Best Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe by Parfum d Empire Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe is an oriental spicy fragrance defined by a distinctive blend of vodka, champagne, and cinnamon, enriched with Russian leather, black tea, and amber. Its complexity is heightened by coriander, birch tar, juniper, incense, and musk, creating a smoky, warm, and slightly boozy character. Those drawn to deep, resinous scents with a sophisticated balance of spice and wood should focus on the interplay of leather, smoky incense, and warm amber notes.
Moonlight Ceremony by Mystikum £190.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black tea
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- incense
- leather
- saffron
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Under the luminous moon, smouldering embers glow with the mystery of ancient night rituals. This is a ceremony of smoke upon smoke upon smoke: birch tar, black tea, leather, frankincense. The austerity is softened by notes of amber and labdanum, deepening the mystery of the enveloping darkness.
Perfumer: Alexandre Illan
Play Black by Comme Des Garcons £95.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black pepper
- black tea
- incense
- leather
- thyme
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- spicy
This EdT plays it dark but bright. A spiky black pepper opening commands attention, before being volumised by an ebony chorus of black tea, birch tar and incense. Tree moss and violet lend a perfumed earthiness.
Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu
Vi et Armis by Beaufort £125.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black pepper
- black tea
- incense
- opium
- oud
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Formerly known as East India the perfume is back with the new name: Vi et Armis (Latin for 'by force and arms', the motto of the East India company)
The olfactory references in the perfume are exploring Britain’s complex relationship with other nations and its dominance of international sea trade across the centuries, this heady, narcotic scent challenges as much as it beguiles.
Using imported and exported goods of the East India Company as its key notes, this addictive fragrance recalls the words of George Bernard Shaw: “Emotional excitement reaches men through Tea, Tobacco, Opium, Whisky and religion”
Paradoxical and challenging, we imagine the roots of our island nation steeped in contradictions.
Spezie by Lorenzo Villoresi £130.00
- Key notes:
- bay
- cardamom
- cinnamon
- coriander
- cypress
- rosemary
- sage
- tomato leaves
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- spicy
The green, relaxing scents of the Tuscan countryside blend with the liveliness of exotic spices. Cypress and Cinnamon, Bay and Pepper, Tomato and Cardamom leaves all dance together to create a rich, fresh, unique fragrance.
White by Comme Des Garcons £100.00
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- cinnamon
- cloves
- coriander
- lily-of-the-valley
- marigold
- nutmeg
- rose
- 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”.
Nightfall in the City of Kings by Mystikum £190.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- carrot seeds
- cedarwood
- cinnamon
- incense
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- vintage/old school
- woody
Twilight to moonlight in an ancient city. Cumin, peach and cedarwood in an intimate embrace, summoning the smell of skin seasoned by passion.Turkish rose surrenders to a velvety bed of amber, patchouli and sandalwood. For lovers of Féminité du Bois, the groundbreaking niche perfume created by Christopher Sheldrake with Pierre Bourdon.
Perfumer: Mark Buxton
Spice Must Flow by Etat Libre d'Orange £240.00
- 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.
Sumo Wrestler by J-Scent £122.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- cinnamon
- incense
- sandalwood
- star anise
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Contrary to Western expectations, sumo wrestlers rikishi 力士 exude an elegant scent which incorporates a traditional hair oil called bintsuke. This perfume conjures bintsuke with an aromatic eucalyptus and anise opening, before violet and heliotrope create a powdery smellscape, turning musky with the addition of patchouli and sandalwood. This eau de parfum represents a powerful sumo wrestler with a gentle, incense-like warmth.
Tierra Maya by Nissaba £150.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- chypre
- cinnamon
- incense
- rose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- spicy
- woody
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.
Montabaco by Ormonde Jayne £295.00
- Key notes:
- ambergris
- black tea
- cardamom
- clary sage
- iso-e-super
- juniper
- sandalwood
- tobacco
- Aromagroups:
- green
- spicy
- woody
An ornate tobacco leather with a hint of intoxicating tobacco bloom, as well as fresh leaves.
Montabaco is part of the Four Corners of the Earth collection and represents Latin America, the land where tobacco originated.
The perfumer conjures the original jungle encounters between natives and the sailor-explorers (who were totally oblivious to the magic of tobacco at that point). This is a novel interpretation of a tobacco-themed perfume, invoking lush green shadows full of parrot cries, mysterious blooms, and adventure.
The elixir is also exceptionally concentrated, at 42%. Hence the 'intensivo' in the title.
About Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe by Parfum d Empire
- What makes Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe unique compared to other oriental spicy fragrances?
- Ambre Russe combines unusual notes like vodka and champagne with traditional oriental spices and smoky elements such as birch tar and Russian leather. This blend creates a boozy, warm, and smoky profile that is both sophisticated and distinctive.
- Which perfumes on this list share the smoky character of Ambre Russe?
- Moonlight Ceremony, Play Black, and Vi et Armis all feature birch tar, black tea, and incense, contributing to a smoky character similar to Ambre Russe. However, each differs in intensity and additional accords such as saffron, black pepper, or oud.
- How does the presence of amber and cinnamon influence these fragrances compared to Ambre Russe?
- Amber and cinnamon provide warmth and spiciness that are central to Ambre Russe’s oriental spicy family. Fragrances like Nightfall in the City of Kings, Spice Must Flow, and Sumo Wrestler highlight these notes, but may vary in powderiness, sweetness, or added spices, offering different expressions of warmth.









