Over the 30 years since its release in 1989, Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels has garnered a massive fanbase. Despite passing decades, people still swoon over its fragrance.
Naturally, over the years, Tsar’s countless dupes and “inspired” colognes have hit the market. However, which one is the best among these smell-alikes?
I have embarked on a mission to find out the best alternatives to Tsar in today’s market, and after thorough research, I have successfully created a list.
So, if you are looking for the best alternative to Tsar, then my friend, you are in the right place.
What Does Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels Smell Like?
Tsar was launched in the late 1980s by a brand called Van Cleef & Arpels. The nose behind this infamous fragrance belonged to Philippe Bousseton.
It is an aromatic, woody fragrance for men. Tsar’s opening is very green and woodsy but not crisp or juicy. Overall, you get a smooth and polished scent that people love even after over 30 years since its release.
To help you better understand the different layers of Tsar, I have included a breakdown of the notes present in the cologne.
Top Notes: Green Notes, Lavender, Artemisia, Rosemary, Bergamot, Coriander, Cinnamon and Neroli
Middle Notes: Pine Tree, Juniper Berries, Carnation, Tarragon, Geranium, Caraway, Jasmine, Rose, Orris Root and Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Leather, Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Tonka Bean and Coconut
As you can tell by now, Tsar is a highly complex and layered fragrance with a plethora of accords incorporated into its formulation.
The green notes, bergamot, neroli, coriander, and cinnamon start off the opening of the scent. They create a very pleasant, green, citrusy, aromatic initial scent.
As the cologne develops, pine, carnation, tarragon, geranium, and other floral notes blend in beautifully. The pine is particularly prominent on my nose.
Finally, as the scent settles, the base notes give a soothing finish and complete the scent. Musk, sandalwood, amber, vetiver, and patchouli all significantly make the scent complete.
However, the oakmoss is the most dominant base note that my nose could detect vividly. It gives the cologne its signature scent and completes the fragrance.
What Colognes Smell Like Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels?
The scent of Tsar is quite iconic, with its layered accords and beautiful ending. Its performance is also remarkable. It’s highly long-lasting, and the projection is excellent throughout.
So, even though many dupes of Tsar have been created over time, not all of them can match up to the complex scent and great performance.
A lot of factors need to be considered to find the best alternatives to colognes like this.
So, here are my top picks for colognes similar to Tsar:
Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent
Top Notes: Lavender, Nutmeg, Coriander, Artemisia, Anise, Basil, Bergamot, Cinnamon and Cardamom
Middle Notes: Geranium, Carnation, Jasmine and iris
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Tobacco, Leather, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk, Amber and Tonka Bean
When discussing colognes that smell like Tsar, the number on the list has to be Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent. Released around the same time back in the 1980s, Jazz has a lot of similar aspects to Tsar.
Jazz was created by Jean-Francois Latty, and it is also an aromatic and woody men’s fragrance. Much like Tsar, it starts off spicy. The bergamot, coriander, basil, and nutmeg are quite noticeable.
When the first spice fades, a lot of lavender and dry and woodsy undertones are present. Oakmoss, tobacco, and a faint scent of leather give it a similar style to Tsar.
When it comes to the floral core, they are remarkably similar, with geranium, artemisia, and lavender playing significant roles in each.
Even though it is not particularly affordable, it is an excellent alternative with notable performance.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar scent to Tsar.
- Versatile fragrance.
- Excellent performance, both longevity and sillage.
- Less expensive than Tsar.
North Wind by O Boticário
Top Notes: Bergamot
Middle Notes: Coriander, Amber, Lavender and Geranium
Base Notes: Vetiver and Patchouli
The next cologne on my list is North Wind by O Boticário, created by Antonio Amador. It is another aromatic scent for men which smells very close to Tsar.
Natural scent North Wind is as crisp as a breeze while also being robust and masculine.
It begins with bergamot, then features amber, lavender, geranium, coriander, patchouli and vetiver towards the base.
Despite not having as many notes as Tsar, North WInd does an excellent job of replicating the essence of the Van Cleef & Arpels cologne.
It gives you a similar green scent, wrapped in floral aroma and put together with soothing base notes.
The only aspect lacking I smell is that of woody notes, which are very prominent in Tsar, and the longevity is not as good.
Nonetheless, North Wind is still a close alternative to what we are looking for, and it comes at a fraction of the price.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Similar scent to Tsar.
- Affordable alternative to Tsar.
- Great scent and usability.
- Good value for the price.
Pasha De Cartier by Cartier
Top Notes: Lavender, Mint, Caraway, Anise and Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Coriander and Brazilian Rosewood
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Labdanum
Pasha de Cartier by Cartier was launched in 1992 and created by Jacques Cavallier. Much like Tsar, it is an aromatic and woody scent for men.
Many of the keynotes of the two fragrances are in common, giving them an uncanny resemblance. The woody notes are mainly responsible for the pleasant similarity.
Along with the aroma of some additional spice, oakmoss and mint give it a dry freshness. While maintaining its depth of green outdoorsy aroma and the refreshingness of the mint, the aroma warms up.
Overall, Pasha is an excellent scent with remarkable performance that’s maybe even better than Tsar. Its scent and performance make it one of the top alternatives to Tsar.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Versatile masculine scent.
- Less expensive than Tsar.
- Excellent performance for both longevity and projection.
Safari for Men by Ralph Lauren
Top Notes: Lavender, Bergamot, Aldehydes, Coriander, Artemisia, Green Notes, Neroli and Lemon
Middle Notes: Carnation, Tarragon, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Rose and Cyclamen
Base Notes: Leather, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk, Cedar and Amber
The next best alternative for Tsar is Safari for men by Ralph Lauren. The feminine counterpart of this scent is also available in the market.
Safari for men was launched in 1992, and it has a woody and floral aroma similar to Tsar.
Additionally, it has a pleasant scent that is beautifully masculine while incorporating floral softness. The outdoorsy, green and woodsy theme is the major focus of this cologne.
Although it is manly, citrus and floral overtones help to soften it. The biggest distinction is that Safari appears a little bit lighter and is not quite as lush and forested as Tsar.
Safari is long-lasting with moderate sillage and costs much less than Tsar. So, it is an excellent choice, and you can give it a try.
When To Wear
Safari is ideal for fall and winter, but you can also wear it in spring and summer. It is quite versatile and can be used for casual, semi-formal and formal occasions. You can wear it day or night, any time of the day.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable alternative to Tsar.
- Long-lasting.
- Versatile fragrance.
- Similar scent to Tsar.
Aspen by Thera Cosméticos
Top Notes: Lavender, Green Notes, Artemisia, Bergamot, Rosemary, Coriander, Neroli and Cinnamon
Middle Notes: Pine, Juniper Berries, Tarragon, Clove, Orris, Jasmine, Caraway, Lily-of-the-Valley, Rose and Geranium
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Musk, Patchouli, Coconut, Cedar, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Amber, Leather and Vetiver
Aspen by Thera Cosméticos was launched in 2020 and created by Mário Torri Neto.
It is also an aromatic and woody men’s fragrance like Tsar and duplicates its scent very well. If you take a look at its notes breakdown, you will notice how many accords overlap between the two scents.
Aspen opens with dominant citrus and green notes, creating a vibe very similar to Tsar. As it develops, the signature notes of Tsar catch your attention – pine and oakmoss become very noticeable.
The overall green and woody aroma resembles Tsar, and it comes only at a fraction of its price. The performance of Aspen is also great, especially considering its price.
So, if you want a Tsar dupe, I highly recommend this one.
When To Wear
Why Should You Buy
- Super affordable.
- Good performance.
- Great value for the price.
- Versatile scent.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to find the perfect dupe or substitute for a scent you adore, but not when you have a list of the top colognes available today!
Tsar is a fantastic green and woodsy masculine cologne, and it also has plenty of great knockoffs. Although each of the smell-alike colognes in this article approaches the same aroma differently, they all essentially follow the pattern you’re searching for.
I’ve listed both pricey and budget-friendly Tsar substitutes, both of which are delightful. You can give any of these colognes a try, and I have no doubt that you won’t be disappointed.
Let me know which alternative you go for and what cologne you’d like for me to cover next in the comments below!
