Le Labo Santal 33 vs Louis Vuitton Imagination
101 facts in comparison
Based on 709 Reddit opinions. Vuitton ImaginationLouis Vuitton Imagination leads by 30 points.
709 opinions
Vuitton Imagination leads by 30pts
VS
51%
D
Based on
857 Redditors
Le Labo Santal 33
~$92
397 opinions
tldr; The NYC uniform - instantly recognizable sandalwood and cucumber. Smells like a boutique hotel. Overexposed in cities but still well-crafted.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
LV
Vuitton Imagination
81%
B+
Based on
847 Redditors
Winner
Louis Vuitton Imagination
~$36
312 opinions
tldr; Louis Vuitton Imagination receives mixed reviews, with some finding it complimented, but others strongly disliking its scent, comparing it to soap or urinal cakes.
Check pricesšØSCE
ā±ļøLON
āPRO
āVER
āUNI
37
Points
65
Points
Score by Category
Scent Profile
26%76%
Longevity
72%73%
Projection & Sillage
74%61%
Versatility
22%93%
Uniqueness
15%67%
Why is Louis Vuitton Imagination better than Labo Santal 33?
- Higher Reddit score (81% vs 51%)
- Better scent profile (76% vs 26%)
- Better versatility (93% vs 22%)
- Better value (19% vs 10%)
- Better uniqueness (67% vs 15%)
- ā Can be a complimented fragrance, though
- Described as smelling like 'soap w/ a hint of
- users & their partners 'don't get the love'
Based on 1,704 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the Vuitton ImaginationLouis Vuitton Imagination
Winning by 30 points (81% vs 51%)
Better scent profile
Better versatility
Better value
High confidence (1,704 mentions)
š¬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,704 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Santal 33
5.1/10
857 mentions
Vuitton Imagination
8.1/10
847 mentions
SCENT PROFILE
Santal 332.6/10
Vuitton Imagination7.6/10
LONGEVITY
Santal 337.2/10
Vuitton Imagination7.3/10
VALUE
Santal 331.0/10
Vuitton Imagination1.9/10
UNIQUENESS
Santal 331.5/10
Vuitton Imagination6.7/10
PROJECTION
Santal 337.4/10
Vuitton Imagination6.1/10
VERSATILITY
Santal 332.2/10
Vuitton Imagination9.3/10
āļø
Head to Head
| Topic | Santal 33 | Vuitton Imagination |
|---|---|---|
Scent Profile | 26% | 76% |
Longevity | 72% | 73% |
Value | 10% | 19% |
Uniqueness | 15% | 67% |
Projection | 74% | 61% |
Versatility | 22% | 93% |
Category Wins
Santal 33: 1|Vuitton Imagination: 4
Head to Head
Santal 33: 1|Vuitton Imagination: 4
Scent ProfileVuitton Imagination
Santal 3326%
Vuitton Imagination76%
Longevity
Santal 3372%
Vuitton Imagination73%
ValueVuitton Imagination
Santal 3310%
Vuitton Imagination19%
UniquenessVuitton Imagination
Santal 3315%
Vuitton Imagination67%
ProjectionSantal 33
Santal 3374%
Vuitton Imagination61%
VersatilityVuitton Imagination
Santal 3322%
Vuitton Imagination93%
Santal 33
51%
81%
Vuitton Imagination
Santal 3351%
Vuitton Imagination81%
Clear winner - Vuitton Imagination leads by 30 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Le Labo Santal 33 | Louis Vuitton Imagination |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrance Family | Woody Aromatic | Citrus Aromatic |
| Perfumer | Frank Voelkl | Jacques Cavallier Belletrud |
| Year Launched | 2011 | ā |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum (available in Extrait De Parfum from other brands) |
| Key Notes | Australian Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Cardamom, Iris, Violet, Ambrox, Leather, Musk, Amber | ā |
Key Highlights
Le Labo Santal 33
ā Swept NYC & held the town under rapture
ā Many users perceive a distinct 'pickle smell'
ā Described as a scent that 'literally makes me
ā Uses Australian farmed sandalwood
Some users report issues (24% negative)
Louis Vuitton ImaginationWinner
ā Can be a complimented fragrance, though
ā Described as smelling like 'soap w/ a hint of
ā users & their partners 'don't get the love'
ā The price is considered 'outrageous' for LV
Topic Battles
Santal 33: 1|Tied: 1|Vuitton Imagination: 3
šØScent Profile
Vuitton Imagination winsSantal 33
26%
Vuitton Imagination
76%
ā±ļøLongevity
Santal 33
72%
Vuitton Imagination
73%
āProjection & Sillage
Santal 33 winsSantal 33
74%
Vuitton Imagination
61%
āVersatility
Vuitton Imagination winsSantal 33
22%
Vuitton Imagination
93%
āUniqueness
Vuitton Imagination winsSantal 33
15%
Vuitton Imagination
67%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
šWhere They Rank
š¬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Louis Vuitton Imagination
Best Praise
+27 ptsāA child's sense of what smells "good" wouldnt be an accurate measuring stick personally. I just started wearing Imagination. It smells fantastic- I am a female, its gorgeous. And 3 others agree with me!ā
r/fragrance
ViewTop Criticism
+39 ptsāImagination. Went into the LV store money in hand ready to buy it. Smelled like a cheap bar of soap. Walked out with LāImminsitĆ©ā
r/fragrance
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Le Labo Santal 33
Best Praise
+31 ptsāIām in the exact opposite camp. What does it smell Like to you? Santal33 is a scent that literally makes me happy.ā
r/fragrance
ViewTop Criticism
+140 ptsāThis is the article from which this observation stems: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/t-magazine/perfume-santal-33-ds-durga-aesop.html It was written a DECADE ago. Santal 33 doesnāt smell like NYC. Certainly not today and it probably never did. The whole premise is a throwaway cultural article from 2015. Because people canāt just fucking like what they enjoy and have to constantly shitbag on everything, itās brought up again and again, even though itās from an era when people were unironically saying āon fleekā. If you like it, buy it and wear it. Nobody will give thing you smell like NYC.ā
r/fragrance
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Le Labo Santal 33
Vuitton Imagination
šHistorical Price Data
Le Labo Santal 33
Louis Vuitton Imagination
Le Labo Santal 33
All-time low: $67(2025-07)
Louis Vuitton Imagination
All-time low: $32.51(2025-11)
$3 below 90-day avg
Which is Better?
Louis Vuitton Imagination Wins
81%
Imagination
vs
51%
33
Louis Vuitton Imagination leads by 30 points based on 1,704 Reddit opinions.
Why Vuitton ImaginationWinner
- Better Value for Money (19% vs 10%)
Why Santal 33
- ā Swept NYC & held the town under rapture
- ā Many users perceive a distinct 'pickle smell'
ā¤ļøThe Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
30%Positive
Positive
30%Neutral
63%Negative
7%Based on 847 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
23%Positive
Positive
23%Neutral
53%Negative
24%Based on 857 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Louis Vuitton Imagination or Le Labo Santal 33?
Based on 1,704 Reddit comments, Louis Vuitton Imagination is the preferred choice with 81% positive sentiment vs Le Labo Santal 33's 51%. Louis Vuitton Imagination leads by 30 percentage points.
Should I buy Louis Vuitton Imagination or Le Labo Santal 33?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Louis Vuitton Imagination has stronger approval ratings (81% vs 51%). However, Le Labo Santal 33 may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Louis Vuitton Imagination?
Reddit users highlight: Can be a complimented fragrance, though. Described as smelling like 'soap w/ a hint of. users & their partners 'don't get the love'. With 847 mentions and 81% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Le Labo Santal 33?
Reddit users highlight: Swept NYC & held the town under rapture. Many users perceive a distinct 'pickle smell'. Described as a scent that 'literally makes me. With 857 mentions and 51% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,704 Reddit comments: 847 about Louis Vuitton Imagination and 857 about Le Labo Santal 33. Data was sourced from Perfumes & colognes community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
709 Reddit opinions analyzed Ā· Last updated 5/14/2026