It may be the Year of the Dragon but every animal of the Chinese Zodiac is a perennial representation of the passion-filled mythological race that determined the order of the lunar calendar. After all, it's a new year, new you. From fragrances to timepieces, we've curated an edit of items tailored to each characteristic from Raffles City to put that extra spring in your step. With tobyato adding his own touch on the Chinese Zodiac, we present a very special Esquire 12.
You’re a Dragon. You’re eccentric, and powerfully so. A BOSS cardigan crafted from a blend of cashmere captures that sense of regality, punctuated by an embroidered, stylised calligraphy by calligrapher Feng Tang. There’s no doubt that you’re the boss in a piece as unapologetically bold such as this—no mere mortal could pull this off like you do.
BOSS
#01-37B
For the trustworthy Rabbit, equally trusted Aesop grooming products are essential in ensuring that elegant façade remains in the spring of life. A Moroccan Neroli shaving duet—serum and post-shave lotion—helps keep skin supple and hair-free shape, while a facial hydrating serum and anti-oxidant eye cream act as youth-locking assistance.
Aesop
#01-44A
As unpredictable as the Tiger, there’s no telling what Onitsuka Tiger could ever be up to. The brand known for some iconic footwear, refreshes its chunky outsoled Dentigre LS sneakers with a mixed-media upper rendered in shades of grey. Red topstitching runs across for tasteful nods to the festivities while retaining its statement-making appearance like that of the Tiger’s stripes.
Onitsuka Tiger
#01-14
Steady and dependable like the Ox, you’re a ball of love at the heart of all that steely exterior. APM Monaco’s Morse Code series is a perfect match—a stylish go-to that effortlessly dresses up any outfit. Each piece taps into your softer side with words of affection reflected through coded messages embedded into its façade. Because no one really needs to know how you really feel, unless you want them to.
APM Monaco
#01-06
Why does one need five eau de parfums on hand? Because a quick-witted Rat knows to be adaptable in whatever situation it might find itself. The set comprises five 10ml vials of some of Creed’s most prized fragrances—from Green Irish Tweed to Aventus—each designed to cater to different moods and occasions. They’re perfectly sized to keep as part of a flight pack of essentials too, so you smell fresh upon landing at any destination.
Creed
#01-39C
The Pig gets a bad rep for being a glutton, leaving its determined personality overlooked. These coffee-laced assortments by Bacha Coffee will help to keep the drive going as one gets through the day. Start with a splendid cup 100 per cent Arabica coffee, snack on dark chocolate-covered coffee beans, and treat yourself to a croissant or two.
Bacha Coffee
#01-38/39
Chinese streetwear meets American icon in this collaborative effort between CLOT and Tommy Hilfiger. The latter’s emblematic colours have been cleverly interwoven with CLOT’s Chinese-inspired motifs to create a pattern that mashes the two seamlessly on this bucket hat. Prudent like the Dog, you’ll be prepared for light rain and shine no matter where you go, and rather stylishly so.
Tommy Hilfiger
#01-33
They say not to put your eggs in one basket—but when said basket is an intricately designed Shanghai Tang jewellery box in collaboration with artist Jacky Tsai, we see no harm in it. You’d want to fill it with your daily assortment of rings, bracelets, ear cuffs and more. And perhaps, being an observant Rooster, you’d make some space for the missus because hers is almost stuffed to the brim.
Shanghai Tang
#01-27A
The Monkey’s charm and versatility is exemplified quite fittingly in the latest Top Time piece by Breitling. Inspired by second-generation Chevrolet Corvettes, the red dial is immediately as stunning as the 1960s icon and is coupled with subdials that give the feel of vintage dashboard gauges. The perforated leather strap adds to the sportscar nod yet makes for an outstanding accessory you’d want to flex any day of the week.
Breitling
#01-35/35A
Real GOATs know that Givenchy’s all about refined elegance and the Gentleman Society rings true from bottle design to scent. The eau de parfum opens with a blend of sage and wild narcissus. Then the contrast hits—a quartet of vetiver essences coupled with a woody base—resulting in a bold, sophisticated fragrance crafted for the gentleman who’s constantly reinventing himself.
Givenchy
#01-40B
More than a decade has passed since the XT-6 first broke into the scene. It’s become synonymous with ultra-distance race athletes, owing to the sneaker’s lightweight and durable construction. The XT-6 has been reimagined with new colours and materials, but its heightened comfort and stability remains—no matter how hard and long one steams through harsh terrains at the speed of the energetic Horse.
Salomon
#02-31
Like the intelligence portrayed by the Snake, a little illumination goes a long way. With Dinesh to light the way home, its portability allows for an immediate brightening anywhere: within and outside your abode. With three levels of brightness, the Dinesh is powered by a simple charge via a USB connector. When it’s sufficiently suffused, create your own ambience by hanging it or leaving it on a flat surface.
Kave Home
#03-40/41
Find our more about Raffles City's "Spring in the City".
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Illustration: tobyato
Styling: Asri Jasman
Take a second and think about your favourite go-to scents. Chances are, you’re thinking about something that’s woody, musky and perhaps powdery—sensual notes that are typically at the base of some of the best-selling men’s fragrances out there. Dior Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel for example, contain base notes of vanilla and amber, and sandalwood respectively.
These grounded notes belong to the warmer side of the fragrance wheel where olfactive families the likes of amber, woody, and fougère (French for “fern”) reside. The latter of which is probably the most used olfactive family in masculine scents. In fact, both the aforementioned Dior Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel are classified as such.
A fragrance is more often than not, quite a subjective experience. While there tends to be a gendered approach to it—as with most things—there’s hardly any reason why a scent shouldn’t be used because it’s crafted and tagged to be worn by a specific gender. Having said that, there’s a common understanding that masculine fragrances favour a heavier overall feel. That’s totally fine, except in cases where humidity levels already weigh one down.
There’s a reason why warm-profile fragrances are typically worn in the colder months of the year. The rich and sometimes intense notes of warmer fragrances may be great for a lingering sillage, but in humid conditions, they’re often overpowering. Couple that with incessant sweating, and you’ve got yourself quite an uncomfortable combination.
Green fragrances are one of the more underrated scent profiles, especially in the men’s fragrance space. Green sits somewhere in between floral and aqua scent profiles. They’re meant to capture the feeling of being in the outdoors with natural notes of grass as well as the sharp freshness of cucumber-esque notes. An inherent lightness lies in the base notes exuding a typically subtle scent, but green formulations can be mixed with more full-bodied accords to create quite a well-balanced fragrance.
Consider a green fragrance like a much needed spritz of cool mist in the summer heat—inviting and thoroughly refreshing.
Because the great outdoors, in essence, comprise of a myriad of scents, it’s not exactly right to say that green fragrances have little aromatic impact. Take Guerlain’s Herbes Troublantes for example. The first whiff is immediately light and refreshing, brought about by essences of thyme, mint and rosemary. It then settles to a powdery body, but only just a tinge.
The same can be said of Jardin à Cythère by Hermès. Inspired by the Greek island of Kythira, the fragrance is a sublime combination of grasses and olive wood that is tied together with fresh pistachio. There’s a slight warmth that comes through but like a breath of fresh air, Jardin à Cythère gives off an overall feeling of brightness.
Citrus notes help to elevate both Acqua di Parma’s Fico di Amalfi and Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Media. While Italian lemon gives the former a distinct lemony accent, the latter gets its citrus inflections thanks to a verbena accord that heightens the citrusy aspects of verbena leaves. Both fragrances pack quite a punch at the start before smoothing out to a clean and natural finish.
For something slightly on the floral side, opt for Highgrove Bouquet by Penhaligon’s. Its deceptive in the sense that one wouldn’t probably expect a dose of sweet floral to cut through. Yet at the same time, it’s wonderfully light and airy.
If you’re hesitant about leaving behind the musk, there are a number of green fragrances that have been teamed up with musky accords. Start off with Creed’s Green Irish Tweed—one of the house’s best-selling fragrances—consisting of a familiar sandalwood base. It’s in the inclusion of Egyptian geranium, lavender, violet as well as bergamot that tips the fragrance to the green side of things.
Chanel’s Coco Noir bridge the olfactory space between amber and green quite beautifully. It’s an overall musky scent but is somewhat muted by the presence of bergamot and geranium rose leaf. And yes, it’s categorically a women’s fragrance but who could even tell?
Probably the most musky of the lot in this edit—at least in the initial whiff—Aesop’s Erémia remains vibrant and fresh. The top notes are mostly citrus-heavy with yuzu and grapefruit, and then balanced with bergamot. Its middle goes full green with green tea and mimosa, but it’s in the base that the green profile is further enhanced with galbanum. To tie it all down, patchouli affords Erèmia that distinct musky scent you’d easily be drawn to.
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Styling: Justin Neo
