Update your fragrance according to the Chinese zodiac Let the stars guide you to your new signature scent

Good-tempered and honest, the Pig doesn’t often vie for the spotlight, but this year it’s her turn to shine. Often serious and a lover of justice, the Pig will love a clean, no-nonsense scent built around a strong concept, such as Sandoval’s Peace Aromatic Concentrate, a positive and woody smell with a heart of palo santo that brings calm and joy to all in its immediate presence. The scent is suited for both skin application and scenting a room.

The rat’s lucky flowers are lilies and African violets, but the innovative and witty Rat won’t be content with a run-of-the-mill concoction. Serge Luten’s La Vierge de Fer – which translates to “the Iron Maiden” – is anything but that. A blend that melds sweetness with vivacity, it marries lily with pear and sandalwood for a scent that’s fresh and feisty.

Diligent and strong, the Ox is generally straightforward and no-nonsense, so she’ll need a fragrance that’s similarly practical – but that doesn’t mean dull. With tulip and peach blossom as her lucky flowers, it might seem like finding a sophisticated scent to match isn’t so easy, but the hard work will pay off when she discovers Byredo’s La Tulipe, a fresh and clean ode to the springtime flower, whose rebirth signifies the earth is ready to bloom again.

Bravery and loyalty are two tenets you’ll find in most Tigers’ personalities, so once she finds her signature scent, there’s little chance she’ll move from it. But if she’s going to stick with it for a while, it’s got to be bold and stand the test of time.Gucci’s Eyes of The Tiger Eau de Parfum lures you in with its warm amber heart, wrapping you in dark notes of vanilla for an evocative fragrance.

Gentle, thoughtful and considerate, the Rabbit suits Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Universalis; a clean and universally beloved fragrance. While faraway lands and exotic dreams are the inspiration behind many scents, Aqua Universalis instead offers an elegant spin on the cottony feel of bed linens that never feels basic, providing an avant-garde interpretation of the everyday.

The king of creatures is dignified and honourable, and there are few maisons better suited to the Dragon than the house of Hermès. A bottle of 24 Faubourg is a lovely option – simultaneously classic and confident, sunny and mysterious, timeless and contemporary; this fragrance features notes of white flowers, iris, woods and vanilla.

Filled with vitality and strength, the Snake can carry a bold scent. There’s nothing shrinking about a Tom Ford fragrance – especially those built from Snake’s lucky flower, orchid. Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid, a spin on the original Black Orchid, is just that: intense and glamorous yet warm and inviting.

Outgoing and enthusiastic, the Horse is an active type who gets along with everyone. The lucky flowers for this sign are calla lily, jasmine and marigold, which suit her sunny, optimistic personality. Jo Malone’s uplifting Jasmine Sambac and Marigold Cologne Intense is a perfect combination of bright florals and enduring sophistication.

The Sheep is gentle and open-minded, but that doesn’t mean her fragrance is going to blend into the background. Aesop’s Tacit may have a moniker that sounds low-key, but with a blend of fresh green and fruity Mediterranean notes, this crowd-pleaser has an undeniable impact.

The quick-witted Monkey maiden likes to march to her own beat and has her own ideas. Here’s one idea we know she’ll approve: Iiuvo’s Soigné, a masculine scent with notes of cyclamen, nutmeg, patchouli and musk, was created for a person with swagger, confidence and style. Or, in other words, a Monkey.

The confident and persistent Rooster wants her perfume to precede her arrival, so don’t choose anything too gentle or delicate. The spicy and animalistic Carnal Flower by Frédéric Malle was designed by master French perfumer Dominique Ropion to be an unusual concoction, with notes like watermelon, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang and white musk.

Honest, friendly and intensely loyal, the Dog claims rose as one of its lucky flowers, meaning countless scent formulations would suit. But Acqua di Parma’s Rosa Nobile truly celebrates this queen of flowers, pairing hand-picked centifolia rose buds with Sicilian mandarin and Calabrian bergamot for an Italian twist.