• Best Le Labo SANTAL 33 Dupe
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CAMPFIRE VEIL | Woody Aromatic Perfume

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Le Labo Santal 33 vs Another 13: Which Is Better?

Which Is Better, Le Labo Santal 33 or Another 13?

Neither is objectively better — Santal 33 is a bold, dry-wood statement scent with strong presence, while Another 13 is a clean, intimate "second-skin" musk with subtle projection.

  • Choose Santal 33 if: You want a bold, dry-wood statement scent with noticeable sillage — cedarwood, sandalwood, and leather that projects outward.
  • Choose Another 13 if: You prefer a clean, intimate "second-skin" scent — ambroxan (Cetalox) and soft musks that radiate warmth close to the body rather than filling a room.

Both last a similar amount of time on skin (around 8–12 hours, per our individual reviews of Santal 33 and Another 13), so the real choice comes down to how loudly you want the fragrance to announce itself.

What Is Le Labo's Most Famous Scent?

Santal 33 is widely regarded as Le Labo's most iconic and recognisable scent, known for its dry, smoky wood signature since its 2011 release.

It's the fragrance most associated with the brand's identity — the one most likely to be recognised on the street or referenced in fragrance communities. Another 13 has its own dedicated following, but Santal 33 remains the house's defining, most talked-about creation.

What Scent Is Similar to Santal 33?

Within Le Labo's own line, nothing matches Santal 33's dry wood-and-leather profile closely — Another 13 in particular is a very different, cleaner musk composition, not a close match.

  • The Opening: Cardamom, Violet, Iris — bright, peppery spice with soft, powdery floral facets.
  • The Heart: Sandalwood, Papyrus, Cedarwood — dry, aromatic timber supported by earthy texture.
  • The Dry Down: Leather, Amber, Musk — warm, worn-in hides alongside supple resinous depth.

If you love Santal 33 for its cardamom, saffron-adjacent warmth, cedarwood, and leather, Another 13's crisp pear and ambroxan-driven musk will read as a completely different fragrance family. For an alcohol-free perfume oil built around that same dry, resinous wood character, purelyBlack's CAMPFIRE VEIL is formulated independently in a similar woody-aromatic profile.

Is Le Labo Another 13 More Feminine or Masculine?

Le Labo Another 13 is a genuinely gender-neutral fragrance, built on abstract synthetic molecules that sit close to the skin regardless of who wears it.

Its structure — Cetalox, Iso E Super, and soft musks — doesn't lean distinctly floral or heavy-wood, which is part of why it reads as unisex. Santal 33 is also marketed and worn as unisex, though its dry, smoky timber character tends to be described as leaning slightly more traditionally masculine in tone than Another 13's softer, cleaner profile.

What Does Another 13 Smell Similar To?

Another 13 smells like crisp pear and green citrus opening into a radiant ambroxan-and-musk heart, with jasmine, moss, and Iso E Super rounding out a soft, cedar-tinged dry down.

  • The Opening: Pear & Apple, Green Citruses — crisp orchard fruit with a cool, sparkling brightness.
  • The Heart: Cetalox (Ambroxan), Ambrette, Jasmine & Moss — radiant, velvety amber with airy floral undertones.
  • The Dry Down: Iso E Super, Helvetolide (Musk) — smooth, tactile cedar wrapped in a clean, lingering aura.

It's often described as a "skin scent" — something that smells clean and personal rather than announcing itself the way a traditional woody or oriental fragrance does. For an alcohol-free perfume oil built around that same clean, musky character, purelyBlack's 13TH TONE is formulated independently in a similar profile.

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About the Author: Formulated & Written by H.R. Kim
Founder at purelyBlack — an Australian-owned perfumery based in Sydney. H.R. specialises in molecular ingredient chemistry and scent profiling, meticulously balancing premium fragrance oils and expertly blended aroma molecules to formulate long-lasting, artisanal impressions of the world's most beloved fragrances.

Last updated: August 2026.

Disclaimer: purelyBlack is an independent brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Le Labo or its parent companies. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used purely for descriptive and identification purposes.

Which Is Better, Le Labo Santal 33 or Another 13?