Midnight in Paris is a legendary, much-missed gem that still commands fanatical devotion years after its discontinuation. It's a nuanced, comforting amber-leather dream, though some find it a bit powdery or leaning feminine. A few even reckon it's nothing special, but they're very much in the minority. If you can find it for a decent price, snap it up.

Perfume Parlour's budget take on the discontinued Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris - a smooth, powdery leather over tea and styrax, settling into a sweet, balsamic almond-tonka-benzoin base. PP captures the cosy 'powdery leather' signature that made the original a cult favourite, though it reads a touch flatter and brighter, with the rich balsamic depth softened. A long-loved amber-oriental for a fraction of the (now hard-to-find) original's cost.