From Fendi to Celine, We're Wearing These 7 Fashion-House Fragrances on Repeat

For many of us, this time of year calls for a seasonal scent update. As we bid farewell to summer, the turn of the leaves and the sudden drop in temperature have us reaching for our autumn perfumes once again as we welcome in these cooler, crisp days. Thankfully, the world's most esteemed fashion houses have spoilt us with their fragrance launches of late, each providing plenty of scented inspiration to take us through the season and beyond—all while racking up plenty of compliments along the way.

These days, new perfumes and niche fragrances from independent brands launch pretty much every week, but previously, luxury fragrances were strictly the business of pioneering and exclusive fashion houses, such as Dior. Much like today, these fragrances allowed consumers to buy into a small piece of the brand, which was particularly appealing if they didn't have the means to invest in a full high-end wardrobe. Fragrance, with all of its emotive connotations, offers us a chance to experience the very essence of these luxury designers with every spritz, on a more objectively accessible budget—an idea that remains very compelling to those who would like a slice of the lifestyle these brands signify.

Many fragrance icons, like Chanel's legendary No.5, were born in the 1920s. The decade was a pivotal moment for women's style, shrugging off the dated silhouettes of the previous century and welcoming in more directional pieces like flapper dresses and trousers, the latter of which were formerly reserved for menswear. Chanel No.5 echoed this shift in the zeitgeist by tapping into aldehydes—an airy, soapy note rarely used in perfumery at the time—and combined it with jasmine, ylang-ylang, and rose. It quickly became an icon in the fragrance world, and today, No.5 remains one of the most recognizable and best-selling fragrances globally; a testament to the everlasting draw that fashion houses can bring to our most-loved fragrances.

Fast-forward 100 years, and legacy fashion houses continue to tempt us with new additions to their exclusive fragrance selections. However, to compete with the independent brands entering this space, they've had to become even more luxurious in the process. Now crafting elevated elixirs that are often lesser-known than the commercially-led No.5s and Miss Diors that commonly front the brands in magazines and on billboards, these scents are an "if you know, you know" affair (if you wear them, we just know you have excellent taste).

Meanwhile, this year marked the launch of both Balmain and Fendi's freshly reimagined fragrance lines, honoring the fashion houses' rich historical heritage and simultaneously offering a kaleidoscope of beautiful scents that feel truly modern. If that's not enough to entice you, then the latest launches from Celine, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy are sure to set any fragrance lover's pulse racing upon the very first spritz. These are icons in the making.

So, if you're ready to find your next signature scent, scroll ahead and feast your eyes on autumn's chicest designer fragrances. We promise that they really do smell just as good as they look.

1. CELINE ZOUZOU

Inspired by 1960s fashion icons from the silver screen, fashion, and literature, Celine's ZouZou is a powdery and playful scent that immediately transports you to a glamorous powder room of yesteryear. Think pixie haircuts, painted lashes, and big powder puffs that send plumes of powdery musk into the air. Artistic Director Hedi Slimane desired to create a perfume that captured eternal youth and gave ZouZou its name as an affectionate nickname (which was often used to describe women with short hairstyles) and a nod to French actress Danièle Ciarlet.

Despite being inspired by the '60s, the scent sits firmly in the present. The sweet, woody benzoin and smooth tonka bean unfurl into an ambery, caramel trail that is guaranteed to turn heads and linger on autumn knitwear. As it dries down, it welcomes in earthy patchouli and woody, resinous labdanum, leaving behind a trail of powdery musk and vanilla that lingers for hours. It's housed in a fluted glass bottle and is as much a thing of beauty to admire on your dressing table as it is to experience on your skin throughout the day and is bound to make you feel just as iconic as the chic women who inspired it.

2. CHANEL COMÈTE

Chanel's latest fragrance from the Les Exclusifs De Chanel collection, Comète, is captivating and deeply rooted in the fashion house's lore. Gabrielle Chanel, known for being superstitious and having a fascination with astrology (she was a Leo, FYI), drew inspiration from the stars when designing her first jewelry collection. One standout piece was a diamond-encrusted necklace shaped like a shooting star, specifically molded to sit close to the skin. This iconic piece inspired Comète, a perfume said to capture the essence of stardust, echoing the formfitting necklace with its skin-like musk.

The scent is powdery, sparkling, and intricate, evolving beautifully with your skin's chemistry. Its notes include heliotrope, powdery iris, cherry blossom accord, and a smooth, musky base. While it wears close to the skin, the projection and longevity are impressive. The dry-down lingers for hours, often leaving a lasting impression noticeable to those around you. The first day I tested it, I could still smell the shimmering scent hours after spraying, like olfactory stardust suspended in the air.

3. CHRISTIAN DIOR LUCKY ESPIRIT DE PARFUM

When it comes to luxury French fashion houses, it doesn’t get much more iconic than Dior. The brand began creating fragrances in 1947 and launched Miss Dior in the same year—a scent that remains a classic to this day. But in 2021, the brand announced that Francis Kurkdjian (the very perfumer behind Baccarat Rouge 540) was to be the House's new perfume creation director. Since then, we’ve seen Kurkdjian reimagine some of the most iconic Dior fragrances.

The brand's latest launch with Kurkdjian? A concentrated reiteration of five famous scents from the La Collection Priveé Christian Dior Collection. These reimagined fragrances are bold, head-turning, compliment-inducing scents that radiate modern luxury. Although any of the five would be a great addition to your perfume collection, if we had to choose one, it would have to be Lucky Esprit de Parfum.

This pretty scent is inspired by the stems of lily of the valley that Christian Dior would sew into the hems of Haute Couture dresses or tuck into his pockets for good luck. It features fresh, delicate notes of the flower wrapped in a woody-leather accord that gives the floral opening impressive depth. "To me, it’s a crisp autumn walk in a bottle. Whenever I spritz this, I can practically feel the leaves crunching underneath my feet," says our junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

4. BALMAIN CARBONE

One of the most exciting fragrance launches of the season has to be awarded to Balmain Beauty. The brand has just released a collection of eight all-gender fragrances called Les Éternels de Balmain, inspired by the brand’s Parisian legacy and creative director Olivier Rousteing’s modern influence. In 1947, Balmain revolutionized the fragrance world with the launch of the first iconic green scent, Vent Vert, and we do not doubt that Les Éternels de Balmain will carry the same legacy.

The bottles themselves are a work of art and feel like a true expression of how fashion and beauty cannot exist without one another, as explained by Rousteing when he discusses the fragrances. But not even the bottles could prepare us for just how exquisite these scents are. Although we could write an essay on each, from the minute we smelled them, we knew that Carbone would be our autumn fragrance of choice. This is the sort of scent that you want to wrap yourself in and never take off.

It’s a complex fragrance with notes of sensual white musk at the heart, but it opens with hints of sweet rose, which almost lures you into a false sense of security before the true depth of this perfume comes through and you start to discover its darker side. Once notes of musk settle on the skin, you're treated to a warming haze of tobacco, suede, and cumin. It’s bold, unique and truly delicious.

5. LOUIS VUITTON LV LOVERS

Louis Vuitton’s latest fragrance is, without a doubt, love at first smell. Inspired by the sensation of sunlight on your skin and the natural process of photosynthesis, it exudes a radiant blend of green and woody notes, evoking the feeling of wandering through a sunlit forest surrounded by fresh, dewy leaves in dappled light.

Crafted by Louis Vuitton’s master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud in collaboration with men's creative director, Pharrell Williams, the scent is intended as an invigorating well-being elixir that instantly boosts your mood. And who doesn't want that once the nights begin to draw in? The fragrance boasts impressive projection and longevity, lingering on clothes all day like an optimistic halo.

The zing of ginger opens the scent, followed a the woody green snap of galbanum before drying down into creamy sandalwood and soft cedarwood. It’s one of those uplifting scents that not only smells incredible but also elevates your spirits with every spritz. We applaud Louis Vuitton for bottling liquid sunshine, just in time to carry us through the darker months ahead.

6. GIVENCHY L'INTERDIT ABSOLU

According to Givenchy’s latest perfume launch, this season is not the time to be subtle with your scent of choice. The French fashion house is known for its daring fragrances, and one of our all-time favorites has to be L’Interdit, a musky-floral scent that lingers beautifully on the skin.

This autumn, the brand has introduced a new iteration called L’Interdit Absolu Eau de Parfum Intense. With an intoxicating blend of orange blossom, sambac jasmine, lavender, and cardamom, it’s an uplifting scent with a strong, sensual base. Although the opening is inherently floral, your senses are taken on a journey thanks to rich notes of tobacco and rum absolute. Once it settles on the skin, a warming cashmere comes through, making this fragrance feel just as luxurious as your favorite cashmere jumper.

7. FENDI DOLCE BACIO

Fendi sent editors' hearts aflutter with the launch of seven fragrances this year, each inspired by the Fendi family personalities that have each shaped the brand throughout the generations. Our favorite? Dolce Bacio.

It's inspired by Anna Fendi, who also happens to have an ochre-colored rose named after her. Dolce Bacio takes the classical rose note and pairs it with the alluringly sweet and sunny apricot. Described as "a tender kiss on the cheek that leaves behind a faint rose lipstick scent" and "vibrant orange sunrises overlooking rose gardens in Rome," you would be forgiven for thinking this is only a fruity floral. But the addition of Indonesian patchouli unfurls, making this scent both gentle and powerful; a trait that Anna Fendi's daughter Silvia Venturini Fendi notices in the generations of Fendi women.

Upon first spritz, this scent sparkles with the brightness of sun-kissed apricot and the earthy, smoky dryness of patchouli. At its heart lies the opulent damask rose from Turkey—powerful, velvety, and akin to a warm embrace, making this a cozy scent that will linger long into autumnal evenings.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.