Sometimes you want a fragrance or cologne that’s fresh. Light. Not intrusive at all. And sometimes you just want to walk past someone and have them literally stop and turn their head as you pass, because you smell so damn good. Welcome to rich scents, the kinds that are too much for every day use but perfect for a spicy first date or any time you’re feeling crap and want to spritz yourself and magically transform into a wealthy, mysterious aristocrat from 1955.
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These scents are perfect for winter – just team ’em with a huge coat or tailored wool trench for maximum “just got back from Aspen” vibes. If you wanna do the research yourself, look for scents heavy on the woody notes.
1. D.S & DURGA MISSISSIPPI MEDICINE
The notes in this unisex scent are inspired by a ‘proto-Mississippian death cult of the 1200s’, which is a terrifying concept but nonetheless makes for a really, really mysterious fragrance – think all the woods – pine, laurel, holly, cypress and cedar as well as juniper and sweet violet to keep things a little light.
2. REPLICA JAZZ CLUB
This smoky cologne is all vanilla, tonka bean, vetiver and tobacco, meaning it literally smells like the inside of some prohibition-era jazz club. It’s listed as a male fragrance but if you’re a gal who loves non-feminine scents, what’s stopping you?
3. TOM FORD OMBRE LEATHER
Patchouli, amber and moss make up the base of this intriguing unisex scent, with cardamom as a top note adding the spice. It’s very expensive-smelling, like something you’d wear to a power meeting to feel like a boss.
4. LE LABO SANTAL 33
You’ve absolutely smelled this on someone passing you by and stopped to wonder what that phenomenal fragrance is – so why not BE that person? Santal 33 is iconic and cult, it’s spicy and a little floral, and you honestly can’t fully understand it’s allure until you give it a whirl.
5. COMME DES GARCONS WONDERWOOD
If you weren’t expecting a woody scent, you’d be insane – this mysterious parfum is all cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver and the rarer Somalian incense – yes, it’s strong and yes, it’s very, very sexy.
6. JULIETTE HAS A GUN LADY VENGEANCE EXTREME
Lady Vengeance is a renowned sexy scent, full of vanilla and patchouli. The Extreme version ups the intensity to an unusual dosage of Patchouli, Bulgarian Rose and Vanilla – making it really rich and even sexier, somehow.
7. EDITIONS DE PARFUMS BY FREDERIC MALLE CARNAL FLOWER
Literally translating to ‘forbidden’ flower, this scent is as intriguing as the name suggests – formed around tuberose, the base is musk which makes it smell like, well, sex. Nice-smelling sex.
8. MALIN + GOETZ DARK RUM
A modern take on classic Bay rum, this scent uses notes of leather, amber, rum, bergamot, plum and anise. Yes, it’s spicy and yes, it’s rich.
9. BYREDO VELVET HAZE
This sweet-yet-spicy scent is reminiscent of the free-spirited 60s, using Jimi Hendrix and Cher as inspiration. 60s-Jimi and 60s-Cher are undoubtedly two of the most intriguing celebrities, so expect to smell like you’re headlining Woodstock.
