Best XXX Verdigris by Ermenegildo Zegna Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
XXX Verdigris by Ermenegildo Zegna is a woody aquatic fragrance characterised by a metallic, crisp freshness with aldehydes and icy notes upfront. Violet leaf and thyme add green nuances, while black pepper and cardamom contribute a spicy warmth. The base of sandalwood grounds the composition with a smooth, woody depth. For those drawn to clean, fresh scents with an aquatic edge and a hint of spice, focusing on the interplay of aldehydes, metallic accords, and woody spices will guide the search.
Vanuatu by Sora Dora £170.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- cardamom
- cumin
- papyrus
- patchouli
- sandalwood
- violet leaf
- Aromagroups:
- green
- woody
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.
Monopteros by Der Duft £110.00
- Key notes:
- aldehydes
- cardamom
- coconut
- coffee
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- unconventional
- woody
A collaboration with Anselm Skogstad.
Monopteros, an architectural term for a circular colonnade supporting a roof but without any walls.
In this perfume the dome is made of a giant coconut shell, the columns are made of coffee and spices and there is an icy aldehydes fountain in the center. The perfume is trippy, but in fun way.
Exit the King by Etat Libre d'Orange £155.00
- Key notes:
- aldehydes
- ambroxan
- lily-of-the-valley
- oakmoss
- sandalwood
- white musk
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- green
- vintage/old school
- woody
An electrified lily-of-the-valley spark, modern molecules reanacting a vintage theme. Also a romantic scented scetch on kings giving in to the magic of love.
Notes from the brand:
"The curtain rises on a state at the corner of 69 rue des Archives, in the Marais, Paris. A place that is like a frontier, where the old world ends and the new world begins. The pale moon can be seen lowering over the towers of Notre Dame in the distance. A man and a woman are in a perfumery, surrounded by bottles. He has yielded in submission to a fallen sovereign and is condemned to the ultimate fate. She is the new soul, the new role, she is desirable and she has conquered. She is the denunciation, a touch condescending. The fluttering of her eyelashes declares she is the one whose hour of glory has arrived, a scent testing blotter in hand."
Osmanthus Noble by Exaltatum £130.00
- Key notes:
- aldehydes
- apricot
- labdanum
- osmanthus
- sandalwood
- suede
- tobacco
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- leather
This fragrance is inspired by love, drama and opulence of the famous painting by P. P. Rubens and the legend of Samson and Delilah. Osmanthus Noble is intense and has a strong personality and notes of Osmanthus, Ylang Ylang and Jasmine absolute flowers, spicy tobacco, warm amber and sandalwood.
At opening you can feel fresh, spicy and aldehydic notes blended with bergamot and mandarin that give vividness and intensity. The noble osmanthus absolute combined with an aromatic clary sage play together to form a soft suede accord. Tobacco absolute, delicious black cherry, saffron and tonka beans play an important role in creating a sensual atmosphere. Floral notes of jasmine sambac and ylang-ylang give vitality and bloom in the heart. In the dry down, oakmoss absolute, labdanum, sandalwood, smoky vetiver and animalic musks bring a spiritual feeling and allow the perfume to linger on the skin.
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.
Blamage by Nasomatto £130.00
- Key notes:
- animalic notes
- birch tar
- iso-e-super
- leather
- metallic notes
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Space leather from a planet where green apples grow from metal trees. A dust of musk floats across a landscape of transparent woods and nuclear fallout.
Copper by Comme Des Garcons £155.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- galbanum
- ginger
- metallic notes
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
- spicy
A high-contrast fragrance: metallic/vegetal, bitter/sweet. Copper opens as a galbanum bomb: the sap of the Persian perennial producing its characteristic grassy bite. Copper elicits strong impressions: from “peas growing in a sun-baked greenhouse” to “a cashmere scarf permeated with cigarette smoke”, with the unifier being “comforting”, due to its soft path to a faded tobacco-vanilla drydown.
Fantomas by Nasomatto £130.00
- Key notes:
- melon
- metallic notes
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- unconventional
Fantômas was the ruthless and elusive antihero of a series of blockbuster French crime novels in the early 20th century. Sophisticated and sadistic, the villain was a chameleon who always got the better of his enemies. The extrait de parfum named for him follows in his enigmatic footsteps, a smooth, thick melon and cashmeran blend that is simultaneously soothing and sinister. Jelly beans made from plastic? Or the smell of the rubber gloves on the hands about to squeeze the air from your throat? You decide — if you live long enough.
Iron Duke by Beaufort £125.00
- Key notes:
- dark musks
- leather
- metallic notes
- oud
- Aromagroups:
- unconventional
- woody
With Iron Duke Beaufort start a new series: ‘REVENANTS’, a collection of olfactory impressions of figures from Britain’s past. Characters from the history whose presence lingers, subtly.
Vol 1 – ‘Iron Duke’ is a tribute to Arthur Wellesley, Duke Of Wellington (1769 – 1852). Here, perfumer Julie Dunkley has created a strikingly powerful fragrance with animalic depths – an apparition of the celebrated horseman, warrior politician and sartorial pioneer.
Lü Bu by Sora Dora £170.00
- Key notes:
- benzoin
- cedarwood
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- gun powder
- incense
- metallic notes
- orris (iris root)
- smoke
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- spicy
- woody
Lü Bu is a formidable Chinese warlord, tiger-fierce but volatile. At the end of his last battle he is a folded shadow. The once most-feared man of the Empire, son of iron and fire, is devoured by his own legend. This olfactory scar of a perfume opens with vivid, tannic clove, like the acridity of blood on a still-warm blade. On a forgotten altar smoulders the benzoin beauty of papier d'Arménie, while iris, noble and powdery, whispers the hero's solitude. More than glory and power, Lü Bu speaks of sacrifice and memory. Loyal to all those who wear their shadows with pride.
About XXX Verdigris by Ermenegildo Zegna
- How does XXX Verdigris differ from these similar fragrances?
- XXX Verdigris balances woody aquatic freshness with a metallic and spicy character, driven by aldehydes, metallic notes, and icy accords. The fragrances listed share some of these elements but often introduce distinct accords such as leathery, smoky, or gourmand notes, resulting in varied interpretations rather than exact matches.
- What notes define the woody aquatic family in XXX Verdigris?
- Woody aquatic fragrances like XXX Verdigris combine fresh, watery notes with woody bases. Key notes include aldehydes for brightness, metallic and ice accords for aquatic freshness, aromatic spices like black pepper and thyme, and sandalwood to provide a smooth woody foundation.
- Which fragrances here emphasise the metallic notes of XXX Verdigris?
- Leonarda by Spiritica incorporates metallic notes alongside black pepper, while Comme des Garcons 2 features aldehydes that contribute to a crisp metallic effect. These highlight the metallic facet present in XXX Verdigris more prominently than others.









