The Night from Frederic Malle is undoubtedly a luxurious blend of the house, and I love it. However, after trying it several times, I find this cologne a little bit too strong and challenging to wear.
Hence, when I was on the search for a dark, mysterious scent for my brother, I actually looked for The Night alternatives that are similar but more pleasant.
Now, I’m going to share my findings here. So, if you wanna know about these substitutes, stay put.
What Does The Night Frederic Malle Smell Like?
The Night by Frederic Malle offers an intense, pure Indian oud smell fused with some majestic rose nuances. From top to bottom, it smells funky and evocative. But it never gets too dark, as the balanced hint of saffron and woodsy notes adds a pleasant, luxuriousness to the closing.
Now let’s see what note the master perfumer, Dominique Ropion, used to create this lavish composition:
Top Notes: Turkish Rose and Saffron
Middle Note: Indian Oud
Base Notes: Amber, Incense and Sandalwood
A profound, smoky, oud aroma gives The Night by Frederic Malle a Middle Eastern wedding vibe from the opening. Many say they find the oud quite dirty.
However, I don’t think it is dirty or obscene, rather, what I get is a dark, woody tone with a subtle animalic hint.
As the fragrance develops, the oud really flourishes, along with the powdery, sweet touch of Turkish rose and saffron.
Meanwhile, amber mixes with incense and creates a leathery effect that evokes sensual masculinity, which smells inviting for classy night occasions.
With top-notch quality and outstanding performance, I think Frederic Malle’s The Night is an absolute masterpiece.
What Fragrances Smell Similar To The Night Frederic Malle?
The Night by Frederic Malle is said to contain 100% pure oud, which is the reason behind its insanely high price.
However, the cologne carries some compulsive qualities that make people covet it. To fulfill your desire while staying on the budget, I’m here to introduce you to some of the best The Night dupes.
Here are the top The Night by Frederic Malle alternatives:
1. Sahara Nights Alexandria Fragrances
Top Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Turkish Rose, and Saffron
Middle Note: Sandalwood
Base Notes: Amber and Olibanum
Alexandria Fragrances always comes with some great clones for high-end fragrances. And Sahara Nights is one of their great works for sure.
So, they gorgeously replicated the composition by fusing a heavy dose of oud with some rose and sandalwood.
The intense animalic woodiness of the oud is very similar to the original.
However, I find the opening a bit off-putting at first. But trust me, it develops amazingly, and as time goes by, the aroma unveils more and more similarities.
The added twist of amber and olibanum gives the scent a warm, sweet quality that balances the darkness of agarwood in a sophisticated way.
Overall, I would say this cologne is a lighter version of The Night by Frederic Malle.
Plus, it offers around 90% similarity to the OG at a nominal price and lasts for the whole day with enormous sillage.
So, for the price, I think this is a great interpretation of The Night by Frederic Malle.
When To Wear
Sahara Nights is not something that you can wear on any occasion. Its intense, dark oud aroma is best suited for nighttime formal or special events all year round.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable alternative.
- 12+ hours of longevity.
- Broad projection.
- Balanced woody addictiveness.
- Masculine and sexy scent.
- Refined and posh in quality.
2. Aoud Cuir d’Arabie Montale
Need something darker with quality? Aoud Cuir d’Arabie by Montale is the best option for you.
When I first sprayed this cologne, I felt an intense oud scent hovering around me. The strong animalic aroma softens very soon and turns into a mellow, sexy leather aroma tinged with smoky tobacco.
After a few hours, I could feel the oud become smoother and classier, with the hint of birch’s fresh woodiness.
Moreover, along with the leathery sexiness, Aoud Cuir d’Arabie will give you the Mediterranean vibe that you desire from a perfect Frederic Malle The Night dupe.
Furthermore, Black Aoud is another great oud-dominating creation from Montale. So, for a more enriched experience, try Black Aoud by Montale or colognes similar to it.
When To Wear
Save Aoud Cuir d’Arabie only for those special events where you need to leave a strong and confident impression on others. Its intense animalic quality can be a good option for luxurious parties on winter or summer nights.
Why Should You Buy
- Inexpensive.
- Over 14 hours of longevity.
- Extremely strong sillage.
- Projects heavily.
- Sexy, dark, and mysterious.
- Posh and royal scent for men.
- Unique, smoky oud aroma.
3. Oud Rosewood Dior
Top Notes: Raspberry and Quince
Middle Notes: Sandalwood and Animal Notes
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud) and Palisander Rosewood
Now, let’s talk about a pleasant and more appealing The Night by Frederic Malle substitute, which is none other than Oud Rosewood by Dior.
So, as a Dior fragrance, there’s nothing to talk about the quality. However, what you need to know is its aroma, and trust me, it is just astonishing.
From start to bottom, Oud Rosewood presents dark, boozy, sensual qualities of oud. The whole woody, animalic accords are blended in perfection and will give you a rich, luxurious experience till the end.
And the sweet, subtle touch of raspberry and quince is what makes this scent a crowd-pleaser.
When the scent finally dries up, you’ll feel a smooth, addictive, woody scent trail that lasts for the whole day on the skin.
When To Wear
The exquisite dark shade of Oud Rosewood can be your best companion for the winter or fall nights. You can also make it your late-night clubbing scent.
Why Should You Buy
- Less expensive.
- More than 10 hours of longevity.
- Enormous projection.
- Smells better with time.
- Unique woody, smoky blend.
4. Dawn by The Dua Brand
Dawn by The Dua Brand is a good The Night substitute to glimmer your nightlife.
This cologne also greets with an extravagant blend of oud, rose, and saffron.
However, I think Oud comes out a bit more lightly and polished in this version. So, it won’t give you an intense Middle Eastern feel like The Night by Frederic Malle.
Its subtle spiciness of saffron tuned with sandalwood smells like a sexy man to me.
I personally like Dawn for the smooth, creamy, well-blended frankincense tone it offers. And I love to smell this addictive scent on my husband on our special date nights.
When To Wear
As the name suggests, Dawn is perfect for any events for the winter/fall evenings or nights.
Why Should You Buy
- Budget-friendly.
- Lasts for the whole day.
- Strong projection.
- Smoothly layered scent.
- Balanced agarwood accord.
- Less dirty than Frederic Malle’s The Night.
- More appealing.
- Sexy and elegant composition.
5. Octavian Electimuss
Top Notes: Saffron and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Rose and Olibanum
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud) and Amber
Unlike other cheap The Night by Frederic Malle replicas, Octavian of Electimuss offers a refined and well-balanced smoky, animalic oud-rose aroma.
It opens with a slightly spicy and very elegant sweetness of saffron-pink paper mix. Within a few minutes, it moves to the firm and majestic rosy, ambery heart.
After an hour or so, it finally settles with a dark, woody oud base laced with the warm sweetness of amber.
Overall, I would say this is a unique, elegantly funky scent, perfect for your flirtatious night outings.
When To Wear
To get an envious aura, wear this sexy, masculine cologne on your evening or night during the colder months.
Why Should You Buy
- Premium quality.
- Smooth, oud aroma.
- Over 15 hours of longevity.
- Strong projection.
- Appealing and captivating.
6. Nebulous Boadicea the Victorious
Top Notes: Saffron and Rose
Middle Notes: Agarwood (Oud) and Violet
Base Notes: Amber and Musk
Nebulous by Boadicea the Victorious can end your search if you are a fan of strong oud scents with high-end quality.
Christian Provenzano is a master of oud dominating blend. He created this so fabulously that sometimes I find it even better smelling than Frederic Malle’s The Night.
A softened oud aroma with a spicy, sweet floral undertone gives the fragrance an invigorating start. It does give a dark, smoky vibe, but not as strongly as The Night.
It develops linearly, and then, after a few hours, it settles with a warm, musky aroma tuned with the strong oud.
Nebulous lasts over 12 hours and offers an outstandingly strong sillage and projection.
However, this cologne is highly expensive, I suggest trying it out if you don’t have a budget issue.
When To Wear
Whether it’s a winter, fall, or dry spring day, Nebulous will give you a classy aura no matter what the occasion is. However, I think it is better to use only at night or evening occasions.
Why Should You Buy
- Luxurious oud aroma.
- Balanced and softened dark notes.
- Seductive animalic touch with added musk.
- Classy in both look and aroma.
7. KDJ Inspired Frederic Malle The Night
Top Notes: Oud, Turkish Rose, Saffron
Middle Note: Frankincense
Base Note: Sandalwood
KDJ-inspired Frederic Malle’s The Night is another great clone that deserves mentioning. This cologne offers around 85% similarity to the original blend.
You’ll feel the dark, animalic oud nuance as soon as you spray it. But the oud is much more toned down here and has an unusually sweet undertone.
As time passed, I could smell a similar spicy, powdery character of saffron and rose, just like the original. Frankincense is also there, creating a dark leather-like effect.
Finally, the aroma dries down, leaving a warm, mysterious, and very sensual woody scent trail on the skin.
So, as a clone, the aroma smells a bit synthetic to me. However, considering the price point and outstanding performance, I think this is a worthy substitute for Frederic Malle’s The Night.
When To Wear
This fragrance is ideal for formal or special night outs or evening gatherings during the chilling winter or fall. You can also make it your summer club night scent.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable.
- Long-lasting.
- Good projection.
- Balanced and smoothened oud.
- Smoky, ashy touch.
- Seductive and elegant.
8. Parisian Fragrance du Bois
Top Notes: Cardamom, Grapefruit, Pink Pepper, and Almond
Middle Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Rose, Geranium, Jasmine and Leather
Base Notes: Incense, Sandalwood, Labdanum, Patchouli, Amber, Oakmoss and Musk
If you like oud prominent compositions and are eager to spend a hefty price, I suggest going for Parisian by Fragrance du Bois.
I think this cologne here is a premium and polished version of Frederic Malle’s The Night.
I just love this fragrance. What does it lack? It is rich, versatile, appealing, and very upscale.
It starts with a voluptuous, spicy, nutty aroma with a citrusy undertone, which soon turns into a warm, oud-leathery core. Rose and jasmine enrich the oud’s royalness and prepare it for the majestic dry-down.
Later, the base showcases the intensity of pure oud alongside the smooth, warm, ambery-closing aroma.
Even though it is pricey, the quality and out-of-the-world performance make Parisian a worthy option for perfume admirers.
When To Wear
Parisian shines best during the cold times of the year. So, to get the best out of its head-turning aura, wear it only on super special occasions.
Why Should You Buy
- Suitable winter fragrance.
- Luxurious and addictive.
- 100% natural oud.
- Spicy, invigorating start.
- Smooth dry-down.
- Eternal longevity.
- Balanced dark, animalic tone.
Wrap Up
Many fragrance addicts crave the unique luxury of Frederic Malle’s The Night, yet can’t find any cost-effective options.
Keeping this obstacle in mind, I carefully picked the above-mentioned alternatives. Most of them fall in the same vein as The Night and are affordable.
So, now it’s your turn to select the best-suited one from the list.
Furthermore, comment down below if you have other queries regarding this topic.