“No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory,” said the inimitable Coco Chanel of the power of perfume. It’s true. Perfume can inexplicably reveal someone’s persona, or even tell the world the traits you wish to possess, be that a luxury aroma that lends an air of sophistication or a juicy gourmand that feels youthful and fresh.
“Perfume is such a powerful emotional tool as it’s tied to memory, identity, and to how we want to be perceived. In uncertain times, people may gravitate toward fragrances that feel grounding, sophisticated, and expressive,” explains Natalie Guselli, head of beauty at Liberty. It’s one among a number of reasons why “expensive-smelling” scents are gaining popularity.
“They communicate confidence and presence, but they also offer comfort, because their richness and structure feel dependable. Ultimately, I think this trend has taken hold because people want their perfume to speak for them in a more assured, emotional, and lasting way,” notes Guselli.
These scents will often use refined or unique ingredients and higher concentrations to create depth, longevity, and presence. As Guselli explains, they often feature raw materials like orris or rose essential oil, which add to their allure.
Whatever the aroma, it comes down to the quality of the scent, the sillage, and drydown. Ahead, the best expensive-smelling scents that get the seal of approval from the ELLE beauty team.
Since 1974, French fashion house Chloé has been crafting some of the world’s most recognizable floral fragrances. Those who have spent decades spritzing the original Eau de Perfume will be familiar with the brand’s signature love of delicate, fine-floral scents – though this latest iteration takes a slightly spicier, sexier turn.
Here, ambrox and warm cedar lend the fragrance a cozier throw, the sweetness of raspberry and rose still coming through. The result is beautifully balanced: sweet without becoming saccharine, powdery without feeling dated.
To celebrate 25 years of Coco Mademoiselle, Chanel has reinvented its iconic fragrance to bring us Crush Absolu. Stepping into a punchier, bubblier energy compared to its heady counterpart, Crush Absolu is sparkly, yet still carries similar notes of jasmine, rose, patchouli and vetiver. The point of difference lies in the lychee and grapefruit, giving it a fresher, juicier throw that feels lighter and more playful for everyday spritzing.
If you like your autumn fragrances sweet as opposed to smoky, Burberry’s new Goddess is the perfect transition. It’s a more grown-up take on traditionally syrupy vanilla, where the warmth of amber gives it a deeper and bolder base. It smells golden and decadent, but without veering into sickly-sweet territory. Born to be worn with a creamy cashmere jumper.
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Describing a scent on paper is less about listing its notes and more about telling a story about how it makes you feel. Simply through its name, Jazz Club does exactly that. It’s a low-lit room and an intimate atmosphere, with small tables and plush chairs pointing towards a lively stage. It’s a whisky in one hand with the woody aroma of cigars in the air—smoky, yet still warm and inviting.
Merit’s Retrospect keeps in tone with the brand’s ethos of minimalist and pared-back beauty—but, arguably, housed inside this bottle is something far from it. Retrospect is one of the most complex scents we’ve come across. Carrying 30% fragrance oil, the extrait is bold and open to so many interpretations. It opens bright and sweet, with notes of bergamot and pear, before settling into vanilla and musk. It adapts to your mood, outfit and occasion, and somehow smells a little different every time you wear it.
If you enjoy the freshness of a floral but want something that feels more grounded and green for autumn, Aesop’s Aurner deserves a spot on your vanity. It’s more herbaceous than the traditional floral variety: it opens green and earthy, yet still has a sweet lift from cardamom and pink pepper, before settling on the skin with sandalwood. It’s a fresh scent, but the woody base gives it enough warmth to leave you wanting to spritz at every opportunity.
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Both cozy and sophisticated, Beauty Pie’s addictive scent has become a cult mainstay, and it’s easy to see why. The creamy blend of sandalwood, musk and vanilla is juxtaposed with a fresh hit of lavender and cardamom. The trail left behind is both musky, spicy and inviting, and the reason for why you'll be flooded with compliments upon the first spritz.
Coconut water might call to mind a more saccharine base note, but Byredo’s Alto Astral is anything but sickly. An elevated skin scent, the clean aroma comes to life with floral jasmine, smoky incense, and milky musks as its initial undertones. If you veer more towards musks and prefer a minimalist yet elegant day perfume, this one’s for you.
Phlur became a viral sensation after the release of Missing Person, a perfume that somehow strikes the balance of being instantly recognizable yet completely unique on every wearer. This fragrance mist hits the same mark; with cashmere as its key ingredient, it lends an expensive feel from the offset, combined with notes of warming vanilla and creamy sandalwood. The dry down for a mist is impressive too.
A perfume I wear year-round, for day and evening, no matter the occasion: no scent has guaranteed as many compliments as Le Labo's Santal 33. I get stopped in the street on a weekly basis, and while iterations claim to replicate the finish, I’m, convinced that nothing can mimic the warm, woody, and slightly spicy perfume.
There are classic floral perfumes and then there's Diptyque’s unique interpretation, which fuses delicate Ambrette seed, fresh mandarin and powdery iris—an ingredient knowns for its intricate trail. Think of this as a more elevated take on a skin scent that lends itself as well to the summer months as it does peak-winter.
Victoria Beckham concocted this perfume on a trip to Paris; for the business mogul it conjures the feeling of being in a Parisian hotel and the romance with which the City of Lights is synonymous. And that's exactly it: with smoky florals, warm woods and spiced fruit, a spritz of this perfume feels instantly luxurious.