Top 10 luxury fragrances for fall 2018

November 8, 2018

Fall is in full swing and, this season, I wanted to share some of my favourite luxury fragrances. Many of these were just recently released, while some arrived on the market earlier this year, but they are all perfect for cool weather and make an excellent gift too.

Here is the Top 10 (in no particular order), featuring both men’s and women’s fragrances!


1. Burberry: Burberry Her

This is one of the latest releases that made big news in 2018. Burberry Her focuses on the essence, bold attitude and adventurous spirit of a Londoner, and stars British supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne.

The new eau de parfum by Francis Kurkdjian features a vibrant, fruity and floral scent. Top notes focus on red and dark berries: think black currant, blueberry and raspberry. Heart notes are all about jasmine and violet, while base notes feature dry amber and musk. It’s a lovely and sensual combination of scents.

Interestingly, the new bottle is inspired by the archival design of Burberry’s first fragrance, Burberrys for Men, which was released back in 1981. Made from smooth curved glass, the bottle can be personalized with engraved initials on a gold charm around its neck. It is elegant, sophisticated and very sleek. The pink motif and see-through bottle add a sense of modern femininity to a very trendy design.

The 100 ml bottle retails at $142.

2. Burberry: Mr. Burberry Indigo

This fragrance was also created in collaboration with renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, and is an invigorating interpretation of Mr. Burberry. The navy bottle features an elegant hand-tied knot in English-woven gabardine on top. The concept of the bottle’s design centers around honouring the brand’s renowned navy trench coat. The weighted cap references horn-look buttons.

Mr. Burberry Indigo Eau de Toilette features citrus and woody notes, reminiscent of crisp air along the British coast. In addition, aromatic violet-leaf and spearmint oil invigorate notes of lemon and rosemary, while amber and oak moss add depth to this scent.

You’ll be able to personalize any 100 ml or 150 ml Mr. Burberry bottle with up to three initials through a monogramming service available on the company’s website and at select Burberry and wholesale stores.

The 100 ml bottle retails at $104.

3. Miu Miu: Fleur D’Argent, eau de parfum absolue

One of the most feminine and delicate scents, with an equally elegant bottle design, is the Miu Miu’s Fleur D’Argent. The latest brainchild of Miuccia Prada and perfumer Daniel Andrier, this is the first fragrance in the family to introduce a new top note.

Tuberose is a thicker, more mature white flower. The scent features a balanced composition of Musk Accord, and the Miu Miu signature undertone Akigalawood.

The bottle is a contrast of tradition and drama: clear glass matelassé is more modern than its sister scents, with a silver-painted interior that resembles a medallion in ice. The signature disk stopper is presented in pastel pink, which adds a nice touch of femininity to an otherwise minimalistic bottle design.

The 50 ml bottle retails for $115.

4. Gucci: Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori

One of my all-time favourite perfumes, Gucci Bloom, now has a new edition: Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori. The new fragrance still captures the essence of a blooming garden. Developed in creative collaboration with Alberto Morillas, the original Gucci Bloom scent is blended into a Chypre Floral version.

For this particular scent, notes of Rose and the Osmanthus flower are intensified in the original olfactory structure, featuring Jasmine, Rangoon Creeper and Tuberose at the heart of the fragrance. Overtly floral, the fragrance features a blend of Ginger and Rose in the top notes, and a soft, enigmatic finish in base notes of Patchouli, Musks and Osmanthus.

Embodying its more intense essence, the pattern of leaves, cherry branches and flowers is framed in black, and appears on both the box and the label on the bottle.

The 100 ml bottle retails for $168.

5. Lancôme: La vie est belle

Another favourite, not just this season but in general, is this fabulous fragrance from Lancôme. This is another excellent floral scent that features a balance of Iris, the stirring depth of Indonesian patchouli, and the accord of jasmine and orange blossom flowers. Top notes are the hearty pear and black currant.

The perfect gift for her, La vie est belle L’Eau de Parfum is carved with the iconic crystal smile that is to be shared with women as the ultimate act of happiness. It features a small bow tied on top of the bottle, making it look even more like a perfect present.

The 100 ml bottle retails for $150.

6. Elizabeth Arden: My Fifth Avenue

If Burberry celebrates London, then Elizabeth Arden always celebrates New York. This iconic brand has recently released its latest fragrance: My Fifth Avenue. The release is a celebration of a woman’s rightful ambition in the legacy of Ms. Arden. An ode to the City That Never Sleeps, and the dynamic woman who visits or calls it home, this fragrance celebrates the unique passion generated in the Big Apple.

The sparkling fresh floral scent of My Fifth Avenue evokes the energy of the most famous street in the world. The top notes feature a rich lemon, mandarin, floral ozone and violet leaves, while the middle notes focus on lotus flower and blooming jasmine. The dry notes of a trio of musks, amber woods and orris accord with cedarwood oil nicely complete this fragrance.

The elegant and elongated bottle is inspired by the skyscrapers of Fifth Avenue, featuring sleek lines and golden touches that beautifully reflect the light.

The 100 ml bottle retails at $82.

7. YSL: Mon Paris Couture

The sexiest perfume on my list goes to YSL’s Mon Paris Couture. YSL Beauté recently introduced a third addition to its Mon Paris family and this eau de parfum fragrance is not to be missed. I’ve mentioned other fragrances above that celebrate different cities, and this one celebrates the home of fashion and love, the one-and-only—Paris.

Mon Paris Couture is the brainchild of the Mon Paris trilogy originators: Dora Baghriche, Olivier Cresp and Harry Fremont. The fragrance opens with the familiar hit of bergamot, grapefruit and raspberry, but also features a soft, watery freshness due to its lychee and mandarin notes. The key notes centre on the heady datura flower, white peony and orange flower that are combined with a rose infusion, captured from an awakening rosebud. Also strongly present is the Patchouli from Guatemala, which is combined with ambrox and white musk. The luxurious notes of cashmeran coupled with a unique accord of cream, add to the sense of couture within the perfume.

The bottle of the fragrance is just as sensual. It is soft, rounded and features multi-faceted glass. The lavaliere tie in this edition is given a more bespoke touch.  The playful polka dots are rendered in silver on black satin to give a dressed-up, yet free-spirited rendition of couture.

The 90 ml bottle retails at $165.

8. YSL: Y

While Y Eau de Toilette by Yves Saint Laurent Beauté was unveiled last year, for 2018, YSL unveiled the latest addition to the family: Y Eau de Parfum. A stronger, more intense take on Y, this bottle is darker and features a deep black fade out.

This fragrance is deep, fresh and masculine. Created by the legendary perfumer Dominique Ropion, the scent is built around a structure of fougère, which is among the most prevalent families in masculine fragrances. It is contrasted with fresh citrus and sensual woody notes. A new take on the fougère form, Y represents two key items in the YSL man’s wardrobe: the classic white T-shirt and the iconic black jacket.

Other notes in this fragrance include a tangy duet of bergamot and ginger, contrasted against green apple.

Suzanne Dalton, who designed this bottle, describes it as “an expression of purity”. Its sharp edges are defined by an intense dark fade-out, which gradually gives way to clear glass.

The 100 ml bottle retails at $120.

9. John Varvatos: John Varvatos x Nick Jonas (JV NJ)

JV x NJ is motivated by the signature style of John Varvatos’ designs. Top notes of this fragrance feature Mandarin and Kaffir Lime Leaves, and the spice of Pink Pepper. Heart notes are all about Sage, Rosemary and Lavender, so it’s a truly wonderful mix of scents. Base notes focus on Sandalwood, Clearwood® and Ambrox®.

The signature Varvatos-style flask bottle is painted with a custom midnight-blue lacquer to produce a classic, yet masculine and very edgy finish. The gunmetal dog-tag and hex-nut cap are engraved with JVxNJ, adding a nod to rock-n’ roll, which is at the core of the Varvatos aesthetic.

The 75 ml bottle retails for $94.

10. Guerlain: Mon Guerlain

Mon Guerlain, the House’s latest fragrance, is a tribute to today’s femininity and its campaign features one of the world’s most renowned actresses: Angelina Jolie.

The Eau de Toilette is a tribute to a free woman, who is strong, daring and courageous. This fragrance is all about citrus with notes of Sambac Jasmine and the Carla Lavender. Think citrus and florals combined. Mon Guerlain is placed inside a “Quadrilobé” bottle: created in 1908, the bottle established itself as one of the brand’s most iconic designs. Simple yet complex, it resembles an alchemist’s bottle and owes its name to its stopper, which is crafted from one piece to obtain the four-lobed shape. More than 100 years later, the bottle has been enhanced by a luxurious glass weight and a white gold-coloured adornment. It’s a very memorable design.

The 100 ml bottle retails for $147.

Feature image by Anton27 / Shutterstock.com.

By Hannah Yakobi
Photography by / courtesy of each brand

One Comment »

  • Lucas M. Hall said:

    I’ve never felt fully dressed without perfume. I like your perfume which you have shared this post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

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