Perfume is as much part of an outfit as any other element.
Finding the scent that is going to be your soulmate can take years, a ton of research, and a lot of trial-and-error. This is where the classics come in – after all, they’re classics for a reason. From timeless florals to innovative gourmands, these are some of the most iconic luxury fragrances, crafted by legendary perfumers and housed in bottles just as iconic as the scents themselves.
These scents stand the test of time, remaining as relevant today as the day they launched.
Chanel No. 5 | Chanel | 1921
The OG. The first abstract fragrance with aldehydes, launched by Coco Chanel and crafted by Ernest Beaux. Famously worn by Marilyn Monroe. It redefined luxury and modernity in scent.
Scent profile: Powdery, floral-aldehydic, soft woods.
Shalimar | Guerlain | 1925
Inspired by the royal love story of Mughal rulers Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, and named after the Shalimar Gardens, this scent is bold and sensual, and still wildly elegant.
Scent profile: Vanilla, bergamot, incense, iris, tonka.
L’Heure Bleue | Guerlain | 1912
A melancholic masterpiece, often described as the scent of twilight. Romantic, nostalgic, with powdery florals and spice.
Scent profile: Powdery, floral, violet, heliotrope, anise.
Miss Dior | Christian Dior | 1947
Dior’s first fragrance, launched with his New Look collection post-WWII. Feminine yet green and bold.
Scent profile: Clary sage, galbanum, gardenia, leather.
Santal 33 | Le Labo | 2011
Originally developed as a candle, its smoky, creamy sandalwood profile was so intoxicating that customers demanded it as a personal scent.
Scent profile: Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, violet, leather, iris, amber.
Opium | Yves Saint Laurent | 1977
Provocative and sensual, this scent caused a huge scandal when it launched, which only added to its allure and popularity. YSL has, since, reformulated it into several different iterations.
Scent profile: Mandarin orange, clove, lily of the valley, cinnamon, cedarwood, amber.
Portrait of a Lady | Frédéric Malle | 2010
Widely recognized as Frédéric Malle’s signature feminine scent, and composed by legendary perfumier, Dominique Ropi, this perfume is baroque opulence in a bottle.
Scent profile: Turkish rose, raspberry, clove, cinnamon, patchouli, and musk
Angel | Mugler | 1992
Created by Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin, Angel was the first gourmand fragrance in perfume history, introducing edible notes like chocolate, caramel, and cotton candy into luxury fragrance.
Scent profile: Bergamot, red berries, praline, caramel, chocolate, vanilla.
