With Marilyn Monroe famously eschewing sleepwear for Chanel No. 5, it’s safe to say perfume is a beloved part of many a beauty routine. And while a new fragrance reaches the market weekly, only a select few have stood the test of time - remaining classic favourites generation after generation. BD highlights a handful of those timeless scents below:
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP
Viktor & Rolf are a design duo renowned for their elaborate attire - a mantra that’s been followed through in the brand’s fragrance offerings. 2005’s Flowerbomb is an opulent concoction of botanicals - the self-proclaimed ‘floral explosion’ combines freesia, sambac jasmine, centifolia rose, and osmanthus with musk and patchouli.
A huge hit in the late ‘90s/early 2000s teen market, Tommy Girl was the first step into fragrance for millions of women around the world. Master perfumer Calice Becker’s first solo fragrance, Tommy Girl, was inspired by a garden in full bloom. Black tea, camellia, apple blossom, jasmine, and sandalwood all feature.
Paco Rabanne 1 Million
Designer Paco Rabanne is particularly fond of gold, saying: “In all civilizations and religions, gold has always managed to seduce people.” It’s a shade that inspired the creation of fruity and exotic male scent 1 million, which features notes of mandarin, rose, cinnamon, leather, tonka beans, and patchouli. The packaging is as memorable as the scent itself - housed in a striking gold body and box.
As its name suggests, Vera Wang Princess is a particularly girlish concoction of fruit and flowers. The fragrance blends apples, water lily, apricot and mandarin, with Tahitian tiare, tuberose, and dark chocolate. The sweet scent is presented in a heart-shaped crystal bottle, complete with a crown and shades of purple and pink.
Calvin Klein Euphoria
An oriental offering from the Calvin Klein empire is Euphoria. Fruits and florals intertwine in the feminine scent, with pomegranate and persimmon sitting alongside black orchid, amber, lotus blossom, and mahogany wood. The scent has been one of the best-sellers for the brand with various incarnations for men, as well as younger generations, introduced over the years.
Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Eau de Parfum is a floral, spicy fragrance which contains an aura of yellow flowers and woody notes. The sunny scent opens with notes of yellow freesia and golden carnation before revealing a heart of osmanthus. The lingering scent of musk and precious woods then leaves a sensual finish.
Elizabeth Arden
From a brand founded in the Big Apple, 5th Avenue Eau de Parfum is New York’s Upper East Side in a nutshell, capturing its sophistication, luxury, style, and rapid energy. The fragrance marries linden blossom with mandarin, bergamot, ylang ylang, and jasmine peach, weighing it down with clove, nutmeg, Tibetan musk, and sandalwood.
Giorgio
‘80s favourite Giorgio Beverly Hills is a product of an era of lavish luxury. The scent was designed by Bob Aliano who merged sandalwood, musk, patchouli and vanilla with orange blossom, peach, apricot and bergamot. Considered a symbol of opulence, the perfume was famously banned from restaurants as a result of its heady scent.
Daisy EDT
The expression ‘fresh as a daisy’ springs to mind with Marc Jacobs’ Daisy perfume, which the brand hopes captures ‘youthful sophistication’. The dreamy scent features top notes of strawberry, violet and grapefruit, merged with a base of musk, vanilla and white woods, and topped with gardenia and jasmine.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier carved a reputation as l'enfant terrible of the fashion set. Known for his love of traditional corsetry, Gaultier’s perfume range continues the designer’s preference for the sensual via lingerie-adorned hourglass bottles. Classique is the brand’s original fragrance - a playful floral that blends bergamot, rose, star anise, carnation, orchid, musk, and amber wood.
