And in this corner...

On my left, in white and black, Diptyque's Tam Dao. And on my right, the challenger, in black and burgundy, The Art of Shaving's Sandalwood.

Tam Dao: (2003) Goan Sandalwood, cypress, myrtle, cedar, rosewood, ambergris, vanilla, musk. This one comes out swinging early with heavy cedar, extremely nutty in the L'Artisan Bois Farine style, and a sharp, almost fuel-like haze of something which may be an unusually biting cypress, and then again, maybe not. Like many out of the Diptyque outfit - and in particular, one of my other favourites, Virgilio - Tam Dao is a clean fighter, a technician, with light but precise footwork and no wasted energy in the middle rounds. As it loosens up, this one is very, very smooth, and finally does what a sandalwood is expected to do: warm, comfort and ground. There is a praise-worthy restraint to its back-to-basics simplicity. Tam Dao does not have particularly good reach, but it does have legs enough for a well-executed, floury drydown.

The Art of Shaving Sandalwood: (2004) Mysore Sandalwood, eucalyptus, jasmine, fir needle, myrrh, patchouli and vanilla. A very fresh opening approach, with eucalyptus and pine combinations - this one dominates the beginning of the match. The mentholated and peppery bite of the initial blast blends surprisingly well with some more conventional, but effective, core sandalwood work. Now the fighters are looking quite alike and they're getting tangled up in one another - some very smooth, resinous and musty-sweet work here from both, although The Art of Shaving still looks a little cooler. But wait, Sandalwood is flagging some; I think the cool/warm combinations are proving difficult to sustain. The drydown has a pleasant, almost minty tenacity, but there is some wear showing. Still, you have to admire the daring of this one.

And the winner, by split decision, is Tam Dao. (A spring/summer rematch may be in order, folks.)