The best date-night perfumes, according to scent experts

“Subtle but noticeable, something delicious.”

I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I truly believe fragrance can make or break a romantic connection. Sure, if someone smells noticeably bad, that’s an immediate turn-off, whether it’s a pheromone misconnection or too much aggressive cologne. 

But if someone smells surprisingly good, it might just be enough to snag them a second date. Case in point: I once had a brief obsession with a man due exclusively to a hefty spritz of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Vitae.

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As a fragrance obsessive and single girl on the town, I wanted to harness this magic for myself. With the supply of my go-to date night choice (Juliette Has A Gun’s Lady Vengeance) dwindling down to the last few drops, I decided it was time to bring in some help.

While, of course, scent preference is extremely personal, certain elements differentiate a sexy, after-hours fragrance from one you’d wear to the office or the gym. 

Notes

“For nighttime, maybe I would gravitate towards something deeper, richer, woodier – something less fresh,” says Prairie Hatchett-McGill, Fragrance Consultant and Assistant at New Zealand’s Curionoir perfumery.

Julia Brown, the Co-Director of Mihan Aromatics, suggests opting for notes which inspire “a hint of cheekiness” in the wearer. “A hint of spice – saffron is perfect. Vanilla adds a slight sweetness and warmth (a natural aphrodisiac) and sandalwood (also an aphrodisiac!) as a creamy woody note. Combined is sensual seduction!”

Prairie agrees with the choice of sandalwood, adding oud, iris and rose to the list. “People have really strong connotations with rose, but I think it can be really beautiful,” she says. “I think people maybe previously have associated it with a grandma smell. I think we need to get over that.”

“Certainly warm, musky, ambery notes can lean sensual,” says Imogen Darling-Blair, Creative and Marketing Director at perfume brand Map of the Heart. “Rather than specific notes, it’s the feeling that a fragrance evokes that’s most important.”

Qualities

According to the perfume pros, date night might not be the time to drench yourself, no matter how good your choice is. Take note of the fragrance’s formula and concentration – parfums and extracts will be the most potent, while eau de toilettes and eau de colognes will be on the gentler end. 

Apply sparingly to make sure your scent is enticing and inspires further exploration. It also doesn’t hurt to carry a travel-sized vial in your purse (especially if there’s a chance of a sleepover). Mihan’s products have a 30 per cent concentration, which gives them a strong projection.

“I would recommend three sprays: one on the wrist, one on your neck and one for the air that you walk through. It will mean that you haven’t overdosed in parfum and your date will be intrigued to come closer! You want your perfume to be subtle and linger,” says Julia. 

Curionoir’s fragrances are extract de parfums, which means they’re water-free and come in the form of a dense, syrupy concentrate. Prairie says you only need to use the tiniest amount of product for a bold effect. 

“Subtle but noticeable, something delicious, something that you have a couple of drops at the top of your neck, beneath your ears… something kind of curious, not necessarily a fragrance that everyone knows maybe as well so they’re like, ‘Oh my god, what is that?’,” she tells me.

“There is a sensualness that comes from an intimate, subtle fragrance – only those closest to you get to enjoy it which I think is really romantic,” says Imogen. “Ultimately, a fragrance should be an extension of you. It should draw someone into your personality, so if you have a big and bold personality, go big and bold on your fragrance!”

The most important aspect of a date night fragrance is that it makes you feel confident, powerful and comfortable in your own skin. “I really think that you just have to wear a smell that makes you feel like yourself, in a sexy way of course. Choosing someone else’s idea of what sexy is can end up feeling kind of weird,” says Prairie.

Recommendations

Imogen has two suggestions from the Map of the Heart range. “Our Red Heart v.3, (fittingly) the Heart of Passion, is very sensual. It’s this addictive cocktail of feijoa, tuberose and spices mixed with very sensual notes of musk, vanilla and patchouli. It evokes an incredible feeling of velvet on your skin.” 

For those looking for something a little different, there’s Black Heart v.2, a smoked woody scent with a zingy citrus and eucalyptus twist. “I know ‘freshness’ sounds contradictory when talking about a smoky fragrance but trust me, it is. This combination makes for a very mysterious fragrance which I think is very suited to date night.”

From Mihan Aromatics, there’s Guilty Story, described as a heady, piquant and irreverent fragrance made up of cinnamon, neroli, musk and amber. Crafted from a variety of aphrodisiac ingredients, it’s specifically designed to be sultry and seductive. 

Prairie suggests the unisex Opia, bringing together rhubarb, cedarwood, labdanum and oud. It’s named after the sense of making eye contact with someone. “Like that ambiguous, intense feeling when you’re connected in that way, which feels relevant,” says Prairie. 

“It actually contains no top notes, so it’s completely rich and deep; again, feels topical to the date night premise of cutting straight to the depth of something.”

For advice on finding your signature scent, head here.