Best Epic Woman by Amouage Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

The open salvo of Rosa umami is UMAMI in all-caps: salty, rich, tangy and borderline bitter. Before it goes full fermentation freak-out, this extrait changes course and settles into a bouquet of roses: rose de mai, Bulgarian, white rose, rugosa. Luxury darkness.

Limited to 59 bottles, 48% extrait.

Blended with:

Taif rose, 
Dog rose, 
Ancient rose of Genua, 
White rose, 
Japanese rugosa rose, 
Rose de mai, 
Kombucha fermented gallic rose, 
Bulgarian rose, 
Rose leaves, 
Vintage rose 70’, 
Light soy miso, 
Seaweed, 
Wild fennel, 
Costmary, 
Leccino olive, 
Pea pod, 
Carob, 
Hemp, 
Penny bun, 
Apricot, 
Black tea, 
Passionflower, 
Raw jasmine rice, 
Borneo raw resin. 

Important notice:

Zanini blends are living botanical compositions, crafted entirely from natural materials and free from synthetic fixatives or stabilizers. As with all things living, subtle variations are part of their nature: over time, you may notice a gentle evolution in colour, texture, or the appearance of natural sediment. These are not imperfections, but part of the character of the raw materials themselves.

These blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes) and sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).

Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in Zanini’s 100% natural blends may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Zanini’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). 

Zanini advise that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.

Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Zanini’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.

The Orange Extraordinaire collection.

An homage to the role of spices in Western perfumery, history and culture. Naturally it’s a majestic aromatic flow of cinnamon and ginger, with numerous sparks of pepper and a rich incense background.

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.

An intense incense that shapeshifts between cold/smoky and warm/creamy. This dream belongs to the mythological Irish warrior poet Ossian, who inspired the Romantic literary movement across 18th century Europe. Rêve d'Ossian conjures misty midnight forests with smouldering notes of pine, frankincense and myrrh, before calling forth the benevolence of Celtic fairies with mellow tonka bean and vanillic benzoin.

Perfumer: Hugo Lambert

Merina, referencing the lushness of Spanish wool, opens with a blissful puff of almond that shapeshifts between floral heliotrope and creamy vanilla. Fennel adds structure to the softness with its delicate aniseed character. Almond and fennel continue to shimmer against each other as heady jasmine and powdery iris gently pulse. The whole effect is intimate and refined, leaving a skin-close trail that wraps you like a veil.

Perfumer: Caroline Dumur

A pile-up of contrasts: cinnamon along with tropical florals frangipani and ylang ylang, against the earthy bitterness of artichoke and leather. This almost-gingerbread, almost-cement perfume confuses the senses with its animal/vegetable/mineral mystery.

“Suze” (SOO-zeh) translates to “tears” in Serbian.Tears may not have a physical scent, but they release an emotional essence that lingers in the air like an unspoken perfume. This emotional extrait is a strange swirl of spearmint and ghostly flowers: pale jasmine, magnolia and lily-of-the-valley. Orris butter upholsters the complexity, while a solemn base of benzoin and fossilised amber grounds the experience.

This composition is 25% parfum concentration, with 88% natural ingredients. Capped with Spanish Nero Marquina marble in a delicately etched glass bottle. 

The inspiration for Tierra Maya comes from Central America, with its iconic perfume materials Peru balsam and cardamom. The buttery, honeyed warmth of Peru balsam combined with cardamom, cinnamon and a powdery amber gives the comforting impression of warm cinnamon raisin bread.Tierra Maya’s balsamic character is heightened by sensual, syrupy rose, and sharpened with incense and cedar.

For far too long, Tonka has been sacked off as poor man's vanilla. But no one should put this baby in the corner. In actual fact its warmth and richness make it a classic in its own right.

And once you’ve chucked in ethically sourced and sustainable Brazilian orange oil, lavender, neroli and fennel, you’re really cooking.

All oomph and sophistication. Like a rich, yummy posh pudding with none of the calories or the guilt.

Bloomin’ delicious.

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