Eau de Gingembre

Eau de Gingembre from Roger & Gallet, composed by Jacques Cavallier, treats ginger like a cologne note rather than a spice. Bergamot and neroli open it, bright and citrus-green, and the ginger comes in sharp and fresh, nothing like a baked sweet. Musk and a little benzoin form the base: warm enough to take the chill off, but mostly the smell of freshly washed skin. It is easy to wear and does not demand attention. Moderate strength means it sits close, lasts through a working morning and benefits from a top-up. Spring and summer are its natural home, and it fits the office, a run, a lunch on a terrace. If you want a scent that announces itself, look elsewhere. If you like to smell clean and a bit zesty, it does that well.