Emeer

Not every perfume needs flowers. Emeer by Lattafa is aromatic and woody, built around white tea, cardamom and olibanum.

It opens with lemon, bergamot, juniper and clary sage, fresh and herbal. White tea adds a light, clean note in the heart, cardamom a gentle spice and olibanum (frankincense) a soft resinous edge. Then sandalwood, cedar, cashmeran and patchouli give it depth, with an ambergris accord smoothing everything out.

So you get several kinds of freshness, zest, greenery and tea, all framed by warm wood. It’s a distinctive pick for someone who prefers aromatic detail to a bouquet.

Gallery openings and evenings of good conversation suit it.

Eau de Parfum, 3.4 oz.

For Lattafa’s white-floral side, try Emaan. Another Middle Eastern favorite with a woody backbone is Armaf Club De Nuit. See all Lattafa.