The best oriental perfumes: warm, spicy and with oud

Oriental perfumes are the warmest, most intense and most memorable in perfumery. Vanilla, amber, musk, oud, leather, saffron, pepper and cardamom come together in sensual fragrances with plenty of sillage and great longevity, leaving a trail wherever you go.

Here are the oriental sub-families, how to tell them apart and our selection of the best oriental perfumes from divain, with their notes so you can choose yours. To learn more about their origins, see our guide to what oriental perfumes are.

What defines oriental perfumes?

Their base of warm, sweet and spicy notes: vanilla, sandalwood, amber, resins and spices. They're long-lasting fragrances with strong projection, ideal for evenings and cold months, although some sub-families also work during the day.

The best oriental perfumes from divain

Floral orientals

divain.1127 · unisex

Caramel in the opening, white flowers and jasmine at the heart and a base of vanilla and musk. Sweet, radiant and very sensorial, with a trail that lasts for hours. Great in autumn and winter, and on warm nights too.

divain.890 · unisex

Cinnamon, plum and jasmine over a woody, balsamic base. An oriental of moderate intensity, warm and exotic, for special nights when you want something memorable without overdoing it.

Woody orientals and oud

divain.1329 · unisex

Cinnamon and mandarin in the opening, incense and white pepper at the heart and a base of amber, oud wood and labdanum. Dark, resinous and with an imposing presence.

divain.488 · unisex

Rosewood, lavender, cinnamon and apple in the opening; rose, cedar and lily of the valley at the heart; and a base of oud, sandalwood, amber, vanilla and musk. An elegant, structured oud with a noble trail.

divain.919 · unisex

Oud and guaiac wood with saffron and cypriol. Very intense, warm and complex: for those who want an oriental that breaks the mould on winter nights.

Spicy orientals

divain.1321 · unisex

Saffron, cinnamon and clove with a touch of citrus and rosemary in the opening; rum and dates with jasmine, neroli and ylang-ylang at the heart; and a base of sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, amber and benzoin. Dark, boozy and with a niche character.

divain.1326 · men

Cumin and black pepper in the opening, saffron and lavender at the heart and a trail of vanilla and tobacco. Intense, seductive and clearly made for the night.

Gourmand orientals

divain.1130 · women

Dark fruits and white flowers in the opening, jasmine at the heart and a creamy base of bitter almond, toffee and tonka bean. Intense, sophisticated and a little daring.

You'll find many more options in our oriental perfumes collection, and if oud is your thing, in our guide to Arabic perfumes.

How to choose your oriental perfume

Frequently asked questions about oriental perfumes

Are oriental perfumes too intense for everyday wear?

It depends on the sub-family. Floral orientals and those of moderate intensity, such as divain.890, work well during the day. Oud or leather-based orientals are more intense and shine in the evening or in cold weather.

What time of year suits orientals best?

Autumn and winter, when the cold brings out their warm notes and extends their trail. In spring and summer, choose floral or lighter orientals.

Are oriental perfumes for men or women?

Both. It's a very unisex family: oud, amber, vanilla and spices work equally well on any skin.