LavenderOpens with
CarawayHeart
LeatherDries down to
Dominique PreyssasThe nose · 3 fragrances · also made Witness (1992)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Shiseido · Sold as masculine
Basala
The sharp clarity of an early morning in the city, where crisp green notes mingle with woody warmth as you step out into a new day.
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.
BasalaMid-range · $40–100
60%Similar accords, often for lessNoora Onyx · Swiss ArabianBudget tier, under $40 · shares 6 of its 22 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1993 by Shiseido, Basala is a Chypre fragrance for men created by Dominique Preyssas. The composition begins with an aromatic and fresh spicy blend of lavender, clary sage, basil, and rosemary, creating a crisp and invigorating opening. As the heart unfolds, fruity notes and green accords mingle with bergamot and neroli, adding layers of complexity. The base is warm and woody, anchored by leather, labdanum, cedar, oakmoss, amber, patchouli, and musk, providing a rich and enveloping finish.
Apply two sprays to your pulse points and allow it to settle for about ten minutes. The aromatic top notes are bright but fade quickly, making way for the rich and warm base that blooms gradually throughout the day.
Fig. 01 — Basala, Shiseido
Where to buy.
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Dominique Preyssas
The amber molecule enthusiastDominique Preyssas is a fine-fragrance perfumer who left a scientific path after his chemistry degree to study for three more years at ISIPCA, then trained at the Roure Bertrand Dupont Perfumery School and worked at Mane Fils and Takasago before joining CPL Aromas in 2003.
“They are extremely powerful, long-lasting and can be used pure, or diluted, allowing all sorts of effects from adding volume and strength to the whole composition to giving a clear, super-modern amber, dry woody or animal signature.”
Dominique Preyssas · Fragrantica nose page bio (scraped into fragrantica_bio); CPL Aromas profile confirms amber-molecule focus
Designer Shiseido
More from the house · founded 1872 · Japan
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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 originalBasalaShiseido · Mid-range · $40–100Swiss Arabian · 2018Noora OnyxShares 6 of its 22 notesunder $40★ 4.13 (84)
With Shiseido Mizu No Ka 2011
Adds citrus, white floral and powdery; 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 55%, disliked or hated by 8%.