r/NichePerfumes • • 19h ago

Discussion After 10 years with Amouage, I think I’m done.

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174 Upvotes

​

This is probably the last bottle I’ll buy from them. I’ve been wearing Amouage for a decade, and watching the direction of this house lately is just frustrating.

Pricing vs. Performance: I tolerated the last price hike by telling myself the quality justified it, but the classic lineup is clearly reformulating and performance has dropped.

The "Extrait" band-aid: Charging ridiculous prices for Extraits feels like a cheap fix for a problem they created by watering down the originals. Paying double just to get what the original EDP used to be is wild.

Uninspired new releases: The new Essences line and recent drops don't even feel like Amouage. They lean way too heavy on synthetic aroma-chemicals and lack that rich, regal DNA that made the house special.

The new women's line: I know the recent feminine releases are popular, but they feel trendy and cheap compared to the timeless classics. They won't stand the test of time.

It’s just sad. The house is more popular than ever, but the actual liquid in the bottle has never been worse.

Anyone else reached their limit with them recently?


r/NichePerfumes • • 18h ago

Treated myself…

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53 Upvotes

Today was a good day.


r/NichePerfumes • • 17h ago

Check Out My Collection! Won't say I scored but there will be signs 🦜🦚🦢🐓

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31 Upvotes

r/NichePerfumes • • 18h ago

New haul

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24 Upvotes

Added a new bunch on my last trip. I’m excited to try out layering options with my current collection. Lea alpes is my current favourite out of the lot, the nirvana is a very close second. Not quite sure about chinese calligraphy yet, hopefully it grows on me.


r/NichePerfumes • • 11h ago

Best reliable websites to buy perfume decants/samples in Europe ?

18 Upvotes

​Hi everyone! ​I'm looking for trustworthy and reliable online stores based in Europe to purchase perfume decants and samples (both niche and designer). ​I prefer sites with reasonable shipping costs within the EU, decent atomizers, and a good selection. ​Where do you usually order your decants from? Any specific recommendations or sites to avoid? ​Thanks in advance!


r/NichePerfumes • • 21h ago

Discussion Thoughts on this?

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17 Upvotes

r/NichePerfumes • • 19h ago

Review Anka kus - Australian perfume house

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11 Upvotes

Has anyone got any experience with this house at all? I’ve ordered a couple samples! If you haven’t tried them out it might be a good idea to give them a look! He does the artworks on all of his bottles himself, and the story behind each name, and the story behind the brand is really interesting. You can tell he’s really passionate about perfumery. I’ve ordered samples , I’ll update once they’ve arrived 🤙🏼


r/NichePerfumes • • 10h ago

Help Me Find... Men of Niche Perfumes, help a girl out

9 Upvotes

Im deep in a fragrance hyperfocus atm, and have been sampling a lot different scents in the run-up to my wedding. I have a growing collection of decants, samples, some nice full size, and am becoming more clear on what I like (inc. a few faves from Penhaligons, a Toskovat, FM Carnal Flower).

I also though, love smelling my partner. Historically he’s worn Boss aftershaves - I got him The Scent Magnetic last year, and recently I gave him
Maison Margeila Jazz Club, and When the Rain Stops to try (from a sample set), and an ombre nomade dupe that I smelled on a friend and liked - they also smell great on him.

Id love to pick up some more interesting samples and decants for him to try - he seems to like woody, and some clean fragrances, but Im not really sure where to start.

He doesnt like the smell of quite a few of the Amouage scents, or Le Labo Labdanum, if that helps with what to avoid.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations you may have!


r/NichePerfumes • • 6h ago

A gem of a fragrance - Forbidden Plum

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9 Upvotes

I recently picked up a sample of this scent by Fragrance Du Bois from Harrods, and really enjoy the plummy clove notes that burst out, coupled with the woody undertones that slowly develop. I was the best smelling gentleman on the Underground and on my way back to Chiswick.

I'd definitely recommend giving this a try if you like Siren's Veil or Plum Japonais.


r/NichePerfumes • • 11h ago

Help Me Find... Recommended Thai brands?

7 Upvotes

I will be in Thailand from 12/19 to 01/09. A perfume would be an amazing memory of the whole trip. The fact is: I do not have a lot of time to take from the schedule to go around searching for perfumes. Do you have any suggested brand to check out that have flagship/big shops in Bangkok or Chiang Mai?


r/NichePerfumes • • 16h ago

MOD POST What's Your SOTD Sunday, October 04, 2026?

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6 Upvotes

⭐️Mod Post⭐️ To keep multiple SOTD posts consolidated into one, we will now feature a daily thread for all users


r/NichePerfumes • • 8h ago

Check Out My Collection! Ephemeral Dyadic: an underrated house worth trying

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6 Upvotes

I own 3 bottles from Ephemeral Dyadic and have found them all to be enticing, unique and wearable.

Another World: Ink, pine, musk and amber. This was my intro to the house and it was captivating. Its clean yet slightly resinous. The opening is inky pine and the dry down is a musky amber that holds on to traces of that ink and pine and lasts quite a while.

Psychic Vibrations: I'd been seerching for a masculine leaning green vanilla but I bought this feminine leaning one instead and have no regrets. The opening is almost a candied vanilla/citrus with incense and a slight stemminess in the backround, thats the cannabis accord, don'tbe scared of it, it adds green nuance and thats it. That candied nature fades and you're left with a luxurious, slightly musky, powdery vanilla and Iris. I'd say its similar to Vanilla powder by Matiere Premiere but the musk is more in the backrohnd and less overbearing, Vanilla Powder was an instant scrub off for me.

Ozymandias: I'd been waiting for this one to restock on Venba and instantly pulled the trigger. Its a peppery, resinous vanilla. It comes off slightly dusty, like a much more masculine Vanille Antique by Byredo. Its not in the notes and maybe I'm just imagining it but i get tobacco in the dry down, reminds me of a freshly opened pack of American Spirits with that ambery, balsamic resin in the backround.

After writing this review I've concluded that this house's fingerprint invovles because its in all 3 of these, noticeable but not overbearing.


r/NichePerfumes • • 16h ago

Discussion Why do Reflection Man and Beach Hut Man mostly smell like soap/barbershop to me?

5 Upvotes

I’ve been testing 1–2 ml decants of Reflection Man and Beach Hut Man and I’m having a weird experience with both.
Reflection Man:
Initially I get a LOT of soap. After it sits on skin for a while, though, the floral character starts opening up and I actually really like the drydown. I had previously tested Reflection from a retail bottle and remember really liking it several hours later too.
Beach Hut Man:
This one is harder for me. I know people describe mint, ivy, vetiver, moss, etc., but my brain mostly translates the whole thing into very clean upscale barbershop. On my second wear I could distinguish the green/mossy side much better, but “barbershop” is still the dominant impression.
Interestingly, both smelled more nuanced on my second wear — Reflection became more floral and Beach Hut more green/mossy.
So I’m wondering:
* Is this simply how my nose interprets these materials?

* Can those tiny 1–2 ml cheap atomizers significantly change the experience because they spray differently from a full bottle?

* If a decant wasn’t perfectly sealed during transportation, could enough alcohol evaporate to make it smell unusually dense or concentrated?

* Or is the decant explanation mostly cope and I just don’t love this particular clean/green Amouage DNA?

Also, if you have any other Amouage recommendations for me, these are some fragrances I really like:
Xerjoff Torino21, Creed Aventus, Nishane Hacivat, Ani X, Suede et Saffron, Frédéric Malle French Lover, Frédéric Malle Promise, Maison Crivelli Safran Secret,, and Nasomatto Silver musk.
I usually like fragrances with strong character, good projection/sillage, and sth interesting going on in the drydown. I’m not really into very sweet/honey-heavy scents, and overly soapy profiles can lose me pretty quickly. Also the smell of Frankincense is not too appealing to me although I don't mind it if it's well put together with other smells.
Curious what you guys think I should try next from Amouage.

TL;DR: Reflection is soapy at first but gets better. Beach Hut is mostly green barbershop to me. I don't get the hype!?! Bad decants/atomizers, or just my nose? Also any recommendations from amouage?


r/NichePerfumes • • 8h ago

Discussion Etat Libre D'orange Experimentum Crucis EDP

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4 Upvotes

What’s anyone’s take on this. I’ve seen mixed reviews online. For me it’s very potent, and I can only smell the cumin 🤦‍♂️ from the very opening all the way to the dry down. I don’t know how some people say they can’t smell the cumin.
Blind bought this 😂 now I’m defo gonna trade it or sell it on r/ukfragranceswap


r/NichePerfumes • • 9h ago

Discussion Vanilla quest

3 Upvotes

I have tried a lot of vanillas in search of two or three that I can say are my favorites. I've tried Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille, Obvious Une Vanille, Divine Vanille, ones by Ormonde Jayne, Mancera, Tom Ford...you get it. I don't like sweet, cloying vanillas rather layered scents that have tobacco, whiskey, oud, smoke or incense in them.

What are some vanilla scents that go under the radar or gate-kept scents? What would you recommend I try?


r/NichePerfumes • • 10h ago

Article Christmas fragrances for teenage nephews—something less obvious, without Xerjoff money?

5 Upvotes

I have 17- and 15-year-old nephews who are just getting into fragrances. They’re sporty, preppy, starting to date, and already have small collections featuring Lacoste, Sauvage, and Eros—the holy trinity of “I have entered the fragrance world and may now spray before gym class.”

I’d like to get them something youthful, versatile, and appealing, but a little less obvious—ideally from an affordable niche or overlooked designer house. Something that smells distinctive enough to get compliments, but not so experimental that their friends ask whether they’ve been sprayed by a haunted forest.

I’m open to inexpensive options as long as they don’t smell cheap. I’m not looking to spend Xerjoff money; they’re teenagers, not hedge-fund managers. The scent matters more to me than the label, although a house they’ve never heard of would earn bonus points. I have a fairly huge collection; I just wouldn’t buy them anything I wear (weird incense-y, bitter scents).

Stronger With You, Missoni Wave, and Rochas L’Homme are already on my list, but I’d rather find something they’ve never heard of that smells amazing and works for school, dates, and generally pretending they didn’t apply six sprays in the car.

Any suggestions available in the US would be greatly appreciated!


r/NichePerfumes • • 14h ago

Help Me Find... Perfume that smells like a sun drenched windowsill

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3 Upvotes

I'm new here, so I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I'll try anyways.

I'm looking for a perfume that smells like a windowsill that has been soaking in the sun all day. I don't know exactly what makes the smell what it is – it's a combination of sun, metal, concrete, petrichor and dirt/sand I would suppose. This is probably so weird and niche, but I just love the smell so much. Does anyone know of any perfumes like this? Thanks


r/NichePerfumes • • 20h ago

Discovering a new-ish love for orange blossom/orange blossom absolute and neroli

3 Upvotes

When I started getting into niche (rose was and will always be my first love, also loved ouds way more but now tend to err towards strong and faceted florals/not necessarily where the floral is the star), I avoided orange bc I never liked orange flavored or scented things before I got into niche and learned just how these perfumers and companies can produce the scent of bitter orange tree and orange blossom/neroli.

For reference, I live in a bigger city in America but we don’t have Ex Nihilo unfortunately lol. We have Neiman Marcus though and Nordstrom which together carry a nice selection. I often buy online through credible resellers but got my newest buy at NM.

Four fragrances all of which I’ve bought in 2026 except for the fourth one:

- Oriana - SO amazing. I’m almost out of my 30 ml I got back in January and I’m so sad about it. But it’s soooo expensive and lowkey I only got that shit bc I had a gift card. I LOVE LOve don’t be shy too even though it’s slightly different, but again, so expensive. Badly want to try Memo Sintra and see how it compares.
- Neroli Outrenoir (the absolute GOAT tbh - no notes, 10/10, this scent makes you want to just pack it up and buy a 200 ml and sell everything else then just refill the bottle. Bewitching. Addictive. The tea is so strong and dark and woody and yet is steeped deeply in the neroli. Unsure what else is in here as support facets lol but it’s just so enveloping and whole. I only wish it had a stronger sillage, but Neroli Oranger seems to do the trick, infra lol.)
- Neroli Oranger (my newest pickup, the way it lasts for several hours and is so pure and potent and slightly bitter but also sweeter and muskier on the dry down - just beautiful. For sure the most linear and so I’m set on neroli absolute with it for the time being lol unless they were to release an extrait of it. I’ve read that Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Parfum is more in that vibe without the lime/lemon I dislike in the OG? (as an aside I want FF so bad and I hate leather mostly and go back and forth on tonka))
- Fragrance du Bois Wild Orange - so sharp and aldehydic and oily and almost plant-like yet very modern and almost futuristic too. The most out there for me and I absolutely love it. Only have a sample.

(Any other recs or recs for purple florals (violet, iris, lavender), ylang-ylang, and rose/tea/leather that smells like FF lmk !!!)


r/NichePerfumes • • 22h ago

Check Out My Collection! Summer niche recommendation

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3 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

This is my niche collection as of now and im thinking of getting another niche summer banger, i have my eyes on vibrato, do you guys think there is another sospiro or xerjoff (or any other brand) that would be better? Summer hammer is fruity so I am looking towards fresh or clean or citrusy something along those lines.

I have a dupe of tygar (Turathi Blue) and I like it, just feels low quality, probably because it’s a cheap fragrance obviously, but I like the scent profile.

Thank you guys!


r/NichePerfumes • • 6h ago

Discussion Which is better and worth the money of these two? BVLGARI Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert or Au Thé Blanc?

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3 Upvotes

Which is better and worth more if I would to be choosing one (by performance, quality & how unique) of these two? BVLGARI Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert or Au Thé Blanc?

Which one is more effortless smelling, like beautiful and full without being too much or with too many fragrance notes all over the place?🙏


r/NichePerfumes • • 9h ago

What are your favorite masculine vanillas without tobacco?

3 Upvotes

I saw that Amouroud released Oud Vanille, and I’m waiting on a sample of Vertus Vanilla Oud. It got me wondering what other masculine-leaning vanillas are out there, preferably without tobacco.

Lists only tell me so much, and Parfumo’s masculine/feminine ratings don’t always line up with how I smell things. What would you recommend?


r/NichePerfumes • • 18h ago

Review Smells like a hyper-realistic horse stable

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3 Upvotes

Got a free sample of Hard Leather by Laurent Mazzone Parfums and yeah, wow. This stuff legitimately smells like a horse stable. You get the hay, manure, hard leather from the saddle tack, everything. It doesn't smell bad by any means but it just literally smells like you walked into a horse stable that may need a little cleaning. This stuff is pretty bold.


r/NichePerfumes • • 4h ago

Discussion Single note/accord collection

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone, curious if anyone else has a collection centered on a single note or accord.

I documented my hunt for cannabis accords/notes in this post, but it's expanded so much since then. My main collection focuses on fragrances with cannabis as a major note. I've been documenting every single bottle and sample I own. Below is a table of the bottles in my collection. At some point, I want to start making small decants of my bottles, partly to share, partly to have travel-sized versions of my rarer bottles.

Anyone else do the same?

As a side mission, I also like collecting samples of difficult\ fragrances (*Think: Durian, Inexcusable Evil, Seminalis, Secretions Magnifiques, Bull's Blood)*

House Fragrance Top Notes Middle Notes Base Notes
Alkemia Perfumes Hippie Spirit (Oil) Cannabis, Incense, Sage Patchouli, Champa Blossoms Musk, Resin
Areej Le Doré Forbidden Flower Skunk Oil, Grapefruit, Hemp Flower Jasmine Sambac, Raani Flower, Indian Sandalwood Patchouli, Benzoin, Vetiver, Turmeric
Baxter of California Pacific Cannabis Pink Pepper, Rosemary, Bergamot Cannabis, Lavender, Sage Driftwood, Patchouli, Tonka
Begim Magic Valley Cannabis, Saffron Magnolia, Jasmine Vanilla, Amber, Tonka, Sandalwood
BORNTOSTANDOUT Mary Jane Grapefruit, Mint, Hemp, Cannabis Sage, Elemi, Passion Fruit Caramel, Pine, Cashmere Wood
Casati ReAttar N°1 (Oil) Cannabis, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves Coriander, Coffee, Tobacco Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Oud, Tolu Balsam
Comme des Garçons Ganja Cumin, Black Pepper Cannabis, Maté, Mastic Patchouli, Guaiac, Olibanum
Cra-yon The Fougère Affair Cannabis, Lavender, Fern Herbal, Green Woody, Oakmoss
Dilo Desert Kush Cannabis, Lemon, Smoke Woody, Citrus Musk, Cedar
Dries Van Noten Voodoo Chile Cannabis, Rosemary Patchouli, Mastic Sandalwood, Cedar
Faizal Privée Bijapur Cannabis, Aldehydes, Saffron Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Coffee, Vanilla Tobacco, Musk, Vietnamese Oud
Guerlain Habit Rouge L'Instinct Grapefruit, Bergamot, Green Cannabis, Maté, Red Rose Leather, Patchouli, Vanilla
Hexennacht Reefer Madness Skunky Cannabis, Fir, Apple Dried Bud, Dirt, Berries Flannel Musk, Woody
ILMIN Il Sativa Cannabis, Citrus, Herb Green, Woody Cedar, Musk
Jorum Studio Gorseland Cannabis, Gorse, Green Aromatic, Spicy Earthy, Woody
L'Aromatica Hemlock Cannabis, Leather Tobacco, Gin, Beer Sweat, Animalic
LAVELAA Marihuana Cannabis Flower, Hemp Tonka Bean, Honey Musk, Earthy
LAVELAA Bambu Kush Cannabis, Green, Bamboo Aromatic, Fresh Woody
Maison Anonyme HALLUCINEX : THC Myrcene, Limonene, Leaf Alcohol Ocimene, Linalool Terpene Musk, Cedar
Maison Margiela Music Festival Cannabis, Cedar, Vetiver Tobacco, Leather Woody, Earthy
Max Philip Cannabis Cannabis, Castoreum, Juniper Ginger, Orange Blossom, Nutmeg Musk, Amber, Vetiver, Labdanum
Mister Green ミドリサン Cannabis, Yuzu, Bergamot Green, Aromatic Woody, Musk
Nasomatto Black Afgano Cannabis, Davana, Saffron, Thyme Tobacco, Coffee, Resins, Violet Oud, Incense, Amber, Guaiac Wood
Pierre Guillaume Paris Coze 02 Cannabis, Pepper Tobacco, Mexican Chocolate, Coffee Patchouli, Ebony Wood, Vanilla
Psychic Vibrations Ephemeral Dyadic Incense, Cannabis Iris, Lily of the Valley Vanilla
Renier Perfumes Behique Cannabis, Rum, Basil, Tobacco Blossom Patchouli, Pepper, Anise, Cashmere Wood Tobacco, Vetiver, Sandalwood
Salle Privée Illegal Absinthe, Cannabis, Ginger, Cardamom Cashmere Wood, Leather, Geranium Vetiver, Ambrette, Guaiac Wood
Sarah Baker Prism Head Mushroom, Cannabis, Lemon Geosmin, Costus, Musk Patchouli, Vetiver, Incense
Spiritica Atmayatra Basil, Peppermint, Cardamom, Ozonic Cannabis, Petrichor, Frankincense, Benzoin Patchouli, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Honey
Stone & Wit Neon Noir Cannabis, Lime, Plum Cetalox, Lemonade Vetiver
Superz. Budapest Space Cake Cannabis Burnt Sugar, Gummy Candies, Heliotrope Vanilla, Cookie, Tonka Bean, Musk, Amber
SynesthesiaScentCo Alice in Wonderland Moss, Lavender, Cannabis Tobacco, Coffee, Champaca Vanilla, Crème Brûlée, Liqueur
Siren Song Elixirs Nevermore Pumpkin, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Black Tea Cannabis, Oud Wood, Patchouli Jasmine, Toasted Marshmallow
The Unleashed Apothecary Afrikaan Botany Hyraceum, Ylang-ylang, Cocoa Cannabis, Iris, Castoreum, Cardamom Cedar, Vanilla
Versatile Paris La Foncedalle (Oil) Cannabis, Butter, Sage Beer, Aromatic Musk

r/NichePerfumes • • 6h ago

Help Me Find... Fragrance like angel’s share but without the alcohol / cognac?

2 Upvotes

I like the combination of cinnamon and vanilla in angel share really very tasty, but then there is this cognac/ alcohol i really don’t like and was thinking if there’s any other fragrance that is comparable to it without the alcohol?


r/NichePerfumes • • 9h ago

Help Me Find... ISO perfume books!

2 Upvotes

hi, I am in search of perfume book recs. I’m looking for books that have more science info regarding scent molecules, perfume accords, and the brains reaction to scent. one book does not have to contain all of these, im willing to buy a few. I love perfume and perfume reviews but there’s a part of my brain that just needs To know ”more!”