Oriental fragrances are loved for their warm and interesting scents that truly engulf you. There are many different oriental fragrances out there, but what are the best oriental fragrances for women?
What Are Oriental Fragrances And How Do They Smell
Oriental fragrances are very popular among fragrance lovers. Originally, a fragrance would be an oriental fragrance when it was based around an ambery note, however, over time this has changed a bit. Nowayads, fragrances that are based around spicy notes can also be classed as an oriental fragrance, even though it officially is not.
The term oriental has its roots in history. Just like oriental spices, an oriental fragrance usually has notes that can be found back in Asian countries. Think of cinnamon, cumin, and many other spices. This also goes for resinous notes as well.
Nowadays there are many different oriental fragrances. Some are supported by woody notes, others by florals, and some by sweet notes. One thing that they all have in common, though, is the richness and warmth. Below are some of the best oriental fragrances for women, in no particular order!
1. Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
Scent: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan is a truly fantastic fragrance with a sweet and balsamic scent. This fragrance opens with a warm and resinous scent of amber, immediately setting the tone for the remainder of this fragrance. Quickly after the opening, a spicy, almost herbal scent can be detected, coming from the note of bay leaves. When this fragrance starts to dry down, a few woody notes start to pop. This leaves you with an overall fantastic scent that keeps on developing over time.
Notes: The notes of Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan are angelica, myrtle, patchouli, oregano, vanilla, amber, bay leaves, sandalwood, myrrh, benzoin, resins, and coriander.
Best for: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan is a lovely fragrance with a warm and luxurious scent. Such a scent is perfect for the colder months, where it will provide you with a warm and welcoming feel. Throughout the colder months, this fragrance is perfect for any casual setting, either during the day or night. The luxuriousness also allows it to be worn in a formal setting s well. In fact, it might even work better in a more dressed up setting. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
2. Christian Dior Ambre Nuit
Scent: Christian Dior Ambre Nuit is a truly beautiful fragrance with a soft scent of amber. This fragrance immediately opens with a warm scent of amber, creating a very realistic scent. Quickly after the opening, a slightly fresh scent of bergamot makes itself known, however, this mostly acts as a balance against the warmth of the amber. One note that does stick out is the note of rose, which blends in beautifully with the warm amber. This leaves you with an overall warm, soft, and lovely scent of amber and rose.
Notes: The notes of Christian Dior Ambre Nuit are rose, pink pepper, bergamot, grapefruit, and amber.
Best for: Christian Dior Ambre Nuit is a beautiful fragrance with a soft and warm scent, perfect for the fall and winter. During these colder months, this might be one of the easiest fragrances to wear. The softness makes this fragrance appropriate for pretty much every setting imaginable. It’s seductive enough for close encounters, intriguing enough for nighttime wear, inoffensive enough for the office, and interesting enough for casual wear. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. Chanel Coco Eau De Parfum
Scent: Chanel Coco Eau De Parfum is a fantastic fragrance with a warm and balsamic scent. When you first spray this fragrance, you’re greeted by a comforting scent of warm amber and spices, supported by a creamy sweetness. After a little while, some floral notes start to peek through, although very faint. They do add a nice freshness to the scent, though, keeping it from becoming cloying. In the base, an animalic undertone can be detected, however, this fragrance is all about the warm amber and spices.
Notes: The top notes of Chanel Coco Eau De Parfum are coriander, mandarin, peach, jasmine, and Bulgarian rose. The middle notes are clover, rose, orange blossom, cloves, and mimosa. The base notes are opoponax, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood, civet, amber, and labdanum.
Best for: Chanel Coco Eau De Parfum is a classy and elegant perfume that’s best worn during the colder months. This is purely due to the strong and warm scent, that would just be a little too much for the spring and summer. Throughout the colder months, though, this fragrance will be perfect for any formal setting, as it portrays an elegant vibe. However, it will also work great in a casual setting as well, either during the day or night. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
4. Christian Dior Poison
Scent: Christian Dior Poison is a true classic with a gorgeous, oriental scent. This fragrance opens with a rich and dark scent of plum, supported by some spices and berries. This creates a scent that truly lives up to its name. After this sweet and dark opening, an intoxicating scent of white floral notes starts to appear, blending in nicely with the rich and dark scent. In the base, a sweet scent of honey and vanilla awaits you, working together with the opening to create a truly fantastic oriental fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Christian Dior Poison are rosewood, anise, plum, coriander, and wild berries. The middle notes are opoponax, white honey, tuberose, rose, African orange flower, incense, jasmine, cinnamon, and carnation. The base notes are amber, cedar, heliotrope, sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and vetiver.
Best for: Christian Dior Poison is a gorgeous fragrance with a dark and intense scent. This fragrance would be way too strong for the spring and summer, but during the colder months, it works great. You can easily wear this fragrance throughout the day, but it will really shine at night. Even during the colder months, this fragrance can come across quite strong, but during the night, where the temperatures are even lower, a dark and intense scent like this will be great. You can wear it on a night out, to a date, or even to a fancy dinner if you’d like. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
5. Yves Saint Laurent Opium
Scent: Yves Saint Lauren Opium is a fantastic fragrance with a warm and spicy scent. This fragrance opens with a beautiful and warm scent of spices, supported by a few floral notes. This immediately creates a rich scent that will only become nicer over time. After the opening, some resinous notes start to appear, providing the fragrance with a dusty sweetness. All the while, there’s a clean scent of musk present, creating a stunning contrast of both clean and warm notes. This leaves you with a rich and interesting fragrance with a great scent.
Notes: The top notes of Yves Saint Lauren Opium are lily of the valley, mandarin, and bergamot. The middle notes are jasmine, myrrh, and carnation. The base notes are vanilla, amber, opoponax, and patchouli.
Best for: Yves Saint Lauren Opium is a fantastic cold-weather fragrance with a classy and mature scent. Due to the mature scent, this fragrance requires a mature woman to wear it, someone who knows what she’s doing. Throughout the colder months, this fragrance works nicely in a casual daytime setting, but it truly excels in a more formal situation. Somewhere where you want to leave a great impression without having to overpower anyone. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
6. Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme
Scent: Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme is a beautiful fragrance with a rich and sweet scent. This fragrance opens with quite a sharp scent of citruses that isn’t the nicest. Luckily, it quickly fades away and makes room for a beautiful scent of sweet vanilla, supported by a few spices. This creates a gorgeous scent with a seductive and oriental feel. When this fragrance starts to dry down, a soft hint of sandalwood starts to appear, leaving you with an overall dark, spicy, and mostly sweet scent.
Notes: The top notes of Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme are ginger, mandarin, bitter orange, and bergamot. The middle notes are orange blossom, kulfi, jasmine, and rose. The base notes are mastic, sandalwood, amber, and vanilla.
Best for: Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme is a fantastic cold-weather fragrance, perfect for almost any setting. The sweet and dark scent makes it perfect any nighttime setting, whether it be a date or night out, but it keeps enough class and elegance to be worn to a formal setting as well. And, just like any fragrance, it works great in a casual setting too. There really is no going wrong with a versatile and fantastic-smelling fragrance like this. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
7. Calvin Klein Obsession
Scent: Calvin Klein Obsession is a beautiful oriental fragrance with a warm scent. This fragrance opens with a warm scent of vanilla, supported by a dry scent of orange. Along with the vanilla and orange are some citrusy and floral notes. Even though you can’t really pick those up, they do balance out the warmth and sweetness. After the opening, a gorgeous, warm scent of amber makes itself known, taking the vanilla to the next level. In the dry down, some sweet resinous notes start to appear, leaving you with an overall fantastic oriental fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Calvin Klein Obsession are basil, peach, lemon, vanilla, bergamot, mandarin, and green notes. The middle notes are jasmine, orange blossom, rose, sandalwood, cedar, oakmoss, coriander, and spices. The base notes are vetiver, vanilla, incense, civet, musk, and amber.
Best for: Calvin Klein Obsession is a fantastic cold-weather fragrance, perfect for the fall and winter. During those colder months, this fragrance is perfect for casual everyday wear. Besides daytime wear, this is also a great nighttime fragrance as well. Wearing this seductive oriental scent on a date or night out will work great! On the other hand, a fancy or formal dinner is another setting where this fragrance will work great. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
8. Serge Lutens Chergui
Scent: Serge Lutens Chergui is a gorgeous fragrance with a strong and sweet scent. This fragrance opens with a syrupy scent of honey, supported by a sweet scent of tobacco. Quickly after the opening, some fresher notes are added to balance out the initial sweetness. Amon the fresher notes are some floral notes, which give the fragrance a slightly powdery feel. In the dry down, a warm scent of amber and vanilla makes itself known, blending in perfectly with the sweet and powdery opening.
Notes: The notes of Serge Lutens Chergui are amber, hay, sandalwood, rose, iris, incense, honey, musk, and tobacco leaves.
Best for: Serge Lutens Chergui is a lovely fragrance that works perfectly during the colder months. With its warm and sweet scent, you’ll have a welcoming and cozy vibe around you, making it perfect for casual everyday wear. On the other hand, there’s also a sense of luxuriousness tied to this fragrance, making it work great in a formal setting or at night. Overall, this is a versatile fragrance, but it does require a confidant woman to be worn properly. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
9. Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant
Scent: Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant is a beautiful fragrance with a unique scent of warm spices. This fragrance opens with a lovely scent of soft spices, creating a warm and sensual vibe. This scent will stay there for quite a while, only to be accompanied by some subtle floral notes. When this fragrance starts to dry down, a warm scent of amber, as well as a sweet scent of vanilla is added, creating a lovely, warm and sweet finish. This leaves you with a truly beautiful fragrance with a unique and likable scent.
Notes: The top notes of Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant are cumin, cloves, and mandarin. The middle notes are licorice, ylang ylang, cardamom, heliotrope, gardenia, mango, and caraway. The base notes are vanilla, patchouli, and amber.
Best for: Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant is a fantastic fragrance with a unique and warm scent that works perfectly during the colder months. Throughout the colder months, this fragrance is best worn in a casual setting, either during the day or the night. Due to the uniqueness, this fragrance might be a bit out of place in the office, but on a night out, a get-together with friends, or even on a date, this fragrance will work great. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
10.Diptyque Eau Duelle
Scent: Diptyque Eau Duelle is a gorgeous fragrance with a sweet and aromatic scent of vanilla. This fragrance opens with a slightly sweet scent of vanilla, supported by a beautiful hint of sandalwood. This creates a gorgeous scent of warm and cozy woods. This is then accompanied by a soothing touch of black tea, creating an interesting layer of scent. When this fragrance starts to dry down, a nice scent of musk and fresh spices starts to appear, leaving you with an overall interesting and warm scent of vanilla and sandalwood.
Notes: The notes of Diptyque Eau Duelle are pink pepper, ambergris, musk, bergamot, black tea, vanilla, olibanum, saffron, elemi resin, cardamom, and juniper.
Best for: Diptyque Eau Duelle is a beautiful fragrance that you can actually wear all year long. Even though this fragrance is on the sweeter side, it actually works well in the spring and summer as well, as long as the humidity isn’t too high. Throughout the year, this fragrance is great for a close encounter setting. Something like a date or a dinner is perfect, as this fragrance has a soft and intriguing scent. However, it will work just fine when worn casually, either during the day or night. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
11. Guerlain Shalimar
Scent: Guerlain Shalimar is a fantastic fragrance with a rich, oriental scent. This fragrance actually opens somewhat fresh with a bunch of citruses, however, these are quickly accompanied by a rich scent of vanilla and resinous notes. These add a nice layer of depth and weight to the fragrance, giving it more of an oriental feel. A little while after the opening, some spicy notes are added, again providing the fragrance with a richness. This leaves you with an overall stunning fragrance with a sweet and spicy scent.
Notes: The top notes of Guerlain Shalimar are lemon, bergamot, cedar, mandarin, and citruses. The middle notes are rose, vetiver, jasmine, patchouli, and iris. The base notes are civet, tonka bean, musk, opoponax, incense, vanilla, sandalwood, and leather.
Best for: Guerlain Shalimar is a fantastic fragrance with a rich oriental scent. Such a scent works great in the colder months, where it can be worn practically all the time. This fragrance is safe enough for the office or any formal setting, but it also has enough character and depth to be an interesting casual daytime fragrance. However, the rich and oriental scent truly shines at night, where it will provide you with a classy and cozy feel. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
12. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique
Scent: Jean Paul Gaultier Classique is a gorgeous fragrance with a sweet and spicy scent of florals. This fragrance opens with a soft and powdery scent of florals, supported by a sweet touch of pear. A little while after the opening, a creamy, sweet scent of vanilla makes itself known, giving the fragrance a rounded and warm feel. This is also the point where some spicy notes, as well as the note of amber start to appear, giving the fragrance its oriental feel. This leaves you with an overall classy fragrance with a sweet and powdery scent.
Notes: The top notes of Jean Paul Gaultier Classique are rose, pear, bergamot, star anise, mandarin, and orange blossom. The middle notes are ylang ylang, orchid, plum, tuberose, ginger, and iris. The base notes are sandalwood, cinnamon, vanilla, musk, and amber.
Best for: Jean Paul Gaultier Classique is a beautiful, sweet, and oriental fragrance with a nice influence of powdery florals. This creates quite a strong scent that would be a little too strong for the warmer months. During the colder months, however, it works perfectly. You can easily wear this fragrance casually all throughout the day, but it also works lovely in a formal setting. The powderiness gives the fragrance a classy feel that works great in a more serious, dressed-up setting. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
Should You Have An Oriental Fragrance
There are some truly amazing oriental fragrances on the market, and even though owning one isn’t a necessity, you would definitely be missing out on something beautiful.
With their warm and rich scents, you’ll get a fragrance that not only smells interesting and nice but also one that has a classy, almost upscale feel to it. This makes most of these oriental fragrances incredibly versatile, as they work well either casually or formally. Besides casual and formal wear, pretty much all oriental fragrances are also great for nighttime wear, whether you’re hanging out at home, going on a date, or for a night out.
And the best part, an oriental fragrance doesn’t have to cost you too much. There are some more affordable ones out there, like Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant, or you can purchase a decant. A decant is basically a smaller bottle filled up with the original fragrance. This way, you can purchase a smaller amount, so you don’t need to purchase a full-sized, full-priced bottle. If you’d like to learn more about fragrance decants, where to purchase them, and how they’ll save you money, you can read this article I wrote over here!
Overall, owning an oriental fragrance is definitely recommended. You’ll have a fragrance that smells truly great and has lots of uses. I’d recommend you take a look at the fragrances listed above and see which of these oriental fragrances would fit you perfectly!