Best Mixed Emotions by Byredo Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Mixed Emotions by Byredo is a woody aromatic fragrance defined by a distinctive blend of blackcurrant and a complex tea accord combining black and green tea nuances. The heart introduces violet leaf and papyrus, while birch tar lends a smoky, slightly resinous edge. This composition balances fresh green notes with a leathery smokiness, creating a multifaceted, modern scent. Those drawn to this style should focus on fragrances that combine tea, smoky birch tar, and green or blackcurrant elements.
Thé Basilic by Molinard £65.00
- Key notes:
- basil
- blackcurrant
- green tea
- verbena
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- fruity
- green
When a tiny ' , makes the difference... it's tea, basilic, blackcurrant and verbena in this perfume that form its delighfully refreshing sour green character. If you loved Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria experiments in the noughties - Thé Basilic is their worthy heir.
Rainy City by MINT £170.00
- Key notes:
- black tea
- green tea
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- transparent
- woody
Blue line
Perfumer: Thierry Bessard
The best ever souvenir from London? A perfume which is a mix of rain, steaming Earl Gray tea and warm earthy vetiver.
Moonlight Ceremony by Mystikum £190.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black tea
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- incense
- leather
- saffron
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
Under the luminous moon, smouldering embers glow with the mystery of ancient night rituals. This is a ceremony of smoke upon smoke upon smoke: birch tar, black tea, leather, frankincense. The austerity is softened by notes of amber and labdanum, deepening the mystery of the enveloping darkness.
Perfumer: Alexandre Illan
Play Black by Comme Des Garcons £95.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black pepper
- black tea
- incense
- leather
- thyme
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- spicy
This EdT plays it dark but bright. A spiky black pepper opening commands attention, before being volumised by an ebony chorus of black tea, birch tar and incense. Tree moss and violet lend a perfumed earthiness.
Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu
Vi et Armis by Beaufort £125.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- black pepper
- black tea
- incense
- opium
- oud
- smoke
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Formerly known as East India the perfume is back with the new name: Vi et Armis (Latin for 'by force and arms', the motto of the East India company)
The olfactory references in the perfume are exploring Britain’s complex relationship with other nations and its dominance of international sea trade across the centuries, this heady, narcotic scent challenges as much as it beguiles.
Using imported and exported goods of the East India Company as its key notes, this addictive fragrance recalls the words of George Bernard Shaw: “Emotional excitement reaches men through Tea, Tobacco, Opium, Whisky and religion”
Paradoxical and challenging, we imagine the roots of our island nation steeped in contradictions.
Flash Back in New York by Olfactive Studio £140.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- clary sage
- saffron
- vetiver
- violet leaf
- Aromagroups:
- woody
Still Life in New York is a perfume built on contrast: cozy and warm notes are set against cool and fresh materials.
The photo for this smellscape was taken by an artist who only shoots cities in the snow. She might be trying to capture that feeling of being snug while it’s snowing heavily outside.
The perfume design is toying with the same idea. Cozy warm notes of saffron, leather, smoky birch tar and vetiver are highlighted by a generous portion of cool clary sage and violet leaf.
The perfume feels like standing by a window in winter to peep at the falling snow and being able to feel both the cold ambiance coming from the glass and the warmth of the house in the background, the fireplace, steaming tea and cashmere blanket.
Perfumer: Jérôme Epinette
Photographer: Vivienne Gucwa
***
The Sniff on Flash Back in NY:
"Imagine that you are walking along a city street in the winter. The air is cold, crisp, making your lungs tingle as you breathe it in. You’re wrapped up nice and warm but the end of your nose is cold. Up ahead is a youth in a battered leather jacket smoking a marijuana cigarette and you get a second-hand whiff of it as he exhales a plume of smoke. That’s exactly what this perfume reminded us of."
201 Gold September by Bon Parfumeur £60.00
- Key notes:
- apple
- blackcurrant
- freesia
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- floral
- fruity
A juicy fruity fragrance with a magnolia heart and lots of bergamot sparkle.
Bon Parfumeur open olfactive dimensions and invite you to add your own story. Try 201 if you like easy going exotic florals and a hint of fruity theme.
Perfumer: Phillipe Romano
403 Myrrh Shadow by Bon Parfumeur £175.00
- Key notes:
- akigalawood
- blackcurrant
- incense
- myrrh
- Aromagroups:
- woody
You’re being followed by a myrrh shadow. A shadow that traces your outline, then embellishes with enigmatic depth. This intriguing extrait de parfum flirts with myrrh’s dark charm, tickling its dusty delights with peppery cedarwood, spicy akigalawood and earthy patchouli. The zesty sparkle of bitter citrus succumbs to an enveloping cloud of benzoin and musk as the shadow lengthens, leaving behind an echo of the fascinating person everyone longs to meet again soon.
Almaz by Kajal £175.00
- Key notes:
- blackcurrant
- heliotrope
- orris (iris root)
- powdery nuance
- raspberry
- rose
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- green
Almaz, the Arabic word for diamonds, are renowned not only for their beauty, but also for their timelessness as they withstand millions of years of immense pressure in their formation. This EdP references the indestructible nature of diamonds with a powerful blackcurrant-led bouquet. Juiciness is enhanced with raspberry, while powdery heliotrope and musk add padding to the cushiony feel. The ambered base, redolent with vanilla and brown sugar, offsets blackcurrant’s tartness.
The jewelled bottle incorporates a poem composed by Elen Jeres Ayoub, portrayed in Eastern Kufic calligraphy. The words have been meticulously placed so that the vertical lines create eight zones on the bottle, representing the lunar phases in each lunar calendar month to represent the passage of time.
The seasons and their times
And pressures and their effects,
Bear Diamonds as their fruit.
-Elen Jeres Ayoub
Berry Craving 23.06 by Neydo £80.00
- Key notes:
- blackcurrant
- lychee
- rose
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- fruity
A dream of childhood summer days. You’re in a garden, familiar and unfamiliar, looking into the kitchen of a house where your mother makes jam with fresh-picked berries. There’s a rose bush with a magical cat underneath, its dense fur filled with your favourite toys. A sublime aroma of tart blackcurrant and rhubarb, sweet lychee and magnolia, along with woody amber ferries you off to a dreamlike world, brimming with enchantment at every corner. You don’t want to wake up.
Perfumer: Julia Rodriguez Pastor
About Mixed Emotions by Byredo
- What makes Mixed Emotions different from these fragrances?
- Mixed Emotions uniquely combines blackcurrant and a complex tea accord with birch tar and violet leaf, balancing fresh, smoky, and leathery elements. While this selection shares some notes, none replicate the precise layering of green and black tea with papyrus and birch tar as found in Mixed Emotions.
- Are these fragrances more smoky or fresh compared to Mixed Emotions?
- The fragrances vary: some emphasise smoky birch tar and incense, enhancing the leathery, resinous aspects, while others focus on fresh, green, or fruity notes like blackcurrant and green tea. This provides options that lean either towards smoky intensity or fresher, cleaner profiles.
- Can I find a fragrance here that highlights the tea notes of Mixed Emotions?
- Yes, Rainy City and Thé Basilic both highlight tea notes, with Rainy City featuring black and green tea and Thé Basilic incorporating green tea alongside blackcurrant. These offer a more pronounced tea character compared to other fragrances on the list.









