20 luxe couture fragrances that are worth every penny they command, and as niche as they get
By Anjan Sachar
A fragrance qualifies as a couture, niche scent when it ticks four boxes. It’s limited edition, or not readily available to procure at all times; it features rare and exotic ingredients; the bottle has been given as much thought and importance as the juice; and it’s not something you smell on just anyone around you. These scents make a statement before you even walk through the door, carrying a sense of the ‘If you know, you know’ badge with them. We’re revealing 20 such blends—ones that are worth the investment, and the compliments that come pouring in after.
Kilian Paris Angels’ Share Eau de Parfum
A bottle that’s designed to look like a glass of cognac and a scent that smells like the spirit (with cinnamon, tonka bean and praline), this is a tribute to the owner, Kilian Hennessy’s family legacy in cognac-making. Expect to smell like a night filled with multiple vices.
Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum
This fresh, fruity and yet woody fragrance has had a grip on men around the world, and the women that said men love. If it’s good enough for David Beckham, it’s good enough for us.
Alexandre J Imperial Peacock Eau de Parfum
Intricate gold detailing in the form of a peacock on the bottle, packaged in silk and leather—this one is old-world charm in a scent. Expect gourmand notes of almonds, tonka bean, cinnamon and musk.
Pantheon Roma A Extrait de Parfum
This one is a scent that keeps on giving—at first, you’ll smell a subtle sweetness thanks to notes of coconut and mango balanced by pink pepper. It quickly turns into a more powdery scent featuring orchids and Arabian jasmine, and continues to linger on you with lasting notes of patchouli, amber and musk.
Thameen Regent Leather Extrait de Parfum
Created as part of a collaboration with The Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club, it’s meant to evoke the same feeling of sitting in a luxury vehicle. Think opening notes of Sicilian lemon, blooming into jasmine and saffron with lasting base notes of vanilla, leather and cedarwood.
Amouage Epic Woman Eau de Parfum
A brand that evokes Omani royalty through and through—from the logo made to appear like the royal seal to the women’s perfume bottle tops that are reminiscent of the dome of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. If you lean towards spicier scents, give this a shot.
Goutal Nuit Et Confidences Eau de Parfum
Once you make it past the allure of the stunning blue bottle with the statement-making bauble, you’ll find a Madagascar vanilla-forward scent, with fresh Italian bergamot and mandarin to take it from day to perfect-for-the-night.
Roja Parfums Haute Luxe Parfum
Would you believe it if we told you that the gold flakes in this fragrance are the least expensive ingredient used? With only 500 bottles created every year, and a blend of some of the world’s finest jasmine, rose, leather, ginger and vanilla, it’s definitely worth a spot on your shelf.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Did you know this iconic fragrance was created in collaboration with Baccarat to celebrate the luxe crystal brand’s 250th birthday? Today, it’s synonymous with simply smelling “rich”—it’s the most common adjective that wearers use for it. It’s a woody, floral fragrance with a hint of saffron that lends a leather-like finish to it.
Memo Paris Zante Eau de Parfum
Every fragrance by the brand is a literal memo, by the founders, to the location that served as their inspiration. Let Zante transport you to the Greek islands with fresh notes of citrusy mandarin, neroli and rosemary.
Amaffi Power For Women Eau de Parfum
Oud, sandalwood and musk come together in this heady, luxe fragrance made for a woman who exudes confidence. The onyx orb that the bottle is encased in is inlaid with a casual 2,026 Swarovski crystals—as good as a piece of art on your shelf.
Clive Christian Perfume VIII Rococo Magnolia Parfum
Does the bottle top look familiar? That’s because this fragrance house is the only one to have received the green light to use Queen Victoria’s crown on their bottles. If you enjoy floral fragrances with a deeper finish, this juice with magnolia at its heart will have you hooked.
Marc-Antoine Barrois Ganymede Extrait de Parfum
One of the most loved scents from the niche perfume house, it combines powerful and distinctive ingredients like herbaceous immortal flowers, spicy, heady notes of incense, myrrh and leather, and a mildly spicy but woody molecule called akigalawood for a fragrance that’s a head turner.
Boadicea Blue Sapphire
This one’s the perfect oud for those who enjoy the ingredient but in hidden doses—not right on the nose, pun intended. Vibrant orange and lemon meet fresh florals like rose and jasmine, a hint of cardamom and base notes of oud, amber and patchouli. P.S. It was created in honour of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 65th wedding anniversary.
The Merchant Of Venice Arabesque Eau de Parfum Concentrée
Created by the Vidal family of Venice—pioneers in perfume-making—each scent is a nod to the textile and spice trade that the city is known for. This one features intense notes like tobacco leaves, cinnamon, plum, cedarwood and musk. Don’t miss the bookcase-style box it is housed in, which is adorned with maps of historic trade routes.
DS & Durga Radio Bombay
As the name suggests, this fragrance is inspired by Bombay, the suburb of Bandra, specifically. Notes like copper, sandalwood, iris and coconut musk are meant to evoke a sense of being in the tiny stores around Bandra’s bylanes, with the city’s heat adding to the fragrant mix. A nostalgia hit of quintessential Bombay, if you will.
Assoluto Tyl Extrait de Parfum
This eye-catching gold bottle is filled with a musk-forward juice with perfectly balanced, citrusy, floral and sweet notes. A scent that both men and women will love.
Xerjoff Alexandria II Eau de Parfum
Precious notes of lavender, rosewood, cinnamon, rose and Laotian oud bring this woody, amber fragrance to life. This potent fragrance promises to last on you from a.m. to p.m.
Initio Narcotic Delight Eau de Parfum
It may be a relatively new fragrance, but there’s no doubting its intoxicating prowess. Expect a sinful concoction of dark cherry, vanilla, pink pepper, cognac and tobacco; not for the faint-hearted.
Fragrance Du Bois Parisian Oud Eau de Parfum
This is a brand made for oud connoisseurs—the fragrance house has their own oud plantations ensuring the highest level of purity for their blends. The Parisian variant incorporates floral notes loved by the French like rose essence, geranium and white jasmine, with cardamom and grapefruit and lasting notes of their beloved oud, and leather.