Best Vetiver Extraordinaire by Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Vetiver Extraordinaire by Frederic Malle is an oriental woody fragrance that balances fresh citrus notes like bigarade and bergamot with spicy accents of black pepper, cardamom, and pink pepper. Vetiver stands at the core, supported by warm, resinous elements such as incense, myrrh, and sandalwood, alongside earthy touches of oakmoss and licorice. This creates a complex, smoky, and slightly sweet character that combines freshness with depth and sophistication, ideal for those who appreciate a rich yet refined vetiver composition.
Santal by Floris £83.33
- Key notes:
- amber
- black pepper
- cardamom
- cedarwood
- cloves
- frankincense
- nutmeg
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.
104 Terra Hedera by Bon Parfumeur £145.83
- Key notes:
- bigarade
- cardamom
- frankincense
- galbanum
- hyacinth
- mastic
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
- leather
- vintage/old school
- woody
Inspired by the concepts of “green” and “freedom”, Terra Hedera evokes horseback riding on the Mongolian steppe. A green hyacinth intertwined with tenacious ivy and crisp galbanum.
Perfumer: Corinne Cachen
Berbera by Nissaba £125.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- elemi
- incense
- myrrh
- pink pepper
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
The finest gum extracts from Somaliland — frankincense, myrrh and opoponax — combine in this resinous and sophisticated scent. Berbera is a powerful woody amber suitable for layering, as is common in the Middle East, as well as a standalone manifesto. Opoponax brings nuances of leather and old wood, myrrh swirls in a cola note, and frankincense soars high and dry. A charred-around-the-edges fragrance to uplift your soul and deepen your mystique.
- Key notes:
- angelica root
- fennel
- fougere
- galbanum
- mint
- oakmoss
- petrichor
- pine
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- vintage/old school
After the first rains of autumn, the woods exhale salubrious scents of peat, moss and petrichor — the ideal antidote to the scorching summer heat. Chypre-Mousse was first launched in 1914 for the dandies of the new century, and this iteration reinterprets a classic fougere with contemporary materials. This explosively aromatic blend hums with wild mint and fennel in a swirl of earthy oak moss, peppery green angelica and fresh pine. Bring the outdoors in with Chypre-Mousse.
Perfumer: Hugo Lambert
Acqua di Colonia by Lorenzo Villoresi £108.33
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- bigarade
- lavender
- rosemary
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- green
A timeless, traditional cologne: fresh, versatile and eternally elegant like all true classics. The fragrance expresses all its radiant freshness with the most intoxicating citrus aromas: Bergamot, Lemon and Orange are a perfect contrast to the Lavender and invigorating Mediterranean herbs.
Astra Infinita by Aura Eximia £170.83
- Key notes:
- bigarade
- birch
- cloves
- labdanum
- oud
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- spicy
- woody
Astra Infinita is Latin for “endless stars”, and this extrait is a celestial blend of brightness and depth. It opens with a citrus supernova: Sicilian lemon, bitter orange and Calabrian bergamot, softened by the golden ripeness of mango and the narcotic bloom of Reunion ylang-ylang.
Then Siberian birch and Indonesian clove meet black pepper and cedarwood, a core that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The base is slow-burning and eternal: Spanish labdanum, Cambodian oud, Mysore sandalwood and Bourbon vanilla. These stars are not distant. They’re drawn to you.
Silphium by Stora Skuggan £108.33
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- cloves
- myrrh
- sylphium accord
- tobacco
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- unconventional
Silphium was a plant widely renowned as a spice, medicinal herb and perfume ingredient throughout the empires of classical antiquity, outshining both saffron and cinnamon. It was praised by Greek philosophers and writers, as well as Roman emperors and cookbook authors. The demand for Silphium eventually became so overwhelming that it was harvested to extinction, and the taste and smell of the once greatest spice in the world were lost in time.
This extinct plant was reconstructed by researching assumed relatives of Silphium, using aromachemicals (the molecular building blocks of scents) to create an accord reflecting historical descriptions. This is set against a background of ancient incense, woods and leather.
No. 89 by Floris £83.33
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- geranium
- neroli
- nutmeg
- oakmoss
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- woody
No. 89 has been an icon among the Floris collection for over 60 years. First crafted in 1951, No. 89 takes its name from the number of their flagship shop on Jermyn Street.
Ian Fleming who was a customer of Floris mentions No. 89 in his James Bond universe.
No. 89 is a classic and timeless mix of fresh citruses, sparkly spices and aromatic herbs resting on sandalwood and oakmoss. There is an adventurous romantic twist in the formula though: a drop of rose.
No. 89 could be a fragrance for the quintessential English gentleman.
To Vetiver by Comme Des Garcons £129.17
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- myrrh
- thyme
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
An olfactory poem in praise of the rugged elegance of vetiver. But despite being the subject, in this composition vetiver’s rich’n’rooty pleasures are folded into a harmony of resinous allies: the honeyed spice of opoponax and the licorice syrup of myrrh. Black pepper and thyme spike the flow, while musk and amber accords smooth the final stanzas.
Zelen by Boka £179.17
- Key notes:
- beeswax
- cardamom
- cedarwood
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
“Zelen” translates to “green” in Serbian. This is vetiver as it was meant to be celebrated, energised by the natural world. The emerald earthiness of vetiver is lifted toward the sun on a cloud of lime, bergamot and pink peppercorn. Green cardamom and beeswax absolute deepen the allure of Mysore sandalwood and Virginia cedar.
This composition is 25% parfum concentration, of which nearly 75% are natural ingredients. Capped with Italian Carrara marble in a delicately etched glass bottle.
About Vetiver Extraordinaire by Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums
- What makes Vetiver Extraordinaire different from these similar fragrances?
- Vetiver Extraordinaire combines a unique balance of fresh citrus, spicy pepper notes, and rich oriental woody elements like incense, myrrh, and musk, creating a complex and smoky vetiver scent. Many similar fragrances focus more specifically on either fresh citrus, smoky resins, or woody spices, but the reference integrates these facets in a refined and layered way.
- Which fragrances here have the strongest smoky character?
- Berbera, Astra Infinita, Silphium, and To Vetiver stand out for their smoky qualities, achieved through notes such as incense, myrrh, elemi, and tobacco. These offer a more pronounced resinous and smoky experience compared to the others.
- Are any of these fragrances more suitable for warm weather than Vetiver Extraordinaire?
- Acqua di Colonia and Santal have fresher and cleaner profiles with brighter citrus and lighter spices, making them more suited to warm weather wear. Vetiver Extraordinaire’s oriental woody depth is generally better suited to cooler conditions.









