Aromatic fragrances tend to smell fresh – drier than woody fragrances, which they can sometimes resemble. The key notes are herbs such as basil, lavender, or sage, and the fougère family – known for its lavender note – sits within this category. Though traditionally associated with men’s fragrances, aromatics can easily be worn by women too, and they make great summer fragrances. The Dries Van Noten perfume collection includes four aromatic fragrances: Cannabis Patchouli, Crazy Basil, Mystic Moss, and Neon Garden – all are Eaux de Parfum except for Mystic Moss, which is an Eau de Toilette. Each one features different herbs, including mint, rosemary, and sage.
The image below (click to enlarge) will help you decide which one is best for you, before we get into each fragrance in depth. While individual samples aren’t available, you can get a sample set here which includes Cannabis Patchouli, Crazy Basil, and Rock the Myrrh (which features in Set 4).
To explore the three other sets, see Set 1 floral fragrances, Set 2 amber fragrances, and Set 4 woody, leather, and chypre fragrances.
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Dries Van Noten Perfume Set 3: Aromatic Fragrances
Click each fragrance image to view a larger version to discover notes, year of release, concentration, and the perfumer behind the fragrance.
Cannabis Patchouli: The Fresh Yet Musky Aromatic
Cannabis Patchouli is the fresh yet musky aromatic, focusing on sage as its herb and – you’ll be relieved or disappointed to learn, it doesn’t actually smell like cannabis at all. Of the four aromatic fragrances, this is the fresh yet musky one. The fragrance was created by Nicolas Bonneville; his other creations include Affinessence Patchouli Oud and Borsalino Black Iris.
This is one of my favourites from the Dries Van Noten perfume collection: the contrast of freshness of bergamot and cedar works really well against the patchouli and musk, with the sage incense giving a herbal, slightly smoky quality that ties the bright and dark notes together. Cannabis Patchouli is great for everyday wear – a clean aromatic with a refreshing opening that dries down into a warm, woody and musky incense.
What reviewers are saying:
- “It doesn’t smell like weed, but it does smell great”
- “Changes from a sharp fresh green opening to an incense woody base”
- “A mature, woody, green, and mossy fragrance that is smooth without being sweet”
Shop now: Cannabis Patchouli or get a sample: Nomadic Set
Alternative to try: Hermès – Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette: shares the citrus opening and the vetiver-cedar-patchouli combo, but without the herbal element
Crazy Basil: The Herbaceous Yet Zesty Aromatic
As the name implies, Crazy Basil has a strong basil note to it, which works alongside the citrus and cedarwood to create a herbaceous and zesty fragrance that’s perfect for hot weather. It was developed by Jean-Christophe Hérault, who also created Comme des Garçons Amazingreen and Creed Aventus, the latter alongside Erwin Creed. It leans more masculine, and is great for everyday wear.
The hinoki wood in the base is worth a mention: it’s an Asian cypress tree with a fresh lemon scent, cleaner than cedarwood and almost more like a conifer, but without smelling of pine.
What reviewers are saying:
- “One of the most realistic basil notes I’ve tried; good longevity (7-8 hours), and moderate projection”
- “Incredible opening but a somewhat disappointing drydown that is quite generic”
- “The hinoki and rosemary combination is amazing”
Shop now: Crazy Basil or get a sample: Nomadic Set
Alternative to try: Givenchy – Gentleman Intense: same basil and bergamot top notes, with cedar and cypress adding freshness; coumarin instead of musk and iris as a floral instead of geranium
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Mystic Moss: The Salty Yet Spicy Aromatic
Mystic Moss is the only Eau de Toilette in this list, and like Cannabis Patchouli was created by Nicolas Bonneville. It’s the salty, spicy aromatic – distinct thanks to the algae extract in the heart, which gives it an unusual marine quality you don’t often find paired with this much herbal and woody depth.
Green mandarin opens it on a fresh note; clary sage – more floral and nutty than regular sage – works alongside cardamom for a touch of spice. The algae extract adds that salty, aquatic element before the fragrance dries down into soft patchouli, oakmoss, incense, and vetiver.
(A note on classification: Mystic Moss is technically a chypre, but Dries Van Noten classifies it with aromatic fragrances on their website – the two families often overlap.)
What reviewers are saying:
- “Similar to Goldfield & Banks’ Pacific Moss but greener, mossier, and not aquatic”
- “Expensive? Sure. But what would you pay to smell like muddled mandarin and cardamom in a salt-rimmed glass at the beach?”
- “Starts off like citrus-infused tea, with sage taking over after about 3 hours”
Shop now: Mystic Moss
Alternative to try: Goldfield & Banks – Pacific Rock Moss: shares the geranium and moss, but with sage, Italian lemon, and Virginia cedar in place of clary sage, green mandarin, and patchouli
Neon Garden: The Cool Yet Earthy Aromatic
Neon Garden is the cool yet earthy aromatic, merging a fresh mint blend (specifically spearmint and peppermint) before moving into a carrot and iris heart. It was created by Fanny Bal, who also developed Maison Margiela When the Rain Stops and Zoologist Rabbit. What sets it apart is the carrot note in the heart, which – like the iris – brings and earthy, powdery warmth. Rather than going astringent in a typical minty way, the heart warms the fragrance up – though some may find it too powdery.
What reviewers are saying:
- “Signature scent worthy but refreshingly different; very leathery orris”
- “I think people that have waterfall showerheads smell like this”
- “That very noticeable carrot note is everything; Neon Garden successfully pairs mint with a wonderfully unexpected counterpoint note”
Shop now: Neon Garden
Alternative to try: Prada L’Homme Eau de Toilette: also features the carrot/iris pairing, but with neroli and black pepper bringing contrast instead of mint
Dries Van Noten Perfume Set 3: Aromatic Fragrances
The aromatic set is probably the most wearable of the Dries Van Noten perfume line: these are everyday companions rather than statement pieces, and all four are well-suited to warmer months. Cannabis Patchouli and Mystic Moss are the safer entry points if you’re new to the range, while Crazy Basil and Neon Garden are a bit more adventurous.
If you’re exploring the full collection, don’t miss Set 1 (floral), Set 2 (amber), and Set 4 covering the woody, leather, and chypre fragrances.
Note: Posts about the Dries Van Noten perfume collection were originally written in May 2023; the collection launched in 2022 with twelve fragrances – ten Eaux de Parfum and two Eaux de Toilette. More fragrances were added in 2024 and 2025; the posts have been updated to reflect those additions, with new articles being added.
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London College of Fashion alumna (PGCert Fashion Buying & Merchandising). 15 years in fashion across styling, buying & merchandising, trend forecasting, e-commerce, and marketing. Includes roles at Vivienne Westwood and multi-brand retail stocking 50+ brands including Adidas, Nike, and Puma.
