Editor’s picks: The best French perfumes to add to your vanity

When it comes to perfumery, the French really do know their game. Their love affair with fragrance goes all the way back to the 16th century, when Catherine de’ Medici brought Italian perfumers to the French court and scented gloves became THE thing. Soon, the flower fields of Grasse were supplying the raw materials, Versailles was turning perfume into an art of aristocratic living, and historic houses such as Guerlain, Houbigant and, eventually, Chanel helped put French fragrance on the global map. Centuries later, that savoir-faire is going stronger than ever.

And India’s relationship with French perfumery? A love story of its own. So, in the spirit of très chic olfactory indulgence, I’ve rounded up some of my absolute favourite French fragrance picks. Read on.

Chanel N°5

You can’t go wrong with the classics. Chanel N°5 has been a staple in my fragrance wardrobe for a few years now, and it’s anything but your predictable floral. It opens with bright citrus before unfolding into a bouquet of May rose and jasmine, with aldehydes lending it that powdery and sparkling character. A smooth touch of vanilla rounds it off with a warm, sensual finish and brings its mysterious character.

Guerlain Shalimar 

Guerlain’s Shalimar arrives with an entire love story in tow. It was created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain and takes its name from the Shalimar Gardens, drawing from one of history’s most enduring romances. On the skin, Shalimar is warm, sensual and old-school in the best possible way. Bergamot lends it a sparkling opening, while iris, jasmine and rose bring a powdery floral touch. The real magic, however, lies in its generous vanilla, tonka bean and balsamic notes which leave behind an enveloping trail. It’s a great pick to wear on a first date (or the 50th), and the story behind it makes it all the more special.

Diptyque Orpheon 

You can’t really ask me to pick just one favourite from Diptyque, but Orphéon is the child that gets a little more love than the rest. Inspired by a legendary jazz bar in Paris where Diptyque’s founders would gather in the 1960s, this fragrance feels like a night out in a bottle. It’s a beautiful concoction of the warmth of tonka bean, woody cedar, a lively hit of juniper berry and soft jasmine. It’s woody, nostalgic, and stays on for longer than your situationship.

Miss Dior Parfum 

I don’t think I’ve met anyone who’s not in love with this pretty pink bottle. Created by Dior’s Perfume Creation Director Francis Kurkdjian, it opens with sparkling mandarin before giving way to a fruity take on star jasmine, with hints of strawberry, peach and apricot. The real surprise, though, is its woody, ambery finish, with patchouli and cedarwood lending it a little more depth. It’s feminine, but certainly not shy. 

J’adore Eau de Parfum

Another pick from Dior is J’adore, which is a blend of sunny ylang-ylang, velvety Damascus rose and two varieties of jasmine. Add its iconic amphora-shaped bottle, and you have a fragrance that looks just as good on your vanity as it smells on your skin.

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium 

YSL’s Black Opium is the olfactory equivalent of slipping into an LBD, putting on a red lipstick and deciding that one more drink in that dimly lit bar won’t hurt. It’s built around a deliciously addictive coffee accord, softened by white florals and wrapped in warm, sensual vanilla. And the contrast here is rather addictive – the bitterness of coffee against the creamy sweetness of vanilla. 

Lancome Idole

I’d admit I was pretty late to discovering Idole, but I’ve been using it almost every single day ever since I did. It opens with a familiar touch – fresh roses, a hint of jasmine and a soft, clean musk that makes you smell like you’ve got your life together. It opens with juicy pear, bergamot and a touch of pink pepper before settling into a floral heart and a warm, musky-vanilla base. It doesn’t feel too strong, and could be worn at home, a brunch with girlfriends, a date, or anywhere you like to.

You may also read: The Indian roots of French Perfumery