Armaf
Shades
Best Creed Original Santal Dupe
Armaf Shades is a clone of Creed Original Santal, with a 78% accuracy score and about 90% cheaper than the original.
Last updated
78% MatchInspired by $360 originalSave about 90%
Accuracy Breakdown
Overall Accuracy78%
Longevity6-10 hours
SillageStrong
You SaveAbout 90%
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The Scoop
Shades by Armaf captures the spiced herbal character and creamy sandalwood base of Original Santal quite effectively, with comparable opening brightness and warm dry-down. The clone maintains the balance between aromatic top notes and the tonka-vanilla sweetness, though the sandalwood projection may feel slightly softer and less woody than the original's more refined iteration.
Key Differences
Shades tends to have marginally less longevity and sillage compared to Creed's version, with a slightly softer sandalwood presence. The aromatic spice profile is well-matched, but the original exhibits superior depth and complexity in the base development.
Fragrance Profile
★ 3.9 community ratingAccords
woody· Dominantaromatic· Dominantfresh spicy· Prominentcitrus· Prominentwarm spicy· Prominentfruity· Prominentsweet· Prominentozonic· Moderatepowdery· Moderatemusky· Moderate
Best Seasons
Spring100%
Summer88%
Fall / Autumn90%
Winter59%
Best Occasions
Professional100%
Night Out40%
Casual40%
Community Insights
★ 3.9 from 132 ratingsWhat people who wear Armaf Shades report, based on votes and reviews from a large fragrance community.
Main accords
woody
aromatic
fresh spicy
citrus
fruity
warm spicy
sweet
powdery
Longevity
Very weak8%
Weak17%
Moderate53%
Long lasting16%
Eternal5%
Sillage
Intimate13%
Moderate46%
Strong19%
Enormous21%
Who wears it
Female2%
More female2%
Unisex12%
More male42%
Male42%
Day or night
Day
Night
Value for money
Way overpriced9%
Overpriced4%
Ok17%
Good value38%
Great value32%
People say it reminds them of
Creed Original Santal 31Montblanc Individuel 28
What wearers say
“This is unique to most of my fragrances. I really love the opening. The plum note is one I'm really growing fond of. I haven't smelled Paco Rabanne Black XS so I can't compare. I do get some of Mont Blanc Individuel in here and some Original Santal. I also get some vetiver a la Dunhill Icon. Overall a very pleasing fragrance I am happy to own.”
“I blind bought this and I am very disappointed. I thought it was a Santal type cologne. Mine smells like pure sandalwood. No sweetness whatsoever. I also bought Tag Him (Bleu de Chanel clone) and it smells very sharp like cedar chips. My Club de Nuit smells amazing but these other two are way off. Has anyone else had that problem? I don't get it. I'll probably never use Armaf again except for CDNIM.”
“Have not had a chance to try Creed - Original Santal yet to compare the two, however this scent on its own is absolutely beautiful, to my nose i'm getting a cross between 3 different frags, definitely getting the Joop - Homme vibe from it mixed with a little Davidoff - Adventure (in the opening) but possibly a little more than the others a bit of Dolce and Gabbana pour Homme (I haven't had a bottle of this since it was sticker version, so this may have changed slightly).Over all the scent is great value for money and is of the usual high standard juice we have come to expect from Armaf.”
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