Best Memoir Man by Amouage Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Memoir Man by Amouage is a leather fragrance that blends aromatic herbs with smoky and resinous elements. The opening features wormwood, mint and basil, leading into a heart of incense, lavender, tobacco and leather. A warm base of sandalwood, rose, guaiac wood, vetiver, amber, vanilla and musk adds depth and complexity. Those drawn to leathery scents with herbal freshness and smoky, resinous undertones will find Memoir Man distinctive and layered.
Young Cossack by Anna Zworykina £95.00
- Key notes:
- castoreum
- hay
- leather
- oakmoss
- smoke
- thyme
- tobacco
- vetiver
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Ты меня не бойся,
Я тебя не трону,
Ты не беспокойся.
***
An intense, smoky herbal blend that, like all of Anna's creations, will transport you to an imaginary landscape.
It's inspired by Cossacks, the soldier-farmers who live in the steppes in the south of Russia, accomplished horsemen guarding the borders since the days of Catherine the Great.
You are welcome to devise your own story, but here at Bloom, we imagine a young Cossack resting among haystacks and wild herbs, smoking his clay pipe while contemplating the starry sky. His friends are sitting by the open fire nearby. Smoke is wafting through wild thyme and wormwood.
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Young Cossack story):
galbanum CO2 extract
artemisia annia essential oil
artemisia absinthium essential oil
immortel absolute
Seville lavender abs
thyme essential oil
tarragon essential oil
davana essential oil
guayak wood essential oil.
rose de May absolute
Morrocan rose absolute
cumin CO2 extract
frankincense absolute
petitgrain essential oil
geranium leaves absolute
myrth essential oil
costus absolute
oakmoss absolute
patchouli essential oil
labdanum absolute
tabacco absolute
tonka bean absolute
agarwood essential oil
vetiver essential oil
castoreum tinctura
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).
Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.
Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
ARA(GON) by Mallo £220.00
- Key notes:
- coumarin
- cumin
- incense
- lavender
- oakmoss
- thyme
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- leather
- vintage/old school
Aragon is an olfactory tribute to the Aragon region of Spain, the birthplace of Mallo. A unique aromatic fougere, the scent showcases local aromatic plant extracts from cypress, basil, thyme, rosemary and artemisia. Added to this busy mix is the pipirigallo flower, exclusive to the region. The scent is rounded off by mossy, resinous elements for a warm, enveloping feel.
Misty Cypress Ash 青岚柏烬 by Zhiwuzhi 挚物志 £120.00
- Key notes:
- cypress
- damp earth accord
- incense
- petrichor
- vetiver
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- green
- woody
Misty Cypress Ash captures a mountain landscape with swirls of smoke rising from smoldering cypress branches amid the forest mist. Opens with an herbaceous, slightly bitter green haze of absinthe and wormwood, transitioning into a warm, spicy and woody heart of cypress and rich tobacco. Finally it settles into a comfortable, earthy and mineral-smoky finish with rooty vetiver and austere cedar.
Perfumer: Yang Liu
Brume Matcha by Marie Jeanne £60.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- cedarwood
- geranium
- mint
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
Perfume: Sidonie Lancesseur
A roasty-toasty nose of matcha tea is your entry point to this delightful essay on the joys of the gently-reviving hot beverage. The nutty bitterness is supported by a beautifully calibrated blur of basil, peppermint, geranium and cedar.
Play Green by Comme Des Garcons £95.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- juniper
- lentisque
- mint
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- green
How many greens can fit in a bottle? This edt amps nature with vibrant and herbaceous lentisk and basil, along with head-clearing spearmint and juniper. Lime and vetiver adds treble and bass. You can’t say “Play Green” without smiling.
Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu
Love In A Mist by NuWilds £80.00
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- grapefruit
- lavender
- mint
- rosemary
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
This fragrance captures the essence of a Chinese summer — the tingling mint and cool eucalyptus of dusky mountain air, the aromatics of shiso, lavender and chamomile as the darkness deepens, the grounding woods and greens of cypress, vetiver and galbanum. A dream of summer rewritten — nostalgic and gently magical.
Perfumer: Jin Yongshan
Hold my Pipe by Anna Zworykina £130.00
- Key notes:
- cloves
- opium
- peat
- smoke
- tar
- thyme
- tobacco
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- unconventional
- woody
An exclusive project for Bloom, dedicated to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson’s adventures.
Hold my Pipe has notes of peat from the Grimpen Mire, the smoke of the Baskerville hall grand fireplace, Lestrade's smoking gun, the fruity tobacco blend from Sherlock’s pipe, sweet opium fumes, Tokay wine, spices from the Andaman islands and more.
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Hold my Pipe story):
Labdanum absolute,
Osmanthus absolute,
Tonka bean absolute,
Peru balsam absolute
tobacco absolute
Oakmoss absolute,
Cardamom absolute,
Ylang-ylang absolute,
African artemisia essential oil,
Vetiver essential oil, thyme essential oil,
Nagarmotha essential oil,
Pine tar essential oil,
Guayak wood essential oil,
Clove essential oil.
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).
Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.
Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
Atman Xaman (EdT) by Lorenzo Villoresi £150.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- incense
- leather
- tobacco
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- woody
A deep, intense, mysterious fragrance that radiates unique atmospheres: magical, spiritual, real and imaginary.
An enveloping scent of Leather, Tobacco and precious woods with light undertones of flowers and wild herbs, on a gentle, sensual background of fragrant resins, of Vanilla and Patchouli, of Amber and Musk.
ABSINTHE by Headspace £175.00
- Key notes:
- absinthe
- leather
- narcissus
- violet leaf
- wormwood
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- green
- leather
Perfumer: Nicolas Beaulieu
Conjuring the complexity of iced absinthe where the balance of heady wormwood and fresh ozonic greenery surrounds violet leaf for a seductive euphoric tone. This is set against a dark aromatic base that is smooth and warming. The head-turning diffusion of sweetened leathers and earthy woods offers a contemporary enticing edge.
Flight Mode by MINT £170.00
- Key notes:
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- lavender
- leather
- lime
- rum
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Perfumer: Kévin Mathys
In this perfume story, the smoky gaiac aroma is gliding across a fresh and boundless ozonic void.
The story is open to interpretation: you can smell the waterproof canvas of the parachute gear in the abstract clean woodiness of the formula; or the air from under the tarpaulin you pull off a glider in its hangar; or think of any scenario involving flying machinery and an unlimited supply of fresh air.
The perfumer wanted to achieve a hazy floating shadow of an aroma, evoking a sensation of endless dark blue space, the calm humming of an engine, and hints of gasoline or machine oil. A worthy heir to the grandpa of all hazy smoky formulas inspired by airplane wings: Guerlain’s Vol de Nuit.
About Memoir Man by Amouage
- How does Memoir Man differ from these similar fragrances?
- Memoir Man is defined by a complex blend of leather, herbs, smoke and warm resins with a smooth balance of freshness and depth. While these fragrances share some notes, many diverge by emphasising either smokiness, freshness, sweetness or green herbal qualities more strongly, resulting in quite different overall characters.
- What are the main scent characteristics of Memoir Man?
- Memoir Man is a leather fragrance with notable herbal top notes of wormwood, mint and basil. Its heart combines incense, lavender, tobacco and leather, supported by a warm base of sandalwood, rose, guaiac wood, vetiver, amber, vanilla and musk.
- Which fragrances here highlight the smoky aspects similar to Memoir Man?
- Young Cossack, ARA(GON), Hold my Pipe and Atman Xaman emphasise smoky or resinous elements alongside shared notes like leather, tobacco and incense, providing a similar smoky complexity to Memoir Man.









