Red Hoba Eau de Parfum

A fragrance doesn't necessarily have to be a gourmand in order to make you smell good enough to eat. That was our first thought after trying Red Hoba, a rich, exquisitely spiced addition to Xerjoff's Shooting Stars collection that blends intensely smoky notes with growling animalic ones, and yet arrives at a result both thrilling and, yes, mouthwatering. Like a meal with a groundbreaking Michelin-starred chef, you may not understand how the flavors come together when you're reading the menu, but you certainly will once you try the results. Red Hoba opens with an almost-Christmas-y cinnamon and cardamom that dance on the skin and balance the floral and fruity nuances of a full-bodied bergamot. Warm orris, jasmine and patchouli swirl in harmony with gentle incense, but as the base emerges, a fiercely sexy mix of labdanum and castoreum mingle with a soft, comforting musk and a delicate gaiac wood. What category does Red Hoba fall into? One sniff, and we promise you won't care.