Laurel

Lebanon has been popping up on the radar as one of the hippest travel destinations on the planet, and it's no wonder the two trend-setters who already teamed up for the best-selling Hinoki, Comme des Garçons and Monocle magazine, found inspiration in the Country of the Cedars for their Scent Two. “We wanted to capture the same smell and sensation enjoyed while staying with friends in Batroun, Lebanon. It's warm, inviting and at times a little sharp – just like the country,” says Monocle editor in chief,Tyler Brûlé.

Cedar, then, obviously, tinged with incense – after all, “Lebanon” and “olibanum”, another name for frankincense, share the same etymology – and the namesake laurel (the antiseptic laurel bay essential oil is used in Lebanon to make the traditional, olive-oil based Alep soap). A dash of herbs sprinkled with pepper on a warm amber base infuse Laurel with a dry, bracing aroma that redefines the very notion of freshness perfumery. A stunning achievement.