"Excuse me, what fragrance are you wearing?"

I’m now onto my third bottle of Dunhill Icon Absolute. I’m obsessed with it. This fragrance is rich and decadent, yet playful. It’s quite often taken me from a quiet night at a bar to a night on the dance floor. Quite literally, anything could happen when wearing this fragrance. It’s an oud fragrance without being that ‘stuck on the back of your throat’ vibe. The bergamot and black pepper give it an instant kick, whilst the base notes of Oud wood, tobacco and Tuscan leather give it a weight and sensuality that makes it perfect for the evening.

I’ve long been a fan of the Ermenegildo Zegna fragrances; and I’ve always been so surprised by how under the radar they are. Strength is one of 5 releases as part of the Zegna Elements of Man collection. This fragrance is unusual in its composition. The top notes of tobacco draw you in before taking you down to a sugar buzz of honey and apricot. It’s short-lived and journeys into a smoky, pine needle base. The agarwood is very much present in this fragrance but has a sweetness to it, due to the addition of the ripe apricot. Zegna’s Strength is both intoxicating and divisive. People will either love it or hate it. There’s no middle ground with this one! Be warned: A little goes a long way!

This is the most commercial of my top 5 most complimented. To me, there’s nothing hugely special about Issey Miyake fragrances, well, all except Nuit D’Issey. Easy to wear, day to night, it’s a woody fragrance wrapped in a spicy leather jacket! The grapefruit notes keep the fragrance feeling young, fresh and accessible; but it has a great grounding and intensity that makes a real shift from the previous Issey Miyake scents.

L’Artisan Parfumeur have fast become a new favourite fragrance brand for me. The French brand began 40-years-ago and is just now making its way into the UK and further afield. Noir Exquis take us straight into a traditional French patisserie with a delicious concoction of coffee, glazed chestnuts and maple syrup. Unlike other gourmand fragrances, this one avoids those sickly sweet top notes but instead gives us a feast for the nose with a nutty twist.

The most gorgeous of bottles holds this irresistible fragrance. Called the stone that sees all, shimmering golden brown Tygar‘s eye draws its energy from the vibration of the Earth and Sun. Like the name of the fragrance, this bright stone is inspired by the majestic feline and conveys the fiery courage, action and mental power of the great Indian warrior Shivaji. Bvlgari Tygar  is sure to get people talking. The grapefruit top note is an explosion of juiciness. It levels down through its woody notes and settles into a sweet, earthy base. Anyone that smells this, falls in love with it… and maybe even you!