In 2007, French clothing designer Claudie Pierlot launched a trio of colognes. Eau de Claudie, a true stunner, was the first one I bought.

Colognes follow a very simple formula: alcohol that contains a mixture of citrus oils, herbs and flowers, with a light base of woods or musk. It’s how a perfumer plays with the ingredients in the formula that makes their colognes distinctive.

Eau de Claudie opens with a whoosh of fresh juicy citrus framed with green herbaceous notes. As it blooms, it gets spicy. I smell cinnamon and cardamom. As they soften, black pepper boosts them by adding warmth and excitement to the composition, which rests on a dry, soft, woody base. It’s the spicy warmth that makes this cologne so unique.

Eau de Claudie is a graceful, haunting scent that dries down to a soft, warm skin scent that’s light as a summer veil.

Notes: citrus accord, herb accord, spice accord, black pepper, incense and sandalwood.