Best 21 by CoSTUME NATIONAL Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
21 by CoSTUME NATIONAL is an oriental woody fragrance that blends creamy milk accord with spicy saffron and warm, resinous frankincense. Its composition is enriched by rich notes such as cashmeran, patchouli, honey, and vanilla, layered with aromatic herbs like sage and cumin. The scent balances smoky agarwood and labdanum with fresh cedarwood and vetiver, creating a complex, warm, and slightly sweet profile for those who appreciate multifaceted oriental woods.
Kajal I by Kajal £195.00
- Key notes:
- cashmeran
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- mandarin
- orange blossom
- patchouli
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
Spiritually, number one represents beginnings, focus and determination. Kajal l, with its fresh, engaging warmth, has been crafted to underscore one’s innate dignity and charisma. Cassis, grapefruit and mandarin provide the big “hello!”. Guaiac wood, cardamom, orange blossom and cashmeran draw people in, while a soft vanillic cloud of sandalwood and oud extend the allure.
Perfumer: Christian Carbonnel
Sacreste by Laboratorio Olfattivo £120.00
- Key notes:
- cashmeran
- cedarwood
- incense
- labdanum
- saffron
- Aromagroups:
- woody
The Nero collection
“Sacreste comes out from the study of another perfume that I have been trying to realize for eight years. Two years ago I received a trial fragrance by Luca Maffei which was characterized by an incense note I really like. We have been working on that note, finishing it and making it sensual until we arrived at the final project, that I completely love.”
Roberto Drago, LO's owner
Giardinodiercole by Agatho £305.00
- Key notes:
- black pepper
- cashmeran
- cedarwood
- juniper
- lavender
- patchouli
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
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.
Forgive me by Carine Roitfeld £190.00
- Key notes:
- cashmeran
- labdanum
- leather
- orange blossom
- patchouli
- tuberose
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Perfumer: Dominique Ropion
An enigmatic leather perfume merged from captivating nuances of tuberose, orange blossom and gardenia. The wild facet of ylang ylang intertwined with the woody notes of patchouli add a sensuous tone. Frankincense and labdanum complete the leather theme. The trail left by the perfume is surprising, narcotic filled by a magnetic elegance.
Cow by Zoologist £200.00
- Key notes:
- lily-of-the-valley
- milk accord
- sage
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- green
Perfumer: Nathalie Feisthauer
Lush green pastures tumble toward the horizon, arching beneath the imposing silhouette of a mountain range. Cumulus clouds roll across a bright blue sky, their massive shadows gliding over a peacefully grazing herd. In a corner of the meadow, a tiny calf braces quivering limbs and, with a mighty lurch, stumbles up to take its maiden steps. Its velvet snout prods, rooting at its mother, until the release of warm milk signals a satisfying welcome to this vast new world.
Zoologist Cow brings to mind a bucolic scene, a myriad of scents from Mother Nature’s nurturing bosom. Innocent florals sway among soft grasses, while apple gently sweetens the soft aroma of fresh milk. The result is a place both familiar and reassuring, where warm arms unfold to welcome us into a loving embrace. A place called home.
- Key notes:
- lily-of-the-valley
- milk accord
- sage
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- green
Perfumer: Nathalie Feisthauer
Lush green pastures tumble toward the horizon, arching beneath the imposing silhouette of a mountain range. Cumulus clouds roll across a bright blue sky, their massive shadows gliding over a peacefully grazing herd. In a corner of the meadow, a tiny calf braces quivering limbs and, with a mighty lurch, stumbles up to take its maiden steps. Its velvet snout prods, rooting at its mother, until the release of warm milk signals a satisfying welcome to this vast new world.
Zoologist Cow brings to mind a bucolic scene, a myriad of scents from Mother Nature’s nurturing bosom. Innocent florals sway among soft grasses, while apple gently sweetens the soft aroma of fresh milk. The result is a place both familiar and reassuring, where warm arms unfold to welcome us into a loving embrace. A place called home.
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.
Bee by Zoologist £240.00
- Key notes:
- candied orange
- heliotrope
- honey
- labdanum
- orange blossom
- sandalwood
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- leather
- woody
Perfumer: Cristiano Canali
A towering, skyscraper-sized beehive, dripping with honey. See the bee, be the bee. That’s you, waggling your cute black’n’yellow striped booty in a dance through a golden flow of labdanum and leathery orange blossom with powdery mini-explosions of mimosa, tonka and heliotrope. Buzz!
Živeli by Boka £215.00
- Key notes:
- brandy
- honey
- leather
- mandarin
- plum
- saffron
- tobacco
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- fruity
- woody
“Živeli” (ZHEE-vuh-lee) is a common Serbian toast used to wish good health and a long life. In this extrait, a juicy burst of plum brandy melts into a leathered tobacco, encapsulating a celebratory night out with friends. Giddy joy is further fluffed by cherry and raspberry notes, while the leather aspect is warmed by honey, saffron and labdanum.
This composition is 24% parfum concentration, with 70% natural ingredients. Capped in Mexican Riviera Gray marble in a delicately etched glass bottle.
Veles by Wolf Brothers £130.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- oud
- patchouli
- saffron
- smoke
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
A meditation on untamed nature, lost marshes, primeval fires. A dusky oud softened by labdamum and tonka, sharpened by rhubarb and saffron, toughened by tar and smoke.
About 21 by CoSTUME NATIONAL
- What makes 21 by CoSTUME NATIONAL an oriental woody fragrance?
- 21 is classified as oriental woody due to its blend of warm spices like saffron and cumin, resinous notes such as frankincense and labdanum, and woody accents from cedarwood, vetiver, and agarwood. The milk accord and honey add a creamy, sweet dimension that balances the spiciness and woods.
- How does 21 differ from the fragrances listed here?
- While these fragrances share several notes with 21, none replicate its full complexity. 21 uniquely balances creamy milk accord, spicy saffron, resinous frankincense, and sweet honey with a smoky agarwood base, resulting in a multifaceted oriental woody scent that remains distinctive.
- Are these fragrances suitable for both day and evening wear like 21?
- Many fragrances on this list, like Demain Promis and Sacreste, offer fresher or cleaner interpretations suitable for daytime. Others, such as Forgive me or Bee, have richer, more intense profiles better suited for evening wear, reflecting the versatility found in 21.









