A gift of fine perfume is the perfect present for many women., but with the enormous and bewildering choice out there, it can be difficult to know where to start.
LLM – Luxury Lifestyle Magazine beauty editor Lisa Curtiss has carefully selected some highly acclaimed but lesser-known fragrances that will be appreciated for the quality of their ingredients, staying power, and bewitching and memorable perfume.
Miller Harris Rose Silence Collection
A lovely gift for someone who adores romantic floral fragrances, the Rose Silence Collection evokes times in a beautiful country garden, rich with the scent of roses, on a glorious summer’s day. The Collection contains a 50ml eau de parfum and a 300ml body wash curated in a limited edition gift box, decorated with a bold abstract art print.
Price: £95 from Miller Harris
Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajád
A firm favourite, this delightful fragrance was developed in partnership with world-renowned perfumer Quentin Bisch. It’s long-lasting and incredibly feminine. The key notes are Rose Damascena absolute, vanilla absolute, leather, spearmint essential oil, cassis, ambrette seeds absolute and cinnamon – making it floral, without being cloying and over-sweet.
Price: EDP 50ml, £200 from Selfridges
Storie Veneziane by Valmont Zafferano 1
A striking spicy ‘floriental’, this unusually packaged fine fragrance is perfect for the woman who wants to stand out from the crowd. It was created in celebration of the first spice merchants, the Moors of Venice, and their age-old tradition of warmth and generosity. Notes of spicy saffron, delicately sweet orange blossom and the earthiness of agarwood and cedar give this fragrance a complex and beguiling air.
Price: EDP 100ml, £451 from La Maison Valmont
Parfums de Marley, Oriana Royal Essence
Incredibly feminine, warm and uplifting, Oriana is a wonderful example of a perfectly judged floral and fruity fragrance. Sparkling mandarin and bergamot join with airy orange blossom and sharp blackcurrant to be tempered with soft ambrette and musk. This perfume is the ideal choice for a woman embraces her femininity and adores a bright and happy fragrance which lasts well.
Price: EDP 75mls, £210 from Harvey Nichols
Le Couvent Porto Bello
This delightful fragrance is summertime in a bottle. Artfully combining zesty orange with green wood, incense and notes of spice, and using only the finest natural precious primary ingredients inspired by the travels of the botanist Louis Feuillée. It’s vegan too which makes it a perfect scented gift for loved ones who wish to only use vegan perfumes.
Price: EDP 50ml, £65 from Feel Unique
Creed Silver Mountain Water
Inspired by ice-clear mountain streams and the lung-clearing freshness of the Alpine air, this cool and clean fragrance evokes the wild beauty of the Swiss Alps. Notes include bright bergamot, mandarin, neroli and blackcurrant tempered with sandalwood and musk. This is the perfect fragrance for women who love their perfumes to be fresh and uplifting.
Price: EDP 100ml, £245 from Liberty London
Bon Parfumeur 002 and 101
This fine fragrance house creates a fantastic choice of contemporary Parisian perfumes. Our favourites include 101 for its romantic notes of sweet pea, rose and white cedar – perfect to wear for a lunch date with friends, and 002 with rich notes of jasmine, neroli and amber which is wonderful worn for a romantic dinner.
Price: 100ml, £74 from Bon Parfumeur
‘Les Absolus’ by Alex Simone Parfums Monte Carlo
Alex Simone is a high perfumery brand with a Neo-Retro spirit. Their range of high quality fine fragrances is inspired by the mythical elegance of the French Riviera and evokes warm summer evenings with the scent of jasmine and orange groves. All are wonderful but one of our favourites is En Terrasse Absolu for its beautiful blend of citrus and warm woods.
Price: Natural spray 100ml, 239 euros from Alex Simone
IKON 914
This distinctive bright fragrance opens with sparkling bergamot and lime and deepens with rich oud and golden saffron at its heart. It’s finished with a cloud of soft powdery musk, woods and green moss. Elegant, refined and infinitely wearable.
Price: EDP 100ml, £60 from The Fragrance Shop
The Organic Pharmacy Eau de Parfum Tuberose
A firm favourite, this delicate, sparkling, fresh, floral fragrance is made with only the best natural ingredients and is a delight to wear all year round. As the name suggests, heady, rich tuberose is the star, tempered beautifully with rose and jasmine and brightened with the zingy green notes of rosewood.
Price: EDP 100ml, £150 from The Organic Pharmacy
Elie Saab Le Parfum Lumière
Inspired by Mediterranean sun rays, this lovely perfume opens with sun-kissed orange blossom, white florals and sparking mandarin before warming with rich notes of Indian jasmine absolute, ylang-ylang, velvety ambers and honeyed rose.
Price: EDP 90ml, £90 from Harrods
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Orchid Leather
A daringly botanical and soft leather and spice fragrance that’s refreshingly different and instantly memorable. Ambery woody notes of incense, vetiver and patchouli weave an addictive trail. It’s long lasting and perfect for the woman who loves to be noticed.
Price: EDP 75ml, £130 from John Lewis
Givenchy L’Interdit
A lovely, long lasting, floral oriental fragrance perfect for wearing on winter evenings and festive celebrations. Notes of black pepper and tuberose are beautifully balanced with orange blossom, vetiver, patchouli and Madagascan vanilla. A scented delight.
Price: EDP Intense 50ml, £79.50 from Beauty Base
Miller Harris Scherzo Collection
The Scherzo Collection is a wonderfully scented gift of fruits, flowers and shimmering sunshine. The heady glamour of 1930s French Riviera can be found recreated in this duo of 50ml eau de parfum and a 300ml body wash curated in a pretty limited edition gift box. The eau de parfum is truly wonderful – intense, vibrant and full of colour, depth and a hint of sweetness. Key notes are of rose, peony and yellow narcissus, deepened with earthy patchouli and a sprinkling of sugar.
Price: £105 from Miller Harris
