A previously published perfume post listed the Top 10 Most Complimented Fragrances: the goal here is similar but tied to a different idea: the focus is not on fragrances that will get you compliments but instead on the best niche fragrance by season. Most of the previous list were niche perfumes anyway, so this list focuses solely on niche fragrance to give a list of the best niche fragrance by season. There are some of the more familiar brands here like Xerjoff, Maison Margiela, and Comme des Garçons; along with some much more obscure ones including Naomi Goodsir, Olfactive Studio, and Parle Moi de Parfum.
As an added twist, there is a difficulty rating for each fragrance; obviously the ‘difficulty’ of each fragrance is subjective, so don’t take it too seriously! If you can handle heavy oud and suffocating tuberose, then a fragrance with a rating of 5/5 is probably going to be pretty easy for you. There are 12 perfumes in all — three per season — giving you one niche fragrance to try per month. Of course, don’t feel bound to each perfume by season. A lot of winter fragrances can work just as well in the summer and vice versa. There are shopping links for each fragrance, and plenty of these stores offer samples and decants so you can try these without needing to buy an entire bottle. (Note: Some links are affiliate links, meaning The Fashion Fold may receive commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.)
The year starts in January, right in the winter, so on to the list of the best niche fragrance by season – click the image with notes to enlarge if needed.
You may also be interested in the list of the Best Niche Fragrances for Men for 2026.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally written for 2025 but has since been updated to be a timeless guide to the best niche fragrances by season.
- - - Advertisement - - -
Best Niche Fragrance by Season – Winter
1. Xerjoff – Mamluk
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
Mamluk by Xerjoff is part of the Oud Stars Collection from Xerjoff, all of which, as the name implies, contain oud. The Oud Stars Collection is inspired by Ibn Battuta, a 14th Century Muslim traveller who wrote the Rihlah, one of the world’s most famous travel logs, an account of his journeys along 117,000km (73,000 miles) – when you consider that the distance from the southernmost tip of South America to the highest point of Alaska is 16,000km, that’s a hell of a long way to travel!
Each perfume in the Oud Stars Collection from Xerjoff is named after a place visited by Ibn Battuta – the Mamluk Sultanate was a state that ruled Egypt, the Levant and the Hejaz from the mid-13th to early 16th centuries and was ruled by a military caste of freed slave soldiers (called mamluks) headed by a sultan. Ultimately they were conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
That’s the history lesson related to the name of the perfume – on to the fragrance itself! Mamluk starts with a very rich Caramel and Honey top that fades into a base of Oud and Vanilla, though the Oud is not strong enough to be animalic. It has plenty of warmth to it, making it an obvious choice as a winter fragrance. You might find the Honey and Caramel to be a little bit too rich, and I didn’t actually catch any Bergamot at all, but if you like the intense warmth of this perfume I’m sure you’ll find it to be one an amazing niche fragrance for winter.
My only gripe with Mamluk is the longevity – after six hours it’s faded away – and while for some people I know that six hours is more than enough, I like to get at least eight hours out of a perfume.
Shop now: Xerjoff – Mamluk
- - - Advertisement - - -
2. Mancera – Red Tobacco
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
Red Tobacco by Mancera is quite a divisive niche fragrance in the online communities I participate in, but everyone I’ve introduced it to has absolutely loved it. I think the key thing to remember is that less is more – often one spray is more than enough to get you through the day. The strong Tobacco note is balanced by sweetness, but not eclipsed by it in the same way as Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford.
Shop now: Mancera – Red Tobacco
- - - Advertisement - - -
3. Penhaligon’s – Halfeti
Difficulty Rating: 5/5
Penhaligon’s is the kind of brand that instantly draws you to it with their beautiful bottles, so I guess I have to apologise for not choosing one of the more elaborate ones that will look amazing on your shelf… unless you’re like me and keep all your perfumes in their boxes instead. However after having tested every single one, I have to say that Halfeti (and also its flankers Halfeti Leather and Halfeti Cedar) are by far my favourites amongst all the fragrances from Penhaligon’s. If you’re already comfortable with oud fragrances, or you are a fan of warm leather fragrances, then you will love this one. The warmth of Halfeti comes from the base containing Leather, Musk, Oud and Sandalwood amongst others – it’s an amazing blend that makes it a perfect winter fragrance.
Shop now: Penhaligon’s – Halfeti
- - - Advertisement - - -
Best Niche Fragrance by Season – Spring
1. Parle Moi de Parfum – Orris Tattoo / 29
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
When I ordered a sample of this perfume I had no idea what Orris was, but I was intrigued and wanted to find out, so what better perfume to help me than Orris Tattoo / 29 by Parle Moi de Parfum which contains Top, Heart, and Base notes of solely Orris?
Orris comes from the bulbs of the Iris plant, and is one of the most expensive raw materials in perfume. These bulbs have no scent, and they take three to four years to mature, needing protection from any fungus or insects that would destroy everything. Orris can be produced from different types of Iris: Iris germanica and Iris pallida, though the latter is much more prized and is mainly grown in Italy and Morocco. Once the Orris bulbs have matured, they are powdered then made into an oil which later solidifies into a sort of butter. Its scent is reminiscent of violets but has an earthy note too. As Iris flowers themselves don’t have much of a scent, it is the bulbs that are used instead of the flowers, and fragrances that list ‘Iris’ as a note are most often using a synthetic version of Orris root in place of Iris, due to the high cost of this raw ingredient.
First off: I’m not a fan of light florals or of ‘Iris’ perfumes. I kept seeing Prada’s Infusion d’Iris mentioned when I’d look for information about Orris, and I’ll be honest – Infusion d’Iris was way too light for me, and much too floral. Parle Moi de Parfum have made something totally different – this is a floral perfume for people who don’t really like floral perfumes (caveat: I love Tuberose but that is a floral on a whole other level in my opinion). The woody and earthy notes of the Orris take away from the usual sweetness of florals and ground the perfume too, making this a great choice if you want a floral-style fragrance with some extra depth.
Shop now: Parle Moi de Parfum – Orris Tattoo / 29
- - - Advertisement - - -
2. Comme des Garçons – Copper
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
Every time I see Blackcurrant in the notes of a perfume I flinch – it takes me back to the 1990s and the overspraying of blackcurrant perfumes back then (I’m holding Dewberry by The Body Shop mostly responsible, but Silver Jeans by Rocco Barocco was another offender). Thankfully, I don’t smell any Blackcurrant at all in Copper by Comme des Garçons, but what gives this fragrance such a high difficulty rating are the Metallic Notes in its heart.
The first time I tried Copper I didn’t like it at all and set my sample aside for months. Eventually I got curious to give it another try and I found myself loving this fragrance. Comme des Garçons is that brand that toes the line between designer and niche fragrance – I was a bit hesitant about including it within a list of best niche fragrance by season, but I’m leaning more towards Comme des Garçons being a niche brand, especially considering the high difficulty rating of this perfume.
Shop now: Comme des Garçons – Copper
- - - Advertisement - - -
3. Naomi Goodsir – Nuit de Bakélite
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
Nuit de Bakélite by Naomi Goodsir has won some impressive awards: one of the “111 Perfumes to Smell Before Dying” that was selected over a period of 130 years from 1889 to 2017 by the french journalists of Nez la Revue, and “One of the Top 10 Niche Perfumes of the Decade 2010-2020” from a selection of almost 20,000 fragrances, by Au Parfum.
The story behind this perfume is interesting, with the product copy on the Naomi Goodsir website making note of “the sound of latex when several stalks of tuberose tangle“. Latex, though originally meaning solely a product made from natural raw materials (natural rubber), can now (since World War II) also refer to a product which is purely plastic ( made of synthetic rubber). Bakelite is the name of the first form of plastic made with synthetic components – phenol and formaldehyde – and funnily enough, some reviews of Nuit de Bakélite complain of a faint smell of formaldehyde in the fragrance. I wasn’t able to detect any formaldehyde myself, but obviously fragrance is subjective. The Tuberose is very subdued, so if Tuberose is not your thing, don’t worry about it here. This is a really interesting niche fragrance that deserves at least a sample.
Shop now: Naomi Goodsir – Nuit de Bakélite
- - - Advertisement - - -
Niche Fragrance by Season – Summer
1. Ormonde Jayne – Frangipani
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
Frangipani by Ormonde Jayne is a light floral fragrance making it a perfect perfume for summer and just like Orris Tattoo / 29 by Parle Moi de Parfum it’s not an overpowering sweet floral. Frangipani is considered to be more of a tropical scent and that slightly exotic air that it has makes this a perfect perfume for hot days.
Frangipani doesn’t run too sweet thanks to the Lime and Cedar notes. Bottles by Ormonde Jayne are refillable and their fragrances are not tested on animals.
Shop now: Ormonde Jayne – Frangipani
- - - Advertisement - - -
2. Maison Margiela – From the Garden
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
Like Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela is one of those brands that seems to fall somewhere in between designer and niche fragrance but I’ve decided to include them. I gave From the Garden a rather high difficulty rating as its Tomato Leaf top note comes through quite strongly and its certainly not for everyone. It’s quite a new release and I only found out about it in the summer of 2024 when I was on a search specifically for a perfume that had a strong Tomato Leaf note: From the Garden was perfect.
I was in the kitchen one day helping my mum prepare a salad; we were removing tomatoes from a vine and we commented on how good it smelled. I remembered then that tomato leaf is used in perfumery but that I’d never encountered it so I became determined to track it down and that led me to From the Garden by Maison Margiela which soon became one of my go-to scents for the summer: it’s light and fresh but also very particular.
Shop now: Maison Margiela – From the Garden
- - - Advertisement - - -
3. Olfactive Studio – Ombre Indigo
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
I’m not quite sure how to describe Ombre Indigo by Olfactive Studio. It has a certain freshness to it similar to a blue fragrance but also a particular warmth. These two polar opposites somehow come together perfectly to make an amazing summer fragrance. I am not a fan of blue fragrances at all (to put it mildly) but I do enjoy Ombre Indigo. Whether or not you’re a fan of blue fragrances (think Sauvage by Dior, Bleu de Chanel) Ombre Indigo is definitely worth a try. It is also more unisex than Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel thanks to the presence of notes like Plum and Tuberose.
Shop now: Olfactive Studio – Ombre Indigo
- - - Advertisement - - -
Best Niche Fragrance by Season – Autumn
1. Dries Van Noten – Voodoo Chile
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
Every time I wear Voodoo Chile by Dries Van Noten I get compliments for it, and this fragrance has become my go-to when I’m uncertain what fragrance to wear, no matter the season, though it is certainly a perfect fragrance for autumn. Within the top notes, it’s definitely the Rosemary that comes through the most, and it does remain quite prominent throughout the 6-8 hours that this fragrance lasts.
This is the first fragrance I’ve used with Lentisque as a note: it is a tree that grows in the Mediterranean region with its branches and flowers being distilled for use in perfumery, however the low yield from this process makes it an expensive product. It gives a green, fresh note to fragrances, but Voodoo Chile can’t really be classed as a fresh perfume, as the freshness from the Lentisque (and Cedarwood) is counterbalanced by the Patchouli and Sandalwood. This perfume definitely isn’t for everyone because of the strong Rosemary note, but it’s certainly worth a try as I’ve never experienced a fragrance like it. Similar to the bottle by Ormonde Jayne above, this bottle (and all others from Dries Van Noten) is refillable.
Shop now: Dries Van Noten – Voodoo Chile
- - - Advertisement - - -
2. Carner Barcelona – Sandor 70’s
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
Sandor 70’s is part of the Black Collection from Carner Barcelona. This tobacco and woody fragrance is named for a famous bar in Barcelona of the 1970s: Sandor. Located on Passeig de Gràcia, the bar was an iconic meeting spot for the city’s artists and intellectuals. It was known for its stylish atmosphere and is considered a symbol of a time of cultural renaissance and artistic expression in Barcelona at the time, as the country was moving on from the rule of Francisco Franco.
Sandor 70’s certainly does conjure up visions of a smoky bar filled with plush leather sofas and beautiful art hanging on the walls. It’s a truly luxurious fragrance and I don’t use it often as I prefer to keep it for special occasions but its warmth makes it a perfect fragrance for autumn – or even for winter! I’ve given it quite a high difficulty rating as the strength of the Suede, Leather and Tobacco might be too much for some, but if you are already into that type of scent, and you don’t want a fragrance with the added sweetness (no matter how slight) of something like Red Tobacco by Mancera, then definitely give Sandor 70’s by Carner Barcelona a try.
Shop now: Carner Barcelona – Sandor 70’s
- - - Advertisement - - -
3. Atelier Materi – Cacao Porcelana
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
Cacao Porcelana by Atelier Materi is distinct in that it uses white cocoa (from Piura, north west Peru) – the beans are extracted from the pods by hand, then fermented, sun-dried and roasted. They give a bitterness to the fragrance that is balanced by the sweetness of the Rum note, and I have to admit: the strength of the Cocoa top notes is a lot. Once you get over that initial barrage (and the feeling that you got off the production line at Lindt), this niche fragrance from Atelier Materi fades into an amazing autumn perfume – the dry down features a hint of Tobacco, along with Patchouli and Sandalwood that gives a sense of warmth that makes this a perfect autumn fragrance – think drinking hot cocoa to warm up as the cold weather sets in.
The Tobacco is not strong at all so if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. Cacao Porcelana is a really complex perfume that is definitely worth sampling.
Shop now: Atelier Materi – Cacao Porcelana
- - - Advertisement - - -
Featured image is by pexels.com/Daria Liudnaya
London College of Fashion alumna (PGCert Fashion Buying & Merchandising). 15 years in fashion across styling, buying & merchandising, trend forecasting, e-commerce, and marketing. Includes roles at Vivienne Westwood and multi-brand retail stocking 50+ brands including Adidas, Nike, and Puma.