An independent house led by a perfumer
Nicolai is an independent house where the person who signs the fragrances also owns the brand. Patricia de Nicolaï studied at ISIPCA in Versailles and worked for the major fragrance suppliers before opening her own house with Jean-Louis Michau, who ran it until 2015, when management passed to their son Axel de Nicolaï. Since 2008, Patricia de Nicolaï has also chaired the Osmothèque, the perfume archive in Versailles.
Fragrance families in our selection
Intense eaux de parfum: woods, leathers and ambers
Among the eaux de parfum there's New York Intense, the Intense version of a great Patricia de Nicolaï classic, a sparkling amber with pepper, patchouli, chili pepper and lemon. Patchouli Intense pairs patchouli with rose and geranium over a base of incense with a hint of amber and vanilla. If you're looking for leather, you can start with Baikal Leather Intense, which has an accord made smoky by guaiac and Siberian birch and a heart of Florentine orris butter and centifolia rose, or with Cuir Cuba Intense, which pairs tobacco and leather with magnolia, ylang and licorice.
The oriental amber family includes Ambre Cashmere Intense, with black pepper and mandarin, a powdery iris accord, vanilla absolute and Siam benzoin. Bois Belize Intense is the portrait of a smoky tea among precious woods, with bergamot, osmanthus and a rose heart. Finally, Caravanserail Intense is inspired by the crossroads of the Silk and Spice Roads and has a coffee accord with cardamom seeds and sweet, fruity notes.
Musks and florals
Musc Intense opens on Turkish rose and moves to violet and carnation over a musky base; Poudre de Musc Intense has a heart of rose, hawthorn and orange blossom over sandalwood, with a cocktail of aldehydes. Sacrebleu Intense is a spicy, floral oriental, with carnation and cinnamon, jasmine and tuberose and a Siam benzoin base.
The gourmand line
In the gourmand line, Macaron Bourbon Intense combines bitter almond, rum and caramel with cinnamon and clove. Pavlova Intense is inspired by the dessert of the same name and opens with a spicy note and a fizz of pineapple, passion fruit and coconut. Saint Honoré Intense, inspired by the French pastry, has a citrus character with bergamot, pepper and orange blossom. Kiss Me Intense is also described as gourmand and centers on heliotrope, with orange blossom, ylang absolute, anise and bitter almond. The Coffret Gourmand is the gift box dedicated to this line.
Fresh eaux de toilette
Among the fresh eaux de toilette, Fig Tea combines fig, green tea, osmanthus and davana, and the house suggests it as a first approach to perfume. Cap Neroli is dedicated to the bitter orange of the French Riviera, and Patricia de Nicolaï imagined it as the scent of an isthmus reaching out into the sea. Riviera Verbena takes you to Mediterranean gardens, with lemon, mint and lemongrass, a green, slightly sparkling verbena and a marine note.
Angelys Pear is a tribute to the Angelica pear, with rose and jasmine over an oakmoss base. Eau de Yuzu, an eau de parfum, supports its citrus and watery notes with patchouli, guaiac and vetiver. Petit Ange Cologne, citrusy with lilac and white musk, is designed for children from age two.
The home: Maharadjah and the other home fragrances
Maharadjah is the signature fragrance of the home collection, with sandalwood and lavender accompanied by patchouli, vanilla and spices, and it comes both as a candle and as a reed diffuser. The 190 g candles are made of plant-based wax, have a wick chosen to suit each fragrance and are made in-house. Besides Maharadjah, the candles include Jasmin du Nil.
Among the diffusers there's also Musc Blanc, with musk, carnation, iris and Mysore sandalwood, and Un Soir en Sicile, inspired by the Sicily of The Leopard, with orange, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot and jasmine. Finally, among the room sprays, Bal à Venise is inspired by a ball in a Venetian palazzo, with rose, iris and violet; La Route du Cèdre combines cedar, Siberian pine and African geranium.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Nicolai?
Nicolai was founded in Paris in 1989 by perfumer Patricia de Nicolaï, who grew up in the Guerlain family and trained at ISIPCA in Versailles, together with her husband Jean-Louis Michau. She is the house's perfumer, while he ran the company until 2015, when management passed to their son Axel de Nicolaï.
Which Nicolai musk perfume should I choose?
Among Nicolai's musks, Musc Intense opens on Turkish rose and moves to a spicy accord of violet and carnation, with musk and jasmine. Poudre de Musc Intense pairs musk with rose, hawthorn and orange blossom over sandalwood, with aldehydes. For the home there's the Musc Blanc diffuser, with iris and sandalwood.
What does Intense mean in Nicolai perfumes?
Intense is the name of Nicolai's eau de parfum range. New York Intense, for example, is the Intense version of a great Patricia de Nicolaï classic, with pepper, patchouli and lemon. The range also includes Patchouli Intense, Baikal Leather Intense, Caravanserail Intense and the gourmand line, from Macaron Bourbon to Pavlova.
Which Nicolai perfume is best to start with?
To start with Nicolai, there's Fig Tea, a fresh, sparkling eau de toilette with fig, green tea, osmanthus and davana, which the house presents as a first step into perfume. If you prefer citrus, you can choose Cap Neroli, the eau de toilette dedicated to the bitter orange of the French Riviera.
Which Nicolai leather perfume should I choose?
Among Nicolai's leather perfumes, Baikal Leather Intense has a smoky accord with guaiac and Siberian birch and an opening of yuzu, pepper and saffron. Cuir Cuba Intense pairs tobacco and leather with a heart of magnolia and ylang, an aromatic sage opening and a licorice base.
What is Nicolai Maharadjah?
Maharadjah is the signature fragrance of Nicolai's home collection, with sandalwood and lavender enriched by patchouli, vanilla and oriental spices. It's available as a reed diffuser and as a 190 g scented candle in plant-based wax, made in-house by the house.
Does Nicolai make a perfume for children?
Yes, Nicolai has Petit Ange Cologne, a scented water designed for children aged two and up. It has citrus notes and a bouquet of white and purple lilac, with a hint of white musk and vanilla that recalls a baby's skin.
Which Nicolai fragrances are fresh and citrusy?
Nicolai's fresh, citrusy fragrances include the eaux de toilette Cap Neroli, dedicated to the bitter orange of the French Riviera, Riviera Verbena, with lemon and verbena, Angelys Pear, built on pear, and Fig Tea. Then there's Eau de Yuzu, a citrus eau de parfum with patchouli, guaiac and vetiver.
