The Perfume Library

Promise / الوَعْد (Parfum)

8.1

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle · 2017

Floral · Fruity · Spicy

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Promise / الوَعْد is an intense unisex fragrance that sets rose and spice on an earthy, resinous base. Its longevity and sillage are rated very strong, and most voters pick it for autumn and winter, for evenings and nights out. The largest share of voters reads it as masculine, though it is classed as unisex. It opens with rosemary, apple and pink pepper, a lightly fruity, spicy start. Clove, Turkish rose absolute and Bulgarian rose lead the heart. The base of labdanum, patchouli, ambroxan and cypriol adds a woody, leathery, smoky warmth. The Dua Brand The Unbreakable Vow and Montagne Parfums Promise Exclusif have a close profile.

Akkad

8.3

Lubin · 2012

Sweet · Spicy · Woody

Lubin Akkad is a unisex scent where frankincense, styrax, patchouli and vanilla come together in a sweet, spicy, resinous profile. Akkad leans clearly towards fall and winter; most voters pick those two seasons, with spring well behind and summer last. It sits closest to evenings and nights out, though it also works for leisure time. Longevity is rated strong and sillage good. Masculine and feminine votes are almost level, so it moves between the two. Perfumes with a close profile include Parfums Vintage Sandal Amber and Profumum Roma Patchouly. The top notes of clary sage, Italian bergamot and Italian mandarin orange give a brief lift. In the heart, elemi resin, cardamom, frankincense and styrax pull the scent towards smoky, spicy, earthy ground. The base of patchouli, amber, labdanum and vanilla takes over, drying down sweet, woody and oriental.

Comme des Garçons 2

7.4

Comme des Garçons · 1999

Fresh · Floral · Green

Comme des Garçons 2 is a unisex scent that pairs a fresh, green character with spicy and woody touches, with a distinctly synthetic feel. Ink and aldehydes set a cool, sharp fresh tone. Cumin and angelica root add a spicy edge, while cade juniper and vetiver lay a woody, smoky base. Patchouli, frankincense and labdanum deepen it, and magnolia absolute brings a soft, powdery floral touch. Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick spring and fall, and daily wear, leisure and the office come up most. Masculine and feminine votes sit close together, so it reads truly unisex. Tom Daxon Iridium and Comme des Garçons 8 88 have a close profile.

1 Million Parfum

7.4

Rabanne · 2020

Fresh · Floral · Fruity

Rabanne 1 Million Parfum is a men's fragrance that leans towards fall and winter evenings and nights out, with a sweet, spicy, leathery character. Most voters place it in fall and winter, then spring, with summer well behind. Night outs and evenings lead, while office wear sits at the bottom. Longevity and sillage are both rated strong. Most voters read it as masculine, and a good share call it modern. The scent runs as a single sweet, spicy line: leather and labdanum build a warm, leathery frame, while cashmeran and ambroxan add a smooth, woody, synthetic finish. Tuberose brings a soft, creamy floral touch, and fresh, fruity tones lighten the sweetness. Fakhar Lattafa Extrait and Mugler Womanity Les Parfums de Cuir have a close profile.

2. Nawab of Oudh Intensivo

8.8

Ormonde Jayne · 2015

Fresh · Floral · Green

Ormonde Jayne 2. Nawab of Oudh Intensivo is a unisex scent that pairs a fresh, floral start with a spicy, woody, oriental base. Longevity and sillage are both rated strong. Most voters pick autumn and spring, with winter and summer further behind. Evening, night out and leisure lead the occasions, while daily and business wear aren't far off. Most voters read it as masculine, though some find it feminine. It opens with cardamom, bergamot and orange absolute alongside green notes. The heart carries magnolia, rose and orchid for the floral side, with cinnamon and pimento adding spice. In the base, oud, vetiver and labdanum settle into a warm, sweetish woodiness, softened by musk and ambergris. Ormonde Jayne 2. Nawab of Oudh Parfum has a close profile.

Basso

8.5

Sospiro · 2022

Fresh · Citrus · Green

Sospiro Basso is a fresh, sharply drawn unisex scent that sets grapefruit against a green, spicy woodiness. Its longevity is rated strong and its sillage good. Most voters pick spring and summer, with few choosing winter. Daily wear, leisure and office are the occasions named most often. Voters mostly read it as masculine, with modern and classic sides in balance. Perfumes with a close profile include The Dua Brand Pure London and Laboratorio Olfattivo Vetyverso. It opens with grapefruit, bringing a citrus freshness. The heart holds labdanum, mayflower and carnation. In the base, black pepper, pink pepper and nutmeg add spice while galbanum gives a green edge; vetiver, oakmoss and cedar form a dry, woody ground.

Byzantium

7.4

Tesori d'Oriente · 2016

Floral · Sweet · Synthetic

Tesori d'Oriente Byzantium is a sweet, powdery and creamy gourmand oriental, a unisex scent that leans towards fall and winter evenings. It opens with mimosa, almond and cinnamon, a soft, spiced sweetness. In the heart, honey, black rose and heliotrope add a floral, powdery touch. The base settles into a dense, creamy warmth of cocoa bean, vanilla and Peru balsam, with labdanum, oud and white musk deepening and smoothing it. Longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick fall and winter, while summer gets very few votes. It leans towards leisure and evening wear, and is also chosen for daytime and nights out. Though unisex, most voters read it as feminine. Police Forbidden for Woman and Carrement Belle Vanille have a close profile.

Sweetie Aoud

8.2

Roja Parfums · 2015

Sweet · Gourmand · Spicy

Roja Parfums Sweetie Aoud is a sweet, spicy unisex scent that most voters pair with fall and winter, and with evenings and nights out. It opens with a lift of bergamot and artemisia, then moves to cistus and May rose. The base is where it settles: oud, labdanum, frankincense, patchouli and cardamom lead. The overall impression is sweet, gourmand and creamy, with a woody, resinous, smoky warmth underneath. Longevity and sillage are both rated strong. Voters split almost evenly between masculine and feminine, so it reads as truly unisex. Parfums with a close profile include The Dua Brand Scrumptious and Parfums de Marly Pegasus Exclusif.

Velvet Orchid (Eau de Parfum)

7.6

Tom Ford · 2014

Floral · Fruity · Sweet

Eau de Parfum

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Eau de Parfum is a sweet, floral scent in which orchid, jasmine and honey meet a vanilla and woody base. Its longevity is rated strong and its sillage good. Most voters pick fall and winter, while summer is the least chosen season. Evenings and nights out lead the occasions, and more than half of voters read it as feminine. The top has mandarin orange, honey, vanilla and bergamot, so the first spray is fruity and sweet. In the heart, jasmine absolute, Cattleya orchid, magnolia and orange blossom carry the floral side. The base of labdanum, myrrh and sandalwood closes it with a spicy, woody, powdery warmth. Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto and Lolita Lempicka L (Eau de Parfum) have a close profile.

Overture Man

8.1

Amouage · 2019

Sweet · Spicy · Woody

Amouage Overture Man is a sweet, spicy and smoky men's fragrance that leans towards fall and winter evenings. Both its longevity and its sillage are rated strong. Most voters pick fall and winter, and evenings and nights out suit it best; summer is rarely chosen. It reads as masculine and classic. It opens with cumin, saffron, nutmeg and cardamom, softened by cognac and grapefruit. In the heart, myrrh, cinnamon and benzoin add a sweet, resinous warmth. Smoked leather, sandalwood and frankincense leave a smoky, woody, animalic trail at the base.

Floriental

7.8

Comme des Garçons · 2015

Floral · Fruity · Sweet

Comme des Garçons Floriental is a sweet, resinous unisex scent that leans towards autumn and winter evenings. Plum liqueur and pink pepper pair fruity sweetness with spice, while sandalwood, labdanum and frankincense settle it onto a woody, smoky base, with vetiver adding a dry edge. The floral and oriental accords come through clearly. Longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick fall and winter, and evening and night out are the favoured occasions. It reads slightly more masculine than feminine, though a fair share see it as feminine, which fits its unisex label. Nobile 1942 Malvs and Rasasi Roohy Tehebak have a close profile.

Apex (Eau de Parfum)

7.6

Roja Parfums · 2022

Fresh · Citrus · Green

Eau de Parfum

Roja Parfums Apex Eau de Parfum is a masculine fragrance that sets fresh citrus against a green, spicy woodiness, with a classic fougère and chypre feel. Its longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick spring and fall, and it leans towards leisure, business and daily wear. Voters mostly call its character masculine and classic. It opens with mandarin orange, lemon and bergamot, then softens through pineapple, jasmine and cistus. In the dry-down patchouli, tobacco, juniper berry and labdanum take over, while frankincense and oakmoss add a resinous, green depth. The Dua Brand Predator and Nicolaï New York Intense have a close profile.

Midnight Oud (Eau de Parfum)

7.6

Ard Al Zaafaran

Sweet · Spicy · Woody

Eau de Parfum

Ard Al Zaafaran Midnight Oud Eau de Parfum is a sweet, smoky men's fragrance that opens with thyme, bergamot and frankincense and deepens into patchouli, opoponax and leather. Most voters choose it for winter and autumn, and find it best suited to evenings and nights out. Both longevity and sillage are rated strong, and many see it as masculine and classic. At first, thyme's spicy freshness is softened by bergamot, while frankincense adds a resinous note. In the heart, patchouli, opoponax and leather build a woody, leathery body; at the base, labdanum, vanilla and amber sweeten it into a warm, oriental finish.

Soleil Neige (Eau de Parfum)

8.0

Tom Ford · 2019

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Eau de Parfum

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum is a fresh, citrusy floral that turns powdery, creamy and sweet, and it suits spring and summer days and everyday wear best. Bergamot, orange blossom, rose absolute and Jasminum grandiflorum concrete form the floral core. Benzoin and labdanum add sweetness and warmth, while the musky notes keep it soft, powdery and creamy. Longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick spring and summer, and daily, leisure and business wear lead the occasions. Voters lean feminine, though it is unisex and reads that way too. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc (Eau de Parfum) and Kaloo Blue have a close profile.

Cardinal

8.0

Heeley · 2006

Fresh · Spicy · Woody

Heeley Cardinal is a unisex scent that suits autumn and winter best, opening fresh before turning resinous, smoky and woody. Pink pepper and linen give a clean, lightly spiced start. In the heart, frankincense and labdanum add resinous warmth, while patchouli, ambergris and vetiver build an earthy, smoky base. Most voters pick autumn and winter, though spring wears it well too. It is chosen most for evenings, leisure time and nights out. Longevity and sillage are both rated good. It leans masculine but sits comfortably on anyone. Heeley Eau Sacrée and Matthew Williamson Incense have a close profile.

Bleu de Chanel L'Exclusif

7.5

Chanel · 2025

Fresh · Citrus · Sweet

Andalusian Soul

8.1

The Merchant Of Venice · 2018

Sweet · Gourmand · Spicy

The Merchant Of Venice Andalusian Soul is a sweet, smoky and resinous unisex scent led by rum, labdanum and vanilla. It opens with acacia, rum and amber, then gathers balsamic notes, smoky notes, cistus and labdanum in the heart. Clary sage, vanilla and amber form the base; a creamy, gourmand sweetness meets a spicy warmth, and the oriental character holds throughout. Longevity is rated strong and sillage good. Most voters pick fall and winter, and it is chosen mainly for evenings and nights out. More voters read it as feminine, though it is unisex.

Le Mâle Elixir Absolu

7.8

Jean Paul Gaultier · 2025

Fruity · Sweet · Synthetic

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle Elixir Absolu is a sweet, spicy, gourmand men's fragrance built around cinnamon, cardamom and plum. Longevity and sillage are both rated strong, and most voters pick fall and winter, with spring well behind and summer far less. It leans towards night-out and evening wear, and sits less naturally in the office or daily use. Voters mostly call it masculine and modern. Cinnamon and cardamom give it a spicy warmth, while plum adds a fruity sweetness. Benzoin, tonka bean and labdanum soften this into a creamy, powdery feel, with bergamot, lavender and patchouli staying in the background. The overall impression is sweet, oriental and dense.

Dubai - Rimal (Eau de Parfum)

8.7

The Spirit of Dubai · 2015

Floral · Fruity · Sweet

Eau de Parfum

The Spirit of Dubai Dubai - Rimal Eau de Parfum is a spicy, sweet and resinous unisex scent led by cinnamon, saffron and vanilla, best suited to evenings and cooler weather. Its strength and longevity are rated very high, and the sillage is strong. Most voters pick fall and winter, while summer plays a small part. It is mostly recommended for evenings and nights out. Though unisex, more voters read it as masculine. The top opens with cinnamon, saffron and nutmeg for spice, softened by vanilla and fruity notes. In the heart, rose, ylang-ylang and frankincense add a floral, resinous layer. The base leans on oud, amber and leather, with caramel rounding it off. Moresque Scirocco and Nabeel Maghateer have a close profile.

APOM

7.6

Maison Francis Kurkdjian · 2024

Fresh · Floral · Sweet

Eau de Parfum

Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM is a unisex fragrance that sets a fresh, floral character against a sweet, powdery and creamy softness. Longevity and sillage are both rated good, and most voters pick spring and summer, with fall next. It sits closest to daily, leisure and business wear, while evening and night out come second. Most voters call it feminine, though it reads as a unisex fragrance. Ylang-ylang, orange blossom absolute and true lavender absolute give it a fresh, floral front. Vanilla sweetens it, labdanum and cedarwood add a warm woody touch, and white musk leaves a powdery, creamy base.

1872 for Men

8.2

Clive Christian · 2001

Fresh · Citrus · Floral

Clive Christian 1872 for Men is a green, woody fougère that opens on bergamot, grapefruit and lavender; it is made for men and leans towards spring and summer days. The top is led by bergamot, grapefruit, lavender and rosemary, with nutmeg and pepper adding spice and peach and pineapple a soft fruity touch. In the heart, jasmine and clary sage bring a floral, green transition. The base settles on cedar, patchouli and amber, giving the scent a warm, woody footing. Most voters recommend spring and summer, and daily wear, business and leisure lead the occasions. Longevity and sillage are both rated good. Most voters read it as masculine and classic. Its profile is close to Chanel Platinum Égoïste and Lancôme Trophée.

Bottega Veneta pour Homme (Eau de Toilette)

7.6

Bottega Veneta · 2013

Fresh · Citrus · Green

Eau de Toilette

Bottega Veneta pour Homme Eau de Toilette is a clearly masculine scent that pairs citrus freshness with a green, spicy, leathery woodiness. Most voters recommend fall and spring, though winter has its share of fans. It leans towards office and daily wear, and also works for leisure and evenings. Longevity and sillage are moderate. More than half of voters call its character masculine, and some find it classic. Calabrian bergamot, juniper and Siberian stone pine open cool and clean. The heart adds a spicy warmth through labdanum, pimento, clary sage and balsam fir resin. Indonesian patchouli and leather leave a dry, woody base. Bottega Veneta pour Homme Extrême and Essence Aromatique have a close profile.

Jubilation 40

8.5

Amouage · 2023

Fruity · Sweet · Spicy

Amouage Jubilation 40 is a spicy, smoky men's fragrance that suits fall and winter evenings. It is rated strong in longevity and good in sillage; most voters pick fall and winter, and it leans towards evenings and nights out. It reads masculine and classic, and it is rarely chosen for summer heat. It opens with rosemary, blackcurrant and orange for a fruity lift. The heart carries cinnamon, clove and rose for spice and sweetness, with frankincense adding a resinous depth. Oud, patchouli and cedarwood settle into a woody, smoky base. Amouage Jubilation XXV Man and Monkoku Silent Moon have a close profile.

Ambassador Intense

7.6

Gisada · 2022

Fruity · Sweet · Synthetic

Gisada Ambassador Intense is a men's fragrance that sets the brightness of bergamot and pink pepper against the sweet, resinous warmth of vanilla, tonka bean and labdanum. It is rated strong in longevity and good in sillage. Most voters pick autumn and winter, with evenings and nights out leading; office wear and summer come well behind. Voters mostly see it as masculine and modern. It opens with bergamot, grapefruit and ginger for freshness, while pink pepper and cardamom add spice. Clove, cinnamon and caramel bring sweetness to the heart. The base settles into vanilla, tonka bean, labdanum, leather and patchouli, giving a fruity, gourmand and smoky warmth.