If I had to pick 9+9 perfumes that really stood out in 2025, and lean more toward the niche world rather than the usual mainstream releases, this would probably be one of the most interesting lists for me. I looked at the fragrances that kept coming up in reviews, perfume communities, and all those “best of 2025” conversations, so this feels like a pretty solid snapshot of the ones that genuinely made an impression.
I also had the chance to try most of these perfumes in Belgrade, mainly at Metropolitan, Belodore, and Duro perfumeries.
1. Ex Nihilo – Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum
Fragrantica: 4.24 / 5 (741 votes)
Perfumer: Jordi Fernández
Main notes: pear, bergamot, orange blossom, jasmine sambac, amberwood, Ambrofix, sandalwood, musk, vanilla
This is one of those perfumes that manages to feel luxurious, modern, and very appealing without ever coming across as cheap or generic. It opens with a bright fruity freshness, but quickly moves into something softer, more amber-woody, and elegant. It feels like a fragrance you could easily wear both during the day and in the evening, though I’d say it really shines in spring, autumn, and on cooler summer evenings.
2. Amouage – Purpose 50
Fragrantica: 4.37 / 5 (1,275 votes)
Perfumer: Quentin Bisch
Main notes: olibanum, pimento, pink pepper, bergamot, sandalwood, papyrus, vetiver, rose, Akigalawood, suede, Mystikal, vanilla, saffron
Purpose 50 feels like one of the most serious and deepest perfumes of 2025. It has that incense-woody character, but it’s far from dry or austere — it’s rich, warm, and genuinely luxurious. This is more for people who enjoy the more artistic and refined side of niche perfumery. I see it more as an evening fragrance, especially for autumn, winter, and colder spring days.
3. Amouage – Decision
Fragrantica: 4.29 / 5 (1,350 votes)
Perfumer: Quentin Bisch
Main notes: cardamom, bergamot, pink pepper, incense, juniper berries, myrrh, vanilla, cedar, patchouli
Decision feels more modern, airier, and a bit easier to approach than some of the heavier Amouage releases, but it still has that recognizable quality and depth. The mix of spices, incense, and vanilla gives it a character that feels both clean and mystical at the same time. I’d say it works really well both during the day and at night, especially in autumn, winter, and cooler spring weather.
4. Les Liquides Imaginaires – Blanche Bête Limited Edition
Fragrantica: 4.29 / 5 (62 votes)
Perfumer: Louise Turner
Main notes: milk, ambrette, Mystikal, tuberose, jasmine, incense, Mahonial, vanilla, musk, tonka, cacao
If you like milky, creamy white floral perfumes with a dreamy, slightly fantasy-like vibe, this is a really beautiful one. It feels soft, but not weak — more smooth, sensual, and enveloping. I’d lean toward wearing this in the evening, although it can absolutely work in the daytime too if that’s your style. To me, it fits best in autumn, winter, and cooler spring days.
5. Le Labo – Eucalyptus 20
Fragrantica: 3.97 / 5 (547 votes)
Perfumer: Unknown
Main notes: eucalyptus, cedar, thyme, gurjun balsam, labdanum, incense, musk, hyssop
Eucalyptus 20 is interesting because it isn’t your typical “green fresh” fragrance. It has a darker, drier, more woody side to it. The eucalyptus gives it a cool, almost airy opening, while the incense and woods make it feel more serious and urban. To me, this works better during the day, though it can also be worn in the evening if you enjoy dry and elegant fragrances. It fits best in spring, autumn, and mild summer weather.
6. Thomas de Monaco – Jade Amour
Fragrantica: 3.88 / 5 (60 votes)
Perfumer: David Chieze
Main notes: honeyed floral with fruity nuances; leaning toward citrus, yellow florals, woods, and musks
Jade Amour feels like a fragrance built around elegance, brightness, and refinement rather than loud projection or an instant wow effect. To me, it’s more for people who like smelling sophisticated and quietly expensive, without making too much noise. I see it mostly as a daytime fragrance, especially for spring and summer, maybe even early autumn.
7. Gritti – Muskaria
Fragrantica: 4.03 / 5 (73 votes)
Perfumer: Luca Gritti
Main notes: bergamot, spices, benzoin, rose, incense, leather, musk, vanilla, patchouli, ambrette
Muskaria feels like one of those more intimate, luxurious perfumes that doesn’t shout, but still leaves an impression. It has warmth, resinous depth, and a soft musky finish that gives it a very seductive and elegant character. I see this more as an evening fragrance for autumn and winter, though it could also work on cooler spring nights.
8. Aromag 岩兰 – Coup de Foudre 怦然心动 (Parfum)
Fragrantica: 5.00 / 5 (3 votes)
Perfumer: Loc Dong
Main notes: green notes, aldehydes, eucalyptus, cardamom, rose oil, rose, Damask rose, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, geranium, jasmine, iris, Haitian vetiver
This one feels more like a hidden gem for people who love elegant floral perfumes with a green and slightly classical touch. Rose is important here, but it doesn’t feel heavy or old-fashioned — it comes across airy, polished, and finely balanced. Because of its character, I’d say it works beautifully during the day, though it could also suit a quieter evening. It feels most at home in spring and early autumn. The only small caveat is that the rating is huge, but the number of votes is still very low.
9. Astrophil & Stella – Nabati Oud
Fragrantica: 4.00 / 5 (29 votes)
Perfumer: Christian Provenzano
Main notes: rum, star anise, cardamom, saffron, bergamot, cinnamon, ambrette, oud, leather, aquatic notes, Turkish rose, iris, davana, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, vanilla, amber
Nabati Oud is really for people who enjoy more serious, dry, darker, spice-and-oud compositions. There’s leather, rose, smoke, and warmth in here, so it feels rich and full of character. To me, this is definitely more of an evening fragrance, especially for autumn and winter. It’s not the first thing I’d reach for on a hot summer day.
10. Il Padrino – Sospiro Perfumes
Fragrantica rating: 4.39 / 5 (795 votes)
Perfumers: Nathalie Templer and Salah Al Zarooni
Main notes: black currant, rum, amaretto, bergamot, amber, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, Siam benzoin, labdanum
Il Padrino is exactly the kind of fragrance that makes an immediate impression of richness: dark, boozy, sweet, resinous, and seriously elegant. The rum and amaretto give it a rich, almost velvety opening, while vanilla and benzoin make it warm and seductive. To me, this is very much an evening fragrance for autumn and winter, maybe even for colder spring nights.
11. Vanille Havane Cuir des Abysses – Les Indémodables
Fragrantica rating: 4.50 / 5 (52 votes)
Perfumer: Antoine Lie
Main notes: rum, spices, dried fruit, vanilla, tobacco, cacao, floral notes, birch tar, woody notes, Russian Leather, amber, animalic notes
This feels like a very serious, luxurious, darker take on vanilla, with a leather and tobacco backbone. It’s not a soft, sweet, easygoing vanilla — it’s deeper, smokier, and a bit moodier. I see it as a true evening fragrance, especially for autumn and winter. The rating is excellent, though it’s worth noting that it still doesn’t have a huge number of votes.
12. Vanilla Powder – Matière Première
Fragrantica rating: 4.12 / 5 (452 votes)
Perfumer: Aurélien Guichard
Main notes: coconut powder, heliotrope, Madagascar vanilla, vanilla absolute, white musk, musk, palo santo, coconut, lactones
Vanilla Powder is a very powdery, creamy, modern vanilla with a milky-coconut feel and that clean, almost fluffy finish. It’s not a heavy gourmand bomb, but more of an elegant and contemporary niche vanilla. You could wear it both during the day and at night, though to me it makes the most sense in autumn, winter, and pleasant spring weather.
13. Safran Secret – Maison Crivelli
Fragrantica rating: 4.24 / 5 (781 votes)
Perfumer: Gaël Montero
Main notes: spices, saffron, blonde woods
Safran Secret is one of the stronger 2025 favorites for people who love saffron, metallic touches, and a warm, slightly leathery vibe. It feels modern, unusual, and very recognizable, with that dry luxury feeling Maison Crivelli often gets right. I see it more as an evening fragrance, although it can definitely work in the daytime too if you enjoy more character-driven scents. Best in autumn, winter, and colder spring weather.
14. Chemin D’Amande – Une Nuit Nomade
Fragrantica rating: 4.29 / 5 (471 votes)
Perfumer: Jérôme di Marino
Main notes / main accords: almond, sweet, vanilla, nutty, floral, fruity, woody
Chemin D’Amande is one of the nicest almond perfumes that came out that year — soft, warm, delicious, but still elegant enough that it never turns into a basic dessert scent. It strikes a really nice balance between comfort and niche charm. It works beautifully both during the day and at night, especially in autumn, winter, and cooler spring weather.
15. Meant To Be Seen – Nishane
Fragrantica rating: 4.21 / 5 (579 votes)
Perfumer: Jordi Fernández
Main notes: violet, bergamot, iris root, moxalone, civettone, Akigalawood, sesame, ambrettolide, sandalwood
This feels like a gentler, more powdery and intimate Nishane than many people might expect from the brand. The iris, violet, and musky tones give it a very soft, elegant, and slightly melancholic character. It’s more of a daytime fragrance to me, but it can easily work in the evening too if you like discreet scents. Best for spring, autumn, and mild winter days.
16. Impadia – BDK Parfums
Fragrantica rating: 4.01 / 5 (1,435 votes)
Perfumer: Jordi Fernández
Main notes: pear, bergamot, mandarin, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, orange blossom, Akigalawood, vanilla absolute, sandalwood
Impadia feels brighter, pinker, and more radiant overall — fruity-floral, soft, elegant, with a gentle gourmand and woody touch. It’s not too heavy, so it feels very wearable and appealing to a wider range of people. To me, this is primarily a daytime fragrance, perfect for spring, summer, and early autumn.
17. Madagascar Le Baume Vanille – Parfum d’Empire
Fragrantica rating: 4.06 / 5 (203 votes)
Perfumer: Marc-Antoine Corticchiato
Main notes: rum, black and pink pepper, clove, cedarwood, cacao, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, musk
This is a rich, spicy, warm vanilla, with rum, cacao, and coconut giving it a lot of character. It feels comforting and luxurious, but not in a bland way — more like a serious niche vanilla for colder days. To me, this is very much an evening fragrance, especially for autumn and winter.
18. Olm – Zoologist Perfumes
Fragrantica rating: 3.91 / 5 (205 votes)
Perfumer: Spyros Drosopoulos
Main notes / character: woody aquatic, with strong aquatic, musky, woody, amber, and marine tones
Olm is quite specific and leans more into atmosphere than into a classic “I smell great” type of fragrance. It feels damp, cave-like, cold, aquatic, and a little strange — which is honestly part of the Zoologist charm. I see it more as a daytime scent, especially in spring, summer, and early autumn, but this is definitely one for people who enjoy something unusual.
Closing thoughts
In this expanded selection, Amouage is the only house with two entries, while all the others have one each: Ex Nihilo, Les Liquides Imaginaires, Le Labo, Thomas de Monaco, Gritti, Aromag 岩兰, Astrophil & Stella, Sospiro Perfumes, Les Indémodables, Matière Première, Maison Crivelli, Une Nuit Nomade, Nishane, BDK Parfums, Parfum d’Empire, and Zoologist Perfumes.
All in all, 2025 was a really strong year for niche perfumes. There were a lot of interesting releases, but these are the ones that stood out the most to me when you combine quality, public reaction, originality, and overall buzz among fragrance lovers. Some are more crowd-pleasing, some are more artistic and specific, but all of them have something that makes them worth paying attention to.