Colonia Sandalo
Acqua di Parma (2016)

Opens very zingy, fresh, citrusy, with tonka bean and amber bases evoking a "barber shop" style, a little soapy, but lively. It's hard not to be reminded of Paco Rabanne signature. The eponymous sandalwood is not very obvious. The dry down is fresh, youthful, sporty and quite a bit sexy. A little too spritely for the office, but it would make a decent party scent.
It's one of those fragrances for men who don't want to smell like they've applied fragrance, but more like they've just come out of a shower using quality soaps. I doubt anyone would ever identify this on a person by smell alone, it's not that defined.

I really like this - a nice, warming scent with a lovely cardamom middle note. I get almost a leather scent in the drydown - it's not really a sandalwood fragrance but I'm a huge fan of AdP and this is one of their best for me.

Opens with a sweet and spicy sandalwood. As it dries down, starts to become soapy and medicinal but the sandalwood is still there.

I'll go neutral because I do find this pleasant and interesting but I don't think I would wear it. The base drydown is very soft, more natural and pleasant so if it was more of that I think this would end up being more highly rated.

Good, not great performance. Lasts most of the workday.

Unlike other reviewers, I have been disappointed by this one. For sure, it performs, and the sandlawood is there. But to my nose it smells very synthetic, and I'm not sure that the pairing with lavender and cardamom works well here.

Feels a little rough and unrefined to my nose. Too sharp.
For twice less money, I opt for Tam Dao EdP without hesitation.

Sandalo is an incredibly well blended sandlewood fragrance, the sandlewood in this feels very natural, like real sandlewood was used ..typical acqua di parma citrus notes keep everything on the fresh and classy side of life. If you have experience with acqua Di parma oud then you will know what to expect with this one, incredibly they have managed to keep their sophisticated citrus style and showcase a powerful sandlewood accord that manages to dominate with support from all the top and middle notes. I pick up on lavender and a slight leather feel that leans things a bit barbershop. Overall this is one of the best sandlewood fragrances I have ever owned. Everything feels so smooth and natural with great versatility and performance.

Acqua di Parma Colonia Sandalo is another solid entry from the darker bottle line, formerly known as Colonia Intensas. It follows in the tradition of Colonia Oud and Colonia Leather before it as being an interesting albeit not too divsive entry, a blend of the "eau de cologne" concept mastered via the now-antique original Colonia as well as a mix of various other notes.

In the case of Sandalo, the blend is overall a bit lighter and fresh than in Oud or Leather, just based on the nature of the signature of note. The fragrance consists of the predictable ensemble of citruses, paired with spunky additives like lavender, cardamom, and petitgrain, with a predictable base of sandalwood and amber (and allegedly tonka bean, though I don't get much of this, myself).

The fragrance is refreshing and invigorating without being too loud, and somehow comforting without being too boring. It's palpably versatile, wearable day or night, winter or summer.

It's a decent performer but probably not quite as good as Leather or Oud, but still satisfactory. Like the others, retail pricing ($260 for 100ml at Neiman Marcus) feels like a tough sell for a relatively safe offering, but it'll no doubt become cheaper on the secondary market (i.e. FragranceNet) with time.

7 out of 10