But there are other costs, too: “Everything from the formula and ingredients used to craft the composition, the cost to mold the bottle as well as the resources spent to create the story, brand positioning, copy and endless hours of creative design work,” explains Mauro. However, keep in mind that this is possibly the most famous perfume of all time, so if you like being the only person wearing a scent, Chanel No°5 may not be for you.

If you’re buying perfume as a gift, remember that you’re not selecting a scent based on what you like—it needs to be something they like, and what smells good to you might not speak to them. Second-best: Eau de Parfum (EDP) has 15-20% perfume oils and should last between four to five hours, making it popular for evening fragrances. But don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to just one scent, says Mauro. “Be open to expanding your fragrance wardrobe to include a range of fragrance families,” he recommends. “Experiment with your fragrances and create your own signature combination.”This perfume from La Perla definitely deserves more attention—inspired by a sultry slow dance, it’s as sexy as the brand’s lingerie (and if you think sustainability is sexy, you’ll love the fact that you can buy huge refills to decant into the sensual glass bottle). The nose behind this scent, Dominique Ropion, is a master of the craft, and that’s clear upon first sniff. With tuberose leading the charge, the fragrance boasts a positively elegant mix of white florals as well as unexpected notes of melon, coconut, coconut, and eucalyptus, all resting on a base of musk. It projects and wears beautifully, with no need for spritzes throughout the day. There are a lot of factors that go into the price of a perfume, including its strength, performance, and structure, but the raw materials are the largest determinant in what can cause a fragrance to err on the costly side. In some cases, it’s the overall scent: “Some tonalities can be perceived as more prestigious than others by consumers,” says Monet. (For example, white florals may read as more luxe than fruity scents.) OK, I might be getting a little carried away but there’s no denying that this is an ultra-feminine and super classy fragrance. Si by Armani is sold as a Chypre fruity fragrance which isn’t something I’d normally go for being a floral and amber lover. Once you’ve made the investment in a luxury fragrance, you want to do everything you can to extend its longevity, both on your skin and in the bottle.

Journalist and perfume expert Chandler Burr once wrote in The New York Timesthat Fracas is “astonishing,” with “huge power and sillage.” That’s immediately clear to whoever has the privilege of wearing it: The perfume is remarkably sultry, striking, and can make anyone feel like a femme fatale. We tend to reserve it for special occasions like important meetings and big nights out, but that’s largely because we’re building up the courage to wear it more regularly. This perfume has real presence and is an absolute head-turner—one of those scents you’ll smell on the sophisticated tastemakers of high society walking down Fifth or Madison Avenues. It’s the maturity and audaciousness of this fragrance that makes it great, but be warned—that means it’s also not for the faint of heart. Wear this one with confidence and style. Eau de Parfum presents itself in an array of product formats beyond the traditional spray bottle. Roll-on applicators offer convenience, while solid perfumes provide a portable and tactile experience. EDP-infused body lotions and creams offer a subtler, all-encompassing scent experience that lingers on the skin. A Whiff of Time: Longevity and SillageMexican oakwood, which nods to the heritage of the brand, is the grounding element, supported by a generous dose of leather, which is enhanced by powdery iris, peach skin-like osmanthus, and earthy carrot skin. While these notes might imply a scent that skews sugarbomb, it’s actually anything but—the musks take this fragrance from being a standard gourmand to more of an amber scent. If you’re looking for a fragrance that’ll give you a cavity, this isn’t it, but if you want to smell chic and a little bit cheeky, give this one a sniff. That said, this perfume’s floral and citrus notes rest on a truly oceanic base of seawater and sand, which gives it an aroma reminiscent of old-school SPF for a nostalgic quality that we enjoy, but may not appeal to all. If you’re a beach bum, though, be sure to add this perfume to your fragrance wardrobe. We recommend wearing a new perfume on your wedding day that you can spritz on afterwards to remind yourself of the memories made—and this scent from Japanese brand Decorté is perfect for the job.

What We Don’t Love: Depending on your skin chemistry, you may not like how this scent wears on you. Notes of fresh citrus, salt air, and dune grass are grounded by the aroma of freshly-bloomed beach roses wafting from the shore. The briny notes are perfectly balanced by the fruity and floral ones, resulting in a scent that’s truly transportive. One spritz of this aromatic little number is almost enough to let you tell yourself you’re on a real vacation (even if you have no PTO in sight). What We Don’t Love: While the notes read as very sweet, a confection-loving gourmand aficionado may not think it smells that way. For such a light fragrance, it boasts an impressive lasting power, and you’ll catch a whiff of it whenever you move. We especially love giving our summer wardrobe an olfactory boost by spritzing it over our hair and onto our clothing, especially sunhats and linen beach coverups.As the top notes gradually dissipate, the heart notes take center stage. These heart notes, also known as middle notes, form the heart and soul of the fragrance, unfolding as the scent warms on the skin. Floral bouquets, delicate fruits, and nuanced spices often compose this layer, contributing depth and complexity to the fragrance narrative. The heart notes are what truly define the fragrance’s character, leaving a lasting impression on those who encounter it. Base Notes: A Lingering Legacy In the best possible way, this luxury fragrance smells like a well-loved, high-quality leather handbag that’s long been a staple of your wardrobe; similarly, this perfume is also bound to become a go-to in your routine. Remember that leathery scents tend to perform best in cooler weather as heat and humidity can make a perfume wear you, rather than the other way around. So, read on and discover the best luxury perfumes for women in our ultimate guide. From the best-smelling perfume of all time to iconic fragrances that have stood the test of time to more recent classics and cult favorites, we’re about to embark on a scent-sual journey. This unisex fragrance is an indulgence right off the shelf, from its beautiful gilded box and stunning turquoise bottle to the alluring juice inside. From the first spritz, you’ll observe how effervescent citrus notes give way to creamy white florals like neroli, orange blossom, and jasmine supported by a gentle, warm amber base, giving an overall effect of sun heating up citrus fields along the coast of Italy. Molto chic.

Often, extraits and eau de parfums will be pricier than other formats of fragrance as they use more raw materials. However, that doesn’t mean one is necessarily better than the other. To make it last longer, we recommend wearing it over body lotion—which you’ll be wearing on your wedding day anyway to boost your skin’s glow. Within the realm of Eau de Parfum, a symphony of fragrance notes unfolds, crafting a narrative that resonates with individual preferences and personalities. These notes can be broadly categorized into three distinct layers: top notes, heart notes, and base notes. Top Notes: A Captivating Prelude Though the whimsical perfume makes more sense when worn in summer, it’s light and airy, so we do enjoy wearing it all year round, whether that’s solo or layered with one of our other favorite fragrances. This helps boost its staying power, as its lighter weight can cause it to fade faster than some perfumes. What We Love: This legendary and massively popular fragrance should be in any white floral lovers’ rotation.Typically, though, it’s individual notes. Oud, found in Krigler Oud For Highness 75 Eau de Parfum, is very costly. “Oud is an ingredient that is extremely expensive because it comes from the agar tree, of which about two percent actually produce oud, therefore making it very expensive,” explains Gray. Interestingly enough, rose and jasmine are also pricey because it takes a great deal of flowers to produce just a small amount of essential oil for floral perfumes. Drawing the line between Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Parfum is a nuanced endeavor. Eau de Parfum, with its moderate concentration of aromatic oils (usually around 15-20%), strikes a balance between longevity and subtlety. Eau de Toilette, on the other hand, contains a lower concentration (typically 5-15%), making it lighter and more suitable for daily wear. Parfum, the pinnacle of fragrance potency, boasts the highest concentration (up to 40%), resulting in a luxurious and enduring aroma. Eau de Parfum Intense and Eau de Parfum Extreme: Elevating the Elegance Remember that perfume projects differently depending on who’s wearing it; while most people get creamy and almost animalic tuberose from Carnal Flower, some skin chemistry amplifies the camphor in the eucalyptus, which may not be your desired outcome. However, it’s that green aspect that makes this white floral more gender neutral than most. We’d recommend testing this one before committing to a full-sized bottle to make sure it’s a fit for you. Discover fresh freesia, heady rose, osmanthus, and Sambac jasmine, set on a sweet-and-spicy stage of patchouli and vanilla. Yes, Flowerbomb is luxuriously feminine and playful while winking to something a little more Dionysiac—daring and decisive, and oh-so-addictive. Perfume can really lift your mood and alter how you feel. If you’re heading on a night out, you will wear something sexy and daring, whereas, for a vacation, you might opt for a light, fresh fragrance. But what do you wear when you want to feel elegant?