Unique and unusual perfumes

Ember Enigma is an independent UK fragrance guide. We do the legwork on the top ranked fragrances, checking notes and prices, so you don't have to.

Ink, rain, tomato leaf and waffle cone.

Some of the most memorable fragrances are built around notes you would never expect in a bottle: fresh ink, wet earth after rain, the green snap of a tomato leaf, toasted sesame or a waffle cone.

These are the curiosities in our library. They suit anyone bored of the usual florals and woods, and make a gift that gets talked about.

Bottles on Ember Enigma: Fathom V by Beaufort London; Megamare by Orto Parisi; Sartorial by Penhaligon's; Murkwood by Pineward Perfumes; Lonestar Memories by Tauer Perfumes; Rabbit by Zoologist; Captured by Candlelight by 4160 Tuesdays; What I Did On My Holidays by 4160 Tuesdays; Wet Stone by Amouroud; White Hinoki by Amouroud; No One Elsie by ARKIVE; Ummagumma by Bruno Fazzolari; Desert Dawn by Byredo; Rose Atlantic by D.S. & Durga; Dirt by Demeter; L'Eau Papier by Diptyque; Spice D'Arno by Electimuss; La Baguette by Fendi; Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum by Gucci; Tobacco Honey by Guerlain; Mown by Hendley Perfumes; Slowdive by Hiram Green; Every Storm a Serenade by Imaginary Authors; Le Sel d'Issey by Issey Miyake; Freedom Musk Matcha | 45 by Kayali; Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene; Essential by Lacoste; The Matcha 26 by Le Labo; Thé Noir 29 by Le Labo; Chai Épicé by Le Monde Gourmand; Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton; Korrigan by Lubin; Turmeric Latte by Lush; When the Rain Stops by Maison Margiela; Tonka Cola by Mancera; Ganymede by Marc-Antoine Barrois; Russian Tea by Masque Milano; Falcon Leather by Matiere Premiere; Madurai by Memo Paris; Sherwood by Memo Paris.

Do unusual fragrances smell strange to wear? Rarely. The odd note is usually one part of a balanced blend, so a tomato leaf or ink accord reads as fresh and interesting rather than literal.

Which fragrance smells like rain? Look for petrichor, rain notes or mineral accords. They recreate the smell of wet stone and earth after a shower.