Since 1987, Aesop has been slinging science-forward products with a leafy green heart, blending plant-based ingredients and clinical precision like a chemist in a linen shirt. It’s mastered everything from sought-after body washes to foolproof skincare routines—and let’s not forget those subtle flex hand soaps perched proudly on the sinks of anyone with taste (and a well-lit bathroom). No flashy colors. No miracle claims. Just understated luxury in minimalist packaging.
My first real-life Aesop moment came in 2014, working at a men’s boutique that carried the Geranium Leaf and Rind hand and body balms. I may or may not have “accidentally” emptied most of the sample bottles. Those two scents planted a flag in my nostrils and sent me spiraling down the most fragrant rabbit hole straight to Melbourne. I’ve always had sensitive skin, so I can’t dive headfirst into their full skin care lineup like I want to. But fragrance? That’s where I go full cannonball. Aesop divides its scents into four families—floral, fresh, woody, and opulent—to help you vibe check a bottle before even taking a whiff. It’s pared-back packaging coupled with a beautifully complex nose, and this intuitive system keeps things feeling curated, not confusing. No perfume jargon: Just an elegant little scent map for your soul (and wrists).
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling some of Aesop’s finest fragrances. And let me tell you: Each one has me sniffing my wrists every five minutes and lifting my shirt to my nose every thirty like I’m on some kind of scent schedule. Here’s our breakdown of five fragrances from this iconic Australian label—and why we’re customers for life.
The Best Aesop Fragrances, According to GQ
The Best Aesop Fragrance Overall: Hwyl Eau de Parfum
Hwyl is a Welsh word meaning “a stirring feeling of inspiration and emotional motivation”—which, frankly, couldn’t sum up a scent better if it tried. This is my all-time favorite fragrance, partly because it’s not out here trying to mimic fragrance notes. It doesn’t remind me of any other cologne, perfume, or candle I’ve ever encountered. Nothing. Ever. It’s entirely its own thing: deep, smoky, and meditative—like an ancient forest, and I’m not looking forward to the day this runs out. Inspired by the serene, earthy stillness of Japanese Hinoki forests, Hwyl is one of Aesop’s more introspective and unconventional blends. It opens with a smoky, green brightness, thanks to cypress and thyme extract, before drifting into vetiver and frankincense. The vetiver brings an earthy, rain-on-soil vibe—moody in the best way—while the frankincense adds that dry, resinous incense smoke you might catch wafting from a temple altar. As it settles, oakmoss rolls in to anchor the whole experience with a woody, slightly leathery base that clings to skin like you’ve washed your favorite cashmere sweater into the fresh forest air. It smells like solitude—but the kind you actually want—like a long walk in the woods with bare branches overhead and phone on silent mode.
The Best Woody Aesop Fragrance: Marrakech Intense Eau de Parfum
Inspired by Marrakech’s sun-baked streets, spice markets, and intricate tilework, this fragrance from Aesop doesn’t just smell good—it smells alive. From the first spritz, it’s spicy and vibrant, with clove, cardamom, and bergamot leaping out like they’ve got something to prove. It’s sharp, peppery, and unapologetically bold. As it sits in your skin (or your shirt), it reveals a softer heart—jasmine, rose, and a smudge of neroli. But don’t expect anything too pretty or pristine. These are earthy florals, dried and sun-warmed.
There’s a resinous quality that adds heft, grounding the scent with sandalwood, cedar, and patchouli. It’s warm, woody, smoky, and just a little bit dirty—in a good way. (Think sun-kissed skin after a long day.) This isn’t a fragrance that fades into the background. It’s decisive. You’ll either love it or politely back away. Sure, it smells great—but more importantly, it smells memorable. And in a world of forgettable scents, that might just be its greatest charm.
The Best Spicy Aesop Fragrance: Eidesis Eau de Parfum
This is one of the Australian brand’s more enigmatic, artful scents—less about instant gratification, and more about quiet complexity. It’s part of its Othertopias collection, a conceptual series inspired by liminal spaces—those dreamy, in-between zones where reality and imagination get a little fuzzy. Now, let me put it this way: if Le Labo Santal 33 is the extrovert’s woody cologne—bold, talkative, always in the spotlight—then Eidesis is the introvert’s incense trail—subtle, moody, and made for people who don’t want to smell like anyone else in the room.
This is my second all-time favorite scent, and here’s why: After the first spritz, you get this wet, resinous freshness—courtesy of black pepper and petitgrain—with an initial green, slightly bitter hit that feels like someone just cracked open a forest. But give it a minute, and it quickly deepens into a smoky, spicy swirl of frankincense, cumin, and cedarwood that smells like a centuries-old library. As it dries down, sandalwood and vetiver step in to anchor everything, giving it a warm, woody base with a slightly leathery edge. The result? A super intimate scent that’s hard to spray just once. Two sprays if you’re trying to impress—three if you’re trying to seduce someone who reads poetry.
The Best Floral Aesop Fragrance: Aurner Eau de Parfum
Aesop’s fragrances typically offer more than just a scent—they tell a story that tickles your nostrils and your imagination. One of their newer creations, Aurner, takes its name from an Old Norse verb meaning “to be adorned, to be embellished with flowers”—a subtle wink at what’s to come once you give it a spritz. It opens with an aromatic, slightly medicinal blend of Roman chamomile, cardamom, and pink pepper—like a stylish herbalist’s apothecary. As it settles, the heart notes unfold with the fresh, green lift of magnolia leaf and geranium. And then the base kicks in: sandalwood, cedar heart, and cypriol heart add a grounding woodiness that keeps things balanced. This is easily Aesop’s most floral-forward fragrance I’ve smelled—floral, yes, but not in a sneezy, grandma’s soap kind of way. It’s sophisticated, complex, and just restrained enough to keep your nose intrigued instead of overwhelmed.
The Best Verdant Aesop Fragrance: Virēre Eau de Parfum
Another fresh addition to Aesop’s unforgettable fragrance lineup is Virēre—a green, crisp, and slightly unexpected scent. Picture stepping into a greenhouse after a summer rain, but make it high-design. It’s Aesop’s take on the in-between: the transitional spaces where nature meets polish, and where earthy meets elevated. Their longtime fragrance collaborator found inspiration while cycling past orchards, sniffing fresh figs, and sipping green tea somewhere along the Mediterranean. (Your dream vacation—now bottled.)
Pop the cap and you’re hit with bright bergamot and a jolt of astringent galbanum. But give it a moment, and it settles into something softer and warmer—vegetal, but not in a salad-y way. There’s a grassy, leafy depth here—more greenhouse than garden party—with hints of green tea and maybe even crushed pink pepper. As it dries down, you get an earthy, elegant finish: cedar, green maté, or a touch of hay. Not smoky, not sweet—just a calm, grounded note that lingers in the most pleasant way possible.