Best Phantom Elixir by Rabanne Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

August 1508, Lopud Island, Adriatic Sea

A sunny island in the Adriatic, a small harbour with stone houses and fig trees. Across the verdant Mediterranean hills sprawls an aromatic landscape of cypress stands, pine, rosemary, thyme — and olive groves with their subtle, nutty scent.

A crisp, citrus fragrance, the breeze brushing gently over the grass, flowers and shrubs of the Mediterranean, and golden reflections of the sun’s rays on the shimmering sea.
A fresh, lively, green scent with notes of Bergamot and Mandarin, and light flowery undertones of Jasmine and Narcissus.

With a cap inspired by the candy floss pink of salt flats in the Carmargue and Puerto Rico, Beso de Sal summons mineral crispness with a go-with-the-flow blend of citrus and woods. Marine notes are the connective tissue between lemon, tangerine and savory/minty shiso leaf. Sage heightens the aromatics, while peppery cedarwood calls to mind sun-bleached driftwood.

Perfumer: Alberto Morillas

Macabre fantasy of decadent shadows and drama, unfolding from a fresh salty breeze to the deep dark underwater with blurry black tones, exuberant flora and a binding touch of wood.

Lids for Dead Air are made by hand from imperfectly beautiful charcoal encapsulated in epoxy resin resulting in unique shapes and shades, each is one of a kind — a true masterpiece.

Master perfumer
Mark Buxton

Late summer on a wild beach: blackberry bushes in the coastal dune grass, iodine on the lips, fingertips stained purple. The vertigo of standing on an ocean clifftop, the invigorating north wind. The fragrance unfolds: salted rock, caressed by tangy blackberry and swept by sea spray. Pebbles warmed by the sun, a sap of mineral roses. Deep breaths.

Inspired by the innovative use of materials that allowed 18th century clockmakers to construct the first truly accurate marine chronometers, Lignum Vitae combines elements of wood, metal and salt to produce a truly unique, transportive fragrance. Lignum vitae itself is an incredibly dense wood - the only wood which is guaranteed to sink in water - which is indigenous to the Caribbean and the north coast of South America. The brand’s nautical theme is enhanced wonderfully by caramel, a madeleine cake accord and a cool winter lemon note which provide a truly unique gourmand experience akin to smelling warm shortbread, muffins or cupcakes.

In combining unexpected and exotic raw materials, Beaufort London celebrates the innovative spirit which brought to an end the search for lost time, and permitted the safe passage of ships across the world.

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The Sniff on Lignum Vitae:

"An innovative gourmand fragrance with a masculine slant, Lignum Vitae by Beaufort London is something rather unexpected. And who doesn’t love a plot twist?"

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THE INSPIRATION

In 1977, the year I was born, Helmut Newton immortalised Charlotte Rampling in a series of photos entitled Venus in Fur. A feline and supersensual woman embodies sexual power: emancipated, she takes possession of her body and asserts her desires. Echoing the sexual revolution and its bohemian patchoulis, the perfumery of the 70s distils a chic eroticism, all in suggestion, where heady white flowers pierced by green, powdery and aldehydic notes anchor the fragrances of this decade in a glamorous sophistication.

THE PERFUME

Dialogue with Venus opens with a white floral accord evoking the luxurious and exacerbated femininity of the 70’s, while its fruity, silky and solar vanilla is treated according to the codes of the House of PIERRE GUILLAUME PARIS. Subtle exotic sprays flow through this floral melody like a wind of freedom, suggesting a mischievous and sexy “je-ne-sais-quoi”, an effortless chic.

This fragrance is a tribute to the beauty of Madagascan vanilla — one of the finest vanillas in the world. Mafonja means “intense” (as in power or strength) in Malagasy.

It opens with a breath of fleur de sel, evoking salt-kissed skin. A soft heat follows, as cinnamon, pink pepper (Mauritius), and nutmeg wrap the senses in warmth. Ylang-ylang (Comoros) lends a creamy, luminous floral note. As the scent deepens, a darker story unfolds: resinous myrrh (Somalia) and olibanum (Somalia) melt into dark amber.

Réserve en Afrique eaux de parfum feature responsibly sourced naturals, and are free from parabens, phthalates, UV filters and colorants. Their natural alcohol base is derived from beetroots, and they are a PETA-listed vegan & cruelty-free brand.

Hue (the town of the dead kings) is a city as well as a complex expanse of ancient ruins in central Vietnam.

The perfume is a super layered smellscape with scented references to the warm humid winds from the tropical sea, forest rivers teeming with crocodiles and creatures one would rather not meet, lush and shady jungle, ancient stones under scrorching sun and offerings of fruit bathing in mystical incense.

There around 30 natural ingredients in the formula, including very rate ones such as clay attar, seaweed and choya varieties. Choya Nakh for instance is what you get when you distill crushed sea shells.

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.

Tiger Rouge summons the mythical Red Tiger, embodying the soul of the Indian wilderness. Fierce black pepper, pimento and paprika contrast with blood orange and lemon myrtle, with cinnamon and cloves weaving through the landscape. Muscular Hainan oud and Indian vetiver put meat on the bones, while rose, cherry and pomegranate add bright, voluptuous beauty.