Recommendations - looking for a wardrobe lift!

try tuscan leather by tom f, bois du portugal, original santal, royal english leather by creed, havana vanille by l artisan and musc rav. by frederic malle

MPG Santal Noble & Creed Bois du Portugal- Sandalwood kings
L'Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme EdT or EdP- discreet, impossibly refined gourmand/oriental
Serge Lutens Borneo 1834- A more discreet version of A*Men
Tom Ford Tuscan Leather- A wonderful, if somewhat linear, leather scent. Intense. Potent projection.

The beauty of the niche world is that few people you probably know have ever heard of or worn any of these.
The suck part is the prices.

Welcome aboard. Start saving money.

Your wardrobe isn't visible yet, but I have a guess that these would all be great additions.

Parfums de Nicolai New York is only $50 and is the first cousin of Creed Bois Du Portugal. Quite the powerhouse. Think Don Draper.

And you have to at least get a sample of Le Labo Rose 31, if only because it's so frequently discussed around here. This one has a potent, dry Cedar base.

Berries did you say? Mure et Musc by L'artisan Parfumeur
Chocolate? Rochas Man by Rochas
Vetiver Tonka by Hermes
Vetiver by Guerlain
Antaeus by Chanel
Opium Ph by YSL
Also, check out the Thierry Mugler collection!

Although this isn't really niche, it may be a safe blind buy that matches what you're looking for. A less common, fantastic gourmand with a bit of a chypre in it -- Animale Animale. Said to be similar to A*Men, which I haven't tried so I can't say much with comparing them. I can say that AA opens up with this amazing chocolate and lingering vanilla with a raspberry truffle accord and moss all over the background. The moss in this is amazing even if you dislike moss, the people behind AA who decided to combine a prominent chocolate note with moss, was a brilliant decision. This stuff lasts long, is unique, and prices are rock bottom.

Another great gourmand that is totally unique and very inexpensive is Samba Kiss Me. Have you ever smelled a fragrance that smells just like lemon meringue pie? Well look no further! Projection here is thick and rich and that of a niche fragrance, and longevity is 8+ hours most of the time.

A lot of people just go after niche fragrances because they want a fragrance that's unique and takes a chance, and they want that longevity that some perfume strength fragrances bring to the table, and that's understandable. But, having explored the world of non niche fragrances, dipping into less common houses, some houses where you can only find their fragrances online because they are so limited, I have found some amazing hidden gems. Best of all, the prices are rock bottom. If I find something that nobody has, that projects well, and lasts long, and is unique, I will feel as if I'm wearing a niche fragrance that may be sold at a far more expensive price.

As for niche though, I definitley agree with the Tuscan Leather recommendations. It's a dominating leather note, a very rich leather but does have a certain sweetness from the light raspberry accord.

You may also like John Varvatos (another non-niche). And, although it has a lot of comments here on Basenotes, I don't seem to smell it often out in the real world, but that may also be because it doesn't project very much a lot of the time. The smell itself is that of beauty.. leather but a more modern leather, not the same leather as Tuscan Leather, Tuscan Leather does feel like royalty.. John Varvatos is a combination of cherries and leather for the most part, it's sweet but never cloying. Nicole Miller is another non niche sweeter leather based fragrance. With an apple opening and a leather base. This can be found at TJ Maxx for 10 bucks. And the best thing about this, is very few wear it, so you're good there.

Coffe, chocolate, and vanilla? You must try New Haarlem by Bond no.9.

+1 on Vetiver Tonka - it may just straddle both your favourite categories.

try Un Crime Exotique from Parfumerie Generale