Meet the Icons

There are fragrances, and then there are fragrances. We round up some of the perfumes that have acquired a cult following and deserve a place in your fragrance wardrobe.

- Karen Alfonso

There’s something about perfume that easily transports you to certain places or brings back memories. It could be the faint smell of the jasmine that your grandmother wore, or the scent of leather mixed with tobacco that instantly reminds you of your dad. Fragrances these days aren’t just limited to legacy brands or fashion houses; we’re seeing niche fragrances also acquiring a cult following, expanding to more unusual fragrance notes such as caviar and cactus. With more players entering the space, there are a select few that rise above the ranks. We take a look at some of the most iconic fragrances around.

Miss Dior EDP

Named for Christian Dior's sister Catherine, the fragrance was first launched in 1947. Christian wanted a fragrance that sparked joy especially important since this was post WWII. He chose notes of rose, perked up with notes of lily of the valley, which resulted in a warm floral fragrance. Since 1992, the perfume has undergone various reinventions and there's plenty of extensions to the Miss Dior family, such as the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet and Miss Dior Rose N Roses.

Gucci Bloom

This was the first perfume launched after Alessandro Michele took over Gucci. On the official website, he states, “The idea for Bloom was born from flowers because I’m obsessed with flowers; flower essences are part of an ancient world. Bloom is about a stroll in a garden, and a memory of what accompanies that walk.” The distinctly floral perfume contains notes of tuberose, jasmine and Rangoon creeper. The powdery pink bottle is distinctive and easily identifiable – making it an Instagram fave.