Best In The Library by CB I Hate Perfume Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Perfumer: Christophe Raynaud

A moonlit leather made with velvety violet leaves and smooth cool orris, all studded with cardamom, dry cedar and spicy earthy cypriol.

In the Beso trio, Beso Negro ("kiss of the darkness") represents the sleepless nights of the busy holiday island: velvety darkness, golden lanterns, cooling sea breeze, stars, and sand.

Blackish green, glistening and cool - like dragon's scales. An oakmoss beast.

Drakon is a full-on vintage fougere in a style we thought was extinct, appearing only in perfume legends. It's a bitter, powdery green leather which starts with punchy betel leaves, then slides into a resinous fir/cypress maze, finally coiling up on a bed of oakmoss.

A wet and moody rose unfurls its dark petals, releasing the ancient aphrodisiac of saffron, along with bitter/fresh cassis. Javanol, an aromachemical summoning a rose-inflected sandalwood, creates the powerful sillage. Natural sandalwood and a warm tobacco ground the fragrance, adding depth and richness. Kashmir Fusion rounds out the velvety effect with its woody amber-musk.

“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!

Kamasurabhi, the “perfume of pleasure”: a kaleidoscope of fragrances and colours, an incredibly precious attar. Piercingly delicate Indian flowers, infused with the mysterious, seductive scent of a Sandalwood forest and exotic woods, with sensual, enveloping undertones of Leather, Amber and Musk.

A new project with Bertrand Duchaufour and a landscape artist/photographer Martin Hill.

The same way in which Martin goes to a sight and rearranges what nature left there into an installation, the perfumer rearranged some molecules and materials to put the beauty of a natural material into focus.

Also Martin aims to let his stuctures to be absorbed back into natural chaos. Perfume evaporates into the environment in a similar fashion, beautiful but transient.

In Leather Shot all the focus is on the leather aroma effect (which can be achieved through many combinations of various perfume materials). In this particular perfume it's velvety orris, black tea and a touch of smoky sandalwood that create that dense, dark and heady aroma of suede.

The structure in the image below is a bit like the leather effect in perfumery. It manifests itself on the surface after some aromatic forces have worked their mysterious magic.

A pile-up of contrasts: cinnamon along with tropical florals frangipani and ylang ylang, against the earthy bitterness of artichoke and leather. This almost-gingerbread, almost-cement perfume confuses the senses with its animal/vegetable/mineral mystery.

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."

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Perfumer: Amelie Bourgeois

Peaceful and comforting or rich and feral - you can be both. A sinful blend of caramel, leather and oud brings tempting tones. While sweet woods of almond, oakmoss, vanilla and ylang ylang deliver smooth, sensuous power. Sandalwood envelops patchouli for blond, earthy brightness as the smoke and rum dance for more sophisticated depth. 

Intoxicating and smooth, the Damascena rose radiates throughout. A twist of pink pepper brings a touch of freshness. The velvety touch of rose petals combined with vanilla creates a luxurious veil. 

Furthermore, there is a dark, green undertone from the davana herb which contrasts with the silkiness of the rose.