My Goal Is to Always Smell Expensive—13 Elegant Perfumes That Never Miss

Key notes: Rose, raspberry, blackcurrant, patchouli, sandalwood, musk, amber, vanilla

There's a reason beauty editors have been wearing Frederic Malle's Portrait of a Lady for more years than I can count, not least because the sandalwood and rose blend smells incredibly elegant. On first spritz, it opens bright and fruity with notes of blackcurrant and raspberry before settling into the now instantly recognisable creamy rose scent. This is a fragrance that will forever signal to me chic sophistication and one that I never get bored with, no matter how often I smell it.

Key notes: Lavender, mandarin, blackcurrant, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla

While many fruity, floral scents have a girlish, nostalgic quality about them, YSL's Libre takes these traditional pairings and gives them a slightly more sophisticated spin. Rather than blossomy florals, Libre leads strongly with lavender, which gives it a fresh, soapy scent before moving into gentle citrus notes and finally comforting vanilla. It's reminiscent of fresh washing left hanging on the line on a bright spring day or skin after being doused in a botanical shower gel—clean, fresh, invigorating and also comfortingly familiar.

Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, tiare, coconut, vanilla, guaiac wood

While there will always be a time and place for the best tropical fragrances, namely on holiday and during the summer months, I'll be honest, these sweet, usually coconutty blends don't always scream elegance. Sunkissed Goddess by Kilian Paris, however, is the exception. Smelling like expensive sun lotion combined with an expertly mixed piña colada, it's all the best smells of a luxury tropical getaway bottled. I love wearing this both abroad and at home to bring a little added sunshine (at least in spirit) to dark, gloomy days.

Key notes: Pear, melon, freesia, rose, musk, patchouli

Jo Malone London makes so many perfumes that could be classed as elegant; however, for me, it's English Pear & Freesia that embodies the feeling most perfectly. Slighly floral, slightly fruity, it's a light, feminine scent that has the perfect amount of sweetness.

Key notes: Ambroxan

While many of the fragrances on this list feature elaborate blends of elegant, expensive-smelling notes, sometimes the most elegant scents rely on simplicity. Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume is the blueprint for such perfumes. Featuring the single note, ambroxan, a synthetic compound that smells similar to amber, it's pure and clean with a slight musk scent that sits beautifully on the skin. I like to wear this scent alone; however, it can also be layered alongside other fragrances to amplify their effect.

Key notes: Pear, ambrette, aldehydes, rosemary, jasmine, orris, vanilla, musk

Another slightly powdery scent that, in my opinion, smells incredibly elegant is Merit’s Retrospect. Much like Guerlain's Eau de Cashmere, Retrospect is light in its application, making it ideal for those who like a subtle skin scent as opposed to anything too rich or heady. Where it differs, however, is that rather than leaning creamy and warm, Retrospect features notes of juicy pear and rosemary, which give it a vibrancy that’s both unique and inviting. This is an elegant scent that’s a little unexpected, so spritz it when around other fragrance lovers to earn their appreciation.

Key notes: Iris, mandarin, lavender, cedar, musk

Is there anything more elegant than the comforting, slightly creamy scent of a cashmere jumper? I think not, and so I’m topping this list with one of my all-time favourite fragrances, Guerlain’s Eau de Cashmere. Combining notes of powdery iris, fresh lavender and creamy woody elements, it’s a soft, gentle fragrance that wraps you up yet won’t overpower. I love this fragrance applied to clean skin straight out of the shower or spritzed on knitwear to make it feel even cosier.

Key notes: Violet leaf, ginger, cardamom, vanilla

Les Essences de Diptyque Lilyphéa has been a new discovery for me; however, on smelling it, I knew instantly it was going to become a firm favourite. It blends fragrant notes of violet leaf and earthy cardamom with a creamy, comforting base of vanilla. The result is a scent that’s bright and green with a subtle sweetness running through it. It’s the watery freshness of dew-soaked flowers on a bright spring morning, right at the moment the sun cuts through the clouds. It's a fresh scent that is also delicate and seriously elegant.

Key notes: Black pepper, olibanum, cedar, cumin, sandalwood, vetiver

I firmly believe it isn’t just light perfumes that can smell elegant. When expertly blended, more intense perfumes can illicit elegant vibes, too. Aesop’s Eidesis is a great example of this. Rich and powerful, it blends earthy, woody notes with punchy spices to create a fragrance that comes at you strong yet won’t have those around you recoiling at its intensity. Instead, the expensive-smelling scent draws you in and lingers beautifully throughout the day.

Key notes: Ambrette, bergamot, vanilla orchid, vanilla, musk

For an elegant take on vanilla, I’d suggest adding a bottle of Les Soeurs de Noe Mitsio Vanille to your wishlist. Rather than sweet and cloying, this is a fresh, slightly zesty vanilla fragrance with a crispness to it that’s so expensive-smelling. Gourmand vanilla lovers may want to give this a miss, but for those who want all the creaminess without the saccharine hit, this is the vanilla fragrance for you.

Key notes: Cinnamon, rose, cacao, truffle, iris, musk, vanilla

Chocolate has always been my weakness, and so it's unsurprising that I'm drawn to fragrances that make use of the powerful, sometimes bitter note. Aerin's Rose Cocoa is one such fragrance blending earthy cacao and truffle with floral rose notes. If you thought this would illicit a scent like Fry's Turkish Delight, however, you'd be totally wrong. Rather than sweet or sugary, Rose Cocoa is a grown-up gourmand that smells more intriguing than edible.

Key notes: Myrrh, incense, oud

Another more intense option, Givenchy's Fantasque is so deliciously smooth and smoky, I recommended it to a friend as soon as I got my hands on it, and she quickly ran out and bought it. Alongside powerful oud notes, you'll also find fragrant incense and spicy myrrh, which come together to create an oud scent that's warming and rich. It won't be for everyone, but if oud is your jam, this really is a beautifully balanced, expensive-smelling interpretation.

Key notes: Clementine, mandarin, lime, iris, fig, vetiver, moss

I've never been a huge fan of citrus scents, often finding them too fresh for my taste. When I got my hands on Molton Brown's Sunlit Clementine & Vetiver, however, my opinion changed. This is a citrus scent with depth, thanks to an earthy base of vetiver and moss, which work in harmony with the juicy clementine and mandarin notes. On the skin, it's both bright and grounding—sure to please both citrus scent lovers and sceptics, like myself.