Moth by Zoologist Perfumes

Best Moth by Zoologist Perfumes Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Moth by Zoologist is a floral woody musk that blends warm spices such as cinnamon, saffron, and cloves with soft florals including rose, heliotrope, and jasmine. Its smoky incense and honeyed sweetness are grounded by rich ambergris and guaiac wood, creating a complex, layered fragrance that feels both aromatic and textured. Those drawn to spicy, smoky floral compositions with a subtle musky base will find this scent intriguing and distinctive.

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1
Moth
  • Key notes:
  • ambergris
  • cinnamon
  • gaiac / guaiac wood
  • heliotrope
  • honey
  • incense
  • orris (iris root)
  • rose
  • saffron
  • smoke
  • Tags:
  • #smoky
  • #sweet
  • Aromagroups:
  • woody

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.

2
White

White by Comme Des Garcons £100.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £5.00
  • Key notes:
  • cardamom
  • cinnamon
  • cloves
  • coriander
  • lily-of-the-valley
  • marigold
  • nutmeg
  • rose
  • Tags:
  • #beast
  • Aromagroups:
  • spicy

White is a bright and lively fragrance built around the friction between hot spices and suave florals. The cinnamon, clove and cardamom opening suggests candied red hots, which makes it all the more surprising when the melange of rose de Mai and lily of the valley softly asserts itself. The undertone of tagete, with its bitter herbalness, keeps White from getting too “pretty-pretty”.

3
Santal

Santal by Floris £100.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £5.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • black pepper
  • cardamom
  • cedarwood
  • cloves
  • frankincense
  • nutmeg
  • sandalwood
  • vetiver
  • Tags:
  • #clean
  • #fresh
  • 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.

4
Spice Must Flow

Spice Must Flow by Etat Libre d'Orange £240.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £8.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • cinnamon
  • cumin
  • ginger
  • incense
  • patchouli
  • rose
  • Aromagroups:
  • leather
  • spicy
  • woody

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.

5
Kamel Oud

Kamel Oud by Sora Dora £170.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £7.00
  • Key notes:
  • animalic notes
  • cade
  • cardamom
  • cumin
  • elemi
  • gaiac / guaiac wood
  • leather
  • oud
  • saffron
  • Tags:
  • #animalic
  • #beast
  • Aromagroups:
  • leather
  • spicy
  • woody

Kamel was the friend who entrusted Sora Dora founder Antoine with the secrets of the oriental olfactory universe, embodied in this namesake perfume. Built around the clean woodiness of Laotian oud, this extrait contrasts the dirty spice of cumin with sweet raspberry and syrupy rose. Smoky and spicy, Kamel Oud will enhance your next 1001 days and 1001 nights.

6
Vanuatu

Vanuatu by Sora Dora £170.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £7.00
  • Key notes:
  • black pepper
  • cardamom
  • cumin
  • papyrus
  • patchouli
  • sandalwood
  • violet leaf
  • Tags:
  • #beast
  • #clean
  • Aromagroups:
  • green
  • woody

This extrait is named for the archipelagic country in the South Pacific Ocean, source of the sandalwood in the base. Vanuatu is a lively, confident blend of spices (black pepper, cardamom, cumin) dappled across characterful woody materials (sandalwood, patchouli, cedar and papyrus). Putting meat on the bones is fig milk, with violet leaves adding sharp sparkle. A fragrance for unexpected adventures.

7
Ambrosia

Ambrosia by Byermia £125.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £8.00
  • Key notes:
  • civet
  • coconut
  • guava
  • heliotrope
  • mango
  • mimosa
  • orris (iris root)
  • peach
  • plumeria
  • sandalwood
  • tuberose
  • Tags:
  • #fresh
  • #powdery
  • #sexy
  • Aromagroups:
  • floral
  • fruity
  • vintage/old school

Inspired by the mythical nectar of the gods, Ambrosia opens with the sweet, delicate notes of plumeria and mango, layered with the lush richness of peach, lychee, and coconut. The heart reveals the creamy depth of heliotrope, musk, and guava, while wafts of French orris, Mysore and Sri Lankan sandalwood, Indian tuberose and vintage Ethiopian civet evoke a divine atmosphere—capturing the essence of heavenly indulgence.

8
701 Eau de Cyprès

701 Eau de Cyprès by Bon Parfumeur £55.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £4.00
  • Key notes:
  • black pepper
  • eucalyptus
  • grapefruit
  • incense
  • nutmeg
  • Aromagroups:
  • aromatic
  • spicy
  • transparent

A fresh herbaceous blend with a sunny grapefruit at the center of the composition.

Bon Parfumeur open olfactive dimensions and invite you to add your own story. Try 701 if you like cool spices such as cardamom, sunny citrus nuances and refreshing greenness  of eucalyptus. 

Perfumer: Benoist Lapouza.

9
Sombra

Sombra by D:SOL MMXVI £170.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £8.00
  • Key notes:
  • animalic notes
  • black pepper
  • fecal nuance
  • geranium
  • leather
  • oud
  • rose
  • saffron
  • yuzu
  • Tags:
  • #animalic
  • #beast
  • Aromagroups:
  • leather
  • spicy

The colors of the day are melting. In the shadows, feelings take surprising shapes. The night is calling. Softness is in the air. Silent connections form. The alchemy is real. Two shadows. One.

Sombra is a dirty shadow of tough rose and oud, spiced with saffron and nutmeg. Tolu balsam bathes the composition in a twilight effect of almost-sweet tobacco and leather, for an animalic result that purrs.

10
Silphium

Silphium by Stora Skuggan £130.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £9.00
  • Key notes:
  • black pepper
  • cloves
  • myrrh
  • sylphium accord
  • tobacco
  • Tags:
  • #fresh
  • #smoky
  • 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.

 

About Moth by Zoologist Perfumes

What makes Moth by Zoologist unique compared to these similar fragrances?
Moth combines a wide range of spices, florals, smoky incense, and musky ambergris in a balanced composition that is both sweet and smoky. Unlike many similar fragrances, it maintains an intricate layering of honeyed and floral notes alongside its woody and spicy aspects.
Are these fragrances suitable for those who like smoky scents like Moth?
Several options on this list incorporate smoky or incense notes, such as Moth, Spice Must Flow, and Silphium, providing a similar depth. However, the intensity and balance of smoke vary, so preferences for smokiness may guide choice.
Can I expect the same level of sweetness in these fragrances as in Moth?
Moth’s sweetness comes from honey and floral notes like heliotrope and rose. Some fragrances like Ambrosia and the original Moth emphasise sweet, powdery elements, while others such as Santal or 701 lean towards fresher or spicier profiles with less sweetness.