Gush›Alexandria Fragrances›Kiss Don't Be Shy
Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy
Alexandria Fragrances

Kiss Don't Be Shy

woody
powdery
warm spicy
leather
violet
aromatic
EDP · 2017 · unisex

Alexandria Fragrances is an indie niche house known for creating bold, unconventional fragrances that often draw inspiration from popular designer scents while carving their own path. Kiss Don't Be Shy exemplifies their approach, delivering a distinctive take on the floral oriental category.

The fragrance opens with a spiced, woody introduction featuring cardamom, coriander, and saffron over a sandalwood-tobacco base that immediately establishes warmth and texture. The heart develops around amber and heliotrope, softened by violet and a touch of lime, creating a creamy, slightly powdery middle that bridges the opening's intensity with a sensual dry-down. The base layers cedar, leather, musk, and sandalwood with vetiver grounding everything, resulting in a composition that's simultaneously spiced, leathery, and gently sweet.

This is a versatile unisex fragrance that works well for anyone drawn to aromatic, slightly androgynous orientals with character. It performs well in cooler months and evening wear, though its moderate projection makes it equally wearable during the day. If you gravitate toward scents with leather and spice rather than pure florals, or enjoy fragrances that balance sweetness with edge, Kiss Don't Be Shy merits a test. It shares DNA with The Sensualist, The Homesteader, and The Aristocrat.

Adds to your fragrance profile · visible to the community

Not yet ratedYour Gush Score
$110Best · 100ml
Rate this fragrance
0255075100
—/100
Price Comparison1 retailers · updated daily
Size
Updated 30537m ago
$109.99
at Alexandria Fragrances
Buy Now →
RetailerStockPrice
Alexandria FragrancesMSRPIn Stock$109.99retailBuy

✓ authorized retailer · ⚠ verify seller · delta vs. MSRP · we earn a small commission

Alert me when the price drops
We'll notify you once. No spam.
Main Accordsreported by community
woody
100%
powdery
75%
warm spicy
50%
leather
50%
violet
50%
aromatic
50%
Fragrance Notescommunity verified
Top · 0–30 min
cardamom
cardamom
Aromatic, warm, and slightly eucalyptus-like with a spiced green freshness that is entirely its own. Cardamom is one of the most elegant spice notes in perfumery, exotic without being heavy, warm without being sweet. It appears frequently in Middle Eastern-inspired fragrances and modern masculine compositions.
coriander
coriander
Warm, spicy, and faintly citrusy, coriander seed smells quite different from the green herb, with a dry, woody warmth and a slight floral quality. It adds a spiced, slightly exotic character to masculine fragrances without the sharpness of pepper or the sweetness of vanilla. A supporting spice note that adds complexity.
saffron
saffron
The most expensive spice in the world has a leathery, honeyed, slightly metallic quality that is immediately recognizable. In perfumery, saffron adds a dark, animalic richness, it's the note that gives oud-rose fragrances their distinctive regal depth. A little goes a long way; too much reads as medicinal.
sandalwood
sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
tobacco
tobacco
Rich, sweet, slightly smoky and earthy, tobacco in perfumery is the idealized version: dried, cured, and faintly honeyed rather than ashy and stale. It adds a deep, contemplative warmth to oriental and woody fragrances. Tobacco fragrances feel settled and confident, the scent of someone who's entirely comfortable in their own skin.
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
amber
amber
A warm, resinous accord rather than a single ingredient, amber is typically built from labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla to create a rich, honeyed, almost solar warmth. It's the quintessential base-note family, adding a comforting richness that makes fragrances feel complete. The difference between a fragrance feeling cold and feeling alive.
heliotrope
heliotrope
Powdery, sweet, and slightly almond-like, heliotrope is the quintessential 'retro' note of Victorian-era perfumery, now experiencing a fashionable revival. It smells of sugar, vanilla, and just enough floral to keep it interesting. In modern fragrances it tends to read as nostalgic, soft, and unapologetically pretty.
labdanum
labdanum
A resin from the rock rose plant with a dark, animalic, honeyed quality that anchors many classic oriental fragrances. Labdanum is simultaneously leathery and sweet, with a raw complexity that synthetic materials struggle to match. It's a cornerstone of amber accords and chypre compositions.
lime
lime
Crisper and greener than lemon, with a faint bitterness that keeps it from smelling like a cocktail mixer. Lime zest has a raw, almost herbaceous quality that pairs naturally with aquatic and green accords. It signals freshness and informality, the note of beach bars and gym-fresh colognes.
violet
violet
Sweet, powdery, and faintly green, violet sits between floral and earthy in a way that feels distinctly old-world glamorous. The leaf and the flower smell quite different: the flower is sugary and delicate, while violet leaf is fresh and slightly vegetal. Together they create a note that feels both nostalgic and current.
Base · 3–12 hrs
cedar
cedar
leather
leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
musk
musk
The base layer of almost every modern fragrance, a soft, warm, skin-like scent that extends longevity and bridges other notes together. Natural musk was once derived from deer (now banned); today's musks are synthetic and range from clean and soapy to dark and animalic. The right musk makes a fragrance smell like 'you.'
sandalwood
sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
vetiver
vetiver
Earthy, smoky, and complex, vetiver root is extracted from a grass native to India and has a scent that is simultaneously rooty, woody, and slightly lemony. It's one of perfumery's great base notes: tenacious, unisex, and endlessly adaptable. A fragrance built around vetiver feels grounded and deeply confident.
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🔥
The SensualistBest match89% match
You fill the room without trying.

Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.

🏡
The Homesteader83% match
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.

Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.

🎩
The Aristocrat83% match
Timeless doesn't try. It simply is.

Cool, clean, commanding. Heritage aromatics, classic citrus, dry fougères, refined woods.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
Community
Rate this fragrance
Rate this fragrance
0255075100
—/100
Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🔥
The Sensualist
You fill the room without trying.
Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
woody100%powdery75%warm spicy50%leather50%violet50%
Fragrance Family
Floral Oriental
EDP
Decants Available
1
listings in stock
10ml$2.00/ml

Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Kiss Don't Be Shy is $109.99. Without a coupon the lowest price is $109.99. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Alexandria Fragrances fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy? +
$109.99 at Alexandria Fragrances. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
What does Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy smell like? +
Alexandria Fragrances is an indie niche house known for creating bold, unconventional fragrances that often draw inspiration from popular designer scents while carving their own path. Kiss Don't Be Shy exemplifies their approach, delivering a distinctive take on the floral oriental category. The fragrance opens with a spiced, woody introduction featuring cardamom, coriander, and saffron over a sandalwood-tobacco base that immediately establishes warmth and texture. The heart develops around amber and heliotrope, softened by violet and a touch of lime, creating a creamy, slightly powdery middle that bridges the opening's intensity with a sensual dry-down. The base layers cedar, leather, musk, and sandalwood with vetiver grounding everything, resulting in a composition that's simultaneously spiced, leathery, and gently sweet. This is a versatile unisex fragrance that works well for anyone drawn to aromatic, slightly androgynous orientals with character. It performs well in cooler months and evening wear, though its moderate projection makes it equally wearable during the day. If you gravitate toward scents with leather and spice rather than pure florals, or enjoy fragrances that balance sweetness with edge, Kiss Don't Be Shy merits a test. It shares DNA with The Sensualist, The Homesteader, and The Aristocrat.
What are the notes in Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy? +
Top: cardamom, coriander, saffron, sandalwood, tobacco. Heart: amber, heliotrope, labdanum, lime, violet. Base: cedar, leather, musk, sandalwood, vetiver.
What fragrance family is Kiss Don't Be Shy? +
Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy belongs to the Floral Oriental fragrance family. It is an EDP.
What other fragrances smell like Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Don't Be Shy? +
Based on shared notes, Alexandria Fragrances Kiss Dont be Shy Amber (cedar, leather, amber, heliotrope), Ahmed Al Maghribi Oud Classic (cedar, musk, amber, labdanum), Alexandria Fragrances Lady Karina (cedar, musk, violet, coriander), Alexandria Fragrances No Apologies (cedar, musk, heliotrope, labdanum), Etat Libre d'Orange 500 Years (leather, musk, labdanum, cardamom) may smell similar to Kiss Don't Be Shy.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain