Whether it’s a classic white button-down shirt, a dirty martini, or a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans, there’s nothing wrong with liking the same things as everyone else. After all, most of them are mainstream for a reason; they’re pretty damn good. However, if there’s one facet of life to take the path less travelled, it’s fragrance.
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While Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s cult-favourite Baccarat Rouge 540 is inarguably a compliment magnet and Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia Cologne is beloved by all who smell it (including, apparently, the Duchess of Cambridge), there’s a certain sense of first-world world shame experienced when encountering someone who smells, well, just like you.
For those who take a little petty pride in others being unable to guess what fragrance you’re wearing, an uncommon scent is the way forward. Though the typical school of thought may dictate that uncommon or unique scents are only produced by the nichest of fragrance houses, even the more popular brands and mass-market designer releases often have a scent or two that have managed to travel under the radar.
A list for those who find pleasure in olfactory originality, these are the 10 best uncommon and unique fragrances for women.
1. Vilhelm Parfumerie Morning Chess
A seductive take on summer. Inspired by founder Jan Vilhelm Ahlgren’s childhood summers spent on the Swedish coast, Vilhelm Parfumerie Morning Chess balances out lush verdant notes with leathery, animalic ones. Fresh and dark aren’t usually descriptors that sit side-by-side, but they manage to co-exist harmoniously in Morning Chess. Slightly masculine and very luxurious, it’s the ideal scent for those looking to deviate from the masses.
Scent notes: bergamot, Tuscan leather, galbanum, patchouli, black amber
2. Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower
Bright and floral yet seductive and nuanced, Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower is an almost dirty take on white florals. Tuberose and jasmine are balanced out by creamy coconut and a touch of crisp eucalyptus, and underscored with warm white musk. The olfactory embodiment of having an affair in a secluded garden.
Scent notes: tuberose, eucalyptus, jasmine, coconut, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, white musk, melon, bergamot
3. Maison Margiela Bubble Bath
Maison Margiela scents are far from devoid of admirers, with Jazz Club and By The Fireplace among some of the most frequently recommended fragrances. However, Maison Margiela Bubble Bath takes a different approach to seduction, evoking the intimacy of relaxing in a warm bubble bath. Soap, floral, and a little sweet, it’s a cosy and calming scent that just smells clean.
Scent notes: Soap bubbles accord, pink pepper, bergamot, rose, lavender, jasmine, coconut, patchouli, white musk
4. Acqua di Parma Yuzu
Vibrant and almost bubbly, this warm citrus scent is positively delectable. Japanese yuzu fruit lends it a soft, bittersweet note, while white florals add sweetness. An uplifting and invigorating fragrance.
Scent notes: yuzu, bergamot, Sichuan pepper, lotus, mimosa, violet leaves, jasmine, musk, liquorice, sandalwood
5. Serge Lutens L’orpheline
Despite its musky, ambery notes, Serge Lutens L’orpheline is unexpectedly dark and ethereal. Contemplative, cold, rather gothic, and a little bit lonely, it’s likely the most niche uncommon fragrance on this list; catering to those who find mysteriousness seductive.
Scent notes: spices, incense, musk, frankincense, aldehydes, cedarwood, ambergris, cashmeran
6. Byredo Tobacco Mandarin
A carnal blend of citrus, spices, leather, and tobacco, Byredo Tobacco Mandarin is sharp and heady. A slightly masculine scent, it’s reminiscent of an old-world men’s club in the Orient.
Scent notes: mandarin, coriander, cumin, tobacco, leather, labdanum, olibanum, oud, sandalwood
7. Issey Miyake L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense
Akin to sipping lemonade in the library of an abandoned mansion after the rain. A fresh opening of sparkling yuzu, bergamot, and mandarin makes way for a woody and earthy heart of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, which are underscored by papyrus, incense, amber, and powdery benzoin. Smokey and decidedly mysterious, it’s an intense yet intimate scent that some will appreciate and many will remember.
Scent notes: bergamot, mandarin, yuzu, orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, incense, papyrus, ambergris, benzoin, amber
8. Masque Milano Russian Tea
For when you want to smell like a sexy Eastern European oligarch who’s crossing the country by horse-drawn carriage and stopped for a cup of tea on the road as a storm rages outside. Like strong black tea sweetened with raspberry jam, with notes of leather and birch wafting in the air.
Scent notes: mint, black pepper, raspberry, black tea, magnolia, everlasting flower, leather, incense, birchwood, labdanum
9. Lalique Encre Noire
The olfactory equivalent of lying on the forest floor after rainfall. But thankfully less wet. Skewed slightly masculine, this woody aromatic scent is dark, brooding, and contemplative.
Scent notes: cypress, vetiver, cashmere woods, musk
10. Boy Smells Violet Ends
A strong burst of violet opens into almost nightclub-esque seediness, the air thick with smoke, incense, and leather.
Scent notes: rhubarb, bergamot, black pepper, black tea, tobacco leaf, incense, white birch, tanned leather, smoked papyrus
Words by T. Angel
