The French Fragrance Capsule: 16 Perfume Brands That Will Always Be Iconic

Mobina Peiman Best French Perfume Brands

(Image credit: @mobinapeiman)

It goes without saying among beauty enthusiasts that any beauty product bearing a recognizable French label already feels unbearably chic, but there's something particularly special about French perfume. Maybe it's because a large ratio of history's most aesthetically pleasing bottles and fragrances have Parisian ancestry, or perhaps French perfume brands simply have a knack for creating olfactory magic. (We'll always be obsessed with the unique spells they cast over fragrance lovers.)

Regardless, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to enthuse over our picks of the 16 best French perfume brands of all time, forming the ultimate fragrance capsule. Keep scrolling for our edit of the French perfume brands we'll always love, from world-renowned Chanel fragrances to less commercialized perfume labels like Ex Nihilo, Kilian Paris, and Frédéric Malle, and our pick of the best fragrance from each.

Chanel

Chloé

Dior

Diptyque

Ex Nihilo

Frédéric Malle

Givenchy

Guerlain

Blue de Chanel Eau de Parfum

(Image credit: @mobinapeiman)

Hermès

Kilian Paris

Lancôme

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Margiela

Nina Ricci

Thierry Mugler

Yves Saint Laurent

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.