Best Club de Nuit Precieux IV by Armaf Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

According to ancient religious scriptures, Mary mother of Jesus was informed of her destiny by the Archangel Gabriel when she was about 13 years old. Artists over the centuries have been captivated by the idea of this scene, a startled schoolgirl recoiling in shock from the supernatural being. The lily, symbolizing purity and innocence, is not only a common element of these artworks, but is also the inspiration for this extrait. In principio, Latin for “in the beginning”, is a meditation on the creamy radiance of lily, supported by the down-low sensuality of ylang ylang. Mace, sweeter than nutmeg and softer than incense, lends clarity, while sweet/tart kumquat sharpens the focus.

Limited to 58 bottles, 48% extrait.

Blended with:

White lily absolute, 
Kumquat essential oil, 
Mace absolute, 
Nutmeg tincture, 
Bitter orange essential oil , 
Ylang Ylang essential oil, 
Elemi essential oil, 
Tuscan cypress essential oil, 
Pompia essential oil, 
Turkish rose absolute, 
Rosewood essential oil, 
Frankincense rivae, 
Juhi jasmine absolute, 
Cistus tincture, 
Ambergris.

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.

Playground conjures the bracing nothing of cold air: crisp, clean, marine. A transparent but present blend of bergamot, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley, lightly fluffed with cashmere wood and musk. Honeydew melon lends its cool sweet flesh to this oceanic fantasy.

Inspired by the innovative use of materials that allowed 18th century clockmakers to construct the first truly accurate marine chronometers, Lignum Vitae combines elements of wood, metal and salt to produce a truly unique, transportive fragrance. Lignum vitae itself is an incredibly dense wood - the only wood which is guaranteed to sink in water - which is indigenous to the Caribbean and the north coast of South America. The brand’s nautical theme is enhanced wonderfully by caramel, a madeleine cake accord and a cool winter lemon note which provide a truly unique gourmand experience akin to smelling warm shortbread, muffins or cupcakes.

In combining unexpected and exotic raw materials, Beaufort London celebrates the innovative spirit which brought to an end the search for lost time, and permitted the safe passage of ships across the world.

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The Sniff on Lignum Vitae:

"An innovative gourmand fragrance with a masculine slant, Lignum Vitae by Beaufort London is something rather unexpected. And who doesn’t love a plot twist?"

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THE INSPIRATION

In 1977, the year I was born, Helmut Newton immortalised Charlotte Rampling in a series of photos entitled Venus in Fur. A feline and supersensual woman embodies sexual power: emancipated, she takes possession of her body and asserts her desires. Echoing the sexual revolution and its bohemian patchoulis, the perfumery of the 70s distils a chic eroticism, all in suggestion, where heady white flowers pierced by green, powdery and aldehydic notes anchor the fragrances of this decade in a glamorous sophistication.

THE PERFUME

Dialogue with Venus opens with a white floral accord evoking the luxurious and exacerbated femininity of the 70’s, while its fruity, silky and solar vanilla is treated according to the codes of the House of PIERRE GUILLAUME PARIS. Subtle exotic sprays flow through this floral melody like a wind of freedom, suggesting a mischievous and sexy “je-ne-sais-quoi”, an effortless chic.

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.

This fragrance is a tribute to the beauty of Madagascan vanilla — one of the finest vanillas in the world. Mafonja means “intense” (as in power or strength) in Malagasy.

It opens with a breath of fleur de sel, evoking salt-kissed skin. A soft heat follows, as cinnamon, pink pepper (Mauritius), and nutmeg wrap the senses in warmth. Ylang-ylang (Comoros) lends a creamy, luminous floral note. As the scent deepens, a darker story unfolds: resinous myrrh (Somalia) and olibanum (Somalia) melt into dark amber.

Réserve en Afrique eaux de parfum feature responsibly sourced naturals, and are free from parabens, phthalates, UV filters and colorants. Their natural alcohol base is derived from beetroots, and they are a PETA-listed vegan & cruelty-free brand.

Beaufort’s latest fragrance, the confounding and aquatic leaning Fathom V, broadly takes it’s cues from Shakespeare. Throughout The Tempest, the writer conjures vivid images of violent weather, shipwrecks and magical islands but the name Fathom V itself stems from a phrase gleaned from ‘Ariel’s Song’ within the play:

“Full fathom five thy father lies; 
Of his bones are coral made; 
Those are pearls that were his eyes: 
Nothing of him that doth fade, 
But doth suffer a sea-change 
Into something rich and strange.”

The idea of this ’sea-change’ and the constant tidal flux of the sea is properly explored in Fathom V with the overdosed use of contrasting materials: salt and earth, fragrant herbs and mosses, pleasant floral notes and intense dark spices encompassing and outlining the push and pull of the oceanic torrents. 

Grooming Guru on Fathom V:

"Fathom V’s cleverness lies in its ability to take the concept of an aquatic fragrance and turn it on its head. Instead of following the bright and breezy, surf’s up approach that so many marine scents take, it plots an entirely different course, taking the wearer on a dark, foggy, Gothic adventure that conjures up images of dark, 17th century sea ports full of smugglers, ships with moss-covered hulls and illegally obtained barrels of spice."

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Candy Perfume Boy on Fathom V:

"How Does it Smell? Like gunpowder, lush vegetation, murky waters and the barnacle-covered hulls of pirate ships."

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From LO’s Parfum Intense collection, this is an amber with the darkness turned up to 11. There’s no white space here, just expensive raw materials piled high. Its vibrant opening with fruity notes is enriched by the bitterness of coffee, deepening into a powerful chorus of rose, iris, jasmine and lily of the valley. And this valley is a deep one, a soft black expanse of leather, nagarmotha and patchouli, cushioned by a dirtier-than-usual amber.

Inspired by the traditional Provençal sweet Calisson, an almond-shaped paste of candied fruit topped with fondant icing. This edp launches with bergamot and sugary milk. Fresh orange blossom radiates from the heart, supported by a warm and creamy sandalwood. Base notes of caramel, vanilla and musk complete the mouth-watering effect.

Perfumer: Dominique Moellhausen

The spirited country girl arrives in the bustle of the city, determined to change her status to “anything but innocent”. That’s Sweet Lure, bubbling with naughty possibilities. Cinnamon and lily-of-the-valley swirl in a bamboozling haze of neroli and vanilla, keeping things alluring but fun.