Best In St Tropez by Zara Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
In St Tropez by Zara is a fresh and invigorating fragrance that blends bright bergamot and sparkling bellini with a touch of spicy black pepper and aromatic frankincense. The addition of sea salt and geranium lends a coastal, slightly floral character, while sandalwood provides a warm, creamy base. Those drawn to this scent should focus on the balance of fresh citrus, subtle spice, and soft woods with a hint of oceanic freshness.
Blue Waterfall by MINT £170.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- sandalwood
- sea salt
- Aromagroups:
- green
- transparent
- woody
Blue line
Perfumer: Marie Salamagne
A green fresh sandalwood.
Nanban by Arquiste £195.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- frankincense
- leather
- myrrh
- osmanthus
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- woody
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."
Santal by Floris £100.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- black pepper
- cardamom
- cedarwood
- cloves
- frankincense
- nutmeg
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- 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.
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.
St. Paul's by Exaltatum £130.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- bergamot
- frankincense
- incense
- labdanum
- orange blossom
- pink pepper
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- leather
- vintage/old school
- woody
The floriental baroquesque parfum St. Paul's embodies an adoration and admiration to the spectacular era of Baroque. This style in architecture, music, art, sculpture demonstrates exalted movements, clear details, intense light and dark shadows, emotional exuberance, richness, extravaganza, which distinct baroque from other style.
The English baroque represents iconic St. Paul's Cathedral, which dome has long dominated the London skyline.
The perfume opens with the precious orange flower and jasmine absolutes with a hint of dried and juicy fruits, contrasting with the darker woody and balsamic base.
Helix by CARNER £150.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- cedarwood
- clary sage
- lactonic nuance
- orange blossom
- sea salt
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- marine
- woody
A harmonious blend of lily-of-the-valley and orange blossom meets a refreshing hint of sea salt and bright bergamot. Creamy lactonic nuances unfold, enhanced by a soft musk and earthy vetiver base for an exquisite diffusion.
Playground by Der Duft £110.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- jasmine
- melon
- sea salt
- Aromagroups:
- marine
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.
Portamarina by Agatho £305.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- orris (iris root)
- sage
- sea salt
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- marine
A sea breeze weaves through the slumbering streets of Pompeii at dawn. Here, the Mediterranean aromas of citrus fruits and aromatic herbs blend with the wild scent of dew-kissed apples. The talcum-like fragrance of frescoed walls, suggested by powdery iris, grounds the fragrance.
Beso de Fuego by Beso Beach £145.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- frankincense
- incense
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
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
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.
About In St Tropez by Zara
- What makes In St Tropez distinct from these similar fragrances?
- In St Tropez balances fresh citrus and sea salt with spicy black pepper, geranium floral notes, and warm sandalwood, creating a light yet complex coastal scent. While many fragrances share some of these elements, few combine the sparkling bellini accord with frankincense and pepper in quite the same way.
- Are these fragrances suitable for warm weather wear like In St Tropez?
- Most of the fragrances listed feature fresh, citrus, or marine notes making them appropriate for warm weather. However, some, like Nanban and Santal, include heavier spices and resins, which might feel richer and more suited to cooler conditions or evening wear.
- Which fragrances share the sea salt note found in In St Tropez?
- Blue Waterfall, Bendito Beso, Helix, Playground, Portamarina, and Saint Malo all include sea salt, contributing to a fresh, coastal character similar to In St Tropez.









