During the last couple of years, it has become a tradition to do my yearly recap of the previous year on fragrances. Today, I finish this exciting series of articles with my most worn perfumes of 2022.
With my statements in previous articles about disappointing perfume purchases, and the biggest perfume discoveries about 2022 being a weaker year for me regarding blind buys, swaps, and fragrance purchases in general, one thing that hasn’t changed was my usage of the stuff I already own.
Unlike the previous year, where Dior dominated the list with a master blend coming from Montblanc, this time around, much of the scents you’ll find here are from the niche brands, and for some unexpectedly, last year’s number five ended up being my 2022 most worn fragrance.
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Let’s see together what I wore the most, and maybe you find yourself a couple of new things to try out. While there are only five perfumes here, rest assured that each of them I worth your time.
How I Picked My Most Worn Perfumes Of 2022
I sampled, owned, sold, and worn so many different scents last year, which made it hard to pick just five and be done with it.
As I true fragrance enthusiast who thinks about perfumes a little too much, I keep a record of what I own, sample, wish list, or what was sold.
Although I don’t keep a record of what I wore each day, I was able to place here perfumes that I remember most fondly during the last 365 days, and are 99% correctly sorted.
Also, I feel that the number three is the one most people are still to discover, and see what a true gem it is. This is because of the fact that the original version was also unisex but mainly preferred by ladies and the flanker was composed in such a way, everyone can wear it now.
5. Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur
A note from the brand: “Savage sex appeal. Musc Ravageur enhances the magnetic aspect of musk with amber, vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood, at the total exclusion of floral notes.
Having caused a scandal when the perfume first appeared in 2000, Musc Ravageur is now celebrated in all its sensuousness as the Sistine Chapel of the Soft Amber tradition. An unapologetically sexy perfume.”
Why is Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur one of my most worn perfumes of 2022: This perfume is one of those rare cases on Scent Grail where it gets mentioned over and over without fading away into obscureness. Musc Ravageur is a perfect fragrance for me, and as we tend to think sometimes, it feels like it was made just for me.
A fragrance which is will be a quarter of a century old in 2025, yet there is nothing vintage here. Some formulations stand the test of time and no new fragrance trend will change that.
With notes such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and musk amplified by the supporting notes of aromatic lavender, and bright citruses, this is one delicious Christmas cookie, I feel it is best worn from the winter holiday season until the early spring. Remarkable in 2000, and even greater in 2023.
Buy here – Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur
- Perfumer: Maurice Roucel
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Oriental
- Release Date: 2000
- Target Audience: Unisex
- Masculine/Feminine: 50% – 50%
- Most dominant notes: Cloves, Musk, and Vanilla
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Night Outs, and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 8– 10 hours of longevity with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Spicy, Musky, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
4. Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
A note from the brand: “Discover a reinterpretation of the original Colonia fragrance. The cologne Colonia Essenza is a citrus-scented and woody fragrance with a strong personality.
Its classic freshness becomes even more vivacious with the addition of floral scents like grapefruit, mandarin, and petitgrain notes, all brought together by a vibrant woody patchouli base. The sophisticated woody notes lend an elegant sober touch to this cologne.”
Why is Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza one of my most worn perfumes of 2022: A summer fragrance to rule them all. Colonia Essenza is one of my favorite fragrances to wear when it is so hot outside, nothing else works.
I don’t care that it doesn’t smell modern or that it would rather fit somewhere in the middle of the 20th century, everyone should have a great neroli forward fragrance in their collection.
What I like the most about this perfume is the balanced dry down that gives me the overall feel of modern luxury soaps and clean sheets while relaxing on the beach somewhere on the Adriatic coast. If you are looking for a first niche fragrance that would work in almost any scenario, Colonia Essenza should be at the top of your wish list.
Buy here – Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
- Perfumer: Michel Almairac
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Cologne
- Fragrance Type: Citrus Floral
- Release Date: 2010
- Target Audience: Men
- Masculine/Feminine: 60% – 40%
- Most dominant notes: Bergamot, Neroli, and Musk
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Spring and Summer
- Occasions: Business and Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 6 – 8 hours of longevity with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Citrus, Floral, Musk
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
3. Xerjoff Accento Overdose
A note from the brand: “Fruity and aromatic, Accento Overdose has been crafted using an innovative molecule that amplifies its olfactory notes.
Accento Overdose by Xerjoff opens to fruity, green top notes, with a fresh heart of eucalyptus and Mediterranean pine which offers an elegant edge.
A gorgeous base accord of Egyptian jasmine and Bulgarian rose cements the opulent character of Accento Overdose.
Rich and mysterious, the V Collection by Xerjoff celebrates the tactile beauty of velvet. Soft and intense, each scent is evocative of pure luxury.”
Why is Xerjoff Accento Overdose one of my most worn perfumes of 2022: No matter how much I praised Accento Overdose in the last couple of months, it has to be experienced personally to see what is the real deal with this flanker of the original Accento.
With all that said, Accento Overdose is my favorite purchase of the last year. Unlike the original Accento, Overdose focuses more on fruits and the mix of mentholated citruses coming from aldehydes and eucalyptus in the same way we see them in Chanel perfumes and Royal Mayfair from Creed.
If you are not shy to wear jasmine and lily of the valley-forward fragrances, get your nose on Accento Overdose as soon as possible. I guarantee that no one else will smell like you.
Buy here – Xerjoff Accento Overdose
- Perfumer: Christian Carbonnel
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Floral Fruity
- Release Date: 2019
- Target Audience: Unisex
- Masculine/Feminine: 30% – 70%
- Most dominant notes: Fruity Notes, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Spring and Summer
- Occasions: Business, Leisure, and Night Outs
- Longevity and Sillage: 12+ hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: White Floral, Green, Fruity
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
2. Tom Ford Ombré Leather
A note from the brand: “The tactile sensuality of rich black leather, textured with addictive patchouli and vetiver, envelops like second skin. The perfume’s floral tones of jasmine sambac conjure wild desert beauty, while layers of amber and moss mimic the heat of rock and sand.
Ombré Leather is a deeply textural scent that imprints you with a tactile sensuality. It makes one feel different, beautiful and desired.”
Why is Tom Ford Ombré Leather one of my most worn perfumes of 2022: My go-to fragrance during the colder seasons when I go to clubs or just hang out in the bar with my friends. Ombre Leather is almost always my preferred scent choice.
I have previously stated that this release is the best marketing decision Tom Ford has ever done. Placing a Private Blend perfume into their Signature Line for a relatively affordable price.
While not 100% the same as the Tuscan Leather, this one captures the original’s magic by removing the “ashtray” note and giving you the best possible suede leather accord on the market combined with fruits, spices, and ambery base.
Buy here – Tom Ford Ombré Leather
- Perfumer: Sonia Constant
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Leather Spicy
- Release Date: 2018
- Target Audience: Unisex
- Masculine/Feminine: 70% – 30%
- Most dominant notes: Leather, Cardamom, and Amber
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business and Night Outs
- Longevity and Sillage: 24+ hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Leather, Amber, Spicy
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
1. Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
A note from the brand: “To create Sauvage Eau de Parfum, François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator, drew inspiration from the desert at the magical twilight hour: mixed with the coolness of the night, the burning desert air exudes profound scents.
The Sauvage Eau de Parfum is thus the olfactory interpretation of a moment tinted with a thick blue that unleashes the wildest instincts. In the hour when the wolves come out and the sky is set ablaze, a new magic unfolds.”
Why is Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum one of my most worn perfumes of 2022: Dior Sauvage was my fifth most worn perfume of 2021, and now sits in the first place. How you may ask? Well, the explanation is pretty simple.
When you combine a modern formulation composed in such a way that would fit into any scenario and almost any season, you get Dior Sauvage.
In my opinion, still the best “blue” fragrance on the market, and a fragrance destined to become a classic in a couple of years from now.
I prefer this flanker over any other Sauvage, but you wouldn’t be wrong if you went with Eau de Toilette or Parfum as well. Bergamot, ambroxan, and Sichuan pepper dominate this timeless creation, and it does perform much better than one would think.
A perfume of my generation, just like Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio was in the 90s for my uncle and Polo from Ralph Lauren my grandad’s signature scent in the 80s.
Buy here – Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum
- Perfumer: François Demachy
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Fresh Spicy
- Release Date: 2018
- Target Audience: Ambroxan, Bergamot, and Sichuan Pepper
- Masculine/Feminine: 90% – 10%
- Most dominant notes: Men
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Any occasion
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with very good projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Citrus, Spicy, Musky
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
Conclusion
2022 was a pretty weird year for me but made me realize that I should enjoy what I have rather than buying random perfumes just for the sake of buying.
I hope you have enjoyed the article about my most worn perfumes of 2022 and discovered new fragrances to check out, or rediscovered old favorites.
What are your most worn perfumes of 2022? Let me know in the comment section at the end of the article.
In case you are in doubt about whether you should consider buying a particular fragrance, it’s always good to take a look at Scent Grail’s S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide.
It is easy to use and the most relevant perfume-buying guide on the web. This way, you can check out if a particular fragrance is worth checking out, and potentially find your signature perfume.
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Find out more Scent Grail articles about perfumery, check out top lists, and other helpful reviews via the links below:
REVIEWS
- Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb Extreme
- Dolce And Gabbana The One Eau De Parfum
- Lalique Encre Noire A L’Extreme
- Amouage Reflection Man
- Zaharoff Signature Rose
- Acqua Di Parma Colonia Club
TOP LISTS
- Best Books About Perfume
- Best Men’s Fragrances Of All Time
- Best Winter Fragrances For Men
- Best Office Colognes
- Best Signature Scents For Men
- Best Cheap Perfumes For Men
SCENT GRAIL LEARNING CENTER
- How To Find Your Signature Scent
- How To Wear Perfume
- Fragrance Strengths & Perfume Concentrations
- Best Fragrance Discounters
- Designer Vs Niche Fragrances
- Perfume Testers Vs. Retail Boxed Fragrances
Until next time, have a great time, and keep smelling like a million bucks!
Best, Marin!
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