Best Eau Sans Pareil by Penhaligon's Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Matilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I, was known for her breasts (“le plus beau décolleté”) and her talent as a painter. She also hosted a celebrated 19th-century Parisian salon attended by the greatest artists and writers of her time. This namesake perfume is an olfactory salon of provocative white florals (ylang-ylang, narcissus, jasmine) given tropical succulence with passion fruit and papaya. Mathilde’s heady brightness is softened by iris and sandalwood.

Trees laden with joyful, colourful exotic fruits: Pineapple, Coconut, Raspberry and Passion fruit. Lively Osmanthus and Ylang Ylang flowers. Sweet, delicious notes, as sensual and enveloping as an embrace under the infinite stars of the southern seas.

White is a bright and lively fragrance built around the friction between hot spices and suave florals. The cinnamon, clove and cardamom opening suggests candied red hots, which makes it all the more surprising when the melange of rose de Mai and lily of the valley softly asserts itself. The undertone of tagete, with its bitter herbalness, keeps White from getting too “pretty-pretty”.

This “divine flower” is a luminous, untamed floral that captures the serenity of nature in motion. It starts bright and light: lemongrass and passion fruit, opening up to peony and lily of the valley. Watery, ethereal cyclamen drenches the richness of jasmine, ylang-ylang and narcissus like dew over a meadow. The drydown is green, a mingling of eucalyptus and sage with peppermint, juniper and pine, grounded by 
Mysore sandalwood and a hint of vanilla bourbon.

Ramune is a traditional Japanese soda pop sold in a pale blue glass bottle sealed with a marble. The drink is evocative of Japanese summer festivals, carefree times illuminated by dreamy paper lanterns. This eau de parfum starts with the clear notes of lemon, aldehydes and mint, followed by gentle rose, muguet and magnolia, before drifting into musk and vanilla.

Warm sunshine at twilight. Tangerine dances with bergamot in this cashmere, jasmine and patchouli-based choreography. With a whopping 50% of perfume oil, this extrait is persuasive enough to beguile any unsuspecting soul who crosses your path.

September 1757, Casino Venier, Venice

A powdery floral fragrance based on authentic 18th century cosmetic formulas.

A coquettish floral capturing the decadence of 18th century Venice, its rococo interiors and clandestine affairs: a powdery blend of black violet, blush rose, and chamomile nestled on an impossibly soft base of dusty iris and subtle, animalic amber. 

“Udbaha” means “marriage” in Bangla, and this extrait references the Bangladeshi Holud Night celebration before the wedding. The festival is decorated with marigolds, roses and tuberoses. The aromas of festival sweets and treats fill the air: sugar, nuts, cardamom and saffron, mingling with oranges, pineapple and ripe mangoes. A spicy/earthy paste of turmeric and fenugreek is applied to the bride and groom’s body, enhanced by warm amber. And summoning the ceremonial application of henna, Bengal oud and oakmoss weaves a funky green trail through the proceedings. A deep and joyful perfume.

A contemporary orange blossom cologne.

Perfumer for 002: Karine Dubreuil – Sereni. 

Named after a very old native red grape variety from the French Jura, this sophisticated gourmand iris is built on an exceptionally high concentration of Bavarian iris germanica. This iris glows with woody and fruity-floral notes — and hints of cocoa and coffee. The effect is enhanced with essential oils of cedar wood, green mandarin and cinnamon absolute, resulting in a luxury treat that feels indulgent and  comforting at the same time.

Perfumer: Antoinie Lie