
10 perfumes in similar style to Promise by Frederic Malle
STYRAX by Headspace £95.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- animalic notes
- labdanum
- patchouli
- saffron
- Aromagroups:
- leather
Perfumer: Miroslav Petkov
A bestial intense animalic amber serving the visceral image of a wild stallion. Patchouli and labdanum harmonise to a rich decadent leather while hits of oriental osmanthus add to the floral sweetness which in turn is balanced by spicy cypriol and vetiver. Stunning and magnificent.
ELLA by Arquiste £180.00
- Key notes:
- chypre
- civet
- honey
- patchouli
- rose
- turkish rose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- leather
- spicy
Inspired by the idea of a decadent encounter on the dancefloor of a nightclub in the glamorous jet-set Acapulco of the late 1970s, ELLA (and it’s masculine companion piece, ÉL) hark back to a time when hedonism was rife and to a climate where long, drawn out sun soaked days turn into adventurous nights.
Typically defined as a perfume with a citrus opening, a labdanum heart and a musky oak moss base, the chypre accord is, frankly, the stuff of legend and Arquiste’s ELLA aims to take that classic structure and ramp up the idea of a vivid sexual attraction by making it more animalistic. The civet, ambergris and the accord of cigarette smoke in the base provide that very human aspect in spades when the fragrances dries down, but what really characterises the scent are it’s floral aspects. With the use of Turkish rose, jasmin absolute, curupita, angelica root and carrot seed there’s a delicate balance that manages to smell light and sweet and yet seedy all at the same time.
***
Persolaise on Ella in 'How 70s is Your Scent' in Sunday Times: "A bold, assertive dose of honey and woods wrapped in mosses."
Terror & Magnificence by Beaufort £125.00
- Key notes:
- incense
- kyphi
- labdanum
- leather
- mineral accord
- petrichor
- saffron
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- unconventional
- woody
The third volume in the Revenants series takes inspiration from the works of architect Nicolas Hawksmoor (1661-1736) whose foreboding structures define London's urban landscape even today.
Hawksmoor - referred to as ‘the Devil’s architect’ - continues to provoke interest for his distinctive churches, which introduced elements of Egyptology into traditional ecclesiastical settings. These curious architectural details, and his recent reputation as a Freemason has prompted speculation that occult symbolism influenced his methods, and imbued his designs with an inherent ‘terror and magnificence’.
By contrasting darkness with invigorating complexity, perfumer Pia Long has combined a vivid olfactory impression of the man, his works and his myth. Accords of Somalian Incense, dry woods and wet stone meld with opium smoke, papyrus and kyphi, underpinned by a base of Haitian vetiver and precious resins.
The product’s packaging bears a representation of Hawksmoor’s celebrated work – Christ Church Spitalfields in East London.
Nerosa by Laboratorio Olfattivo £55.00
- Key notes:
- castoreum
- chypre
- geranium
- labdanum
- leather
- oud
- rose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- green
- spicy
David Maruitte
“Nerosa is a perfume realized with David Maruitte in 2011, but at that time we believed that Laboratorio Olfattivo was not yet ready to launch a fragrance like this. Today instead, Nerosa can perfectly enter in our Black Collection, thanks to the depth, wealth and strength of its formula. A fragrance whose energy is noticeable and whose enveloping sillage is strong.”
Roberto Drago
Castiamanti by Agatho £305.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- incense
- labdanum
- myrtle
- oud
- rose
- saffron
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
In fleeting top notes Myrtle, fragile as the promises of love, encounters the preciousness of saffron, merging into an indomitable desire for eros.
The luxuriant notes of honey are exalted by the jasmine night breeze that pervades the home of the chaste lovers, among the frescoes, on a thalamus of rose petals.
The mysterious notes of incense and sweet vanilla blend with the oriental contamination of amber and labdanum that fades into the ancient aroma of agar wood, sealing the essence of Castiamanti, expression of rich Pompeii.
O/E (Limited Edition) by Bogue Profumo £145.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- camphor
- cloves
- juniper
- pine
- rosemary
- thyme
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- unconventional
- woody
O/E was a perfume Bogue made between MAAI and MEM.
This batch of O/E is a one off lucky production of that original formula and a chance for collectors and Bogue fans to get their hands on another interesting blend.
O/E is a green herbaceous vetiver among other things but it passes through a citrus stage and a meadow and a pine forest episode as well. As with all Bogue creations it's a complex inventive formula with fascinating architecture
Ta’if by Ormonde Jayne £120.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- pink pepper
- rose
- saffron
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- woody
Ta´if is an intoxicating and audacious rose scent from the town of Ta´if which sits above the shores of the Red sea and overlooks the Arabian desert. This perfume dislikes daylight preferring dusk, the night, parties, promises and assignations. It is an opulent composition which makes a bold entrance and is confident enough to sweep everyone else to one side – a real belle of the ball.
Experimentum Crucis by Etat Libre d'Orange £215.00
- Key notes:
- apple
- musk
- patchouli
- rose
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- floral
- woody
The Orange Extraordinaire collection.
A perfume inspired by Isaac Newton, apples, afternoon tea and the invisible forces that pull people closer.
This perfume is the first experiment of the house for their new extraordinaire line (not that they ever favored ordinary or safe).
Firstly, Experimentum Crucis has the most extraordinary projection and longevity as well as a novel multidimensional architecture of a formula. As you wear it, a scented dimension of Experimentum Crucis comes into being around you. No wonder, as the inspiration behind the perfume is the extraordinary Isaac Newton, the theory of gravity and the setup of universe.
To balance the perfume’s amazing projection, its character is quite transparent. It’s made up of elusive soft woods, a hint of waxy apple skin aroma, a shade of distant gentle tea rose and some spicy sparks. All notes are amalgamated together into a nebulous aromatic galaxy.
DARK & DRUNK DISCOVERY KIT by BORNTOSTANDOUT £55.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- cardamom
- cinnamon
- clary sage
- cognac
- incense
- juniper
- leather
- oud
- patchouli
- rose
- saffron
- sage
- sandalwood
- smoke
- vanilla
- whisky
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- edible
- floral
- leather
- spicy
- woody
DRUNK SAFFRON
UNHOLY OUD
BURNT ROSES
ZEST Z&T
DGAF
DRUNK LOVERS
SMOKIN’ GUN
SEX & COGNAC
Slow Explosions by Imaginary Authors £95.00
- Key notes:
- apple
- leather
- rose
- saffron
- wine
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- leather
“I was lost, aimless, and depressed. Now I’m only two of those things.”
Gwen K. Vroomen
***
In 1980, Gwen K. Vroomen quit a monotonous job, went to the corner bar, and – on the bartender’s urging – threw a dart at a world map tacked on the wall. She had never heard of Goa but knew immediately she needed to go. Three months later she was celebrating Hindu New Year at a tea garden high in the hills of Kerala, fireworks exploding below. She wrote of that night: “I was resuscitated by color, redeemed by the vibrant unknown.” Her self-proclaimed “Journey out of darkness,” dotted with unforgettable stories of night markets, river floats, and harrowing moped rides, inspired a generation of young Americans eager to buck the drudgery of ordinary life.
When to wear
With pops of rose and hits of saffron, this scent explodes on the skin and awakens the senses. Every inhale will open you up to the idea of escape, push you to take risks, and embolden you to get truly lost. Let us know how it goes.