Best Cinnabar by Estée Lauder Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Cinnabar by Estée Lauder is an Oriental Spicy fragrance that opens with a vibrant blend of black pepper, cloves, and tangerine, enriched by floral notes including jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang. Its heart combines cinnamon, carnation, and incense, while the base features warm amber, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, and vetiver. Those seeking a fragrance with a rich spicy-floral character and a warm, resinous depth should focus on these elements for similar scents.
Mathilde by Rance 1795 £91.67
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- lily-of-the-valley
- narcissus
- neroli
- orris (iris root)
- passion fruit
- rose
- sandalwood
- tangerine
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- fruity
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.
Santal by Floris £83.33
- Key notes:
- amber
- black pepper
- cardamom
- cedarwood
- cloves
- frankincense
- nutmeg
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.
303 Marbre Rouge (Red Marble) by Bon Parfumeur £145.83
- Key notes:
- amber
- benzoin
- chilli
- incense
- pink pepper
- tolu balm
- vetiver
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
The fusion of the Taj Mahal's cold marble and its surrounding garden. Marbre Rouge brings the flowers inside the palace walls. Initially spicy, the fragrance warms up around cardamom before revealing its ylang-ylang heart. The amber notes of benzoin and Tolu balsam leave intensely sensual scents on the skin.
Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur
White by Comme Des Garcons £83.33
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- cinnamon
- cloves
- coriander
- lily-of-the-valley
- marigold
- nutmeg
- rose
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
White is a bright and lively fragrance built around the friction between hot spices and suave florals. The cinnamon, clove and cardamom opening suggests candied red hots, which makes it all the more surprising when the melange of rose de Mai and lily of the valley softly asserts itself. The undertone of tagete, with its bitter herbalness, keeps White from getting too “pretty-pretty”.
Concrete by Comme Des Garcons £133.33
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- carnation
- chypre
- cloves
- jasmine
- rose oxide
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- spicy
- woody
This monster of an “anti-perfume” is simultaneously clean and dense, the olfactory interpretation of the building material. Aptly encased in a grey concrete bottle, this eau de parfum is an astonishingly diffusive blend of sandalwood, rose and spices, with a powerful smoothness that mimics the material's satisfying surface.
Laetitia by Rance 1795 £100.00
- Key notes:
- cardamom
- nutmeg
- rose
- tangerine
- tolu balm
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- spicy
- woody
A voluptuous amber built around the formidable floral trio of magnolia, peony and Bulgarian rose. Adding spice to the headiness is nutmeg and cardamom, and the lusciousness is heightened by a custardy vanilla, with a playful wink of tangerine. Tender orange blossom further encourages the decadence. Laetitia features millesimé notes: like in fine wines and liqueurs, these are the extracts obtained from the best years of production.
Sugardaddy by Fugazzi £170.83
- Key notes:
- amber
- bergamot
- cloves
- jasmine
- patchouli
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- fruity
- spicy
Warm sunshine at twilight. Tangerine dances with bergamot in this cashmere, jasmine and patchouli-based choreography. With a whopping 50% of perfume oil, this extrait is persuasive enough to beguile any unsuspecting soul who crosses your path.
Divina Flora by Aura Eximia £187.50
- Key notes:
- cloves
- jasmine
- juniper
- narcissus
- neroli
- passion fruit
- peony
- rose
- sage
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- floral
- fruity
- vintage/old school
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.
Ambré Lumière 2023 by Molinard £120.83
- Key notes:
- amber
- benzoin
- lemon
- patchouli
- tolu balm
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- vintage/old school
- woody
"This is Molinard’s 2023 re-issue of their iconic amber fragrance. This new format includes 90ml spray bottle and a 7.5ml roll-on.
Ambre Lumiere is retro amber with a hint of a patisserie counter deliciousness. This curious nuance comes from tolu which brings it's unique roast coffee aroma to the composition. This is combined with a special variety of chocolaty patchouli, sweet vanillic benzoin and creamy honeyed ylang-ylang."
Grande Ile by Nissaba £125.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- cloves
- incense
- patchouli
- pink pepper
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
- woody
Grande Ile blends the bounty of Madagascar — vanilla, pink pepper berries and black pepper — into a sensual and comforting spicy amber. This award-winning scent blends a warm ambery accord with clove, caramel nuances and a rich woody bouquet. Contrasting notes of dry cedar, creamy vanilla, and resinous touches create depth and intrigue. Grande Ile’s enveloping trail unfolds gently on the skin, revealing evolving facets throughout the day. Depending on who you ask, this intriguing beauty moirés between Oriental lilies, a vanilla sauna, and a smoky souk.
About Cinnabar by Estée Lauder
- What are the key differences between Cinnabar and these similar fragrances?
- While all fragrances share some of Cinnabar’s oriental spicy and floral notes, they vary in intensity and balance. Some focus on fresher, cleaner profiles, others on powdery or sweeter interpretations, and some emphasise beastly or sexy characters not always present in Cinnabar.
- Does Cinnabar contain vanilla and how is it used in comparison to these fragrances?
- Yes, Cinnabar includes vanilla in its base, contributing to its warm, smooth finish. Some fragrances here also feature vanilla, such as Laetitia and Élise, but they tend to present it in a softer, less spicy context.
- Can these fragrances be considered modern alternatives to a 1978 launch like Cinnabar?
- Many of these fragrances reinterpret the classic oriental spicy elements of Cinnabar with contemporary twists, such as cleaner notes, added freshness, or intensified spice, providing modern alternatives while maintaining links to the original.









