What is the best niche fragrance of all time?

What's the best niche fragrance of all time? It's a question that comes up very regularly and is the subject of passionate discussions on social networks among bloggers and perfume enthusiasts.

To get an answer based on a broad consensus, Fragrantica, the online fragrance encyclopaedia, asked its community the question for its Fragrantica Reader's Choice Awards 2023.

Nearly two million votes were cast in total, helping to determine fragrance lovers' favourite fragrances in a wide range of categories. In this article, we'll be focusing on niche fragrances, as SCENTISSIME is a website for enthusiasts of these exceptional perfumes.

In the "Best niche fragrance of all time" category, XJ 1861 Naxos by Xerjoff was awarded the coveted title of best niche fragrance in the history of perfumery. The Fragrantica community voted in its majority for this fragrance, launched in 2015 as part of a collection of three perfumes celebrating the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

XJ 1861 by Xerjoff is described as a spicy and aromatic fragrance that evokes a fresh, crisp breeze. It invites you on an olfactory journey to Sicily, with top notes of lavender, bergamot and lemon; middle notes of honey, cinnamon, cashmeran and jasmine sambac; and base notes of tobacco leaf, vanilla and tonka bean.

The Other Best Niche Fragrances

The other winners of the Fragrantica Reader's Choice Awards 2023 in the Best Niche Fragrances of All Time category are also worth knowing and discovering.

The podium includes no less than two creations by Swiss perfumer Andy Tauer: L'air du désert marocain (launched in 2005), which takes second place, and Au cœur du désert (2016), which takes third place.

In 4th place, we find Vanille Havane by Les Indémodables, a fragrance launched in 2020.

Turkish brand Nishane is also in the spotlight with Ani, a chypre, spicy and vanilla fragrance launched in 2019, which comes fifth in the ranking.

Two other fragrances by Andy Tauer, PHI Une Rose de Kandahar (launched in 2013) and 03 Lonestar Memories (2006), take sixth and seventh place respectively. An exceptional result for this confidential, almost artisanal brand, which is always much appreciated by lovers of fragrances like no other.