Esoteric by Alyssa Ashley
Women 2007
Main accords
Description
Esoteric by Alyssa Ashley is a musky floral woody fragrance for women. Launched in 2007, this composition features anise and citrus in the top notes; jasmine, cashmere wood, and neroli in the heart; and amber, musk, and vetiver in the base.
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The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
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In the collection
Leading answer I want it
357 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
81 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Winter
93 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
58 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Esoteric
Esoteric by Alyssa Ashley is a musky floral woody fragrance for women. Launched in 2007, this composition features anise and citrus in the top notes; jasmine, cashmere wood, and neroli in the heart; and amber, musk, and vetiver in the base.
Spices White flowers Woods and mosses Musk, amber and animalic
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Alyssa Ashley
How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
37 votes
Sillage
Tied for the lead Strong / Room-filling
68 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally feminine
15 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Excellent value
13 votes
Community reviews
6 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
Comparing Esoteric to Alien is ridiculous; anyone who smells both knows they have nothing in common. It’s a gorgeous bottle that evokes an esoteric consultation, but it smells like pure anise with citrus, African orange, and musk. The jasmine is barely noticeable, lurking deep in the background. It lasts about 3 hours on skin with a soft sillage that you have to hunt for with your nose after half an hour. Unfortunately, it’s discontinued; I spotted it today at a neighborhood perfumerie for 15€ for 50ml.
I’m saying yes again, especially once it dries down and settles; it reminds me so much of Alien.
I really like it and it lasts longer than other perfumes on my skin. I think it’s better suited for winter and evening wear, though I put it on this morning and I’m just so happy.
More than the original Alien, this smells like Alien Essence Absolue (2012) because it has more nuances. On my inner arm, I can’t always tell which one I’m wearing; in both, I detect jasmine and wood with anise, even though anise isn’t listed for AEA (maybe?). Esoteric feels sharper at first, but after hours, only musk remains in Esoteric while iris lingers in AEA. I’ve never tried anything from AA and didn’t trust it (prejudices, haha), but it has surprised me greatly; I see it as a great alternative 🙂
More than the original Alien, it smells like Alien Essence Absolue (2012) due to those extra nuances. On my inner wrist, most of the time I can’t tell which one I’m wearing; in both, you notice jasmine and anise-spiced wood, even though anise isn’t listed in AEA (maybe?). Esoteric makes it sharper for a moment, and after a few hours, only musk remains in Esoteric while iris lingers in AEA. I’ve never tried anything from AA and didn’t trust it (biases, lol), but I was hugely surprised; I see it as a great alternative 🙂
It’s quite magical… a bit like Alien but darker and more mysterious, somewhat synthetic and artificial yet rare, like a moonless night, uncommon.