Oriental Perfumes

Exotic, evocative and seductive, there's no chance oriental perfumes will be going out of style any time soon. If you’re looking for a new scent that smells and feels a little more grown up, then an oriental perfume might be the fragrance for you.

Generally, oriental fragrances can be quite intense in aroma, but you can also find some gorgeously light perfumes in this historic fragrance family too. Heavy on the base notes, oriental perfume lingers on the skin, making for a seductive choice for an evening out, to keep you warm and cosy in the winter.

Oriental scents still work in the Spring and Summer too though. Infused with warm, sensual notes it’s fragrances like these that can define the warmer months as fun and carefree.

What is an oriental perfume?

Oriental perfume refers to a historic fragrance family classification, known for notes of scents such as amber, vanilla, cinnamon, jasmine, orchid, orange blossom, coumarin and orris. Oriental fragrances tend to be on the richer, more indulgent, side but can vary between floral and woody.

Best oriental perfumes

The best oriental perfumes are those that make you feel confident, alluring and seductive when you wear them.

YSL Black Opium is our all-time pick for the best oriental scent. This powerhouse of a scent embraces all things magical and deeply feminine, with its coffee and pink pepper accords, vanilla, jasmine and orange blossom, and a final hit of patchouli and cedar. There’s a reason why this scent is on our list of The Top 10 YSL Perfumes For Gifting!

Alternatively, one of the best oriental perfumes for men is ARMAF Club De Nuit Intense Man Eau de Toilette Spray. This oriental fragrance begins with a fruity burst of lemon, bergamot, pineapple and blackcurrant. Then, a distinctive heart of birch, rose and jasmine, before a base note of ambergris, musk, vanilla and patchouli that will leave a distinctive impression on anyone you meet.

Floral oriental perfumes

Girl of Now Shine Eau de Parfum by Ellie Saab is the ultimate floral oriental perfume. Sweet notes of pear and pineapple meet warm roasted pistachio to complement an exotic floral heart of Ylang Ylang, Jasmine and Ormond Flower. At the base, as the scent lingers on your skin, you’ll discover iris, jasmine, sweet vanilla and patchouli accord too. This oriental fragrance is floral enough to wear every day but with a luxurious sensuality underneath it.

Softer than some oriental scents, Burberry Touch For Women Eau de Parfum gives you a big summery punch, without overloading the senses. This delicate flower of a perfume is light enough to wear throughout the day, and all night long. Combining juicier notes like blackcurrant and cassis with spicy pink peppercorn, soft rose and smooth peach, it's as refined as it is delicious.

Fruity oriental perfumes work just as well for men too. This Hugo Boss Boss The Scent Magnetic For Him Eau de Parfum has stimulating top notes of Maninka fruit, combined with a base of black vanilla, to create an intense ambery, fruity and leathery oriental fragrance.

Woody oriental perfumes

What's not to love about Marc Jacob’s Decadence Eau de Parfum? A masterpiece in its own right, it's the epitome of sophistication, leaving you feeling utterly glamorous and desirable. Italian plum, saffron and iris all give it its signature oriental fragrance, along with Oriental woody perfume tones, lush florals and liquid amber.

For something a little more masculine, L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme is the best woody oriental perfume. Like taking a stroll through a forest, spicy grapefruit, cardamom and elemi essence meet creamy Virginia cedarwood and sandalwood alongside ambrox and apricot. At the base, intensity arrives with a plethora of woody scents with essences of Haitian vetiver and patchouli.

Spicy oriental perfumes

For a true fragrance explosion, Viktor&Rolf’s Spicebomb Eau de Toilette is an unmissable oriental fragrance. An addictive, masculine scent this fragrance will engulf you in zesty bergamot and grapefruit notes before icy elemi, electric pepper, fiery chilli and rich saffron take over. With base notes of leather, tabasco and vetiver, this spicy, woody oriental perfume is the perfect winter warmer.

Versace Oud Oriental Eau de Parfum Spray is known for its heady, almost aphrodisiacal, aroma. This oriental perfume is designed for lovers of amber scent and has an intense and regal composition of floral and spicy notes with a deep scent of leather. If you’re a powerful woman, looking for a scent to match your personality, then this is the perfume for you.

Sweet oriental perfumes

Sweetly mysterious and alluringly stylish, everything about this Dolce & Gabbana L'Imperatrice Eau de Toilette Spray makes our toes wriggle with delight. This delectable oriental scent has all the sophistication of a D&G creation, and plenty of elegance to boot. Mixing watermelon, pink cyclamen and musk, it's one of the best oriental perfumes for women.

For more of the best oriental perfumes shop our fragrances here and try out our fragrance finder. Don’t forget to check out the Fragrance Direct blog for more articles on popular products and the latest fragrance trends.