Best Les Absolus d'Orient Santal Royal by Guerlain 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.

An aromatic, dreamy citrus scent inspired by the sumptuous Andalusician city of Marbella. With rose, amber and peach this perfume is fresh, floral and sophisticated.

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.

Hélène Napoleone was the daughter of Napoleon’s last lover, Albine de Montholon, and although it was never confirmed if the now-exiled Emperor was indeed her father, he did give her his name, so…? Her namesake fragrance is a vivacious bouquet of fruits and florals, headlined by sparkling pear and creamy magnolia. The charm deepens with the amber base, warmed by sandalwood and patchouli.

The soft, gentle, enveloping fragrance of Teint de Neige in its most concentrated version. Recalling images and atmosphere of the belle-époque, with sweet and powdery notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang on a base of musk, tonka beans and heliotrope.

In the muggy shade of a tropical rainforest, an orchid sways seductively. Its glistening petals tremble in anticipation, inviting a passing butterfly to consummate the intimate act of pollination. Succumbing to the allure of the silken flower, the butterfly eagerly flits forward. But as it prepares to alight, the exotic bloom abruptly transforms. Delicate leaves contort into dagger-like forelegs, seizing the bug’s fragile wings. Before the butterfly can comprehend its fate, its head is devoured, crushed between the powerful jaws of the stealthy orchid mantis.

Orchid Mantis lures you into a fragrant illusion. Juicy pear, rich rose and heady jasmine entwine with basil and ylang to suggest the intense scent of orchids. This vintage style is set against the backdrop of a humid rainforest evoked by patchouli, moss, sandalwood and vetiver. An enduring musk serves as a reminder that beauty can also be beastly.

In the understated chic of Parisienne style, it’s details that matter: the perfect red lipstick, a delicate gold necklace, the right perfume. And this is the right perfume — a sparkling floral and patchouli confection that is lush but not overstuffed. Jasmine and rose meets raspberry and vanilla for put-together prettiness.

Lively and full of contrasts, Dancing Light is a reflection of the northern lights that inspired it. Icy mint and Siberian pine needles bring a breath of coolness. Then a bouquet of bright white flowers with jasmine, neroli and seringa, dances in the heart warmed by the sandalwood.

Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur

HIRAETH is akin to longing/nostalgia (no direct translation into English) and is pronounced "Hear-ay-the".

Enveloping with intimate notes of jasmine, this intoxicating niche fragrance offers comfort and wellbeing. Cocoons in layers of familiarity from its sweet embrace of amber to an earthiness fashioned from traces of oakmoss.

PG19.1 Neroli ad Astra is a musky fresh formula with a delicate green woody character.

It starts with a soft clean mix of mandarin, neroli and geranium and gradually descends to dry powdery spiciness of Haiti vetiver and an exotic note of desert agave flower.

This has been an absolute hit with ladies for a few years now. 

Pair this perfume with the indulgent Neroli ad Astra hand and body wash infused with the same fragrance.