I’ve always thought fragrance should be chosen the same way you choose clothes: for where you’re going and what kind of impression you want to leave. The perfume you wear to the office doesn’t have to be the same one you put on for a Friday night.
And you don’t need to spend C$250 to build a useful rotation. Some of the most interesting affordable bottles right now come from houses such as Lattafa, Afnan and Rasasi.
These are five different fragrances for five different situations. Not five variations of the same sweet scent.
Prices are approximate Canadian prices for 100 ml Eau de Parfum bottles observed in October 2026, before tax and shipping. Retail prices and availability change.
1. Lattafa Fakhar Black — For Everyday Wear
EVERYDAY · FRESH AROMATIC · AROUND C$50
If you’re only going to own one fragrance, I’d start with something you can wear without planning your entire day around it. Fakhar Black makes sense here. It opens with apple, bergamot and ginger, then settles into lavender, aromatic herbs and a woody, slightly sweet base.
This isn’t an old-fashioned barbershop scent. It feels modern and clean. Think a polo shirt, jeans, a crisp white shirt or an ordinary day at work. You don’t have to dress up for it.
The downside? It isn’t especially unusual. If you’re after something nobody else smells like, this probably won’t be it. But for everyday use, being easy to wear is a strength.
Key notes: Apple · Bergamot · Ginger · Lavender · Cedar
2. Lattafa Liam Grey — For the Office
OFFICE · SPICED TEA & WOODS · AROUND C$50
I don’t think an office fragrance needs to announce itself before you enter the room. Liam Grey takes a quieter approach. Black tea, fig and cardamom give it a slightly unusual opening; iris, sandalwood and vanilla make the dry-down smooth and warm.
I like the idea of this with an Oxford shirt, knitwear or a navy jacket. It has more character than the typical sharp, blue, shower-fresh fragrance without becoming a heavy night-time scent.
One thing to know: this is a warm, creamy fragrance, not a crisp citrus cologne. In a small office, I’d keep the sprays light. And although it fits beautifully in a men’s wardrobe, it’s sold as a unisex perfume.
Key notes: Cardamom · Fig · Black Tea · Iris · Sandalwood
3. Afnan 9PM — For Date Night
DATE NIGHT · SWEET & SPICY · AROUND C$59
9PM has a very different personality from Liam Grey. It’s fruity, sweet and confident. The apple-and-cinnamon opening is lively, and the vanilla and tonka in the base give it that warm evening character.
With a dark shirt, fitted jacket or even a simple black T-shirt, this is the sort of fragrance I’d reserve for dinner, drinks or a date. It’s more playful than formal. If your taste runs toward very dry, traditional masculine fragrances, the sweetness might not be for you.
I wouldn’t spray it heavily before sitting across a small dinner table. A date should remember the conversation too.
Key notes: Apple · Cinnamon · Lavender · Vanilla · Tonka
4. Rasasi Hawas for Him — For Summer
SUMMER · FRUITY AQUATIC · AROUND C$68
When the weather gets warm, I want something brighter. Hawas mixes apple, citrus and an aquatic feeling with a musky, ambery base. It’s fresh, but not flat or watery.
This is an easy match for a linen shirt, chinos, white sneakers or weekend clothes. I’d reach for it on a summer afternoon, travelling, or going out somewhere casual. It has enough sweetness to be noticed without feeling like a winter fragrance.
Don’t confuse ‘fresh’ with ‘impossible to overspray’. On a hot day, a little restraint still goes a long way. Also, buy from a seller you trust; popular bottles attract counterfeits.
Key notes: Apple · Lemon · Bergamot · Plum · Amber · Musk
5. Lattafa Khamrah — For Cold Evenings
AUTUMN & WINTER · SPICED GOURMAND · AROUND C$60
Now for something completely different. Khamrah isn’t trying to smell like a fresh shower. Cinnamon, dates, praline and vanilla make it rich, sweet and almost dessert-like.
To me, this belongs with colder evenings: a wool coat, a dark knit sweater, dinner somewhere warm, maybe a special occasion. I wouldn’t choose it for an August afternoon or a small office.
It’s marketed as unisex, and the sweetness is the point. Some people love that; others will find it too much. This is one I would definitely smell before buying a full bottle.
Key notes: Cinnamon · Dates · Praline · Vanilla · Tonka
Which one would I buy first?
If I wanted just one bottle to wear most days, I’d pick Fakhar Black. If I wore a shirt and jacket to work every day, I’d consider Liam Grey instead. 9PM is the more obvious evening choice, Hawas makes sense for summer, and Khamrah earns its place when the weather turns cold.
I wouldn’t buy all five just because they’re affordable. Smell them if you can, give them time on your skin, and choose the one that fits your actual life. Five bottles you don’t wear aren’t a bargain.
A note on this selection: wear suggestions reflect my taste and the fragrances’ scent profiles. Longevity, projection and how a perfume develops will vary by skin, climate and application.
