Byredo: where to start? 8 perfumes to discover the house

Byredo makes perfumes with short, readable formulas: often just a few notes, easy to pick out. Every perfume in this selection is a unisex eau de parfum on our pages, so forget the "for him" and "for her" shelves.

Here are eight perfumes to get to know the house, from the freshest to the darkest. The notes we quote are the ones on our pages, nothing more.

The bright wood: Gypsy Water

Gypsy Water, released in 2008, opens on bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries. The heart pairs incense with pine and iris, then the base sets down amber, vanilla and sandalwood. A wood that starts fresh and ends soft, easy to wear every day. See Gypsy Water.

The sunny floral: Bal d'Afrique

Bal d'Afrique, released in 2009, opens on bergamot, lemon, neroli and marigold. The heart brings together violet, jasmine and cyclamen, then the base pairs vetiver with musk, cedar and amber. Citrus and flowers on a woody base: cheerful and warm. See Bal d'Afrique.

The soft powdery one: Mojave Ghost

Mojave Ghost, released in 2014, opens on ambrette. The heart mixes sapodilla, magnolia, violet and sandalwood, then the base sets down cedar and musk. A soft, woody floral that stays discreet and close to the skin. See Mojave Ghost.

The clean one: Blanche

Blanche, released in 2009, opens on aldehydes, rose and pink pepper. The heart pairs peony with violet and neroli, then the base brings together musk and sandalwood. The smell of fresh laundry, as a perfume. See Blanche.

The pared-back rose: Rose of No Man's Land

Rose of No Man's Land, released in 2015, comes down to a few notes: pink pepper on top, rose at the heart, papyrus and amber in the base. A clean, slightly peppery rose, far from the very sweet ones. See Rose of No Man's Land.

The fruity leather: Bibliothèque

Bibliothèque, released in 2018, opens on plum and peach. The heart brings together peony and violet, then the base pairs leather with vanilla and patchouli. Ripe fruit on soft leather: the cosiest one in the selection, perfect for winter. See Bibliothèque.

The cedar: Super Cedar

Super Cedar, released in 2016, opens on rose. The heart is cedar, then the base sets down vetiver and musk. A dry, clean wood with a touch of rose at the start. See Super Cedar.

The spiced leather: Black Saffron

Black Saffron, released in 2012, brings together saffron, raspberry, leather and vetiver. Saffron and leather set the tone, and raspberry softens it all. The most intense one on the list, for evenings. See Black Saffron.

Which one to choose?

• You want an easy everyday wood: Gypsy Water or Super Cedar.
• You love cheerful flowers: Bal d'Afrique.
• You want something soft and discreet: Mojave Ghost or Blanche.
• You love roses: Rose of No Man's Land.
• You want something warm and intense: Bibliothèque or Black Saffron.

A tip: Byredo perfumes often have few notes, each one easy to read. Try them on your skin rather than on a paper strip to see how they change. And compare prices on Fragist before you buy.