Spicy Oriental

Opulent, textured like brocade, bittersweet and bracing, spicy orientals made a huge splash in the 1980s when titans such as YSL Opium, Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men and Lauder’s Cinnabar reigned supreme. They owe their debt to the oriental classics (Shalimar, Youth Dew), but they brought on a very piquant, ticklish element of spice, notably cloves, pepper and cinnamon, to drive their message home. Try also Royal Oeillet by Oriza L. Legrand built on cloves and carnation.