De Los Santos by Byredo: Notes, Longevity and Review

De Los Santos by Byredo is an Eau de Parfum launched in 2022, inspired by Dia de los Muertos and All Saints' Day as a ritual of remembrance. It opens with the clear, herbal brightness of clary sage and the golden sweetness of mirabelle plum, moves through an earthy heart of orris and cistus, and settles on palo santo, ambroxan, and musk. Warm, aromatic, and quietly spiritual, it is one of Byredo's most distinctive recent releases.

What does De Los Santos by Byredo smell like?

It smells like sunlight through incense smoke. The opening is fresh and herbal, with clary sage giving an aromatic clarity and mirabelle adding a soft, honeyed fruitiness, like yellow plums warmed by the sun. The heart turns earthier: orris root brings a powdery, iris-like softness, while cistus adds a warm, resinous depth. The drydown is the most memorable part: palo santo lends a sacred, woody warmth, smoothed by ambroxan and soft musks into something meditative and skin-like. It feels personal rather than showy, a scent for reflection.

Notes breakdown

Byredo's official list is:

• Top notes: clary sage, mirabelle
• Heart notes: orris, cistus oil
• Base notes: musks, ambroxan, palo santo

Clary sage and mirabelle give the bright, aromatic opening. Orris and cistus form the earthy, resinous core. Palo santo, ambroxan, and musk create the warm, woody, long-lasting base.

Longevity and sillage

De Los Santos is a medium-intensity Eau de Parfum that lasts around 6 to 8 hours on skin. The sage and mirabelle opening is the most projective phase, lasting a couple of hours, before the palo santo and musk base settles into a softer, closer aura. Sillage is moderate: present but not loud, which fits its contemplative character. Two to three sprays on the neck and chest work well, and it layers nicely under warmer ambers.

Best for

Fall and spring suit it best, when the warm woods and herbal freshness balance each other. It works for daytime and evening alike, and its calm, grounded character makes it a strong office and everyday option for people who dislike loud fragrances. It is fully unisex. If you enjoy Byredo's warmer creations, Gypsy Water is the house's beloved fresh-woody classic, while La Tulipe offers a brighter, more floral Byredo mood.

Frequently asked questions

What is the inspiration behind De Los Santos? Byredo describes it as a ritual of remembrance honoring Dia de los Muertos and All Saints' Day, celebrating memory and the fleeting nature of existence through scent.

Is De Los Santos unisex? Yes. Like all Byredo fragrances, it is made for women and men, and the sage-and-woods profile wears beautifully on anyone.

What does palo santo smell like? Palo santo is a sacred South American wood with a warm, slightly sweet, incense-like aroma. Here it gives the drydown its distinctive spiritual warmth.

Where can I read more Byredo reviews? The fragrance guides at DNA PERFUMO cover the full Byredo lineup with notes and longevity details.