Best Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels is a woody aromatic fragrance defined by a complex blend of fresh herbal notes like lavender, rosemary, wormwood, and cut grass, layered with warm spices such as cinnamon and coriander. It also incorporates floral nuances of jasmine, rose, and lily-of-the-valley, alongside rich woody bases including cedarwood, sandalwood, and patchouli, finished with musk, amber, and tonka beans for depth. Those drawn to Tsar should focus on its balance of aromatic freshness, spicy warmth, and a leathery, sophisticated woody foundation.
Debonaire by Plowden & Fallow £108.00
- Key notes:
- lavender
- lemon
- neroli
- rosemary
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
One has a sophisticated charm, confidence and sports impeccable tailoring, need we say more? Debonaire is your go to Plowden & Fallow fragrance for everyday wear be that wondering the streets of Chelsea, attending a mid-summer garden party, or those days spent in the office followed by a post work drink.
For here we have an example of aromatic tailoring of the finest order; a fragrant citrus head has been carefully woven into a delightfully musky floral base from which gentle woody notes ascend forth.
No. 89 by Floris £100.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- geranium
- neroli
- nutmeg
- oakmoss
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- woody
No. 89 has been an icon among the Floris collection for over 60 years. First crafted in 1951, No. 89 takes its name from the number of their flagship shop on Jermyn Street.
Ian Fleming who was a customer of Floris mentions No. 89 in his James Bond universe.
No. 89 is a classic and timeless mix of fresh citruses, sparkly spices and aromatic herbs resting on sandalwood and oakmoss. There is an adventurous romantic twist in the formula though: a drop of rose.
No. 89 could be a fragrance for the quintessential English gentleman.
ARA(GON) by Mallo £220.00
- Key notes:
- coumarin
- cumin
- incense
- lavender
- oakmoss
- thyme
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- leather
- vintage/old school
Aragon is an olfactory tribute to the Aragon region of Spain, the birthplace of Mallo. A unique aromatic fougere, the scent showcases local aromatic plant extracts from cypress, basil, thyme, rosemary and artemisia. Added to this busy mix is the pipirigallo flower, exclusive to the region. The scent is rounded off by mossy, resinous elements for a warm, enveloping feel.
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.
- Key notes:
- angelica root
- fennel
- fougere
- galbanum
- mint
- oakmoss
- petrichor
- pine
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- vintage/old school
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
Kajal III by Kajal £195.00
- Key notes:
- ambroxan
- grapefruit
- lavender
- lemon
- neroli
- rosemary
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
Symbolically, three is a powerful number which represents the wholeness of a completed cycle — the past, the present, the future. We are not defined by our hardships, but by how we confront them: the discipline of optimism, the courage of resolve. Kajal III, with its burst of ginger and citrus anchored by cleansing lavender and enfolding amber, has been created to honor all forms of determination and fortitude.
Perfumer: Kevin Mathis
Acqua di Colonia by Lorenzo Villoresi £130.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- bigarade
- lavender
- rosemary
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- green
A timeless, traditional cologne: fresh, versatile and eternally elegant like all true classics. The fragrance expresses all its radiant freshness with the most intoxicating citrus aromas: Bergamot, Lemon and Orange are a perfect contrast to the Lavender and invigorating Mediterranean herbs.
Fougère Royale by Houbigant £175.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- carnation
- clary sage
- fougere
- geranium
- oakmoss
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- vintage/old school
- woody
Created by Master Perfumer Paul Parquet in 1882, Fougère Royale completely revolutionized the world of perfumes and established modern perfumery as it exists today. As well as creating an entirely new fragrance family, Parquet had succeeded in extracting isolated, synthetic molecules from natural, raw materials. In the dedicated pursuit to expand olfactory palettes with novel, new aromas, he’d derived coumarin from the tonka bean in a worldwide premiere. In its mission to authentically replicate the original, regal masterpiece from centuries past, the reengineered formula cultivates refined, prestigious raw materials of the highest quality and provenance. This masterfully revamped Fougère Royale retains its elegant, noble, refined pulse and its pleasant, pastoral beauty.
The perfectly-blended perfume is redolent of green and fragrant foliage with densely shaded woodlands. Sweet green grasses suggest the freshly-released essences of a crushed and dewy verdure, with an intense hint of newly-mown hay.
Fougère Royale’s nuanced scent composition opens with a vibrant, sparkling cocktail of bergamot, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. The heart follows, with floral-spicy Rondeletia accord, rare in most perfumes. Opening into rich geranium and warm spices. A floral intermezzo showcases rare rose essences and absolutes, spiked by pepper, cinnamon and carnation. Finally, a grand finale of earthy, ambery and woody harmonies, where moss notes join a sensual patchouli enriched by warm coumarinic undertones of tonka beans and clary sage absolute.
Mathilde by Rance 1795 £110.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- lily-of-the-valley
- narcissus
- neroli
- orris (iris root)
- passion fruit
- rose
- sandalwood
- tangerine
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- fruity
Matilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I, was known for her breasts (“le plus beau décolleté”) and her talent as a painter. She also hosted a celebrated 19th-century Parisian salon attended by the greatest artists and writers of her time. This namesake perfume is an olfactory salon of provocative white florals (ylang-ylang, narcissus, jasmine) given tropical succulence with passion fruit and papaya. Mathilde’s heady brightness is softened by iris and sandalwood.
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”.
About Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels
- How does Tsar differ from these similar fragrances?
- Tsar is distinguished by its intricate blend of fresh herbal, spicy, floral, leathery, and woody notes, resulting in a complex woody aromatic composition. The fragrances listed share some of these elements but vary in emphasis, ranging from fresher or smokier to more floral or animalic profiles. None replicate Tsar’s full multifaceted depth precisely.
- Are these fragrances suitable for everyday wear like Tsar?
- Many of the fragrances share Tsar’s aromatic freshness and woody base, making them suitable for daily use. However, some like ARA(GON) or Young Cossack have stronger smoky or animalic notes that might be better suited for evening or special occasions.
- Which notes should I focus on if I like Tsar’s woody aromatic character?
- Focus on fragrances containing lavender, rosemary, oakmoss, sandalwood, vetiver, and leather, as these form the core woody aromatic structure in Tsar. Spicy notes like cinnamon and coriander and floral touches such as neroli, jasmine, and rose also contribute to its distinctive profile.









