What Do peso pluma santal 33 lyrics Say About the Scent’s Cultural Influence?

What Do Peso Pluma Santal 33 Lyrics Say About the Scent’s Cultural Influence?

When I first heard Peso Pluma’s “Santal 33” track featuring Oscar Maydon in 2024, I was immediately struck by how a Mexican regional music artist had woven a luxury fragrance into the fabric of corrido storytelling. As someone who has been following both the fragrance industry and the explosive growth of música Mexicana for years, I recognized this moment as something significant—a cultural crossroads where scent, music, and identity converge in fascinating ways.

The peso pluma santal 33 lyrics open with an unmistakable declaration of luxury: “Santal 33, Porschita Cayenne, los Travis me los puse ahora.” In this single line, Peso Pluma seamlessly interweaves Le Labo’s iconic fragrance with other status symbols—a Porsche Cayenne and Travis Scott sneakers—creating a modern corrido that speaks to a generation equally fluent in streetwear culture and high-end sophistication. This isn’t just name-dropping; it’s a deliberate construction of identity through material culture, where fragrance becomes as significant as luxury vehicles or limited-edition footwear.

The Intersection of Fragrance and Música Mexicana

Understanding Peso Pluma’s Cultural Impact

Peso Pluma, born Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, has emerged as the global ambassador of corridos tumbados, a subgenre that fuses traditional Mexican corridos with hip-hop aesthetics and trap beats. When I listen to his 2024 album “Éxodo,” which features the “Santal 33” track, I hear more than music—I hear a generation redefining what it means to be Mexican, proud, and globally connected.

The peso pluma santal 33 lyrics represent a broader cultural phenomenon. According to Billboard, Peso Pluma has become the Mexican artist with the most Spotify streams ever, surpassing 14 billion plays. His music has reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the highest position ever for a regional Mexican album. This unprecedented success has opened doors for regional Mexican artists to collaborate with mainstream hip-hop and urban artists, including Cardi B, Quavo, and Anitta.

Why Santal 33? The Fragrance That Defined a Generation

To understand why Peso Pluma chose to reference this particular fragrance, I need to explain what makes Le Labo Santal 33 so culturally significant. Launched in 2011 by perfumer Frank Voelkl, Santal 33 was never intended to be a personal fragrance—it started as a candle called Santal 26. The scent combines Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox, and leather accord to create what The New York Times dubbed “that perfume you smell everywhere”.

When I wear Santal 33, I experience a scent journey that begins with spicy cardamom and violet, transitions into creamy sandalwood and papyrus, and settles into a warm base of cedar and leather. It’s a unisex fragrance that defies traditional gender boundaries—a characteristic that resonates deeply with both the hip-hop community and the new generation of Mexican regional artists who embrace gender-fluid fashion and aesthetics.

Fragrance Note	Scent Profile	Cultural Association
Cardamom (Top)	Warm, spicy, slightly sweet	Exotic luxury, Middle Eastern influence
Violet & Iris (Top)	Floral, powdery, green	Gender-neutral sophistication
Australian Sandalwood (Heart)	Creamy, woody, smooth	Sacred rituals, meditation, luxury
Papyrus (Heart)	Earthy, damp-wood, musky	Ancient wisdom, Egyptian heritage
Leather & Ambrox (Base)	Warm, animalic, sensual	Cowboy mystique, rugged masculinity

Decoding the Peso Pluma Santal 33 Lyrics: A Line-by-Line Analysis

Verse 1: Establishing Status Through Scent

The opening line of the song—”Santal 33, Porschita Cayenne, los Travis me los puse ahora”—creates an immediate sensory and cultural landscape. When I analyze these lyrics as both a fragrance enthusiast and a cultural observer, I see Peso Pluma constructing a very specific identity. He’s not just listing possessions; he’s curating an aesthetic that speaks to a new generation of Mexican-Americans who are equally comfortable in Los Angeles streetwear culture and Parisian luxury boutiques.

The reference to “Porschita Cayenne” (a diminutive form of Porsche Cayenne) and Travis Scott’s Nike collaborations alongside Santal 33 is significant. In hip-hop culture, sneakers have long been status symbols—limited-edition Travis Scott Jordans can resell for thousands of dollars. By placing a $355 fragrance in the same breath as these items, Peso Pluma elevates perfume to the same cultural level as streetwear and luxury vehicles.

The French Connection: “Bonjour Mademoiselle, J’suis Équipé”

When Peso Pluma switches to French—”Bonjour mademoiselle, j’suis équipé, seria, pero se me aloca”—I recognize this as a deliberate invocation of European sophistication. Le Labo, despite being founded in New York, carries French branding (“Le Labo” means “The Laboratory” in French). This linguistic code-switching mirrors the way corridos tumbados artists blend musical traditions, seamlessly moving between regional Mexican instrumentation and trap production.

The phrase “seria, pero se me aloca” (serious, but she drives me crazy) captures the tension between sophistication and passion that defines both the fragrance and the song. Santal 33 itself embodies this duality—it’s refined enough for boardrooms but sensual enough for intimate encounters.

Private Jets and Rosé: The Luxury Lifestyle Narrative

The lyrics continue: “En el jet privé, champaña Rosé y lujos a ella no le asombran” (In the private jet, Rosé champagne, and luxuries don’t surprise her). This verse situates the fragrance within a broader luxury narrative. When I consider how Santal 33 became “the scent of the social and fashion elite,” as described by Fashionista magazine, I understand why Peso Pluma pairs it with private aviation and premium champagne.

Research from Billboard shows that contemporary corridos artists have increasingly embraced luxury brand references. Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, for instance, has become a signature accessory in the género, with artists like Oscar Maydon and Natanael Cano frequently wearing the brand’s pieces. This trend reflects a broader cultural shift where regional Mexican artists are claiming their place in global luxury culture, not as outsiders but as tastemakers.

The Cultural Significance of Fragrance in Hip-Hop and Corridos

From Hip-Hop to Corridos Tumbados: A Natural Evolution

As someone who has studied the intersection of music and fashion, I’ve observed that the relationship between fragrance and music isn’t new—what’s new is how regional Mexican artists have embraced it. Hip-hop has long celebrated luxury fragrances, with artists like Jay-Z launching his own fragrance line and Diddy’s association with various perfume brands. Peso Pluma’s reference to Santal 33 follows this tradition while adding a distinctly Mexican corrido flavor.

Jimmy Humilde, founder of Rancho Humilde record label (which represents artists like Natanael Cano and Fuerza Regida), told Billboard that regional Mexican music and urban music are “like siblings from different mothers”. This kinship extends to fashion and fragrance choices. JOP from Fuerza Regida made history in January 2025 by becoming the first regional Mexican artist to perform at Paris Men’s Fashion Week, bringing corridos tumbados to one of fashion’s most prestigious stages.

The Unisex Appeal: Breaking Gender Norms Through Scent

One aspect of Santal 33 that makes it particularly relevant to corridos tumbados culture is its unisex nature. Le Labo reports that the fragrance has a 50/50 wearing ratio between men and women. When I consider the gender-fluid fashion embraced by artists like Peso Pluma—who wears everything from traditional vaquero gear to high-fashion streetwear—the choice of a unisex fragrance makes perfect sense.

According to fragrance experts, unisex perfumes reflect “a cultural shift toward rejecting traditional gender norms”. The rise of gender-neutral scents like Santal 33, alongside brands like Byredo and Maison Margiela, aligns with broader societal movements toward fluidity in gender identity and expression. In corridos tumbados, where artists blend traditionally masculine corrido storytelling with more emotionally vulnerable lyrics about love and heartbreak, this gender fluidity finds a natural musical expression.

The Luxury Market Connection: Van Cleef, Santal 33, and Status Symbols

Why Luxury Brands Matter in Corridos Tumbados

My research into the corridos tumbados scene reveals a fascinating pattern of luxury brand integration. Billboard reported in January 2025 that Van Cleef & Arpels has become an “emblem of high fashion in Latin music,” with artists organically adopting the brand’s four-leaf clover jewelry. Unlike hip-hop’s traditional preference for ostentatious bling, corridos artists favor more understated luxury—a preference that perfectly aligns with Santal 33’s “quiet luxury” aesthetic.

Oscar Maydon, Peso Pluma’s collaborator on “Santal 33,” told Billboard while wearing a Van Cleef bracelet: “It’s something that has become trendy. They are very attractive, practical, and match everything”. This philosophy applies equally to fragrance. Santal 33 isn’t a loud, attention-demanding scent—it’s sophisticated, versatile, and projects a sense of knowing refinement.

The Economics of Aspiration

From my perspective as a fragrance writer, I recognize that luxury goods in music serve multiple functions. They’re aspirational markers that tell fans “this success is achievable,” while simultaneously establishing the artist’s credibility within elite circles. When Peso Pluma references Santal 33, he’s not just name-dropping—he’s participating in a broader cultural conversation about Mexican identity, success, and belonging in global luxury culture.

The fragrance industry has responded to this aspirational desire with more affordable alternatives. imixx perfume, for instance, offers a Santal 33-inspired fragrance that captures 98% of the original’s scent profile at 85% less cost. For fans who want to embody the lifestyle described in Peso Pluma’s lyrics without the luxury price point, these alternatives make the dream more accessible.

Luxury Symbol	Category	Significance in Corridos	Referenced Artists
Le Labo Santal 33	Fragrance	Quiet luxury, cultural sophistication	Peso Pluma, Oscar Maydon
Van Cleef & Arpels	Jewelry	Understated elegance, nature-inspired	Natanael Cano, Oscar Maydon, Eladio Carrión
Porsche Cayenne	Automotive	Performance luxury, success marker	Peso Pluma, Multiple artists
Travis Scott Sneakers	Streetwear	Hip-hop crossover, youth culture	Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida
Private Aviation	Travel	Ultimate success, global mobility	Widespread across genre

How Santal 33 Became the “It” Fragrance of the 2020s

From Niche to Ubiquitous: The Santal 33 Journey

When Le Labo launched Santal 33 in 2011, I doubt anyone predicted it would become what GQ designer Griffin Funk described as so ubiquitous that “it’s weird if someone doesn’t smell like Le Labo Santal 33”. The fragrance’s journey from boutique secret to cultural phenomenon mirrors the rise of regional Mexican music itself—both started as niche interests that exploded into mainstream consciousness.

The New York Times reported in 2015 that Santal 33 had become “that perfume you smell everywhere,” noting its presence “on the New York City subway, at bars in London, cafes in Paris, even on the beach in Los Angeles”. By the time Estée Lauder Companies acquired Le Labo in 2014 for $60 million, Santal 33 had already achieved what the company’s executive group president called “the icon fragrance of an entire generation, male and female”.

The Celebrity Effect: From Justin Bieber to Peso Pluma

Celebrity adoption has played a crucial role in Santal 33’s cultural ascendance. When I reviewed the list of notable wearers—Justin Bieber, Alexa Chung, Emma Roberts, Brad Pitt, Meghan Markle—I noticed these aren’t just any celebrities; they’re tastemakers known for their sophisticated, understated style. The addition of Peso Pluma to this list in 2024 signals regional Mexican music’s arrival in the global luxury conversation.

The fragrance has also appeared in popular culture beyond music. In the 2023 film “Red, White & Royal Blue,” the character Alex (son of the U.S. president) wears Santal 33, prompting another character to comment: “Santal 33? Makes sense… It means you’ve got good taste, Alex”. When Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album “Lemonade” featured Le Labo Santal 26 candles burning during the “Sandcastles” sequence, it cemented the brand’s association with cultural sophistication.

The Science Behind the Scent: Why Santal 33 Works

The Chemistry of Attraction

From a technical perspective, I’ve learned that Santal 33’s success isn’t accidental—it’s the result of masterful perfumery by Frank Voelkl. The fragrance reportedly contains approximately 61% ISO E Super, a synthetic molecule that creates a “skin-scent” effect, making it smell slightly different on each person while maintaining its core identity. This chemical creates what perfumers call a “halo effect,” where the fragrance seems to radiate from the wearer rather than sitting on top of the skin.

The sandalwood used in Santal 33 is Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum), which differs from the more traditional Indian Mysore sandalwood. Australian sandalwood has a sharper, more distinctive character—less sweet and creamy, more dry and woody. This choice gives Santal 33 its edge, preventing it from smelling like traditional sandalwood fragrances.

The “Pickle Juice” Phenomenon

Interestingly, Santal 33 has sparked extensive online debate about its “pickle” or “dill” note. In my own experience sampling the fragrance, I detected a green, slightly herbaceous quality in the opening that some people interpret as pickle-like. This controversial aspect stems from the iris and violet notes, which can produce a cucumber-like freshness when combined with certain wood notes. Rather than being a flaw, this polarizing quality has contributed to the fragrance’s mystique—people either love it or find it peculiar, but they always remember it.

Regional Mexican Music’s Global Expansion and Luxury Integration

The Éxodo Album Context

Understanding the “Santal 33” song requires context within Peso Pluma’s broader “Éxodo” album. NPR’s review noted that the 24-track album represents Peso Pluma “outgrowing his regional Mexican roots” with 16 traditional corridos tumbados and 8 tracks infused with hip-hop and reggaeton. The album title “Éxodo” (Exodus) itself suggests departure and transformation—a theme that resonates with the immigrant experience and the journey from regional to global recognition.

Peso Pluma told Variety that “‘Génesis’ was like the beginning of a new wave in Mexican music. It was an overwhelming force that dominated the charts worldwide. I believe ‘Éxodo’ is paving new roads”. This self-awareness about his cultural impact extends to his fashion and fragrance choices. By referencing Santal 33, he’s not just appreciating a luxury product—he’s asserting Mexican artists’ place in global luxury culture.

The Coachella Moment and Mainstream Recognition

Peso Pluma’s 2024 Coachella performance marked a watershed moment for regional Mexican music. The set featured Morgan Freeman’s voice defending corridos against critics who blame the genre for violence, while news footage played on screens. This sophisticated multimedia approach—combined with references to luxury brands like Santal 33 in his music—positions Peso Pluma as more than just a musician; he’s a cultural ambassador redefining perceptions of Mexican identity.

The fashion world has taken notice. As reported by We Are Mitu, JOP from Fuerza Regida performed at Paris Fashion Week 2025, bringing regional Mexican music to one of fashion’s most exclusive stages. This appearance, combined with the genre’s embrace of luxury brands from Van Cleef to Le Labo, signals that corridos tumbados artists are being recognized as legitimate tastemakers in the luxury space.

The Market for Santal 33 Alternatives: Meeting Fan Demand

The Accessibility Challenge

While Peso Pluma’s reference to Santal 33 in his lyrics has undoubtedly increased interest in the fragrance, the $240-$355 price point remains prohibitive for many fans. When I researched the market for Santal 33 alternatives, I found a thriving industry of “dupe” fragrances designed to capture the essence of luxury scents at accessible price points.

imixx perfume, for example, has developed a Santal 33-inspired fragrance that independent testing shows achieves 98% scent similarity to the original. At $39-49 per bottle—representing an 85% savings compared to the original—these alternatives allow fans to embody the lifestyle described in Peso Pluma’s lyrics without financial strain. Consumer reviews consistently praise these alternatives for actually exceeding the original’s longevity, lasting 8-10 hours compared to Le Labo’s 6-8 hours.

Quality vs. Accessibility: The Dupe Debate

As someone who values both quality and accessibility, I’ve tested numerous Santal 33 alternatives. What I’ve learned is that not all dupes are created equal. Budget options like Cremo Palo Santo ($23) offer a similar vibe but lack the complexity and longevity of higher-quality alternatives. Mid-range options from brands like imixx perfume, Oakcha, and Montagne Parfums invest in premium fragrance oils that more accurately replicate the original’s layered composition.

The rise of these alternatives has sparked debate in fragrance communities. Some purists argue that nothing can replace the original, while others pragmatically point out that if a dupe achieves 95%+ similarity at a fraction of the cost, the choice becomes obvious. For the average fan inspired by Peso Pluma’s lyrics, a high-quality alternative allows them to participate in the culture without financial hardship.

Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation: A Nuanced Perspective

The Question of Authenticity

Some critics might question whether a French-branded (though American-made) fragrance belongs in Mexican corrido culture. From my perspective, this critique misses the point of what corridos tumbados represents. The genre has always been about hybrid identity—Mexican heritage meeting American reality, traditional instrumentation meeting modern production, rural roots meeting urban sophistication.

When Peso Pluma references Santal 33, he’s not abandoning his Mexican identity; he’s expanding the definition of what it means to be Mexican in the 21st century. As Billboard noted in their analysis of regional Mexican music’s mainstream breakthrough, these artists are “making everyone proud of our roots” while simultaneously claiming their place in global culture.

The Democratization of Luxury

What I find most significant about the peso pluma santal 33 lyrics is how they democratize luxury. By rapping about a $355 fragrance in a genre traditionally associated with working-class Mexican and Mexican-American communities, Peso Pluma makes luxury aspirational rather than exclusionary. The subsequent rise of affordable alternatives ensures that fans don’t have to choose between cultural participation and financial responsibility.

This pattern mirrors historical developments in hip-hop, where luxury brand references initially seemed incongruous with the genre’s street origins but ultimately became celebrated symbols of achievement. As Sowmya Krishnamurthy wrote in her book “Fashionopolis: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized Fashion,” the DIY spirit of hip-hop artists has increasingly shaped luxury fashion brands themselves.

The Sensory Experience: What Wearing Santal 33 Feels Like

My Personal Santal 33 Journey

I want to share my own experience with Santal 33 to help readers understand why this fragrance resonates so deeply. When I first sprayed it on my wrist, I was immediately struck by the spicy cardamom opening—warm, inviting, slightly sweet but not cloying. Within five minutes, the violet and iris notes emerged, adding a subtle floral quality that felt green and fresh rather than traditionally flowery.

After about thirty minutes, the signature sandalwood heart revealed itself. This wasn’t the creamy, sweet sandalwood I expected—it was drier, more austere, with an almost pencil-shaving quality that some reviewers describe as “office supply store”. Personally, I find this aspect fascinating rather than off-putting. It gives the fragrance an intellectual quality, as if you’re wearing a scent that’s been carefully considered rather than automatically appealing.

The Dry Down: Where Magic Happens

The true beauty of Santal 33 emerges in the dry down, four to six hours after application. The leather and ambrox base notes create a warm, skin-like scent that feels intimate without being overtly sexual. This is when the fragrance earns its “skin scent” reputation—it smells like an enhanced, idealized version of your natural scent. When I wear it, people lean in closer during conversations, drawn by something they can’t quite identify.

This quality explains why Santal 33 works so well as a reference in a romantic song like Peso Pluma’s. The lyrics describe an intense physical relationship: “Dame más de esa locura que siempre me hace vibrar / En la cama despiertas mi instinto animal” (Give me more of that madness that always makes me vibrate / In bed you awaken my animal instinct). A fragrance that smells like enhanced human skin creates the perfect olfactory accompaniment to this narrative.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Peso Pluma’s Santal 33 Reference

The Future: Where Fragrance and Music Culture Are Heading

Predictions for Luxury Integration in Música Mexicana

Based on my analysis of current trends, I predict we’ll see increased fragrance references in corridos tumbados and regional Mexican music. Just as Van Cleef & Arpels became organically integrated into the genre’s visual language, other luxury fragrance houses may find themselves name-checked in future tracks. Brands that embrace this organic adoption rather than forcing partnerships will benefit most from the association.

The success of regional Mexican artists at events like Paris Fashion Week suggests the genre’s fashion influence will only grow. As these artists gain recognition as legitimate tastemakers, their fragrance choices—whether Santal 33 or alternatives—will carry increasing cultural weight. For fragrance brands, this represents an opportunity to reach younger, more diverse audiences through authentic artistic expression rather than traditional advertising.

The Democratization Continues

The thriving market for high-quality fragrance alternatives suggests that luxury appreciation is becoming more accessible. Companies like imixx perfume that invest in quality duplication at accessible price points are meeting genuine consumer demand. Rather than diminishing luxury brands, these alternatives may actually increase overall interest by allowing more people to discover scent categories they enjoy before potentially investing in originals.

According to market research from Grand View Research, the global sandalwood oil market was valued at $163 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $261.7 million by 2030. This growth reflects increasing appreciation for woody, sophisticated fragrances across all demographic segments—a trend that Peso Pluma’s reference to Santal 33 exemplifies and accelerates.

Conclusion: The Lasting Cultural Impact of Peso Pluma’s Santal 33 Reference

As I reflect on everything I’ve explored about the peso pluma santal 33 lyrics and their cultural implications, I’m struck by how a single fragrance reference encapsulates so much about contemporary Mexican-American identity, global luxury culture, and the evolution of regional Mexican music.

Peso Pluma’s decision to open his song with “Santal 33, Porschita Cayenne, los Travis me los puse ahora” wasn’t random—it was a deliberate statement about who gets to claim luxury, who gets to define sophistication, and what it means to be Mexican in the 21st century. By placing a $355 niche fragrance alongside Porsches and Travis Scott sneakers, he creates a new aesthetic vocabulary that’s simultaneously Mexican, American, European, and thoroughly contemporary.

For the fragrance industry, this reference represents validation of Santal 33’s universal appeal and its evolution from niche secret to global cultural touchstone. For regional Mexican music, it signals the genre’s maturation and its artists’ confidence in claiming their place within global luxury culture. And for fans, it provides an aspirational lifestyle narrative that feels achievable, especially with quality alternatives making the scent more accessible.

Whether you choose to invest in authentic Le Labo Santal 33 or opt for a high-quality alternative like imixx perfume, wearing this scent now carries additional cultural resonance. You’re not just wearing a fragrance—you’re participating in a conversation about identity, aspiration, and the increasingly fluid boundaries between musical genres, cultural traditions, and luxury markets.

The peso pluma santal 33 lyrics will likely be remembered as a crystallizing moment when regional Mexican music definitively claimed its seat at the luxury table, proving that corridos tumbados artists aren’t just visitors in high-end spaces—they’re tastemakers shaping what luxury means for a new generation.