FOR MEN
 

L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake, Diesel Only The Brave, La Nuit De L'Homme By Yves Saint Laurent, Elixir White by C. O. Bigelow, and Bal D'Afrique by Byredo Parfums
 

1) L’EAU D’ISSEY POUR HOMME BY ISSEY MIYAKE
$68 for 3.3 oz, at Sephora, 845 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-335-9391, sephora.com
Picked by: our associate art director Todd
What’s in it: yuzu, sage, nutmeg, geranium, amber, and sandalwood
Tester said: “Reminds me of cutting grass on a spring day.”
+ Todd also likes Hinoki by Monocle/ Comme des Garçons.

2) DIESEL ONLY THE BRAVE
$65 for 2.5 oz, at Macy’s, 111 N. State St.; 312-781-1000, macys.com
Picked by: our associate art director Adam (Chicago Home + Garden)
What’s in it: lemon blossom, mandarin, and coriander, with labdanum, black rose, lavender, amber, tolu wood, and ebony wood
Tester said: “It wasn’t sweet or overpowering; a good balance between fresh and earthy.”

3) LA NUIT DE L’HOMME BY YVES SAINT LAURENT
$72 for 3.3 oz, at Bloomingdale’s, 900 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-440-4460, bloomingdales.com
Picked by: our art assistant Tirso
What’s in it: cardamom, cedarwood, lavender, coumarin, and vetiver
Tester said: “I like the mature scent.”
+ Tirso also likes Only the Brave by Diesel, Eau Fraîche by Versace, and Aqua Di Gio by Armani.

4) ELIXIR WHITE BY C. O. BIGELOW
$19.50 for 2.5 oz, at Bath & Body Works, 500 W. Madison St.; 312-575-9736, bathandbodyworks.com
Picked by: our assistant editor Graham
What’s in it: Italian bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, rosemary, nutmeg, vetiver, patchouli, and oakmoss
Tester said: “It casts a confident and casual profile, in stark contrast to the wannabe-player musk fests or after-shavey men’s club scents that dominate men’s fragrances.”

5) BAL D’AFRIQUE BY BYREDO PARFUMS
$195 for 100 mL, at Barneys New York, 15 E. Oak St.; 312-587-1700, barneys.com
Picked by: our art director Jennifer
What’s in it: vetiver, neroli, African marigold, and Moroccan cedarwood, with lemon, jasmine, violet, bergamot, cyclamen, bucchu, black amber, and musk
Tester said: “Because this scent is unisex, it is not cloying sweet and perfumy. It is warm, fruity, and smoky all at once.”
+ Jennifer also likes Incense Kyoto by Comme des Garçons, Stella by Stella McCartney, and Aqua Motu by Comptoir Sud Pacifique.

 

Photography: Michael Boone

 


FOR WOMEN
 

Chanel Beige, For Her Eau De Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez, Republic of Women Eau de Parfum by Banana Republic, Datura Noir Eau de Parfum by Serge Lutens, and Stellanude by Stella McCartney
 

1) CHANEL BEIGE
$200 for 200 mL, at Chanel, 935 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-787-5500, chanel.com
Picked by: our contributing editor Barri
What’s in it: hawthorn, freesia, and frangipani, with honey
Tester said: “Beige starts out perfumy and flowery, then dries down to a more powdery, clean, kind of girly finish.”
+ Barri also likes Annick Goutal’s Petite Chérie.

2) FOR HER EAU DE PARFUM BY NARCISO RODRIGUEZ
$89 for 3.3 oz, at Saks Fifth Avenue, 700 N. Michigan Ave.; saksfifthavenue.com
Picked by: our sales scout Bridget
What’s in it: rose, peach pulp, patchouli, sandalwood, amberlyn, and musk
Tester said: “The subtle scent is very seductive. Added bonus: The fragrance leaves a light crystal shimmer wherever it’s been sprayed.”
+ Bridget also likes Vanilla Lavender by Lavanila Laboratories and Beckham Signature Story For Her by Beckham Fragrances.

3) REPUBLIC OF WOMEN EAU DE PARFUM BY BANANA REPUBLIC
$48 for 1.7 oz, at Banana Republic, 744 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-642-0020, bananarepublic.com
Picked by: our photo coordinator Megan
What’s in it: sweet osmanthus, lychee, bergamot, peony, pink jasmine, and Moroccan rose
Tester said: “I can wear it to the office and out at night.”
+ Megan also likes Calvin Klein’s Euphoria and Christian Dior’s J’adore.

4) DATURA NOIR EAU DE PARFUM BY SERGE LUTENS
$120 for 50 mL, at Barneys New York
Picked by: our senior editor Cassie
What’s in it: datura (a white tropical flower), bitter almond, heliotrope, tuberose, and black vanilla
Tester said: “It’s just plain sexy.”
+ Cassie also likes Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey.

5) STELLANUDE BY STELLA MCCARTNEY
starts at $43 for 1 oz eau de toilette up to $81 for 3.3 oz, at Sephora
Picked by: our style contributor Rebecca
What’s in it: Moroccan rose infused with grapefruit, white peony, Ugandan vanilla, grey amber, and a touch of pink pepper for spice
Tester said: “It reminds me of my mom’s peonies.”
+ Rebecca also likes Kimono Rose by Thymes.

 

Photography: Michael Boone