Some perfumes just smell nice. The ones on this list smell like somewhere you’d rather be. These seven are our favourites from the Condé Nast Traveller Beauty Awards 2026, the fragrance winners their editors tested and kept reaching for.
But a pretty bottle is only half the story, especially in the Gulf heat. The real test is whether a scent survives the walk from the car to the mall, holds up through dinner, and projects without taking over a packed lift. Will it last all day? Is it too loud for the office? Is it worth the price? Here are the seven we’d actually wear, and where to find them.
1. Byredo Bal d’Afrique EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Byredo |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Woody Musk |
| Notes | Top: Lemon, Bergamot, Neroli, African Marigold Middle: Violet, Jasmine, Cyclamen Base: Vetiver, Moroccan Cedarwood, Black Amber, Musk |
| Release year | 2009 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jérôme Epinette |
This one has been a quiet favourite for years, and you can tell why the moment you smell it. It opens bright and sunny with lemon, bergamot and neroli, then softens into violet and jasmine sitting on warm cedar and a little musk. It’s light without being boring, and it works on pretty much anyone, which is why it gets called unisex. It lasts a solid day and projects at a polite, moderate level, sitting closer to the skin after the first couple of hours. Wear it to work, on a weekend, in summer or winter, it just fits. You’ll find Byredo at V Perfumes.
2. Parfums de Marly Athénaïs
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Parfums de Marly |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Floral |
| Notes | Top: Neroli, Bergamot, Yuzu Middle: Orange Blossom, Jasmine Sambac Base: Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Amber |
| Release year | 2026 |
| Projection | Low to Moderate |
| Perfumer | In-house |
My sister sprays this when she’s getting ready for something nice, and the whole room ends up smelling like fresh flowers and clean citrus. It’s built around orange blossom and jasmine, with a zesty yuzu open and a soft tonka and vanilla base that stays close to the skin. It’s not a loud perfume, so don’t expect it to fill a hall. It lasts around five to seven hours and sits gently, which makes it easy for daytime, the office, or a wedding where you don’t want to overpower anyone. If you like soft, pretty florals that feel a bit fancy, this is your bottle. Parfums de Marly is available at V Perfumes.
3. Jo Malone Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jo Malone London |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Woody |
| Notes | Top: Bitter Orange Middle: Labdanum Base: Amber, Vanilla, Roasted Oak |
| Release year | 2025 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Yann Vasnier |
This is the one you reach for when the evening cools down and you want to feel cosy. It starts with a little bitter orange, then settles into warm amber, labdanum and a touch of vanilla over a smooth woody base. It’s part of the Cologne Intense line, so it’s richer and lasts much longer than a normal Jo Malone, easily a full day on skin and even longer on your clothes. Projection is moderate, so it stays warm and close rather than shouting across a room. Save it for autumn nights, dinners, or any time you want something snug and a bit grown-up. There’s a whole range worth a look in our Jo Malone guide, and you can shop the brand at V Perfumes.
4. Creed Wild Vetiver EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Creed |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Aromatic Woody |
| Notes | Top: Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Timur Middle: Rose, Blackcurrant, Geranium Base: Vetiver, Cedarwood, Amberwood |
| Release year | 2026 |
| Projection | Low to Moderate |
| Perfumer | In-house |
You know the colleague who always smells expensive and you can never quite place what it is? This is that kind of scent. It opens fresh and a little peppery with bergamot and timur, then a soft rose and blackcurrant come through before it dries down to clean vetiver and woods. It’s light and easy, lasting about half a day with soft projection that stays close, so it won’t bother anyone in a meeting. It suits work, daytime, and smart-casual plans without trying too hard. This one is a fresh 2026 release, so if you can’t find it yet, Creed Original Vetiver at V Perfumes is the same clean, woody idea and easy to get.
5. Bvlgari Eau Parfumée Thé Impérial
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bvlgari |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Musk |
| Notes | Top: Italian Citrus Middle: Black Tea Base: Musk |
| Release year | 2026 |
| Projection | Low to Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jacques Cavallier Belletrud |
On a 40-degree day, the last thing you want is something heavy, and this is the opposite of heavy. It’s bright Italian citrus over black tea with a clean musk underneath, the kind of fresh that feels like a cold drink. Being a light tea cologne, it doesn’t last as long as the strong stuff, so a few hours and a quick top-up is normal, and the projection stays soft and close. It’s perfect for errands, work in summer, or just feeling fresh when it’s too hot to think. Bvlgari’s tea line is on V Perfumes if you want to start there.
6. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Velvet Mood Extrait de Parfum
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Maison Francis Kurkdjian |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Oriental Spicy |
| Notes | Top: Saffron Middle: Ceylon Cinnamon, Copahu Balm Base: Agarwood (Oud) |
| Release year | 2013 |
| Projection | Heavy |
| Perfumer | Francis Kurkdjian |
At the last wedding I went to, one person walked past and the whole row turned, and it was oud doing the work. This is that kind of bottle. It’s a rich, smoky oud lifted with saffron and a little warm cinnamon, the proper Gulf-style oud rather than a soft Western take. Projection is heavy and it lasts all day, the sort of scent you’ll still smell on your abaya or shirt the next morning. Keep it for big occasions, evenings, weddings and cooler months, because in full heat it can be a lot. You can get it at V Perfumes.
7. Penhaligon’s Halfeti
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Penhaligon’s |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Oriental Woody |
| Notes | Top: Saffron, Cardamom, Cypress, Bergamot, Grapefruit Middle: Bulgarian Rose, Nutmeg, Jasmine Base: Oud, Amber, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Leather, Musk |
| Release year | 2015 |
| Projection | Moderate to Heavy |
| Perfumer | In-house |
If you want something that feels like a warm hug at the end of the day, this is it. It opens with spicy saffron, cardamom and a bit of citrus, then a rich rose and oud come through before it settles into warm amber, tonka and vanilla. It lasts all day and projects at a moderate to strong level, so people will lean in and ask what you’re wearing. It’s a real evening scent, lovely for date nights, cool nights out, and special occasions, and both of you can wear it since it’s unisex. It’s one of the nicer picks around, and you’ll find it with the rest of these in our unisex edit. Find Halfeti and all of these fragrances at V Perfumes. Shop at the best prices in the UAE and Gulf region and don’t miss the exclusive offers online and in-store.
