15 Totally Unique Perfumes Editors Thought They'd Hate (But Now Love)

Key notes: Bergamot, benzoin, pine, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver
"True to the title of this article, I thought I would gag when I first read the description of this fragrance. Though I loved the relaxing forest-bathing inspiration behind the scent, the mix of vetiver, cedarwood, benzoin, pine, patchouli, and bergamot didn't sound like my typical fragrance vibe. Historically, I don't love earthy or citrus scents, and this one exemplifies both! But plot twist: it's become one of my all-time favorite scents after just one wear. It features unique olfactory chemistry and patented technology to mimic the molecular compounds produced in forests called phytoncides which are correlated with the beneficial health perks associated with forest bathing, like decreased stress and anxiety. Said perks are nice, but the smell itself is absolutely heavenly. I also love that its 100% vegan and nontoxic, which is something that's becoming more and more of a priority for me where scents are concerned." — Erin Jahns, beauty director

Key notes: Aquatic accord, rose petal, pine needle
"I love this perfume so much because it smells like a dewy soil-soaked post-rain walk outside when the sky has a lingering darkness, and there's still fog or mist in the air. Plus, since this fragrance was crafted to capture the ambiance of Dublin circa 1967, there's likely a rainbow in the mix too. (As someone who studied abroad in Ireland, I miss the five rainbows I used to experience a day!) This scent is earthy in the fresh and aquatic sense, with slick and lush notes like aquatic accord, rose petal, and pine needle taking center stage." — Jahns 

Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
This fragrance is earthy, salty, fresh, and airy all at the same time. It smells like wandering the cliffs of a remote island in the best way possible. Normally, I wouldn't go for a perfume with notes of sage since I prefer the aroma of palo santo, but this one is definitely an exception. The combination creates the perfect light and airy scent.

Key notes: Mastic tree essence, bitter orange, bergamot, lemon, carrot seed, iris, jasmine, tea, orange pekoe, sandalwood, vetiver
"I was surprised by how much I like this scent. It's so different from the kinds of perfumes I usually wear. It has an early-morning dew-drop vibe that reminds me of spring days growing up watering plants with my mom in our front yard. It's earthy, green, and airy but also warm, thanks to hints of sandalwood and jasmine. I find it to be a surprisingly comforting scent." — Katie Berohn, beauty editor

Key notes: Fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood
"With notes of fig leaves, fig tree sap, and fig tree wood, this perfume is quite literally an ode to Greek fig trees. It's earthy and woody, and usually, that's not my thing, but there's a certain freshness about this fragrance that keeps me coming back. It makes me feel calm and grounded, kind of like I'm sipping coffee on a Sunday morning next to the sea, so, of course, I wear it all the time." — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor

Key notes: Italian bergamot, cardamom, black currant, magnolia oil, vetiver, jasmine, white amber
"I've been having a complete love affair with the new TikTok-viral brand Eauso Vert. Though Joga isn't my favorite of the five-scent collection (that would be either Sintra or Purple Noon), it's still a star and one of the few earthy perfumes I'll wear. Eauso Vert is setting the standard when it comes to sustainability and ingredient transparency. It's one of the only natural fragrance brands I've tried with the longevity of non-clean traditional perfumes. While Purple Noon is the scent that went viral and is perpetually sold out, Joga is an under-the-radar favorite among industry people because it is fresh and incredibly uplifting in the most sophisticated way possible." — Jahns

Key notes: Leather, patchouli, birch, tar, vanilla
"This perfume is called 'surprising' in the product description, and I'd agree with that wholeheartedly. Despite being named Patchouli, notes of the Southeast Asian shrub are actually quite subtle, even hard to detect in this scent. Instead, smoky birch takes center stage. The woody scent is heady, mysterious, hard to place, and absolutely unique. The staff at Le Labo always say it's a 'rare' choice, which I take as the ultimate compliment!" — Kat Collings, editor in chief

Key notes: Cedrat essence, organic rose essence, mimosa absolute
"While I normally gravitate toward fragrances with powdery fresh floral notes rather than earthy ones, Chloé's Naturelle is one I reach for when I'm in the mood for something with a warm, earthy base. Its bright florals are complemented with Moroccan neroli and cedar notes, making it equal part floral and earthy with a hint of unexpected musk." — Maya Thomas, assistant beauty editor

Key notes: Pink pepper, bitter orange, banana leaf, tuberose, porcelain rose, nutmeg, moss, white musk
"This perfume is an homage to my home state of Colorado, and it captures it beautifully. It smells like crisp pine trees and fresh air while vetiver and musk keep it grounded. There are tons of pine-inspired scents out there, but this one has a fresh citrusy edge to it that makes it more wearable than most earthy fragrances." — Berohn 

Key notes: Elemi, tobacco leaves, pine needles, incense, white cedarwood, vanilla beans
Based purely on the notes, this is the last fragrance I expected to fall in love with. I don't like burning incense on it its own, but in this fragrance, the incense blends so beautifully with the sweeter notes of vanilla bean and the earthy notes of cedarwood, pine needles, and tobacco leaves. The scent is free-spirited and unique. I now spritz a bit at every chance I get.

Key notes: Juniper berries, bourbon, cedarwood
"When I discovered Après by Ellis Brooklyn, it instantly became a favorite of mine. Something about the fragrance reminds me of a cozy weekend spent in the woods upstate with nothing but a good book. It blends a crisp and fresh scent that resembles evergreen with sweeter notes like bourbon and vanilla for the ultimate balance. When I want a fragrance that feels low-key but smells really good, this is the winner for me." — Sierra Mayhew, associate fashion editor

Key notes: Bergamot, lemon, pepper, juniper berries, incense, pine needles, orris, vanilla, sandalwood
This slightly gourmet yet earthy scent is a favorite of both mine and Mayhew. In fact, it's one of my most-worn earthy perfumes to date. "One of my best friends has a pretty extensive perfume collection, yet she chose to wear this one on her wedding day—if that doesn't convince you to try it, I'm not sure what will," Mayhew says of the scent. "It combines pine needles with sandalwood, topping it off with citrus notes giving off a sophisticated scent. Something about this perfume reminds me of getting lost. It carries the ultimate wanderlust vibes."

Key notes: White jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, grapefruit zest, geranium bourbon, myrrh, nutmeg oil, vetiver, patchouli
"This is Costa Brazil's first-ever perfume, and, boy, let me tell you—it's a banger. Unisex and inspired by Breu, a natural resin that grows in the Amazon, the brand says Aroma smells like a Brazilian rainforest. Although I've never been to a Brazilian rainforest, this perfume is exactly what I imagine one would smell like. It's composed of a complex mix of notes featuring white jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, grapefruit zest, geranium bourbon, nutmeg oil, cedarwood, myrrh, vetiver, plant-based musks, amber, cypriol, and patchouli. It smells like a $700 spa appointment where they light incense that leaves you thinking, 'How can I get my house (or, in this case, my body) to smell like this?' It smells yummy before you even spritz it, but evolves differently on everyone once it mingles with your skin. Now that I'm in L.A., I miss the rain and thunderstorms I was accustomed to growing up in Minnesota. Spritzing this gives me the richest sense of nostalgia for going outside after it's rained when everything is soaked and dewy. This perfume is such an experience, and somehow bridges the gap between chic and elevated yet wearable and cozy." — Jahns

Key notes: Pink pepper, ginger, mandarin, rose, olibanum, sandalwood, benzoin, oakmoss
You know those perfumes in your collection that seem to grow on you more and more with each passing day? This is one of those perfumes for me. I didn't expect to love this one when I dug into a discovery set of St. Rose's one-of-a-kind fragrances. If you ever have the chance to get your hands on a discovery set yourself, you'll see what I mean when I say that each scent captures the feeling of a warm smoky desert in its own way. I'm probably not describing them very well, but Gypsy Cowboy is one of the strongest contenders because it contains notes of olibanum, sandalwood, oakmoss, rose, and pink pepper. It's a tad spicy with a hint of tanginess that's unlike any other perfume I've smelled.

Key notes: Pomelo, lemon zest, magnolia, dragon fruit, water lily, crisp amber, marine accord
Although this perfume contains citrus and floral notes, the amber adds a bit of headiness to the fragrance that I can't stop sniffing whenever I wear it. It smells light but is still a grounded scent I would wear every day.