Best La Religieuse by Serge Lutens Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
La Religieuse by Serge Lutens is an Oriental Floral that blends jasmine and musk with the distinctive animalic nuance of civet, enriched by incense for a smoky, resinous depth. Its composition balances floral softness with a warm, mysterious aura. Those drawn to La Religieuse should focus on fragrances that combine jasmine’s floral clarity with musk’s sensuality, and, if sought, the smoky or animalic accents that make it unique.
Bo-Bo by CARNER £150.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- musk
- orange blossom
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- floral
- transparent
- woody
Bo-Bo is named after a Spanish folk dance.
This perfume is a beautiful harmony of fresh which is carefully put together from the citrus bliss of mandarin, shy bitter-green of lily-of-the-valey, soft orange blossom and dry vetiver.
Teint De Neige (Extrait) by Lorenzo Villoresi £375.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- musk
- powdery nuance
- rose
- tonka beans
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- vintage/old school
- woody
The soft, gentle, enveloping fragrance of Teint de Neige in its most concentrated version. Recalling images and atmosphere of the belle-époque, with sweet and powdery notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang on a base of musk, tonka beans and heliotrope.
Yawahada (Soft skin) by J-Scent £122.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- musk
- powdery notes
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- woody
Yawahada is a perfume that triggers the unconscious, a sensual scent inspired by Yasunari Kawabataʼs novel, "The House of the Sleeping Beauties" A milky cloud of pear and rice powder float the warming base of amber and sandalwood enticingly around you — and around anyone else in your orbit.
Quelque Fleur Extreme by Houbigant £175.00
- Key notes:
- civet
- jasmine
- orange blossom
- orris (iris root)
- sandalwood
- tuberose
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
An iconic classic in its own rite, Quelques Fleurs is a true ingenious scent of its time. The French perfumer, Robert Bienaimé, unveiled Quelques Fleurs the first true multi-floral blend ever created, in 1912.
Since then, his perfectly-balanced, refined bouquet has become modern perfumery’s peerless criterion for pure, meticulously-crafted, multi-floral accords. Prior to his bold invention, floral fragrances had been mainly singular flowers, or florals combined with various nuances of herbs and spices. Bienaimé’s singular triumph is remarkable for its secret, mythical formula. Upwards of 15,000 exemplary flowers and 250 prestigious raw materials are diligently-curated in the creation of a single ounce of perfume.
- Key notes:
- blood orange
- incense
- musk
- musk al ghazal
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- spicy
A sunny and vibrant scent that summons the energy of Mumbai. Juicy blood orange sparkles across the floral sweetness of neroli. Al ghazal musk cushions the composition with an enveloping velvet softness.
The cologne range has a perfume concentration of around 20%, making them longer-lasting than traditional colognes, while retaining the freshness and lightness that define this type of creation.
Squid by Zoologist £200.00
- Key notes:
- benzoin
- incense
- musk
- pink pepper
- Aromagroups:
- marine
- unconventional
This deep and dark aquatic perfume takes you from the salty warmth of beach pebbles straight into the whispering waves, and eventually down to the inky fathoms inhabited by giant squids. Feel the caress of tentacles of incense — initially menacing, ultimately comforting.
Dark Side of the Goddess by Anna Zworykina £95.00
- Key notes:
- bay
- incense
- jasmine
- marigold
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- unconventional
- woody
Gothic balsams: smoke of the ritual fires, quiet splashes of jasmine, moist earth, frankincense, deep woods.
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Dark Side of the Goddess story):
Myrtle e.o.
Bergamot e.o.
Juniper berry CO2 extract
Frankincense e.o.
Frankincense abs
Benzoin abs
Patchouli e.o.
Cedarwood Atlas e.o.
Vetiver e.o.
Myrrh e.o.
Cassia abs
African wormwood e.o.
Nutmeg CO2 extract
Ylang-ylang e.o.
Jasmine sambac abs
Jasmine auriculatum abs
Castoreum tincture
Cinnamon e.o.
Tagetes abs
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are 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 her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises 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. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
002 Isola Neroli by Bon Parfumeur £55.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- lily-of-the-valley
- musk
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
A contemporary orange blossom cologne.
Perfumer for 002: Karine Dubreuil – Sereni.
101 Parisian Bouquet by Bon Parfumeur £60.00
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- lily-of-the-valley
- musk
- rose
- turkish rose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
A bright, multi faceted, spring-like floral with a citrus edge featuring sweet Turkish roses.
Bon Parfumeur open olfactive dimensions and invite you to add your own story.
Try 101 for an effervescent bouquet of pink flowers.
Perfumer: Alexandra Monet
Alamut by Lorenzo Villoresi £140.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- musk
- orange blossom
- rose
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- woody
Heaven on earth: Alamut.
If we were to believe Marco Polo’s story - Alamut was the fortress and headquarters of the order of assassins. In Alamut among other things, according to Marco, the new recruits could experience the demo version of heaven. An assassin to be would be inebriates by some potion (even though Marco never mention which drug it was, highly likely it was hashish). Then the recruit would be taken to a pleasure garden with drinks, food and beautiful maiden. Afterwards the head of the order would explain that absolute loyalty and fearless determination would guarantee an afterlife of this kind.
Lorenzo Villorezi’s Alamut is an intense sensual rose resting on a cloud of ambergris.
About La Religieuse by Serge Lutens
- What makes La Religieuse different from other jasmine and musk fragrances?
- La Religieuse distinguishes itself by combining jasmine and musk with the animalic note of civet and smoky incense, creating a complex Oriental Floral with a smoky, resinous depth that many jasmine-musk fragrances do not have.
- Are any of these fragrances suitable if I want something less animalic than La Religieuse?
- Yes, several options like Bo-Bo and Yawahada focus on jasmine and musk without the animalic civet or heavy incense, offering cleaner and fresher interpretations of the floral-musk accord.
- How does the presence of civet influence the scent of La Religieuse?
- Civet adds an animalic, slightly leathery and musky character to La Religieuse, contributing to its distinctive depth and complexity, setting it apart from purely floral or clean musk fragrances.









