Fragrance
Best Unisex Perfumes for August
August doesn’t come with a fixed mood. It’s chilly in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and unpredictable by evening. It’s the kind of month that keeps you in layers and your perfume should keep pace. These unisex fragrances aren’t bound by gender or season. They’re versatile, balanced, and made for people who want something clean but interesting, subtle but never boring. Whether you lean woody, citrusy, or creamy, these scents feel just right for the in-between weather.
Chanel Les Exclusifs de Chanel – 1957
There’s nothing loud about 1957, and that’s what makes it stand out. A soft blend of white musk, neroli and iris, it smells like fresh skin and crisp fabric. Clean without being cold, powdery without feeling dated, this one stays close to you. Perfect for people who want to smell polished without announcing it.
Byredo Bal d’Afrique
Warm and sunlit, Bal d’Afrique is the kind of scent that suits days when you’re not sure where you’ll end up. It opens bright with citrus and marigold, then settles into vetiver and soft woods. Easy to wear, hard to forget. Think end-of-winter sunshine with just a little spice underneath.
Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
This is the perfume people talk about when they say, “I can’t smell it, but everyone else can.” Built around one aroma molecule—Iso E Super—it reacts with your skin to create a scent that’s clean, woody, and quietly magnetic. It doesn’t wear you; it just becomes part of how you move through the room.
Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil
Fresh without being obvious, this one blends green mango, lotus and grapefruit in a way that smells like morning air after rain. It’s light but layered, with a soft herbal finish that sticks around. If you’re after something that feels calm and uncluttered, this is it.
Tom Ford Oud Wood
For cool nights, quiet dinners, or solo coffee runs when you just want to feel grounded. Oud Wood mixes oud with smooth sandalwood and a trace of vanilla, giving it a smoky richness that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Bold, but not pushy.
Diptyque Philosykos
This is fig done right. Philosykos captures not just the fruit, but the leaves, the bark, even the tree’s dry warmth. It’s creamy and green all at once. Gentle enough for everyday use but still layered enough to draw compliments. It smells like skin after a day in the sun.
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Light, mineral, and just a bit herbal, this scent brings the ocean to your collarbone. Wood Sage & Sea Salt is relaxed but never flat, it’s got a salty brightness that lifts you up without overpowering. Wear it on slow weekends or when you just want to feel a little fresher.
Final Word
Unisex perfumes aren’t just a middle ground, they’re often where some of the most interesting, balanced scents live. They’re not built around gender; they’re built around skin. In a month like August, where no one day smells like the one before it, these are the fragrances that move with you.
September brings warmer days in South Africa, making it a good time to switch up your fragrance collection. This selection includes fragrances with fresh, woody, musky and fruity. The five picks also cover different prices, giving you options whether you want a well-known designer perfume or something less conventional.
YSL Libre Eau de Parfum
Photo: Dscentsation
Yves Saint Laurent Libre is strong for anyone who enjoys floral fragrances with sweetness. This fragrance has lavender, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla and white musk elements.
At Edgars, Libre Eau de Parfum can be bought at R1,950. Ascot Cosmetics sells between R2,210 and R2,975.
Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
Photo: Dscentsatiom
Dior Sauvage is good for those who want spicy and woody fragrances. Its bergamot scent and warmer base make it a suitable option. Edgars sells the Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum at R2,805.
Read Also: 6 South African-Inspired Unisex Fragrances
Valentino Donna Born in Roma Eau de Parfum
Photo: Dscentsation
Valentino Donna Born in Roma brings together jasmine, vanilla bourbon and woody notes. The result is a sweet floral fragrance with a warm finish. Truworths currently lists the fragrance at R1,900.
Xerjoff Erba Pura
Photo:Dscentsation
Xerjoff Erba Pura is worth considering if you want to explore a niche fragrance. This fragrance combines citrus, fruity, amber, vanilla and white musk notes, giving it a clean and warm finish. ARC currently lists Xerjoff Erba Pura Eau de Parfum from R3,285, depending on the bottle size.
Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum
Chanel Chance is another fragrance worth choosing. Its floral profile makes it versatile enough for daytime and dinners.
For an affordable way to explore the Chance family, Perfumology has the Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum from R569, while the retail price for the original is around R3,100.
These fragrances cover different styles, so the best choice depends on your collection. Libre suits floral lovers, Sauvage works well for fresh scents, Born in Roma offers warmth.
A fragrance collection does not have to revolve around one signature scent. Different perfumes can serve different purposes, from lighter compositions for daytime to richer options for evenings. This September, new releases are also bringing more variety to familiar fragrance categories, with iris, tea, berries, woods and musk appearing alongside the vanilla and gourmand scents that have remained popular.
Here are some of the fragrances worth considering if you are looking to add something different to your collection.
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum
Photo – Stock
Guerlain has released a new interpretation of L’Heure Bleue, the fragrance Jacques Guerlain created in 1912. Iris and vanilla remain central to the composition, alongside pear, neroli, jasmine, ambroxan and musk.
The new version also introduces a specially developed iris tincture. Its refillable blue-gradient bottle gives the classic fragrance a new presentation without abandoning its heritage.
Le Labo Violette 30
Photo – Stock
Violette 30 takes violet beyond a straightforward floral fragrance. White violet is combined with green floral notes, white tea, cedarwood and guaiacwood, giving the composition a mix of floral, tea and woody elements.
It is a useful addition for anyone whose collection is dominated by sweet or heavily floral perfumes and needs a different profile.
YSL Libre Berry Crush
Photo – Stock
YSL adds a berry-focused interpretation to the Libre family with Libre Berry Crush. Raspberry is combined with lavender and orange blossom, while coconut and vanilla contribute to the dry-down.
The fragrance offers a different direction for Libre without abandoning the floral character associated with the line. It is also among the 2026 launches highlighted by Vogue.
Louis Vuitton Tea Storm
Photo – Stock
Tea Storm is part of Louis Vuitton’s Journey to China collection, alongside Moon Tale and Ink Mark. Its composition combines lemongrass, magnolia and rose.
Tea-based fragrances have attracted growing attention as perfume buyers explore alternatives to sweeter gourmand compositions. Tea Storm is a particularly interesting option for those who prefer floral fragrances with a fresher profile.
Louis Vuitton Ink Mark
Photo – Stock
Ink Mark takes a warmer, woody direction. Sandalwood, white incense, amber and rose form the core of the composition, drawing inspiration from Chinese calligraphy.
For a collection already filled with florals and fruity perfumes, its combination of woods, incense and amber provides useful contrast.
Parfums de Marly Athénaïs
Photo – Stock
Athénaïs centres on neroli and orange blossom, with bergamot, yuzu, jasmine, tonka bean and vanilla also included in the composition.
The citrus opening develops into a floral and sweeter base, making it a suitable choice for those who enjoy orange blossom but want more complexity than a straightforward citrus fragrance.
Hermès Musc Padilla
Photo – Stock
Hermès Musc Padilla offers a quieter alternative to fragrances with strong projection. Iris padilla and musk form the centre of the scent, giving it a soft, powdery character.
It is worth considering if you prefer fragrances that remain closer to the skin and do not dominate the space around you.
Noyz Only Human Mylk de Parfum
Photo – Stock
Noyz’s Only Human Mylk de Parfum takes fragrance into body-care territory. The fragrance milk combines vanilla bean, cedarwood and Ambroxan and is designed to be applied directly to the skin.
Its format makes it particularly relevant to the growing range of ways perfume can be incorporated into a daily body-care routine.
For September, the strongest addition to a fragrance collection may simply be one that offers a profile you do not already own. If your shelf is heavy on vanilla, try iris or tea. If florals dominate, woods or musk can provide a change of direction.
Winter fragrances are structured around ingredients that perform better in cold air. Notes like tobacco, vanilla, amber, woods, spices, and resins are common because they last longer on skin. Below is a breakdown of six winter fragrances, and why you should add them to your wardrobe.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Photo: Fragrances.com
Tobacco Vanille is produced around a dense tobacco and vanilla notes. Its sweet gourmand undertones from cocoa and dried fruits makes it a good pick. The spice opening adds a sharp feeling. A spritz of this fragrance can last for 8 hours. With prices around R4,500 to R9,000, this is an affordable fragrance. You can check out the ARC Store and several Edgars luxury shops.
Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace
Photo: Fragrances.com
This fragrance is built around a smoky wood with chestnut sweetness. The vanilla softens the smoke while the pink pepper provides the spice. In South Africa, it retails around R2,800 to R3,800, and available at Skins Cosmetics. Maison Margiela’s official Replica is designed to recreate the scent of burning wood and roasted chestnuts.
Parfums de Marly Layton
Photo : Fragrances.com
Layton boasts of fresh fruity notes with floral aromatics. It also has a warm spicy base and lavender feeling. The vanilla and sandalwood notes create a creamy dry down. In many fragrance stores , its price ranges from R5,300 to R6,000. It’s ideal during this winter because of its balanced structure and fresh transitions.
Read Also: 5 Perfumes that Capture the Essence of Freshness
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir
Photo: Fragrances.com
Grand Soir is built around a simplified amber accord. It contains notes like Benzoin, labdanum, vanilla and tonka bean. In many retail stores, it costs between R4,800- R6,500 depending on the size. The richness of Maison Francis Kurkdjian positions it as a top winter fragrance.
By Kilian Angels’ Share
Photo : Fragrances.com
Angels’ Share opens with a cognac accord which makes it unique. Cinnamon, oak, praline and vanilla are some of the notes it is made from. At most South African stores, this fragrance sells for around R300 and one of the cheapest winter fragrances around. It is inspired by traditional cognac barrels, which explains its warmth.
Givenchy Gentleman Réserve Privée
Photo: Fragrances.com
Reserve Privée blends whisky-like warmth with powdery iris and roasted chestnut. The cedarwood base stabilizes the sweetness. It isn’t expensive, and can be bought for around R3,600 to R4,000 at authorised online retailers.
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