This Love-It-or-Hate-It Fragrance Is My All-Time Favorite—Here's Why You Need It

Perfumes on a vanity

(Image credit: @meganadelaide)

The year was 2005. I was 10 years old, and I was raiding my mom's bathroom cabinet. I was looking through her skincare and makeup products, which seemed so fancy and foreign to me at the time. I had one goal—to steal a swipe of lipstick or a finger of face cream to pair with the size-eight heels I'd taken from her closet. My little feet were swimming in them, but I wanted to walk them across the brick hearth of the fireplace to hear the creamy clicking sound they made. If I wanted to look and feel the part—like a mature, working woman—I needed at least one beauty product.

I sorted through the Mary Kay lipsticks and drugstore face creams until I found a round, amber bottle. It was my mom's perfume, a warm, sophisticated scent that I loved. I took a stealthy spritz to my wrist and clomped out of the bathroom to play.

It wasn't until years later that I learned exactly which perfume it was. After asking my mom and doing a little internet research, I discovered it was Chloé's original 1974 Eau de Toilette (even though the particular bottle she had was probably purchased in the '90s). This fragrance was launched when Karl Lagerfeld was the design house's creative director. It featured notes of bergamot, lily of the valley, honeysuckle, orange flower—and most notably—tuberose.

1974 Eau de Toilette

The original eau de toilette I bought before it was discontinued.

(Image credit: Amazon)

I was completely entranced by it and would continue to steal spritzes throughout my adolescence. When I turned 16, I knew it was time I bought myself a bottle lest the brand discontinued it. And I'm so glad I did. These days, you can't find it anywhere but eBay, where it's still being sold for $150+. I rarely wear it anymore but take a sniff when I need some comfort and nostalgia.

Now, as a full-fledged beauty editor, I collect tuberose perfumes like it's my job, which, in a way, it is. Some people may call it a "grandma" scent, but I disagree. To me, it's warm, elegant, and timeless. And since tuberose blooms at night, releasing its intoxicating scent into the air after dark, I associate it with mystery, sensuality, and seduction. In short, I think tuberose deserves way more credit than it gets. So I decided to share some of my favorite tuberose-centric scents, as well as some info on what makes tuberose so special, according to DSM-Firmenich perfumer Bérénice Watteau.

Perfumes on a mirrored vanity tray

(Image credit: @meganadelaide)

Where does tuberose come from, and how is it extracted for use in perfume?

"Tuberose is a perennial plant related to agave, native to Mexico, and has been distilled for perfumery since the 17th century when the flower was first transported to Europe," Watteau explains. "In India and Bangladesh, they are widely used to make flower garlands, used in religious ceremonies, or as wedding ornaments."

"The flower buds are gathered and collected by hand. They're extracted with a volatile solvent that yields the tuberose concrete. A final process of purification is applied to obtain the absolute that is used in the perfume creation."

What makes it special?

"During the Renaissance in Italy, it was forbidden for unmarried women to go walking into tuberose gardens. The flower is a night-blooming plant, and its smell was said to be narcotic and could bewitch men with its erotic nuance. The flower has a unique personality. It brings a strong signature to any fragrance— volume, creaminess, and presence. This flower has an inequivalent texture and bloom."

As a perfumer, how would you describe tuberose to someone who's unfamiliar?

"This is a unique flower, creamy, thick, intense, captivating, narcotic, feminine, and opulent," Watteau says. "It's one of the most sensual flowers. It's considered a white flower and has a strong solar petal-y effect that can remind a bit of gardenia or monoi."

My All-Time Favorite Tuberose Fragrance

12 Other Tuberose Fragrances I Love

Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.