Althair Exclusif Notes: Smell, Wear and Release Date

Althaïr Exclusif is Parfums de Marly’s 2026 flanker of Althaïr, filed as Ambery Woody Gourmand: bergamot, amaretto and saffron on top, cinnamon, orange blossom, cardamom and praline in the heart, Bourbon vanilla, guaiac wood and Ambrox below.¹ The house announced it on 1 September 2026.²

In short:

• The house pyramid has 10 notes, split 3 top, 4 heart and 3 base.¹
• Against Althaïr, amaretto, saffron and Ambrox are new, mandarin and elemi are gone from the listed notes, and praline moves from the base to the heart.^1,3
• Sources give three different release dates, from 1 September to 28 September 2026; the table below lines them up.
• A 2 ml decant (€11.90) is the cheap way to judge whether it suits your skin before a 75 ml bottle.

Althaïr Exclusif at a glance

Curious? Try Parfums De Marly Althaïr Exclusif as a decant, from €11.90Try it →

Sizes

75 ml and 125 ml.⁴ The house offers a complimentary coffret of two 5 ml fragrances, Althaïr Exclusif and Althaïr, with a purchase.⁴

Family

“Ambery Woody Gourmand” according to the house.¹ Fragrantica files it as an Oriental Vanilla fragrance for men.⁵

Perfumer

The house page names none.¹ Fragrantica credits Hamid Merati-Kashani and dsm-firmenich.⁵

Release

Announced 1 September 2026.² Reported on the house shop since 1 September by Snifflist, an aggregator,⁶ “available on 21 September” according to Luxsure,⁷ and expected on 28 September in an August pre-launch report.⁸ Harrods listed it among its October 2026 arrivals.⁹

House prices

€275 for 75 ml;¹ £285 for 75 ml in the UK;¹⁰ $370 for 75 ml in the US.¹¹

On Scento

2 ml €11.90, 5 ml €24.90, 8 ml €29.90.

Althaïr Exclusif notes, as Parfums de Marly lists them

The house writes of “gourmand notes of amaretto” meeting “the spicy, leathery warmth of saffron”, of “a modern expression of orange blossom” and of a composition that settles into “an intensified Bourbon vanilla overdose”.⁴ Fragrantica lists the main accords as sweet, warm spicy, vanilla and almond.⁵ For where the vanilla itself comes from, see our explainer on vanilla in perfume.

Althaïr Exclusif as a 2 ml decant (€11.90), with 5 ml at €24.90 and 8 ml at €29.90.

Althaïr Exclusif vs Althaïr: what changed

Curious? Try Parfums De Marly Althair as a decant, from €9.90Try it →

The house describes Althaïr as “Irresistible”, with the persona of a spontaneous and magnetic player, and Althaïr Exclusif as “Captivating”, a passionate and refined virtuoso.⁴ One retailer calls it “not simply a more concentrated original, but a rebuilt fragrance pyramid”.¹² The two ingredient lists also differ: Exclusif’s includes Benzaldehyde and Coumarin, Althaïr’s does not, while Althaïr’s includes Hexamethylindanopyran and Tocopherol, Exclusif’s does not.^1,3

The price step is €50 at 75 ml (€275 against €225, about 22%) and €35 at 125 ml (€325 against €290, about 12%).^1,3,12 “Exclusif” is also a recurring house label rather than a concentration: Pegasus Exclusif arrived in autumn 2020 as a new version of Pegasus from 2011.¹³

The original is popular with Scento customers. Althaïr ranks #12 among the most-bought perfumes across Europe and #6 among perfumes labelled masculine (Scento Fragrance Index, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026). Althaïr Exclusif is not ranked: it was announced at the very end of that window. Parfums de Marly has 4 perfumes in Scento’s 25 most-bought across Europe (Layton #9, Valaya #11, Althaïr #12, Delina #22). For the house as a whole, see our Parfums de Marly guide, and for Althaïr-style alternatives at lower prices, our guide to Marly Althaïr alternatives.

What it smells like, from first spray to dry-down

One retailer describes an opening of “a soft, liqueur-like amaretto” with bergamot, and saffron adding “a warm, slightly leathery sheen”. After about 20 minutes the heart of orange blossom, cinnamon and cardamom turns “creamier and rounder” in the praline. From the second hour the Bourbon vanilla and the smoky dryness of guaiac wood take over.¹² The same retailer sets the original, “Bright, fresh, versatile”, against Exclusif, “Dark, creamy, liqueur-like”.¹²

Harrods’ deputy beauty editor, Verity Clark, writes: “Expect rich, nutty notes of amaretto and praline as well as sweet cinnamon and vanilla.”⁹ Luxsure adds a caveat: “Bourbon vanilla and saffron, however well handled here, remain widely used accords in contemporary men’s fragrance.”⁷

How it wears: season and a 2 ml test

Reports point to autumn and winter. Harrods calls it a “dream Autumn/Winter scent”,⁹ and the retailer recommends it “in autumn and winter, especially in the evening”, with the original suited to autumn through spring and daytime too.¹² On performance, the same retailer summarises community reports that “longevity and sillage are at a similar level” to the original. That is a secondary summary, not a measurement, and we give no hours for Exclusif.¹²

A fair test is cheap. Spray one 2 ml on skin, note it at 20 minutes, at 2 hours and at the end of the day, and wear a 2 ml of Althaïr on the other arm the next day. Our guide to sampling perfume online covers the method.

Release date and launch prices by market

The August pre-launch report expected 28 September.⁸ Both house shops quote delivery from late October 2026 (read 22 October 2026).^1,11 The safest reading is a house announcement on 1 September 2026, with wider retail through September and October.

Althaïr itself launched in 2023 at $250 for 75 ml and $350 for 125 ml,¹⁴ or €190 and €250 in Europe.¹⁵ The house now lists €225 and €290,³ which is €35 more at 75 ml (about 18%) and €40 more at 125 ml (about 16%).

Who Althaïr Exclusif suits

It suits Althaïr fans who want something darker and boozier, and anyone drawn to almond, amaretto and saffron. It belongs to cold-weather evenings. If you want a fresh daytime vanilla, the original is the better lane.¹² On gender, Fragrantica files Exclusif “for men”,⁵ while Althaïr was launched as “a new unisex vanilla fragrance”.¹⁴ For more vanilla directions, see our best vanilla perfumes guide.

Fragrances to sample next to it

These share a specific thread with Exclusif: cinnamon, almond, saffron or praline, boozy vanilla, or tobacco and vanilla. Prices are 2 ml, 5 ml and 8 ml.

Althaïr by Parfums de Marly

The reference point. The house notes are bergamot, mandarin and elemi, then orange blossom, cinnamon and cardamom, then Bourbon vanilla, guaiac wood and praline.³ Launched in 2023.¹⁴ 5 ml €22.90, 8 ml €31.90. Althaïr as a 2 ml decant (€9.90)

Herod by Parfums de Marly

The same house’s cinnamon-and-vanilla thread: cinnamon and pepper, then tobacco leaf, incense, cistus and osmanthus, then vanilla, musks and cedarwood.¹⁶ Launched in 2012.¹⁷ 5 ml €22.90, 8 ml €32.95. Herod as a 2 ml decant (€9.95)

Pegasus by Parfums de Marly

The almond-and-vanilla reference: anise, bergamot and almond, then cypress, violet leaves and orange blossom, then Ambrox, vanilla and sandalwood.¹⁸ Launched in 2011.¹⁹ 5 ml €17.90, 8 ml €24.95. Pegasus as a 2 ml decant (€7.95)

Haltane by Parfums de Marly

Shares saffron and praline in the heart, with bergamot and pink peppercorn on top and oud, patchouli, vetiver and leather below.²⁰ 5 ml €22.90, 8 ml €31.90. Haltane as a 2 ml decant (€9.90)

Angels’ Share by Kilian

A boozy, spiced vanilla: cognac, then oak and cinnamon, then tonka bean and sandalwood, with praline and vanilla in the description.²¹ Launched in 2020.²² It ranks #17 across Europe and #8 among unisex perfumes in the Scento Fragrance Index (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026). 5 ml €33.90, 8 ml €50.95. Angels’ Share as a 2 ml decant (€16.90). Our Angels’ Share alternatives guide goes deeper.

Khamrah by Lattafa

Cinnamon, nutmeg and a dates accord, then praline, tuberose and lily of the valley, over roasted tonka, benzoin, myrrh and vanilla.²³ Launched in 2022.²³ 5 ml €9.90, 8 ml €13.90. Khamrah as a 2 ml decant (€5.90)

Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford

The tobacco-vanilla neighbour: tobacco leaf, ginger and spice, with tonka bean, cocoa and a fruit accord.²⁴ It ranks #18 across Europe and #9 among unisex perfumes in the Scento Fragrance Index (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026). 5 ml €33.90, 8 ml €49.95. Tobacco Vanille as a 2 ml decant (€14.90)

Spiritueuse Double Vanille by Guerlain

Guerlain describes “a sheer excess of vanilla” with jasmine, ylang ylang, benzoin and cedar, and scents of rum and crates of spices, as a woody-ambery fragrance.²⁵ 5 ml €33.90, 8 ml €51.95. Spiritueuse Double Vanille as a 2 ml decant (€16.90)

XJ 1861 Naxos by Xerjoff

Honey and vanilla balanced by cinnamon, tobacco and cashmere woods, over lemon, bergamot, lavender and jasmine sambac.²⁶ It ranks #5 across Europe and #3 among masculine perfumes in the Scento Fragrance Index (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026). 5 ml €20.50, 8 ml €30.95. XJ 1861 Naxos as a 2 ml decant (€10.90)

Althaïr Exclusif and nine references compared

How we compiled this

We read the Parfums de Marly product and landing pages, Fragrantica, retailer and press coverage on 22 October 2026, and quote each source where it makes a claim. Where sources disagree, as on the release date, we show them all. Ranks come from the Scento Fragrance Index for Europe, October 2025 to September 2026. Picks were chosen by shared notes (cinnamon, almond, saffron or praline, boozy vanilla, tobacco and vanilla) and by what Scento stocks.

Sources

1. 1Althaïr Exclusif, Parfums de Marly (EU), product page, read 22 October 2026.
2. 2Parfums de Marly introduces its latest composition: Althaïr Exclusif, Parfums de Marly on LinkedIn, 1 September 2026.
3. 3Althaïr, Parfums de Marly (EU), product page, read 22 October 2026.
4. 4Althaïr Exclusif, Parfums de Marly, landing page, read 22 October 2026.
5. 5Althaïr Exclusif, Fragrantica, database page, read 22 October 2026.
6. 6Snifflist Digest #006, Snifflist (aggregator), 21 September 2026.
7. 7Parfums de Marly Althaïr Exclusif: a château revived, Luxsure, Pascal Iakovou, 3 October 2026.
8. 8Parfums de Marly Adds Althair Exclusif to the Althair Saga, iFragrance, Mona Mostafa, 19 August 2026.
9. 9The Best New Beauty Arrivals at Harrods This Month, Harrods, Anna Gosling, 14 October 2026.
10. 10Althaïr Exclusif, Parfums de Marly UK, product page, read 22 October 2026.
11. 11Althaïr Exclusif, Parfums de Marly USA, product page, read 22 October 2026.
12. 12Althaïr Exclusif vs. Althaïr: How the New Marly Smells, 4D Outfitters (retailer), read 22 October 2026 (prices as of 1 October 2026).
13. 13Parfums de Marly Pegasus Exclusif, Fragrantica News, 22 September 2020.
14. 14Parfums de Marly Althair ~ new fragrance, Now Smell This, Robin, 29 August 2023.
15. 15Althaïr: The Vanilla Pod in the Spotlight at Les Parfums de Marly, Fragrantica, Sophie Normand, 30 September 2023.
16. 16Herod, Parfums de Marly, product page.
17. 17Herod, Fragrantica, database page.
18. 18Pegasus, Parfums de Marly USA, product page.
19. 19Pegasus, Fragrantica, database page.
20. 20Haltane, Parfums de Marly, product page.
21. 21Angels’ Share, Kilian Paris, product page.
22. 22Angels’ Share, Fragrantica, database page.
23. 23Khamrah, Lattafa, product page.
24. 24Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum set, Tom Ford Beauty, product page.
25. 25Spiritueuse Double Vanille, Guerlain UK, product page.
26. 26Naxos Eau de Parfum, Xerjoff, product page.