I love the note of rum in fragrance. It is often used in winter scents, as a thick, sugary gourmand note but there are a few summer scents where it works very well. In today’s blog post I’ll take you through a few of my favourite rum scents.
Bentley – Bentley for Men Intense – One of the best designer scents with rum. Boozy, incense smoke, spicy with cinnamon and leather nuances. Great bang for your buck as it lasts 10 plus hours. Best for the cooler weather and nights out.
Kilian – Straight to Heaven – Dried fruits, rum and cedarwood. Very strong, spicy, deep and mysterious. Straight to Heaven from Kilian is not cheap, but this does smell of quality. There’s a strong patchouli note in here, and I think it leans slightly masculine, but could be worn by either gender.
Lubin Idole EDP – A striking bottle for a beautiful fragrance. Idole EDP is similar to the Bentley scent, but with a little more of a bitter citrus zing from orange. Saffron provides a leathery touch, and there’s smoky nuances from incense. This is a superior scent to the Bentley, but you will pay a significantly higher price for that quality.
Strangers Parfumerie – Cigar Rum – Another one that does exactly what the moniker on the bottle suggests. Cigar Rum is my favourite from Strangers Parfumerie, it features notes of rum, tobacco and loads of dried fruits. It evokes rum and raisin ice cream on my skin. It thins a bit at the end, but I respray to remind myself of that wonderful opening. You could also go with Cigar Rum Intense.
John Varvatos – Dark Rebel – Another scent from the designer world, Dark Rebel is a masculine, dark, heavy tobacco, rum scent with leather and woody aspects. A perfect companion for a night out while wearing your leather jacket. Not one for everyone through as the leather and smoke come out more in the dry down as the rum fades.
Atelier Cologne – Gold Leather – Don’t let the name on the label fool you, Gold leather is all about rum and plum, the leather plays a secondary role. This smells a little like a mashup of Tom Ford’s Oud Wood and Plum Japonais. One of the better heavier scents from a brand known for light citrus scents.
Czech & Speake – Cuba – Mint, cigars, tobacco and rum combine to capture the spirit of Havana in a perfume bottle. Green, dark and slightly animalic to some, Cuba is well priced for the quality, but it doesn’t last as well as some others in this list.
Malin + Goetz – Dark Rum – Boozy, rum and plum with a leather undertone, Dark Rum has a creamy feel with a prominent milk note. Could be worn by women or men but leans on the masculine side. The only downside is the poor longevity.
Olfactive Studio – Still Life in Rio – Lemon and yuzu mixed with coconut, rum and ginger, transporting the wearer straight to the beaches of Rio. It all combines to remind me of peach tea. A superior sequel to Still Life that is appropriate to wear during the warmer weather.
Creed – Virgin Island Water – An old summer favourite from Creed, Virgin Island Water is a refreshing mix of coconut, lime and white rum. A staple for the beach and when the mercury starts to soar.
Do you have a favourite rum scent?
Note: Bottle images courtesy of Fragrantica, rum bottle and shot glasses image courtesy of Mister Lee unsplash.com