigorating. Within minutes, the fragrance shifts toward a soothing heart of…

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Ambre des Abysses or Original Santal?

Ambre des Abysses takes 8 of 8 categories. Ambre des Abysses is rated 4.38/5 from 512 votes; Original Santal is rated 4.05/5 from 2,973 votes. Choose Ambre des Abysses for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, evening wear. Choose Original Santal for a aromatic and woody character. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Ambre des Abysses or Original Santal?

Ambre des Abysses lasts longest (Ambre des Abysses 76/100, Original Santal 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ambre des Abysses or Original Santal?

Ambre des Abysses projects furthest (Ambre des Abysses 60/100, Original Santal 57/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ambre des Abysses and Original Santal smell similar?

Some overlap: a 40% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Orange Blossom, Bergamot, Geranium and Rosemary.

Is Ambre des Abysses or Original Santal better for summer or winter?

For summer, Ambre des Abysses is the stronger pick. For winter, Original Santal is the stronger pick. Ambre des Abysses suits evening wear; Original Santal suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ambre des Abysses and Original Santal?

Ambre des Abysses has top notes of Orange Blossom, Mint and Bergamot, heart notes of Geranium, Amber, Patchouli and Rosemary, a base of Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Oakmoss and Leather. Original Santal has top notes of Juniper Berries, Coriander, Ginger and Rosemary, heart notes of Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange Blossom and Geranium, a base of Tonka Bean, Musk, Cedar and Oakmoss.