Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur Decant

Musc Ravageur is twenty-five years old and still one of the most sensual things in perfumery. A brief lavender and bergamot opening gives way almost immediately to cinnamon, clove and an enormous vanilla-musk-amber base. It smells warm, slightly animalic and very close to skin — the effect is less 'wearing perfume' and more 'smelling extremely good'.

It performs strongly, nine to ten hours, but it wears close after the first hour, which is part of its appeal. Cold weather and evenings suit it; in heat the musk can become heavy.

It is genuinely unisex and is one of the most commonly shared bottles in the Malle line. It is also unusual enough that it belongs on a decant list rather than a blind-buy list.