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Beauty December 27, 2018

These Are the Most Iconic Perfumes of All Time

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Yves Saint Laurent Opium

Following its 1977 debut, the controversially named fragrance, which initially received backlash for its name and suggestive ads, quickly went on to becoming a best selling perfume. Opium took the world by storm by marrying spicy, fruity florals with musky base notes, and is credited with sparking the market’s full-blown obsession with oriental scents.

Guerlain Shalimar

The first bottle of Shalimar was created by Jacques Guerlain in the same year that Chanel No.5 was released, 1921. As one of the most culturally referenced bottles of perfume—it was referenced in “Forty Shades of Green” by Johnny Cash and in “Madame George” by Van Morrison—the powdery, sweet fragrance is still preserved in its original formulation at the Osmothèque, the world’s largest scent archive.

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Chanel No.5

This iconic fragrance was created as Coco Chanel’s “gift to herself,” following the tragic loss of her lover and muse Arthur Capel, who died in a car crash. It was formulated by perfumer Ernest Beaux, who presented 10 different scents to the couturier. Chanel settled on her favorite number, five, a unique aldehyde based formulation, which hasn’t been changed since. A bottle of her signature fragrance is reportedly purchased every 30 seconds.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

After bursting onto the fragrance scene in 2005, Viktor & Rolf’s debut perfume Flowerbomb was an instant success and quickly became a cult favorite. Formulated by master perfumers Carlos Benaïm, Olivier Polge and Domitille Bertier, designer duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren smelled approximately 500 different scents before settling on the feminine fragrance that we all know and love today.

Dior Diorissimo

When it comes to lily of the valley perfumes, Diorissimo is arguably the most iconic. Formulated by French master perfumer Edmond Roudnitska, the feminine, floral fragrance was first introduced to the market in 1956. As an ode to Christian Dior’s favorite flower, it remains one of the most realistic reinterpretations of the sweetly-scented blossom.

Acqua di Parma Colonia

Founded in 1916, Acqua di Parma launched with Colonia, an Eau de Cologne intended to “scent the handkerchiefs of elegant men.” The perfume was an instant hit with both men and women, most notably iconic movie stars such as Ava Gardner and Audrey Hepburn. Today, the crisp citrus fragrance still has a checklist of faithful celebrity fans, including Kate Moss and Sharon Stone.

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Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel once famously proclaimed, “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” 95 years ago, the mold-breaking courtier created what is arguably still the most iconic fragrance today. Dubbed Chanel No.5 after her rumored lucky number, the scent was a dramatic departure from the florals of the 1920s, revolutionizing how scents were formulated and paving the way for an entire lineup of inimitable perfumes to follow. From Guerlain’s Shalimar to Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb, here are the six most iconic fragrances today.

Now Read: Henry Jacques Brings French Haute Parfumerie to the Middle East

Lead image: Conde Nast archives

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