Lost Tribe Perfumes
Bad Santa was created to capture the twisted charm of the holiday season. It takes inspiration from the dark humor of the film it’s named after, blending indulgence with sweetness, and comfort. At its center is a bold amber accord, wrapped in rich vanilla, bright orange distillations, and grounded by the unmistakable depth of Three Kings Hue oud.
The balance of rum, amber, vanilla, and oud forms the spine of Bad Santa, each part revealing another layer of tension as it develops.
The top opens with a rush of Jamaican rum, 2 orange essential oils, powder accord, ylang ylang, and brown ambergris. The rum adds a boozy aspect that compliments the vanilla and ambers. The orange brightens the composition. It isn’t sharp or sugary; more so is used to cut through the sweetness from the French Vanilla. The powder accord, also used in pan’s labyrinth, gives the opening a soft edge, helping the brightness settle into the warmth of the rum.
The ambergris in particular anchors the top, connecting the citrus and florals to the resin foundation beneath. The orange note flickers through it all, creating a lift that makes the rich materials feel fresh rather than heavy.
As the scent unfolds, the heart introduces the core theme, the amber accord. Built from a combination of natural resins and balsams, it serves as the fragrance’s center of gravity. It’s deep, warm, and textured, giving Bad Santa its signature tone. The roasted barley adds a subtle confectionary cake type of scent adding to the layers of Bad Santa.
Pink frangipani sits above the amber, adding some tropical fruity floral essences. Tuscan orris compliments the amber notes with its own type of ambery notes. Tonka bean rounds the heart, adding sweetness that ties into the vanilla waiting in the base as well as its own tropical nature.
Then the base arrives, and Bad Santa reveals its full depth. At the foundation is Three Kings Hue oud, a rare distillation, chosen for its ability to hold sweetness in perfect balance. It doesn’t dominate the fragrance at all more so used to connect all the notes together.
Supporting it is Sri Lankan sandalwood, acting as the bridge between oud and vanilla. Siberian musk adds a strong persistence, extending the life of the base and giving it an animalic warmth that blends seamlessly with the resins. The Peru balsam and benzoin form the soft resin core that defines the amber accord; their sweetness complements the French vanilla, while their depth ties back to the oud.
The gold champaca and green labdanum help the amber and vanilla. French oakwood gives the composition dryness and a woody undertone; like smelling an a whiskey barrel freshly emptied of its content. Finally, Virginian tobacco completes the base breaking the sweetness not allowing the blend to get cloying.
TOP NOTES:
Jamaican Rum
Orange
Powder Accord
Ylang Ylang
Brown Ambergris
HEART NOTES:
Amber Accord
Roasted Barley
Pink Frangipani
Black Tea
Tuscan Orris
Tonka Bean
BASE NOTES:
Three Kings Hue Oud
Sri Lankan Sandalwood
Siberian Musk
Peru Balsalm
Benzoin
French Vanilla
Gold Champaca
Green Labdanum
French Oakwood
Virginian Tobacco