Here at Who What Wear UK, we’re a perfume-obsessed team. While some of our editors love clean-smelling fragrances and others love sweet perfumes, there is one fragrance brand that unanimously unites my colleagues no matter our scent preferences—Escentric Molecules. Launched in 2006 and founded by perfumer Geza Schoen, Escentric Molecules quickly became one of the most defining niche fragrance brands among fashion and beauty insiders due to one particular scent, Molecule 01, which still to this day is considered one of the most popular perfumes around.
Containing just one scent molecule—Iso E Super—Molecule 01’s uniquely appealing aroma quickly put Escentric Molecules on the map. In fact, when Schoen first experimented with wearing Iso E Super out at a bar, he was inundated with people asking him what he was wearing. When it comes to fragrances, Molecule 01 is the ultimate minimalist scent. Think of it as the fragrance equivalent of a perfectly cut white T-shirt—everyone should have one in their wardrobe, no matter your personal style. It’s designed to be worn alone, but the minimal scent profile makes it ideal for layering as a perfume enhancer.
But while Molecule 01 is generally considered the best Escentric Molecules perfume, other, lesser-known scents in the brand’s offering are equally as good. Having tried every scent from the brand, these are the Escentric Molecules perfumes everyone should have on their radar.
The Best Escentric Molecules Perfumes
1. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Iso E super
Almost every editor on the Who What Wear team considers this their signature perfume. The scent of this perfume may vary slightly from person to person, but many find it to have a clean, airy or subtly woody essence. Think pencil shavings, cedar, musk or even the fresh, comforting scent of laundry. It’s the perfect “skin scent”—quiet, elusive and almost mysterious. You might not always notice it on yourself, though others certainly will, and after a few hours, it has a way of resurfacing, almost as if it’s playing hide-and-seek with your senses. It’s not a bold, in-your-face fragrance that announces itself when you enter a room, but someone sitting close by will likely catch a hint of it. Plus, its subtle nature makes it an excellent perfume for migraine sufferers. It’s part of the Molecule collection of five scents, which all revolve around one singular perfume note. Some people can’t smell iso E super, however, many still enjoy it for the compliments it brings in from others.
“I am pretty sure everyone I know is sick of me talking about Molecule 01, but honestly, I cannot express how much I love it,” says Who What Wear UK managing editor, Poppy Nash. “My mum had a bottle long before it hit the shelves of the big retailers, and I remember her getting compliments on it everywhere—on the street, at parents’ evenings, even while we were on holiday. I started wearing it as a teenager, the moment my mum allowed me to try my first luxury perfume, and I’ve been getting just as many compliments ever since. Honestly, I think I get at least one compliment a day (yes, every day!), and there’s no denying how much of a confidence boost it gives me. It’s woody, musky, with just a hint of sweetness, but the real magic of this fragrance is how it smells different on everyone—it’s like your very own signature scent. It’s undoubtedly one of my all-time favourite beauty products, and I don’t see myself ever stopping wearing it!”
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette
If you want a travel-friendly version, this 30ml bottle is great for throwing in your bag for top-ups throughout the day.
2. Escentric Molecules Molecule 02
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 02 Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Ambroxan
Like Molecule 01, Molecule 02 centres around just one ingredient. This time, it’s ambroxan. This is a molecule that mirrors the scent of ambergris—a coveted perfume material that is now very rare and expensive—but is instead derived from plants. As for the scent, imagine the smoothest, most velvety warmth with a touch of earthiness, wrapped in an almost mineral-like clarity. It’s a scent that feels both fresh and sophisticated, effortlessly evoking the sensation of soft, sun-warmed skin. Whenever I wear this, it makes me think of salty, sun-tanned skin after a day spent at the beach. I actually think this might be the best Escentric Molecules perfume, IMO. When I tried this for the first time, I spritzed it on my skin, and the next day, I could still smell it for hours.
3. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Iris
Escentric Molecules
M+ Iris Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Iso E Super, iris
The brand’s Molecule+ collection hones in on Iso E Super, but with the addition of one additional natural fragrance note. So you get all the minimalist dreaminess of Iso E Super but with a slight twist with each scent. This one pairs the woody, musky addictiveness with iris, and it is so beautiful and pretty. Iris brings together a soft, powdery floral with a whisper of earthiness that adds depth and complexity. Imagine the delicate petals of a violet-infused flower, yet with a refined, almost ethereal quality that’s neither too sweet nor too green. It pairs so well with the Iso E Super and is great if you already own Molecule 01, but want something with a floral edge.
4. Escentric Molecules Escentric E01
Escentric Molecules
Escentric 01 Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Lime, pink pepper, aldehydes, orris, hedione, iso E super, incense, mastic, musk
The brand’s Escentric Collection pairs the hero Iso E Super note with a family of top, middle and base notes that you’d usually find in a traditional perfume. The other ingredients act as a supporting role to enhance and amplify its effect. In this case, Escentric 01 is paired with fresh lime peel, clean aldehydes and smooth, cosy musk that makes you want to nuzzle your nose into your skin. I’ll leave you with the sentence that the brand warns on its website: “These fragrances are considered a dangerous aphrodisiac, under whose narcotic influence men and women become intoxicated and infatuated.” Proceed with caution.
5. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Black Tea
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 01 + Black Tea Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Iso E Super, black tea
This one pairs Iso E Super with a black tea note, and it’s really unusual yet stunning. I didn’t think I’d be drawn to a tea note, but it has become a firm favourite of mine. It’s a warm, captivating blend that balances both the freshness and depth of black tea. The slightly smoky, bitter aroma of black tea wraps around the skin like a cashmere jumper—comforting yet sophisticated. This rich, aromatic note is perfectly complemented by the signature Iso E Super, which amplifies the scent with its signature smoothness. The result is a scent that’s fresh yet grounded and subtly energising yet serenely calming.
6. Escentric Molecule Escentric 04
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 04 Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Javanol, pink grapefruit, marijuana, bergamot, juniper berry, pink pepper, hedione, freesia, osmanthus, orris, rose, mastic, labdanum, Iso E Super, musk, ambroxan, castoreum, vetiver
Molecule 04 is built around a single ingredient: Javanol, a synthetic sandalwood molecule that creates a deeply warm, creamy woodiness that lingers on the skin with an almost magnetic effect. It creates a halo of clean, smooth sandalwood that is paired with a warm, subtly spicy cocktail of grapefruit, pink pepper and a dash of vetiver for a depth that’s both fresh and grounded. If you like aromatic scents, you’ll love this.
7. Escentric Molecules Molecule + Mandarin
Escentric Molecules
Molecule 01 + Mandarin
Key notes: Iso E Super, mandarin
The pairing of freshly squeezed mandarin with Iso E Super makes wearing this scent so enjoyable. It’s the feeling of having an everything shower with a sudsy mandarin shower gel, slipping on a fluffy white robe and sipping a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The scent stays close to the skin, so it’s great if you want a fresh, citrusy scent that won’t overwhelm either yours or others’ senses.
Shop Escentric Molecules Discovery Sets
Escentric Molecules
Molecule Discovery Set 5 X 2ml
There are four other scents to discover in the Molecule range, and this discovery set allows you to try them in 2ml vials so you can find your favourite.
Escentric Molecules
Escentric Discovery Set 5 X 2ml
The Escentric collection also comes in a discovery set format with 2ml tester vials of the five scents.