As these early months of the year slowly unfold, bringing with them the promise of new beginnings, it’s also a perfect time to pause and appreciate the absolute classics of fragrance. These timeless scents not only ground us in the rich history of perfumery but also help us recognise what we truly love in a fragrance. After all, many contemporary houses draw inspiration from these iconic creations that came before.
What’s particularly fascinating about these classic scents is how many of them were truly groundbreaking, way ahead of their time. It’s this innovative spirit that allows them to smell as fresh and utterly wearable today as they did when they first graced the perfume counters. So, before we dive headlong into exploring all the newness and following our noses to new trends, let’s take a moment to reset our senses with these five classic scents that are perfect to try right now…
Acqua di Parma Colonia is a timeless emblem of Italian sophistication that has been enchanting noses since 1916. Originally used to scent gentlemen’s handkerchiefs, this fragrance has won the hearts of style icons like Cary Grant, David Niven, and Audrey Hepburn. One spritz, and you’re instantly transported to a sun-drenched Italian idyll. The vibrant notes of Sicilian citrus, bergamot, lemon, and sweet and bitter oranges infuse your senses with liquid sunshine, while the warm base wraps around you like the softest cashmere. It’s as if the Mediterranean breeze itself has been bottled for your pleasure.
£108 for 50ml Cologne harveynichols.com
Step further back in time (all the way to 1872!) with Penhaligon’s Hammam Bouquet, a fragrance inspired by the steamy aromas wafting from the Turkish Baths on Jermyn Street, Piccadilly. This scent is a sensual journey that evokes images of freshly soaped skin and shimmering heat. The unmistakable dusky Turkish rose intertwines with heady jasmine, creating an intimate dance of florals. Clean lavender provides a counterpoint, while woods, fluffy musk, and powdery orris round out this olfactory experience. Wearing Hammam Bouquet is like stepping into a luxurious bathhouse from another era.
£135 for 100ml eau de toilette penhaligons.com
For those seeking a burst of energy, Chanel N°19 offers a sparkling and vibrant option. This daring green scent manages to be both fresh and supremely wearable. The crisp, snapped-stalk freshness of galbanum is expertly balanced with soft, powdery iris. Heady ylang-ylang finds its match in the delicate shiver of spring air captured in lily of the valley and luminescent rose. If the iconic N°5 wasn’t quite your cup of tea, N°19 might just be the joyously energising fizz of freshness you’ve been looking for.
£122 for 100ml eau de toilette thefragranceshop.co.uk
In 1992 Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey reimagined the very scent of water, transforming it into something chicly covetable. This fragrance is still a masterclass in delicacy, transparent lotus flower and freesia gently rippled through with light touches of lily, rose, and carnation. Perfumer Jacques Cavallier then dusted this aquatic bouquet with peony petals and rested it on a smoothly woody base, all tickled by a swirl of white musk. The result is a scent that still whispers beguilingly, as fresh and relevant today as when it first launched.
£45 for 25ml eau de toilette theperfumeshop.com
Kenzo Flower by Kenzo, launched in 2000, was a bloom for the new millennium. This fragrance dared to imagine the scent of a poppy – one of those elusive flowers we adore but which remain frustratingly ‘silent’ in nature. Thanks to the artistry of perfumer Alberto Morrillas, we can now experience over 20 years of powdery, violet-tinged, hawthorn-dusted beguilement. Wearing Flower by Kenzo is like strolling through a field of poppies on a warm spring day, the scent carried on a gentle breeze.
£56 for 30ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com
As we move forward, we’ll be turning our attention to the newer niche brands and names your noses need to get to know this year. But before we do, why not immerse yourself by falling in love with these classics again, or perhaps trying them for the first time? Allow yourself to be surprised by the results. These timeless fragrances offer a perfect opportunity to reset your senses and appreciate the artistry that has shaped the world of perfumery.
Who knows? You might just discover a new favourite amongst these beloved classics, or re-acquaint yourself with a lost love who’s been waiting for you all this time…
Written by Suzy Nightingale