A Guide to Famous French Perfumes

Any discussion in the world regarding perfumes would be partial without the inclusion of French Perfumes in it. Though it was not France which started the manufacturing of perfumes, some of the famous French perfume brands are regarded as some of the best in the world. The basic composition of perfumes comprises perfume oil, water and alcohol. 

Since ancient times, people have been making, buying, and wearing perfume. In France, perfume became popular during the Renaissance era when Catherine de Medicis started to popularize the use of perfume in the French court. Soon then after that, the country began making perfumes during the 17th century, dedicating their farmlands in Provence to the cultivation of flowers and herbs that might be made into perfumes of all varieties.

Today, that very same region in the south of France is still making perfumes and growing the ingredients. French Perfumes are one of the best souvenirs to buy in Paris and, with so many specialist perfume boutiques and historic perfume houses located in the city, it has never been easier to find iconic French fragrances. 

In this article, we review some of the most popular French perfumes and what makes them so special.

● Frédéric Malle

With having Four lavish boutiques in Paris, Frédéric Malle becomes something significantly hard to miss out on. Portrait of a Lady being a modern classic is one of the brand’s most famous scents. The fragrance seems to be a modern spin on traditional rose fragrances, with additional notes of patchouli, cinnamon, sandalwood and musk to create a strikingly evocative scent. 

● Guerlain 

Being  founded in 1828 by a company that was a family owned business, Guerlain is one of the oldest French parfumeries on our list. The company’s prime aiml is to create that one special scent for their customer, a perfume which you can call your signature scent. The principal ingredients that their perfumes are inspired by are included with rose, iris, bergamote, vanilla, and jasmine. Many of their perfumes come in ornate bottles that are inspired by the history of the brand, from the Belle Epoque to Art Nouveau, making these perfumes perfect for gift-giving. Guerlain’s Samsara is one among the house’s most famous fragrances. The powerful ylang-ylang perfume is widely praised in the perfume industry for its intoxicating notes of sandalwood, jasmine with ylang-ylang which, together with woody accords, make for an intriguing oriental scent.

● Serge Lutens

Serge Lutens is usually credited with inventing the concept of ‘niche perfume’, perfume created with a complex mix of scents to created with unique, avant-garde fragrances. Founded in the 1980s, Serge wanted to bring ‘authenticity’ back to perfume. Their first scents exploded into the market and were instantly popular. His creations are inspired by scents from his childhood and his many travels. These perfumes are unlike anything else on the market. His perfumes are rich fragrances with strong musk and amber notes that are bound to make an impression.

● Annick Goutal Paris

Another niche French perfume brand is Annick Goutal Paris. This perfume brand is defined by a desire to make intimate, personal scents that take inspiration from nature, poetry and music. Each fragrance seeks toinform a story through scent and evoke a unique history, culture, or memory for the wearer. Annick Goutal perfumes are also ecologically friendly, using minimal packaging and offering customers the ability to refill and reuse their original bottles repeatedly as many times as they wish. 

● Fragonard 

Fragonard maybe a third generation parfumerie founded in 1926 in Provence. All of their ingredients are sourced from the region and most of their products are made in France. It’s one among the most popular companies visited by travellers from overseas when they come to France and is still one of the most iconic French perfume brands out there. Fragonard perfumes are extremely good quality but very affordable, which is one of the reasons why they are so popular.  Note that Fragonard offers both traditional perfumes as well as “eau de toilettes”. Traditional perfumes are concentrated, often oil based fragrances that melt into the skin for a long-lasting wear. Traditional perfumes are usually more expensive than “Eaux de Toilettes”. Eau de toilettes are lighter fragrances that can be sprayed onto clothing and other fabrics for a more subtle scent.

● Diptyque

Diptyque is a modern luxury, niche perfume brand from Paris. Their bestselling scent is L’Ombre dans l’Eau which translates to The Shadow in the Water. This mysterious-sounding scent balances blackcurrant berries, orange flowers and rose buds with hints of twigs, leaves and earth for a sweet scent with a slightly acidic, fruity element. The perfume was created in 1983 and was marketed as an ‘avant-garde’ perfume that used non-traditional ingredients to create a unique, captivating scent. It’s a principle that is still behind the creation of all Diptyque fragrances.

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