Ginger Is the Unexpected Fragrance Note That’s Key to Perfecting Your Transitional Scent Stack
It also holds up all on its own.
I can no longer deny it: Fragrance is now my absolute favorite beauty category to test. A few weeks ago—when I was doing just that—I began to notice something: Ginger is becoming an increasingly common note in many of my favorite scents and in new launches across the industry.
From Clive Christian’s E Cashmere Musk to an unexpected hit from one of my all-time favorite brands, Escentric Molecules, a ginger note has proven surprisingly versatile. It’s been featured in a myriad of perfumes that span the full olfactive chart, from gourmands to fresher concoctions, and to my surprise, it smells completely different in every single one of them. That’s why I consider fragrance an art form—the exact same notes can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the person creating the formula.
Since the start of this journey, I’ve been keeping a keen eye on the concoctions, old and new, that have revitalized and reinterpreted a spicy ginger note. Ahead, I’m sharing my favorites from my collection, perfect for gifting to yourself or a loved one in anticipation of the warmer months.
I don’t make it my ministry to regularly recommend such pricey perfumes, but I have to say this: Clive Christian’s E Chashmere Musk is one of the best perfumes that I have ever tried. It’s creamy, musky, and skin-like while projecting like a beast—anyone within a five-foot radius will be able to pinpoint that it’s you who smells that good with scary accuracy. Add in the notes like ginger, jasmine, cashmeran, and a myriad of musks? You’ll have a masterpiece on your hands.
While I am deeply obsessed with my favorite perfume from this brand, Molecule 01, the “plus” line (the original fragrance plus an additional note) has had me hooked recently. Molecule 01 + Ginger has the Iso E Super note that offers the clean, slightly woody quality of the original version of the perfume, plus a sparkly, effervescent ginger note that somehow comes off as a little spicy and peppery. It’s a fantastic unisex option, and I’m already thinking about how many bottles I’m about to go through in the summer.
This is the scent that started my ginger obsession, and I love it just as much now as I did when I first got a whiff of it. Don’t let it fool you: this perfume starts off with a sharp, fizzy ginger note that wakes up the senses, but give it 15 minutes to really warm up. You’ll be left with the most gorgeous, creamy skin scent that only seems to get more lactonic the longer it sits on the skin. I’ve never referred to a fragrance as a chameleon before, but if there was ever one to get the title, it’d be Ingenius Ginger.
Prada’s Infusion Ginger is another one of those scents that just feels perfect for summer. A woodsy-citrus combination, it features notes of mandarin, vetiver, and, of course, ginger for a traditionally uplifting fragrance profile with an unexpected kick.
Though I typically reach for this one during the holiday season (it smells just like gingerbread cookies, FYI), if you’re looking for a true gourmand ginger perfume, this is the scent for you. Roasted hazelnut and tonka bean round out the ginger top note, and add a sweet, creamy facet to the typically very spicy fragrance profile. If you want to smell like a seasonal baked good, add this perfume to your cart.
If you gravitate toward floral scents, Diptyque’s Eau Mohéli could be right up your alley. Expect notes of ylang-ylang, pink peppercorn, and, of course, ginger, to take you through a journey of fresh, spicy, woody, and floral notes that will leave you wanting to douse yourself in the juice if you’re not careful.
Spices are at the forefront of Creed’s Oud Zahrian, so if you like your ginger perfumes to have a “kick,” you need to make a beeline for this formula. Spice accord, frankincense, ginger—those are only a few of the notes that you’ll encounter with this fantastic blend. Together, they lead to a gorgeous aged oud note in the base. This one’s for more seasoned noses, but it’s a fantastic place to start if you want a ginger perfume that gives beast-mode projection with just a few sprays.
A long-standing Hermès favorite, Twilly D’Hermès, is a ginger lover’s dream. Tuberose and sandalwood add a sweetness and depth to the fragrance that makes it much more universally pleasing, and of course, the twilly-inspired silk tie around the neck of the bottle will make for a stunning piece of decor on your vanity.
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