Best Scarlet Poppy Intense by Jo Malone London Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Scarlet Poppy Intense is an oriental floral fragrance that balances the powdery softness of orris and heliotrope with the warmth of tonka beans and barley. Fig and poppy add a green, slightly fruity freshness, while the subtle sweetness of tonka rounds out the composition. Those drawn to this scent might focus on the interplay of iris root and fig with a rich, creamy base that feels both fresh and comforting.
Mulberry Fig by Floris £150.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- coconut
- fig
- orris (iris root)
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- green
- woody
An Eau de Parfum with floral amber notes, Mulberry Fig, is a warm creamy scent combined with bittersweet, green, and powdery orris notes to an incredible effect.
Created by the in-house perfumery team at 89 Jermyn Street.
Inspired by St James's Park, a quick promenade away from our Jermyn Street shop, one of London’s oldest Royal Parks, surrounded by some of the country’s most famous landmarks and lush greenery.
Creamy sweet and bitter green aromas encompass the shoreline of the blissful lake towered by an abundance of fig trees, immense in scale with elongated deciduous leaves flaunting their architectural foliage, believed to be the largest in Britain.
Mulberry Fig is a scent that evokes a floral amber fragrance combining the soft powdery character of orris with hints of fruit and spice. The perfume opens with a sparkle of fig and cardamom supported from the heart with fragrant green tones of vetiver and cypress. Amyris, cedarwood and sandalwood emphasise the overall woody character that permeates through the perfume.
Santorini by Ampersand £50.00
- Key notes:
- coconut
- fig
- milky nuance
- orris (iris root)
- white musk
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- green
Glorious sunsets, black sand beaches, whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, volcanic cliffs — the Greek island of Santorini is supernaturally beautiful. This namesake fig and sandalwood fragrance conjures its escapist allure with earthy green coconut, luxury orris and sensual musk.
Fig Man by CARNER £125.00
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- fig
- sea salt
- tonka beans
- violet leaf
- Aromagroups:
- green
- marine
- woody
The Fresh collection.
Inspired by the wondrous illustration Homme Figuier by Dali, Fig Man takes seemingly classic earthy notes and subverts them into a fanciful surreal fig theme mixed with salt, cool spices and dry woods.
Fig Man is a fresh, lush and spacious green formula.
Tonka Kumaru by Atelier Materi £191.67
- Key notes:
- almond
- barley
- cardamom
- tonka beans
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- woody
Kumaru is the name of the tree that produces the star of this composition: the incredibly expressive tonka bean. This sensual and comforting fragrance is built around this versatile material in all its facets: woody, balsamic, vanillic and almondy, with hints of tobacco and hay. Cardamom, roasted barley and amber add a gourmand texture that shimmers between touchable and lickable. Musks heighten the addictive quality.
Perfumer: Céline Perdriel
Almaz by Kajal £145.83
- Key notes:
- blackcurrant
- heliotrope
- orris (iris root)
- powdery nuance
- raspberry
- rose
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- green
Almaz, the Arabic word for diamonds, are renowned not only for their beauty, but also for their timelessness as they withstand millions of years of immense pressure in their formation. This EdP references the indestructible nature of diamonds with a powerful blackcurrant-led bouquet. Juiciness is enhanced with raspberry, while powdery heliotrope and musk add padding to the cushiony feel. The ambered base, redolent with vanilla and brown sugar, offsets blackcurrant’s tartness.
The jewelled bottle incorporates a poem composed by Elen Jeres Ayoub, portrayed in Eastern Kufic calligraphy. The words have been meticulously placed so that the vertical lines create eight zones on the bottle, representing the lunar phases in each lunar calendar month to represent the passage of time.
The seasons and their times
And pressures and their effects,
Bear Diamonds as their fruit.
-Elen Jeres Ayoub
Ambrosia by Byermia £104.17
- Key notes:
- civet
- coconut
- guava
- heliotrope
- mango
- mimosa
- orris (iris root)
- peach
- plumeria
- sandalwood
- tuberose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- fruity
- vintage/old school
Inspired by the mythical nectar of the gods, Ambrosia opens with the sweet, delicate notes of plumeria and mango, layered with the lush richness of peach, lychee, and coconut. The heart reveals the creamy depth of heliotrope, musk, and guava, while wafts of French orris, Mysore and Sri Lankan sandalwood, Indian tuberose and vintage Ethiopian civet evoke a divine atmosphere—capturing the essence of heavenly indulgence.
Cashmere 100 by Insenf £104.17
- Key notes:
- heliotrope
- honeysuckle
- orris (iris root)
- sandalwood
- vanilla
- white musk
- Aromagroups:
- woody
The closer you get, the finer it feels. Orris and honeysuckle mingle in a powdery hush, beckoning the nose towards downy white musk and sandalwood. Vanilla and humid mangrove wood leave a lasting warmth. Projection stays soft, humming quietly — a fine-gauge knit that rests gently on skin. Cashmere is less a perfume than a feeling: a quiet murmur, a soft breath in the warm night.
Moth by Zoologist £166.67
- Key notes:
- ambergris
- cinnamon
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- heliotrope
- honey
- incense
- orris (iris root)
- rose
- saffron
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- woody
Perfumer: Tomoo Inaba
Rich and gothic Moth starts with a heavy dose of dark spices to jolt your senses before settling into a dusting of honey-sweet rose and powdery florals. Slowly, it tests its wings, taking flight on an exotic journey of nagarmotha, guaiac wood and patchouli. Beneath it all lingers a smoky undertone that serves as a constant reminder to fluttering creatures of the danger in the tantalizing flame.
20359 by 32.JULI £129.17
- Key notes:
- cherry
- heliotrope
- latex
- tobacco
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- woody
Glowing red in the dusk, this latex cherry is spiced with clove, dusted with heliotrope, rolled in vanilla, smoked in tobacco. It’s cushy and cozy, but just a little wicked. 20359 is the postcode of St Pauli, the Hamburg district where 32.JULI was founded. For centuries, sailors arriving through Hamburg's harbour, artists, musicians and night owls have shaped the neighbourhood's unmistakable character. Known for its independent spirit, iconic nightlife and historic red light district, Sankt Pauli is a place where stories begin. The fragrance captures the anticipation of an evening just unfolding, lifting the cocktail cherry from the first drink of the night.
Bee by Zoologist £200.00
- Key notes:
- candied orange
- heliotrope
- honey
- labdanum
- orange blossom
- sandalwood
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- leather
- woody
Perfumer: Cristiano Canali
A towering, skyscraper-sized beehive, dripping with honey. See the bee, be the bee. That’s you, waggling your cute black’n’yellow striped booty in a dance through a golden flow of labdanum and leathery orange blossom with powdery mini-explosions of mimosa, tonka and heliotrope. Buzz!
About Scarlet Poppy Intense by Jo Malone London
- What makes Scarlet Poppy Intense distinctive within the oriental floral family?
- Scarlet Poppy Intense combines powdery orris and heliotrope with a fresh fig note and warm tonka beans, enriched by poppy and barley. This creates a balanced fragrance that is both fresh and comforting, standing out by its creamy floral and slightly fruity character.
- How do these fragrances differ from Scarlet Poppy Intense in terms of scent profile?
- While all share key notes like orris, fig, or tonka beans, many introduce additional elements such as coconut, amber, smoky spices, or tropical fruits. These variations result in differences in sweetness, freshness, smokiness, or gourmand qualities compared to Scarlet Poppy Intense’s powdery floral and warm composition.
- Are any of these fragrances suitable for someone who prefers less sweetness and more savoury scents?
- Yes, fragrances like Tonka Kumaru and Cashmere 100 offer a more savoury profile with notes like almond, cardamom, and sandalwood. These provide a less sweet and more nuanced alternative while still sharing key ingredients with Scarlet Poppy Intense.









