Dries Van Noten par Frédéric Malle

The top is nutmeg, bergamot, Calabrian lemon, saffron and carnation, so citrus and spice arrive together. The heart holds Mysore sandalwood, Egyptian jasmine absolute and patchouli, and the base of musk, Peru balsam and vanilla sweetens it. It reads gourmand, creamy and powdery, with a resinous, oriental warmth.

Longevity is rated good and sillage moderate. Most voters pick autumn and winter, though spring is not far behind. It leans towards evenings and nights out, but works for leisure and daytime too. Masculine and feminine votes are close, so it sits genuinely in between.