I Like to Think I'm Blessing Anyone That Passes Me When I Wear These 10 Aesop Scents

My signature fragrances always have three noticeable commonalities: 1) they're long-wearing, 2) feature light-yet-grounding notes, and 3) are housed in amber glass bottles with a minimalistic design that's undeniably elegant. When I spritz one of these scents as I'm heading out the door, I want to feel elevated and confident—like I have total control of my day as I navigate the famously high-energy (and oftentimes unpredictable) streets of New York City. I'm a believer in the idea that scents can completely alter the course of your day when used with intention, especially when it comes down to the unique composition of oil blends that go into them.

While I'm always one to try a new scent and wear it proudly for a few days until I'm drawn to another, there's one cosmetic company from the land Down Under that's produced countless fragrances I've fallen in love with: Aesop. Recently, I had the chance to experience one of their newest launches in a Chelsea showroom. The experience transported visitors to a fictional version of the very real science behind the formulation of the Aurner scent, displaying its raw ingredients on tables as part of simulated experiments… we're talking a demonstration complete with scientific, shiny tools and important-looking individuals in white lab coats.

Of the overwhelming collection of perfumes I have at my disposal, there are very few I return to throughout every season, fully trusting their longevity and versatility. With 15 scents in its lineup (many of which now populate my beauty shelves), Aesop repeatedly raises the bar on what a warm, earthy fragrance should be. The Australian luxury cosmetic line launched in 2005 with the original Marrakech Eau de Toilette. The first fragrance contained sandalwood, rose, jasmine, and neroli in high concentrations, manufactured and hand-filled in their Carlton laboratory.

Perfumer and long-term Aesop collaborator Céline Barel explained the creative process behind several of my favorite fragrances and the brand's highest-performing perfumes. "Inspirations for Aesop are always coming from cultural or artistic references," Barel begins. "When I met with the creative team at Aesop, they prepared a beautiful collage book with multiple points of inspiration, including poetry from Li Qingzhao, dried herbs, music, literary references—which inspired me to create a floral fragrance that is very pure, soothing, and calming, but also bold and powerful."

She tells us that the brand's newest launch, Aurner, was envisioned as a non-conformist fragrance, centered around the tension and contrast between its vibrant key notes of magnolia leaf, Roman chamomile, and cedar heart. In it, transparent blooming florals are set against the solidity of woods; vegetal against metallics; and feminine against masculine to bring an edge. While developing the fragrance, Aesop was drawn to the magnolia leaf versus the petal. "The magnolia flower has a ripe fruity facet that offers more of a spicy floral, whereas the magnolia leaf has a crisp aromatic freshness that is somehow between a crushed leaf and lavender," explains Barel.

Next, the team settled on the addition of chamomile as the fragrance's heart. Since the ingredient has a unique smell in its dry form, it relies on the expertise of the perfumer to draw a connection to the aromatic floral notes. "Roman chamomile also has something camphoraceous about it, which echoes the freshness of the cedarwood and of the patchouli, so it would help me to bring the base notes into the foreground and bring down the top notes to anchor the fragrance," she says. Chamomile also has light leathery facets (which also exist in cedarwood essential oil).

Another recent launch, Tacit, draws inspiration from the culture, topography, and perfumed vegetation of the Mediterranean coast. "The outcome was a fragrance at once familiar in its citrus notes and distinctly contemporary in its liberal use of Basil Grand Vert," she continues. "The name refers to knowledge that is implicitly understood rather than communicated directly, and alludes to an elusive, almost indefinable quality that is more readily experienced than articulated."

According to Barel, the bright scent includes notes of yuzu (a citrus fruit with strong aromatic properties), vetiver heart (a warm, woody note resulting from steam distillation of a perennial grass), and basil grand vert (an herb lending a spicy, clove-like aroma).

Mixing and Matching Aesop Scents

Wondering which Aesop scent would be your best match? Barel has some tips and tricks for making the decision—and knowing how to layer them for a fun fragrance that's brilliantly unique to its wearer. "Each of Aesop’s fragrances is rooted in an unconventional blend of aromatic, botanical ingredients, with signature woody and herbaceous elements found in each blend," she says. "An Aesop fragrance invites the wearer to connect to themselves as part of the natural world and the essential."

Barel also tells us that Aurner, for example, is complemented well by a myriad of products in the Aesop range that share similar aroma notes and profiles. She recommends experimenting with layering products that have a complementary aroma over your fragrance to extend its longevity. "Build up layers of scent on the skin by using body cleansers, body hydrators, and deodorants of similar aroma—each can help reinforce and augment the impact of your fragrance," Barel advises.

For handcare, Aurner's citrus, woody, and herbaceous notes are echoed by Aesop's Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash and Balm ($43). For bodycare, try pairing the Geranium Leaf range with the eau de parfum.

The Best Aesop Fragrances, Listed

• Best Floral Scent: Aurner Eau de Parfum
• Best Green Scent: Tacit Eau de Parfum
• Best Woods Scent: Hwyl Eau de Parfum
• Best Citrus Scent: Erémia Eau de Parfum
• Best Aquatic Scent: Karst Eau de Parfum
• Best Amber Scent: Ediesis Eau de Parfum

Below, discover more of the brand's newest and most recognizable scents from the Aesop fragrance range that deserve your attention—plus a breakdown of their key notes and my personal review. Warning: You may find yourself developing a knack for collecting Aesop fragrances like I do, especially once the compliments from strangers on how good you smell start rolling in.

Discover More Aesop Fragrances