Some old favourites, some instant new classics, there’s no denying the appeal of these unique fragrances. Here, we've rounded up the best men's fragrances of 2020 (a list which is, of course, subject to change as we speed towards the year's close).
Tom Ford Beauty Neroli Portofino EDP
Tom Ford’s remake of a classic eau de cologne comprises notes of neroli, bergamot, rosemary, lemon and mandarin. This distinctly light fragrance evokes the smell of cool breezes, sparkling clear water and lush foliage of the Italian Riviera, which just might satisfy your wanderlust at least for now.
Monocle x Comme des Garçons Scent One: Hinoki EDT
Created by Antoine Maisondieu, the nose of Comme des Garçons, this fresh and woody fragrance reminds of a spring morning breeze in Japan. It has notes of cypress, turpentine, campher, cedar, thyme, pine, georgywood, incense, treemoss and vetiver.
Aesop Hwyl EDP
This fragrance is inspired by the serenity found in a setting of Hiba trees and the moss gardens of Japanese temples, hence the name Hwyl which means ‘stirring of emotion’. It’s a warm and woody heart of cypress fused with notes of vetiver extract, frankincense and moss.
Hermès Un Jardin Sur le Nil EDT
An olfactory adventure beginning with a stroll through the gardens on the Nile at Aswan is what perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena wanted to convey through this fragrance (“green and vegetal scents; the smell of water and sand”). Notes of green mango, lotus, calamus and sycamore keep it refreshing, which makes it a perfect addition to our list of the best men's fragrances of the year.
Heeley Sel Marin EDP
This fragrance marries refreshing top notes of lemon and bergamot with an aquatic heart of sea salt, moss and algae and a woody base of vetiver, cedar and musk. Think sun, sand and sea breeze—a day at the beach, anyone?
Diptyque Tam Dao EDP
A childhood memory of Diptyque’s founder, the late Yves Coueslant, is encapsulated in Tam Dao—the forests of Indochina and the velvety, creamy scent of burnt sandalwood. This warm and woody scent is lightly spiced with sandalwood from trees that are over 60 years old.
Loewe 001 Man EDP
This was introduced with 001 Woman, Loewe’s first fragrance launch since Jonathan Anderson was named creative director in 2013. It’s a woody-spicy scent that opens with citrus notes of bergamot and tangerine plus a touch of cardamom before revealing a warm heart of sandalwood, followed by base notes of white musk, violet and patchouli.
Byredo Super Cedar EDP
This gender-neutral, woody-floral fragrance features rose petal top notes, a heart of Virginian cedarwood and a base of silk musk and Haitian vetiver. It’s meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia for school days and simpler times.
Le Labo Ylang 49 EDP
Like a lush bouquet, Ylang 49 by Le Labo (which recently opened a permanent store in Singapore) is a chypre floral fragrance. It contains notes of gardenia and ylang ylang, enhanced by patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, sandalwood and benzoin for that sensual undertone.
