A decade after Viktor & Rolf wrapped a bouquet of flowers in a hand-grenade bottle for women, the Dutch duo gave men their own explosive. Spicebomb arrived in a grenade of its own, all gunmetal and bandolier, and where Flowerbomb detonated florals, Spicebomb detonated spice. Spicebomb Extreme, released in 2015, is the version that swapped some of the fizz for warmth, and in doing so became the one most people came to prefer.
It is the masculine half of a famous idea.
From floral bomb to spice bomb
Viktor & Rolf, the conceptual fashion house known for theatrical design, struck gold with Flowerbomb in 2005 and its grenade bottle. Spicebomb was the masculine counterpart, and Spicebomb Extreme took the idea further, composed by the perfumers Carlos Benaïm and Jean-Christophe Hérault as a richer, warmer, more addictive interpretation. It traded the original's fresher edges for a deeper, cosier core built on tobacco and vanilla.
Spice, tobacco and bourbon
It opens with a warm spice accord, cinnamon and saffron with a peppery, paprika-like heat and a flicker of citrus and elemi, immediately rich and inviting. The heart deepens with that spice, and then the base does the heavy lifting: a smooth tobacco accord, creamy bourbon vanilla and a touch of vetiver, warm and slightly boozy. The result is a spicy, gourmand-adjacent fragrance that feels like cold weather and good company, far cosier than the brighter original.
What it actually smells like
Warm, spicy and sweet, a cinnamon-and-tobacco glow over creamy vanilla. It is rich and addictive rather than fresh, projecting well and lasting a long time, the kind of fragrance built for autumn and winter and after dark. It leans masculine but is enjoyed by anyone who loves a spicy-sweet warmth, and a moderate application carries a long way.
The £145 question
A bottle of Spicebomb Extreme sits around £145 in the UK. For the money you get one of the most loved warm-spicy fragrances of the last decade and that distinctive grenade on the shelf. The catch is the spend, and the fact that its cinnamon-tobacco-vanilla signature is now very widely worn in cold weather.
Which is the reason an alternative market exists. People love the spicy warmth of Spicebomb Extreme without wanting to pay £145 for it.
Spice Ember: the 35% interpretation
This is where we come in, and we will be straight about what we are. Our Spice Ember is Aromara's interpretation of that warm-spice character, not a counterfeit and not a Viktor & Rolf product. It carries no branding and makes no claim to be the original. It chases the part that matters: the pink pepper, elemi and citrus opening, the cinnamon, saffron and paprika heart, and the tobacco, vanilla and vetiver base.
The difference is in two numbers. Ours is built at 35% extrait concentration, roughly double a standard eau de parfum, so the spice and tobacco hold for seven hours or more rather than fading by lunch. And it costs £4.99 for a 5ml to test it properly, against £145 for the original. We guarantee the wear time in writing, with 60 days to send it back for a full refund if it does not last.
Our guide to extrait de parfum explains why concentration matters, and the strongest perfume dupes in the UK shows where our range sits. If you love a spicy tobacco, the story behind Mancera Red Tobacco is a natural next read, and our Crimson Tobacco is another to try.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme?
It was composed by the perfumers Carlos Benaïm and Jean-Christophe Hérault and released in 2015 as a warmer, richer take on the original Spicebomb.
What does Spicebomb Extreme smell like?
A warm, spicy gourmand: cinnamon, saffron and peppery spice with a flicker of citrus, over a cosy base of tobacco, bourbon vanilla and vetiver. Rich and addictive.
Is Aromara's Spice Ember the same as Viktor & Rolf?
No. It is an independent composition inspired by the same character, built at 35% extrait for longevity and sold at a fraction of the price. It is not affiliated with Viktor & Rolf.
Aromara is an independent UK fragrance house. Our fragrances are original compositions inspired by the character of well-known designer scents. We are not affiliated with Viktor & Rolf, and all trademarks belong to their respective owners. Every Aromara fragrance is made in the UK at 35% extrait concentration, with a 7+ hour longevity guarantee and a 60-day money-back promise.