Best Violet Ends by Boy Smells Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Violet Ends is an oriental spicy fragrance that blends floral violet and green rhubarb with the sharpness of black pepper and bergamot. It unfolds with smoky layers of tobacco, black tea, and leather, enriched by powdery orris and resinous frankincense. Birch tar and papyrus introduce a woody, smoky depth, creating a complex and multi-faceted scent with both freshness and warmth. Those drawn to Violet Ends should focus on the balance of smoky leather and floral violet nuances combined with spicy and resinous accents.
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
Iris Cendré by Naomi Goodsir £170.00
- Key notes:
- orris (iris root)
- tobacco
- violet
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- vintage/old school
- woody
Perfumer: Julien Rasquinet
Iris Cendre acts cold and green at the opening with the help of bergamot and frankincense, but as the perfume unfolds and smoke lifts, orris appears in its creamy gourmand seductiveness.
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.
Lost In Translation by Maison Matine £60.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- leather
- rosewood
- tobacco
- violet leaf
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
A bait-and-switch perfume that starts sharp and clean with juniper and crisp, metallic violet leaves. Then comes the gentle abyss: a faded haze of tobacco, patchouli and leather swirled with white tea and musk. The message might be lost in translation, but all meaning will be found in the fragrance.
Black by Comme Des Garcons £95.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black pepper
- leather
- smoke
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- spicy
- woody
Black in name, black in nature: black pepper, incense, leather, licorice, birch tar. The effect is tough but comforting — a campfire shot through with sparks of nutmeg, and more than a hint of gasoline-infused motorbike saddle.
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.
***
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."
Hey Bitch! by Ourte £115.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- labdanum
- leather
- orris (iris root)
- sandalwood
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- leather
- woody
“Hey Bitch! You smell fucking good.” In Perfume World, that’s what we call a result. Hey Bitch! raises eyebrows with its dissonance between buttery, blowsy orange blossom and tough, bitter leather. Tangy rhubarb at the top snaps its fingers in your face, before dissolving into a blur of suedey iris and milky sandalwood. The dance between bitter and sweet keeps you on your toes throughout, conjuring hints of…what? Photocopier ink? Coffee? For sure it conjures ambered black leather, Bitch!
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
Ruby Wood by Exaltatum £130.00
- Key notes:
- frankincense
- incense
- rose
- violet
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- woody
Exploring autumnal woods and London parks is an endless experience. Colorful palette of feelings and emotions touches the inner self. Rose petals slowly falling on the dark, warm earth. The lights passing through autumnal tree leaves play a symphony of emotions.
The eau de parfum Ruby Wood is rose- woody- balsamic floriental scent with the red berry and coffee nuances. The perfume was created by Eglija Vaitkevice in 2018.
Alyazia by Maysson £180.00
- Key notes:
- orange blossom
- orris (iris root)
- tonka beans
- vanilla
- violet
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
The name Alyazia is associated with a rare and delicate gazelle, symbolising grace, elegance and natural beauty. With its traditional Bedouin roots, the name has a strong connection to the heritage of the Arabian Gulf. The fragrance opens with plush, tender violet, illuminated by a solar heart of wild strawberry and orange blossom. The cushioned base of iris, vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood extends the “ahhhhhhh” of this comforting scent.
About Violet Ends by Boy Smells
- How does Violet Ends differ from these fragrances?
- Violet Ends uniquely balances floral violet and rhubarb with smoky birch tar and resinous frankincense, creating an oriental spicy scent with green, powdery, and leathery facets. The fragrances listed share some elements but each varies in emphasis on wood, smoke, spice, or floral notes, offering different interpretations of this complex profile.
- Which fragrances here are the smokiest compared to Violet Ends?
- Play Black, Vi et Armis, Black, Nanban, and Moonlight Ceremony emphasise smoky notes like birch tar, incense, and leather, often adding oud or myrrh. They tend to be richer and more intense in smokiness compared to Violet Ends.
- Are there any fragrances here with a strong floral violet presence like Violet Ends?
- Iris Cendré, Omega, and Ruby Wood highlight violet or orris root prominently. They offer more floral or powdery interpretations, differing from Violet Ends’ blend of floral with spicy and smoky elements.









