Rodrigo Flores-RouxThe nose · 55 fragrances · also made Fougere Royale (2010) (2010)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Donna Karan · Sold as feminine
Essence Labdanum
The intimate glow of a dimly lit study — where the rich scent of leather books meets the warmth of amber, creating a cocoon of quiet sophistication.
Full bottle: Mid-range tier, typically $40–100. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Essence LabdanumMid-range · $40–100
47%Similar accords, often for lessSomow Al Rasasi Wajaha · RasasiBudget tier, under $40 · shares leather and musk8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2008, Essence Labdanum by Donna Karan is an Oriental fragrance created by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux. The composition balances smoky and balsamic notes with the warmth of amber, leather, and musk, creating a complex and animalic character that's both earthy and luxurious. This fragrance embodies the brand’s signature elegance, drawing on Donna Karan’s legacy of refined simplicity and sophistication.
Apply Essence Labdanum to pulse points and let it settle for a few minutes before leaving. The smoky and balsamic notes develop over time, so a light application is recommended to avoid overpowering presence.
Fig. 01 — Essence Labdanum, Donna Karan
Where to buy.
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Rodrigo Flores-Roux
Mexico City to the Fragrance Foundation Hall of FameRodrigo Flores-Roux, born and raised in Mexico City, studied biology before moving to France at 20 in 1989 to attend ISIPCA in Versailles, interning along the way with Jean-Claude Ellena.
Designer Donna Karan
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalEssence LabdanumDonna Karan · Mid-range · $40–100Rasasi · 2021Somow Al Rasasi WajahaShares Leather and Muskunder $40★ 4.09 (32)
With Donna Karan DK
Adds powdery, fruity and sweet; shares green notes and musk.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 56%, disliked or hated by 5%.