Althaïr Exclusif sample: saffron, amaretto and a 3ml test

What Althaïr Exclusif adds, moves and drops

The shared structure is substantial. Bergamot, cardamom and cinnamon remain at the top; Bourbon vanilla remains in the heart; praline, ambroxan, guaiac wood and musk remain in the base. The newer release therefore does not replace Althaïr’s vanilla and praline core. It changes the notes around that core.

Three edits define the new note list. Saffron is added to the opening, amaretto is added to the heart, and orange blossom moves from Althaïr’s opening into the newer heart. Three other notes disappear from the published list: elemi leaves the heart, while tonka and candied almond leave the base.

The house’s family labels frame the same distinction: “ambery aromatic vanilla” for Althaïr and “ambery woody gourmand” for the 2026 release. Althaïr Exclusif’s listed accords are vanilla, amaretto, warm spicy, gourmand and amber. Althaïr has a broader list that includes sweet, vanilla, warm spicy, cinnamon, aromatic, powdery, musky, amber, citrus and white floral.

That makes the orange-blossom move especially worth testing. In Althaïr it sits beside the opening spices and bergamot; in the newer version it sits beside amaretto and Bourbon vanilla. Follow the individual threads on our saffron note page, orange blossom note page, cinnamon note page and vanilla note page. For another note-led comparison between two versions, read Guidance vs Guidance 46.

Althaïr is a 2023 Eau de Parfum listed for men, credited to Hamid Merati-Kashani and Ilias Ermenidis. The 2026 release is unisex and credited to Hamid Merati-Kashani.

What the community votes say about each

Among voters, Althaïr Exclusif’s longevity leans towards “long lasting”; “eternal” follows. The sillage result leans “strong”, with “enormous” next. Winter and autumn are the most-chosen seasons. Evening and night lead the time-of-day vote.

For Althaïr, most community voters rate its longevity “long lasting”. On sillage, “moderate” is likewise the choice of most voters. The season vote favours autumn and winter. For time of day, night and evening lead.

The distinction is useful when you plan the comparison. The newer release’s votes lean towards stronger sillage, while Althaïr has a clear majority for moderate sillage. Both sets of voters place the perfumes in cooler seasons and later in the day. These are reports from voters, not promises about your skin or a forecast for a particular day.

Your own two wrists can answer a different question: not which perfume has the stronger vote, but which progression you prefer. You may enjoy the saffron and amaretto additions yet prefer Althaïr’s elemi, tonka and candied almond. The note table tells you where to pay attention; the votes do not make that choice for you.

A two-wrist wear test with both Althaïr samples

Use a 3ml decant of each perfume so you can compare them in the same conditions. Each 3ml holds around 60 sprays, leaving enough for this plan and repeated wears afterwards. Apply Althaïr to one wrist and the 2026 version to the other, keep the number of sprays consistent, and do not rub either wrist.

1. Record the opening before comparing preferences. Smell each wrist in turn and write down what you notice first. On the Althaïr side, look for cinnamon, cardamom, orange blossom and bergamot. On the Exclusif side, saffron joins cinnamon, cardamom and bergamot, with no orange blossom listed at this tier.
2. Return after an hour. This is the central checkpoint for the comparison. Althaïr’s heart lists Bourbon vanilla and elemi; Exclusif’s heart lists amaretto, Bourbon vanilla and orange blossom. Note whether the two wrists now feel more distinct or closer than they did at the opening, and which heart you would rather keep wearing.
3. Compare the bases at the end of the day. Both lists share praline, musk, ambroxan and guaiac wood. Althaïr also lists tonka and candied almond, which are absent from Exclusif’s list. Write down which base feels sweeter, woodsier or more comfortable to you without turning that impression into a universal claim.
4. Check the setting, not just the notes. Both perfumes attract autumn, winter, evening and night votes, so include a setting in which you would genuinely wear them. Notice which wrist you return to voluntarily. That small habit can be more informative than another deliberate sniff.
5. Repeat with the wrists reversed. On another day, put each perfume on the opposite wrist and keep the rest of the routine consistent. Compare your new notes with the first set before choosing a favourite. Consistent observations across both days are more useful than one impressive opening.

Keep the two sets of notes together. A useful verdict names the stage and the reason: “preferred the newer release after an hour because of amaretto and orange blossom” gives you a clearer answer than a simple yes or no. If both appeal, your notes also show whether they fill different roles or would be redundant in your rotation.

What 3ml and 10ml decants give you

A 3ml decant is the discovery size. Around 60 sprays lets you run the two-wrist plan, repeat it and still wear the perfume on ordinary days. For this comparison, one 3ml of each keeps the test symmetrical: neither perfume has to be judged from a faded memory of the other.

A 10ml decant holds around 200 sprays and suits the perfume that earns regular wear after the comparison. It gives you weeks to live with the opening, heart and base rather than reserving each application for a checkpoint. Althaïr Exclusif is €12.42 in 3ml and €29.07 in 10ml; Althaïr is €10.89 and €30.51 in the same two sizes.

Our perfume samples page explains the format, while the Parfums de Marly discovery set offers another way to explore the house. If you want the wider house context before choosing, start with the Parfums de Marly page.

Three Parfums de Marly to sample next

Choose by the part of the comparison you enjoyed most. Pegasus Exclusif sets bitter almond and lavender around vanilla; Herod takes cinnamon towards tobacco and incense; Oajan combines cinnamon with honey and labdanum.

Pegasus Exclusif by Parfums de Marly

Pegasus Exclusif is the next sample when vanilla over a sandalwood and patchouli base appeals to you. This 2020 Parfum is listed for men and credited to Hamid Merati-Kashani. Bergamot, pink pepper and bitter almond open it. Jasmine, lavender and heliotrope form the heart, while vanilla, amber, tonka bean, patchouli and sandalwood make up the base.

Its accords include vanilla, amber, warm spicy, sweet, almond, powdery, woody and aromatic. Choose it when you want bitter almond, lavender and heliotrope around vanilla rather than the note structure of the two Althaïr versions. Its longevity vote leans towards “long lasting”, with “eternal” behind it. The sillage vote leans “strong”, while “moderate” follows. Autumn and winter lead the season choices, and evening leads for time of day.

Herod by Parfums de Marly

Herod follows the cinnamon thread into a tobacco-led composition. Olivier Pescheux is credited with this 2012 Eau de Parfum, which is listed for men. Cinnamon and pepper open it. Incense, oakmoss, osmanthus and tobacco form the heart, and musk, patchouli, vanilla and woody notes sit in the base.

Sweet, spicy, tobacco, gourmand and woody are its listed accords. Choose it when you want cinnamon beside tobacco, incense and a vanilla and woody base. For Herod, the longevity vote leans towards “long lasting”; “moderate” is next. A clear majority of voters calls its sillage “moderate”. Winter and autumn receive the most season votes. Evening and night are the leading occasions.

Oajan by Parfums de Marly

Oajan keeps cinnamon and vanilla but places honey at the opening. This 2013 Eau de Parfum is listed for men and credited to Shyamala Maisondieu. Its top tier combines osmanthus and honey with cinnamon. The heart lists artemisia, ambergris, labdanum and benzoin, while musk, patchouli, vanilla and tonka bean make up the base.

Its accords run from warm spicy, amber, vanilla and cinnamon to honey, sweet, floral, balsamic, powdery and musky. It is a useful contrast when you want honey, benzoin and tonka bean beside cinnamon and vanilla. Oajan’s longevity vote leans towards “long lasting”, with “eternal” following. For sillage, the community vote puts “strong” first and “moderate” second. Winter is the leading season choice, while evening and night lead for time of day.

Which Parfums de Marly decant should you choose?

Start with both Althaïr versions if the exact difference is your question. Choose Pegasus Exclusif for bitter almond, lavender and sandalwood, Herod for tobacco and incense, or Oajan for honey, benzoin and tonka bean. All five are available in the two decant sizes below.

For related reading, see Althaïr dupes and our guide to the best Parfums de Marly perfumes. Use a 3ml, around 60 sprays, to discover where your preference sits, then a 10ml decant, around 200 sprays, when one perfume deserves a lasting place in your rotation. 10ML is not affiliated with or endorsed by Parfums de Marly.

The bigger picture: Best perfume for women 2026: 23 picks, classic to new and Best perfume for men 2026: 23 picks, classic to new.