Illicit is one of the best creations of Jimmy Choo. The sweet-honey-based perfume is loved by many. Women dig this fragrance.
When a perfume goes sky-high, other perfumer manufacturers try to replicate that scent. The same happens with Illicit.
And, sometimes, knowing the alternatives to these top-notch perfumes is necessary as you can buy them at a cheaper price.
Let’s discuss 7 perfumes that are alike Illicit.
Which women’s perfumes smell like Jimmy Choo Illicit?
Before discussing scents that are similar to Illicit, we should know all about Illicit itself.
Illicit was released in 2015 by Jimmy Choo, and the nose behind it was Anne Flipo. It is mostly a sweet-based scent, beginning with thick honey blended with bitter orange. This provides a citrusy touch as well.
The citrus is then combined with fainted rose. The perfume takes quite a floral turn in the middle with rose jasmine and orange blossom.
However, the honey comes back with more power and strength with the help of sandalwood and amber. The sweet aroma may tell you the presence of vanilla as well. Although, it is hard to detect as the honey note is too heavy.
Illicit is best for fall and winter; however, you can also wear it in summer and spring; just put it on with fewer sprays.
If you wear Illicit, you will be seen as fun-loving and outgoing.
So, here are the best fragrances that smell like Jimmy Choo Illicit:
Pure Honey by Kim Kardashian
Top notes are Freesia, Mandarin Blossom and Red Rose;
Middle notes are Beeswax, Honey, Honeysuckle and Orchid;
Base notes are Coconut, Vanilla and Musk.
As you guessed by the name, Pure Honey is all about the honey note. So much so that the honey note here is more prominent than in Illicit.
Pure Honey was released in 2013, and as it is one of the KKW company’s collections, the scent’s price is cheaper than Illicit’s.
Aside from having similar honey accord, Pure Honey also has a floral touch (Freesia, rose and orchid) in the scent like Illicit. However, the florals are much milder.
As Pure Honey focuses more on the thickness of honey from the beginning, the citrus is also missing from the opening.
Vanilla is slightly present in its base.
The fragrance is quite straightforward. It might be an affordable alternative, but it does not smell cheap, as the sweetness of honey smells natural rather than artificial.
When to wear?
Pure Honey is an all-year-round scent. You can wear it in the daytime as it is a happy and sweet scent.
Why should you wear it?
- Cheaper alternative.
- Honey note is more prominent.
Giorgio Armani Code For Women
Top notes are Italian Orange, Jasmine and Bitter Orange;
Middle notes are Jasmine, Orange Blossom and Ginger;
Base notes are Honey, Vanilla and Sandalwood.
Armani Code is a very popular scent of Giorgio Armani and designer perfume in general. It was released in 2006.
Armani Code is the less honeyed version of Illicit. If Illicit’s sweet tone overwhelms you, Armani Code is a great substitute.
Being sweet, it also takes a spicy turn with the presence of ginger.
Armani Code focuses on the citrus and ginger notes in the opening, making it warm and cozy.
Jasmine in the middle creates a floral touch; however, it is dominated by vanilla and honey. The honey exits, but it is not the dominating factor here.
You can say the amount of honey present is equivalent to citrus and floral. This citrus does make the perfume zesty, but it does not make it summer-like.
The longevity of Armani Code is 7 to 8 hours. It has good projection as well.
When to wear?
It is a perfume you wear in colder months, as the ginger note makes the scent warm. And the evening is the perfect time of the day to wear it.
Why should you wear it?
- Very popular as Illicit’s simile.
- Signature scent.
- Good longevity.
Prada La Femme
Top notes are Magnolia, Bergamot and Carrot Seeds;
Middle notes are Frangipani, Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang, iris and Spices;
Base notes are Beeswax, Vanilla and Vetiver.
The floral touch of Prada La is much more prominent than that of Illicit. This perfume was released in 2016 and became a massive hit for Prada house.
The frangipani and tuberose have a strong statement in the fragrance. They are combined with vanilla and honey to add a sweet component.
Iris also joins the floral team with time, and it provides a powdery texture to the scent. There is a mild presence of spices. And the base also has a woody aroma from the vetiver.
You will smell honey throughout the scent but soft-heartedly.
It has a lasting power of 6 to 7 hours and projects moderately.
When to wear?
You can easily make Prada La Homme your signature scent. It is a straightforward scent. Receiving compliments will be a must as people easily like La Homme.
Why should you wear it?
- Pretty and feminine scent.
- More floral notes with beeswax.
- Loved by many.
Scandal Jean Paul Gaultier
Top notes are Blood Orange and Mandarin Orange;
Middle notes are Honey, Gardenia, Orange Blossom, Jasmine and Peach;
Base notes are Beeswax, Caramel, Patchouli and Licorice.
Scandal contains many similar notes as Illicit. Daniela (Roche) Andrier released it in 2016. Its bottle’s design has its fanbase. The cap looks like a lady falling into the perfume bottle. The concept is great.
It smells like Illicit from the beginning. The journey of Scandal also starts with citrus and honey. The only addition of the sweet accords is caramel. Gardenia and jasmine create the floral part of the scent. The sweetness may be there, but the florals dominate Scandal notes.
Eventually, the sweet tone of the perfume decreases with time as the patchouli comes in to settle down it with a nudge.
Scandal lasts on your skin for eternity. It is a beast when it comes to performance, it has less sweetness, but it can easily beat Illicit.
When to wear?
It is a perfect scent for fall and winter for the thick and warm honey.
Why should you wear it?
- Beast perfume.
- Great longevity.
- Receiving compliments is a must.
Roberto Cavalli Eau De Parfum
Top note is Pink Pepper;
Middle note is African Orange flower;
Base notes are Vanilla, Benzoin and Tonka Bean.
You are probably surprised to see a fragrance in this list that does not have honey as one of its notes, but trust me, it deserves to be here. Roberto Cavalli was released in 2012 by Louise Turner.
If you give me 3 words to describe Roberto Cavalli, I would say ‘fresh, creamy and sweet’.
Like other perfumes in this list, Roberto Cavalli is the least popular one. But it is a hidden gem; therefore, people do not know its value. And, especially if those people are into Illicit and looking for an alternative.
Roberto Cavalli starts its journey with orange flowers and vanilla. It has its sweet accord, and yet it is fresh.
The spicy addition of the scent comes from pink pepper rather than ginger. This creates a beautiful mixture of sweet and spicy accords. And all of these notes are wrapped with amber.
You can say amber is the replacement for honey in this fragrance. And amber has done its job so smoothly that you won’t realize honey is missing in this scent. The perfume is very soft and warm in total.
When to wear?
Roberto Cavalli is made for winter and fall nights. You can wear it in daylight as well, which is less preferable.
Why should you wear it?
- Great longevity and projection.
- A hidden gem.
Paco Rabanne Lady Million
Top notes are Raspberry, Neroli and Amalfi Lemon;
Middle notes are Jasmine, African Orange flower and Gardenia;
Base notes are white honey, Patchouli and Amber.
Like many others on the list, the florals of Lady Million are more prominent than in Illicit. Lady Million has a strong white floral opening with jasmine, orange flower and gardenia. But mostly, gardenia is the star.
It was the year 2010 when Pace Rabanne decided to release Lady Million.
Lay Million takes a different turn after its opening. It gives off a combination of bitter orange, jasmine, amber and honey. Like Illicit, honey is the show’s main star in this part.
Raspberry may have a part to play in adding sweetness to the scent; however, it is still not as sweet as Illicit, as the florals are much more obvious.
I will choose the smell of Illicit over Lady Million. However, Lady Million has great projection power and attracts many people.
When to wear?
Lady Million is also for fall and winter. The heavy floral and thick honey with amber will be too much to wear on a sunny day.
Why should you wear it?
- Great projection and longevity.
- A feminine perfume.
Reminiscence Tonka
Top notes are Clove, Anise, and Bergamot;
Middle notes are Honey, Bitter Almond, Labdanum, and Jasmine;
Base notes are Tonka Bean, Vanilla, and Musk.
You may find it surprising to see a perfume named ‘Tonka’ here. As you should not judge a book by its cover, you can tell what the perfume smells like by reading its name.
Tonka is a full-on honey-based perfume. Like illicit, you will smell the honey note throughout its lasting. However, instead of having an opening mixed with citrus and honey, Tonka offers you a sweet and spicy one from the presence of clove.
After that, you receive the white floral part of the fragrance, which is dominated by jasmine and labdanum. Honey wrapped with almonds brings sweetness to the scent all the time.
And, lastly, tonka bean comes to the act with vanilla and musk. Tonka bean and musk give the fragrance depth, and vanilla makes it more creamy and sugary.
When to wear?
The strength of the scent makes it appropriate for winter and fall.
Why should you wear it?
- Compliment magnet.
- Good longevity.
- Mature scent.
Conclusion
All the perfumes above are great substitutes for Jimmy Choo Illicit. If you love Illicit, you should try them on to get the same feeling, but at the same time, being a bit different.
If you have any further queries, please feel free to ask them in the comment section, and I would be happy to answer them.
