I Never Want to Smell Like Anyone Else in the Room—This Sneaky Fragrance Note Is My Secret

Exploring the world of aromatherapy was a conscious choice for me. As a proud earth sign (Capricorn here!), I've always felt connected to the natural world, using essential oils and flower essences to bring my energy back to balance. It's also why I love fragrance so much. The right plant- or wood-based note can evoke feelings of peace and groundedness while making you smell totally unique.

One note that fits this profile is hinoki, an ancient cypress wood native to central Japan that's been kept on the down-low over the years. While it was historically used to build sacred spaces in Japan, it's now inspiring luxury fragrance houses and upscale bodycare brands alike. They're flocking to the note for its rich, woody, and uplifting aroma that smells downright expensive. It gained a quiet cult following back in 2008 when Comme des Garçons released a fragrance with Monocle magazine called Scent 01: Hinoki Eau de Toilette. A few years ago, Tatcha even released a limited-edition forest-bathing collection featuring hinoki as the star note. In case you were wondering, these products were so good I used them to the last drop.

Much like palo santo, hinoki is revered as a spiritual wood, bringing a sense of peace to any who come into contact with it. In fact, an entire study was published in 2018 on the effects of hinoki and its ability to promote relaxation. To sum up, it's an incredibly special note and, luckily, smells amazing. It's uplifting but grounding at the same time, so I'm happy to see it making another comeback with more and more brands introducing hinoki-rich products. If you don't want to smell like anyone else in the room, keep scrolling. I'm sharing all the best hinoki perfumes and products below.

Jo Malone London

Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense

Key notes: Aromatic clean accord, cinnamon, hinoki wood, cedarwood

I tried this rich, woody fragrance last fall and fully got stopped by a stranger when I wore it out. It definitely isn't my normal scent MO. I usually go for sweeter, fruitier scents, but there's something so magical about the combination of notes here. Cinnamon pairs so well with hinoki wood and cedarwood. It's a really unique scent that promises endless compliments.

Salt & Stone

Bergamot & Hinoki Body and Hair Fragrance Mist

Key notes: Bergamot, orange blossom, hinoki

Hinoki is also known for being fresh and earthy with a warm, slightly sweet undercurrent. Salt & Stone's body mist does such a good job at highlighting the note of hinoki here. Orange blossom and bergamot really bring out the earthiness of the scent profile. It's also a little more budget-friendly if you're looking for a way to smell unique and luxurious without hitting the $50 mark.

Maison Louis Marie

No.02 Le Long Fond Eau de Parfum

Key notes: Hinoki wood, cedarwood, patchouli, white musk

Hinoki is featured as the top note of this warm, woody fragrance, so it'll be the first thing you smell. This scent was inspired by founder Marie de Petit Thouars and her childhood in Belgium. Playing in her grandfather's plant nursery and experimenting with scents brought her to this unique combination of notes. Patchouli is a rich note here, but cedarwood and hinoki balance it out beautifully.

Boy Smells

Hinoki Fantôme

Key notes: Cardamom, pear, hinoki, cedarwood, oakmoss, smoked amber

This is a classic Boy Smells scent featuring hinoki. Honestly, I discovered this as a fragrance note because of this particular fragrance. I remember thinking it was so unique and interesting. It opens with a spicy-sweet zing of cardamom and pear. The dry-down is where you really start to smell the earthy, woody notes of hinoki, smoked amber, and cedarwood.

Key notes: Cypress, frankincense, vetiver

While Aesop's Hwyl isn't explicitly a hinoki perfume, its smoky, woody, and spicy scent profile is meant to evoke the aroma of an ancient hinoki forest. Basically, it's a serene forest-bathing session, bottled.

Le Labo

Hinoki Hand Pomade

Low-key, this is my other secret to smelling luxurious and unique—a high-end hand cream with lush notes of hinoki. This hand cream's scent is inspired by the Buddhist temples of Mount Koya, which are surrounded by the mystical and relaxing scent of hinoki wood. If a full-on fine fragrance isn't in the budget right now, try this instead. You won't be disappointed. The notes in this cream are still strong enough for people to ask me what I put on when I use it, and the rich texture keeps my perpetually dry hands as smooth as ever.

Wonder Valley

Hinoki Body Oil

Key notes: Japanese hinoki, cedarwood, Siberian fir

Your bodycare routine deserves a little aromatherapy. A hinoki-scented body oil will add so much longevity to your fragrance and doubles its projection power. Wonder Valley's oil is packed with a scent combination of rare Siberian fir and hinoki while deeply hydrating the skin with sunflower-seed oil, shea butter, and olive-fruit oil.

Nécessaire

The Body Wash in Hinoki

Key notes: Hinoki, basil, magnolia, vetiver

I love Nécessaire's bodywashes. The Santal scent has always been a favorite, but now, I'm determined to try the Hinoki one as well. This features gentle acids to really soften and cleanse the skin, resveratrol to soothe skin and provide antioxidant protection, and calming Japanese hinoki oil to bring relaxation.

CEDAR AND MYRRH

Hinoki Sacred Room Spray

A room spray might seem extra AF, but hear me out. Much like an essential oil diffuser, a room spray can bring instant clearing and relaxation. This particular spray from Cedar and Myrrh is ideal for grounding rituals and meditation or if you just want to spritz something uplifting before having friends over. You can even use it as a linen spray to make you feel like you're in a fancy hotel.