Red Hoba

It opens with cardamom, cinnamon and bergamot, then moves into jasmine, patchouli, frankincense and iris. The base brings gaiac wood, sandalwood, labdanum and musk, while castoreum and cashmeran add an animal, smoky depth. A fruity, gourmand sweetness is held in check by the spicy, woody core.

Longevity and sillage are both rated strong. Most voters pick autumn and winter, favouring evenings and nights out, and summer is rarely chosen. Slightly more voters call it masculine, but a good share call it feminine, so it sits between the two.