Best Eidesis by Aesop Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.

January 1618 A Japanese Galleon, the Pacific Ocean

Following a diplomatic mission to the West, a galleon carrying a delegation of samurai charges through dark ocean currents. Loaded with a rare and precious cargo, the ship’s hull is redolent of sweet-smelling tropical woods, heady Spanish leather, frankincense, fine black pepper and other exotic ground spices—the intoxicating spirit of a singular, extraordinary voyage of discovery.

A good perfume to visit if your are in a search for perfect true sandalwood,  smoky and a touch dirty. Arquiste carefully selected the companions for its sandal in this formula: tea and osmanthus, coffee, myrrh and stryrax and others to give it a dark, sensual depth.

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GQ US on Nanban:

"This is my signature scent. I wear it all the time. And let me tell you: I’ve never worn something that has gotten so many compliments—no sunglasses, no sneakers, no full-body rubber suit. People actually turn their heads and ask me what I'm wearing. And then they jot down the product name. Arquiste’s masterpiece introduces itself with Malabar black pepper and Persian saffron, gives way to coffee, sandalwood, myrrh, and Spanish leather, and embraces you all day with a blanket of frankincense, balsam, and cade juniper."

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Financial Times' resident perfume writer Victoria Frolova on Nanban:

"... approach coffee notes creatively. Instead of mimicking nature, a perfumer instead might fashion a blend that hints at coffee’s pleasing bitterness and heady richness. Such is Arquiste’s Nanban (£160 for 100ml EDP). The composition uses a plush backdrop of woods to frame the smoky, spicy notes of myrrh and incense, with an accent of coffee to lend the composition a dark, delicious twist. It teases with its smoky, nutty warmth, but keeps its presence mellow behind layers of sandalwood and leather."

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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.

This is an after-dark jasmine that smoulders, thanks to shadow-dwelling frankincense spiced up with Guatemalan cardamom and Madagascar black pepper. The charm of the char continues with cedarwood and cypress.

Perfumer: Alberto Morillas

Parfum 1 is where Fugazzi began, inspired by founder Bram Niessink’s trip to Egypt and the discovery of ancient perfume oils. Parfum 1 is a bold blend of bright and dark fruits, made mysterious by patchouli and cedarwood. The fresh top notes of citrus and blackcurrant are insinuating, gracefully riding a woody wave of sandalwood and musk. The effect is leathery, with a faint kiss of apple pie.

An electric collision of molecules: the effervescence of spicy pepper seeds suspended within darkness. Dry, fizzing Madagascan pepper cracks open against fiery cedarwood. Rich Akigalawood (upcycled patchouli with a peppery/woody profile) blends in blazing harmony with the caramel powderiness of tonka bean. A musky accord softens any sharp edges.

Perfumer: Antoine Maisondieu 

A road lined with cedars. The fresh morning air. The dense silence of the forest. Blueforest blends the dry freshness of cedarwood with the vibrancy of black pepper, creating an immediate woody-spicy tension. Musk softens the composition with a clean, enveloping sensation, giving the fragrance its second-skin character.

It is the energy of myth and the elegance of the garden that inspire a refined and vigorous essence.

Bergamot and juniper berries become full-bodied on a carpet of incense, fading into the persistent fascination of oriental wood.

The presence of a marble Hercules in the garden of the perfumer’s house, triumph of courage and immortality, elevates to myth the creations of Agatho and the Giardinodiercole becomes a perfume.

This is a beautifully-executed balance between dense, rich materials and a sheer, relaxed interpretation. Oud, unusually sourced from Brazil, sits easily with cedar, guaiac, patchouli and sandalwood, harmonising with spicy notes of cardamom and black pepper. With 92% ingredients of natural origin, the fragrance stays true to its structure, even as a lighter eau de cologne formulation. Free of dyes and animal ingredients.

Rien ('nothing' in French) is a beautiful animalic chypre, with an aldehydic (rather than classic citrus) opening and seriously naughty leathery vibes provided by the cumin and labdanum duo.  Also check this perfume out if you like frankincense in bold oriental interpretation.