Le Barbier de Tanger • MDCI

I was worried the pineapple and apple would make this too sweet, but the galbanum and cardamom keep it sharp and green instead. Six hours in, the lavender and patchouli dry down into something that smells like a proper old-school barbershop. Wore it to dinner and got asked twice what I had on.

The galbanum and petitgrain keep this from turning into a sweet mess — it's green and sharp for the first hour before the lavender and cardamom warm it up. I get about six hours of wear, which is plenty for something this distinctive.

The basil and cardamom cut through the citrus beautifully on first spray, but the dry-down settles into a much softer lavender and patchouli blend. I just wish the tangerine lasted a bit longer, since that's why I picked this one up.