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7.2 / 10 119 Ratings
A perfume by Maison Margiela for women and men, released in 2016. The scent is spicy-oriental. It was last marketed by L'Oréal.
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Main accords

Spicy
Oriental
Sweet
Woody
Fruity

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
CinnamonCinnamon DavanaDavana Osmanthus absoluteOsmanthus absolute
Heart Notes Heart Notes
DateDate Cistus absoluteCistus absolute Everlasting flowerEverlasting flower
Base Notes Base Notes
FrankincenseFrankincense Oud absoluteOud absolute PatchouliPatchouli
Ratings
Scent
7.2119 Ratings
Longevity
7.499 Ratings
Sillage
7.0101 Ratings
Bottle
7.3118 Ratings
Value for money
7.036 Ratings
Submitted by multiple users · last update on 01/08/2026.
Source-backed & verified
Interesting Facts
The fragrance was part of the collection Replica.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
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Atlas Garden
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Black Papyrus
No. 2 by Eutopie
No. 2
Suki Essence by Weil
Suki Essence
Camel by Zoologist
Camel

Reviews

2 in-depth fragrance descriptions
zods

44 Reviews
zods
zods
1  
Where the Oasis Finds You
I’ve lived with this bottle for a few years now and each time I wear Across Sands, it draws me back into the same unfolding tale: a slow, shimmering passage through a desert that feels endless yet strangely welcoming.

It begins like stepping onto Saharan sand at first light: barefoot, warm grains shifting beneath you, a pouch of dates resting against your side, a bottle of water tapping lightly with each step. The heat is already gathering, thick and expectant but the sweetness of the dates rises like a quiet vow, a small encouragement as the sun climbs higher.

Time stretches. The horizon ripples. The world narrows into gold, heat and silence. And then, just as the sun begins to press too heavily on your thoughts, an oasis appears, a rare mercy carved into the emptiness. Shade. Still water. A moment to breathe. The air is laced with the slow, spiralling smoke of bakhoor oud incense drifting from nearby shops, warm and resinous, weaving through the heat like a whispered blessing. Gratitude comes easily in that moment, the kind born from exhaustion and relief.

You sit. You taste a few dates, their sticky sweetness anchoring you. Someone offers a glass of goat’s milk, cool, faintly tangy and for a brief moment the world softens. You rest, letting the spices settle on your skin like a second layer warmed by the sun.

When you rise again and continue toward the next town, the scent stays with you: dates, spice, heat and the memory of that oasis. It follows you through the final stretch, a reminder of both the hardship and the small graces scattered along the way.

For me, it remains one of Maison Margiela’s finest creations, not just a fragrance but a story that unfolds anew every time it touches the skin.
0 Comments
Giggs1980

81 Reviews
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Giggs1980
Giggs1980
7  
Good Date…..
Upon the first spray, I had to have it immediately.
No matter how it develops, no matter how long it lasts. A true impulse buy.
And I have not regretted it.
In my eyes, this fragrance has the potential to be a signature scent.
It starts off very dry and spicy.
At first, it reminds me of Journey by Amouage. However, this changes quickly.
Soon a sweet date takes the reins. And it does not let go.
I love dates. And until this point, I could not believe that a fragrance could capture the date so naturally.
The date accompanied by these fine spices is simply a dream. The longevity and sillage are actually very good. Not a beast but good. For me, the fragrance is wearable in autumn and winter, as it is quite spicy.

Anyone who likes oriental fragrances should definitely try this one.
It has definitely secured a permanent place in my cabinet.
0 Comments

Statements

26 short views on the fragrance
4
One of the best Margielas. Smells like dried fruits. Super heavy and cozy
0 Comments
2 years ago
2
Dried dates, oud and spices.
Really good, too bad it's discontinued.
0 Comments
16
13
Margiela's desert backdrop: hot-sweet fan winds blow microplastic sand over the papier-mâché bazaar.
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13 Comments
11
2
Underrated, overlooked, a little gem!
Almost a big one.
Oriental: a bit
Heavy: not really
Practically a light oriental!
Wearable, familiar.
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2 Comments
10
4
Medicinal oud...
A memory of the dentist from childhood...
The base smells like the middle part of Qom Chilom!
I did a counter-test :)
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4 Comments
10
1
The many seemingly exciting components cancel each other out, leaving only a well-solid Oriental with oud in the end.
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1 Comment
10
1
Delicate fruity notes, lovely spice combo, a hint of oud and floral sweetness. Not new, exciting, or unusual, but pleasant to wear.
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1 Comment
9
6
In the blooming oasis, the Sultan
snacks on dates, drinks spiced tea.
An incense stick glows,
spreading its scent in the shimmering heat.
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6 Comments
9
2
Sweet-fruity and sandy-dry oriental scent with very soft oud, this fragrance feels familiar... I see it more for women!
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2 Comments
8
1
The ice is melting because it's so warm & spicy. An oudy bear calls in the wild. Was he rescued by Instagram? He needs some cash!
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1 Comment
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