Bangkok Bang

The first minutes are bright with heat: cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg, lifted by pink pepper. The heart turns darker and richer, as dates meet oud, incense and myrrh, with davana rounding it out. Underneath, vanilla, tonka bean and benzoin settle into labdanum, leather, patchouli and mate, resinous and slow to unfold.

This is a rich, dense scent, built for autumn and winter and at its best after dark. Rated at eight to ten hours, it carries well through a dinner, a concert or a long night out. A spray or two at the collar is enough on a cold evening; the resinous base does the rest.