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The name Desert Dawn perfectly captures the mood of this cardamom-spiced scent. It has all the golden glow of the sky at sunrise, tempered by the warm heat of an open desert. It’s cosy and skin-hugging, perfect for the chillier days of autumn.
Best genderless perfume
Tom Ford Eau d’Ombre Leather Eau De Toilette
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Less rugged cowboy than the original Ombre Leather, this 2024 version of Tom Ford’s popular gender-neutral perfume is significantly softer, smoother and easier to wear; almost as though said cowboy has moved into a plush city penthouse and discovered the joys of marble baths.
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Best floral perfume
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum
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A vibrant floral perfume that’s as joyful as the bottle suggests. It maintains the blossoming floral bouquet of Gucci Flora, this time with a gentle suggestion of bananas to enhance the creamy vanilla undertones.
Best rose perfume
Acqua di Parma Luce di Rosa Eau de Parfum
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Rose perfumes often take on a sumptuous velvet cloak for autumn, but Acqua di Parma’s interpretation is gloriously sunny and luminous, perfect for perking up a grey morning.
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Best oud pefume
LBTY. Ianthe Oud Eau de Parfum
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Liberty’s foray into fragrance is relatively new, but its strong vision has already translated into a collection to be reckoned with. A modern take on oud, this one leans into the heritage of the department store, with hints of old-world, powder room notes of violets and mimosa made modern with the addition of bergamot to bring a shot of lightness.
Best modern classic
Balmain Beauty Ivoire Eau de Parfum
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“My grandma wore (the original) Ivoire,” Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing told Bazaar on a rainy morning in Paris this summer. “It was iconic for French ladies at the time,’ he says.
The fashion brand’s anticipated new fragrance collection has finally arrived, and 2024’s version of that beloved original is a nod to “beautiful classism, Parisian beauty, with a touch of bourgeoisie” according to Rousteing. This means blossoming white florals undercut with woody undertones.
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Best violet perfume
Parfums de Marly Palatine Eau de Parfum
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With generous amounts of violets, Palatine could easily veer into an old-fashioned, lipstick-scent territory. But a sprinkle of fresh lavender brings luminosity, making it a sophisticated spritz that feels decidedly modern and wearable for all occasions.
Best powdery perfume
Christian Louboutin Fétiche L’Iris Eau de Parfum
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Irises feature prominently in autumn’s new launches, each one with its own distinct take. Christian Louboutin leans into the mysterious side of the flower by amplifying it with earthy patchouli. The sharp stiletto-capped bottle is a perfect indication of what’s in it: femininity, but with a bite.
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Best herbacious perfume
Aesop Virēre Eau de Parfum
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For something a little offbeat, this tea-like scent with its herbaceous undertones is instantly reviving on a cool day.
Best leather perfume
Perfumer H Saddle Eau de Parfum
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Inspired by worn-in leather and softening soaps, this is a seriously smart scent that brings out the supple, tactile nature of saddles. One to spritz for both the boardroom and a chic evening out.
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Best light, clean perfume
Diptyque Corail Oscuro Eau de Parfum
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Diptyque’s new Les Essences de Diptyque fragrance collection invited perfumers to create a perfume inspired by scentless elements of nature, from vibrant corals to waterlilies. For Corail Oscuro, perfumer Alexandra Carlin plays with the lightness of water and the hi-def colours of coral to create a shimmering citrus scent with rosy undertones that feels gossamer light on the skin.
Best fig perfume
L’Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier Extrême Eau de Parfum
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A fig perfume with guts, this delicious summer spritz blends the creamy sweetness of the fruit with cedarwood and sandalwood to introduce a lingering woody trail.
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Best gourmand perfume
Rabanne Million Gold For Her Eau de Parfum
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With fluffy musks and fluttery white petals, Million Gold is an effervescent and joyful gourmand perfume that doesn’t veer into cloyingly sweet territory. One to spritz for Sunday brunches and evenings out with your best friends.
Best light woody perfume
Santa Maria Novella Quercia Eau de Parfum
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Quercia brings together the best of both worlds: the smoothness of oak wood and the easygoing freshness of lavender. It’s an airy, outdoorsy take on a sophisticated woody scent that feels just right for cooler days.
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Best classic perfume
Dior J’Adore L’Or Essence de Parfum
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Reinterpreting a classic, widely-recognisable scent is a challenge that revered perfumer Francis Kurkdjian is more than well-equipped to take on. J’Adore L’Or spotlights the most golden facets of the original with a shot of luminosity through orange blossoms and sun-soaked jasmines.
Best amber perfume
Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM Eau de Parfum
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For 2024, Maison Francis Kurkdjian re-issues APOM (first launched as ‘his and hers’ fragrances in 2009) by marrying the best of both original perfumes. The result? A powdery amber scent steeped in glamour that begs to be worn on your next attendance at the ballet.
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Best fruity oud perfume
Loewe Earth Elixir Eau de Parfum
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Oud sheds its dark and mysterious persona to unveil a lighter, much prettier side with Earth Elixir. Juicy, succulent pears bring a sprinkling of sweetness to balance the earthier hints of truffle.
Best vanilla perfume
Burberry Goddess Intense Eau de Parfum
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A commanding vanilla scent that doesn’t shy away from making its presence known. Dustings of lavender and patchouli brings extra depth to this maximalist composition. One to spray on for a boost of confidence (and is perfect for conversation starters, too).
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Best sandalwood perfume
Tom Ford Soleil de Feu Eau de Parfum
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Soleil de Feu is an exotic sunset, bottled. Creamy sandalwood and vanilla-tinged amber are combined with the heady heat of white flowers, for a warm, lasting scent.
Editor’s pick
L’Artisan Parfumeur Ode A L’Oudh
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While this isn’t a completely new launch, this underdog within the L’Artisan Perfumeur collection should not be slept on. Perfumer Christian Raynaud uses oud sparingly here, leaning into its warm facets to bring out the plushness of smooth vanilla. There’s nothing dessert-y either, just a sublime, deliciously cosy spritz.
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