‘Perfume is an invisible, unforgettable, fashionable accessory that announces your arrival and prolongs your departure,’ said Coco Chanel. An encapsulation of the importance of perfume to its wearer is found in this quotation by the late grande dame of fashion. As perfume manufacturers strive to create more ambitious and unique scents every year, they hope that their products will linger in the hearts, minds (and noses) of their wearers long after they have left the room. However, there are some luxury perfumes that stand out from the crowd, both in terms of their smell and price.
The packaging and bottles of these ultra luxurious perfumes are as fine as the notes within them.
01. Shumukh by Nabeel
Price: $1.5 Million
Owner: Asghar Adam Ali
Brand: Nabeel
Made of: rare oud oil from India, amber, sandalwood, patchouli and pure Turkish rose oil, among others
Shumukh, created by Nabeel, is the most expensive fragrance. With a price tag of over €1.5 million euros, this musky scent is made with rose and sandalwood. In addition to its exquisite bottle made of 3,500 diamonds and pearls, 2.5kg of 18 karat gold and 5.9kg of silver, it also features an armor made of 3.45 tons of silver and 5.9 tons of gold.
02. Golden Delicious by DKNY
Price: $1 Million
Owner: N/A
Brand: DKNY
Made of: Red Apple, African Orange flower and Plum
DKNY produces Golden Precious, the second most expensive perfume in the world. In a luxurious bottle decorated with 183 yellow sapphires and 2700 white diamonds, this fruity and floral fragrance includes notes of orange blossom, lily, plum, and musk. This fragrance was developed with the designer Martin Katz. An oval sapphire cabochon 7.18 carats, fifteen bright pink diamonds from Australia, four rose-cut diamonds and a turquoise tourmaline are included in this fragrance. You will have to pay $1 million for this luxury confection.
03. Opera Prima by Bvlgari
Price: $235k USD
Owner: Daniela Andrier
Brand: Bvlgari
Made of: 250 karats of citrines, over 25 karats of diamonds and over 4.45 karats of amethysts skilfully set into yellow gold.
Bvlgari, the prestigious Italian jewelry and luxury goods brand, recently sold its most extravagant perfume to date, the Opera Prima, for an astounding $250,000, making it the world’s most expensive perfume. Perfumer Daniela Andrier created this unique fragrance, but it’s about the package that makes this fragrance so special.
With 250 carats of citrine, 4.45 carats of amethyst and 25 carats of diamonds, this perfume comes in a gorgeous bottle crafted by renowned glassmaker Venini. The outrageous perfume bottle here doesn’t contain precious stones, but rather a magnificent fragrance hidden within.
04. No. 1 Majesté impériale by Clive Christian Perfume
Price: $215k USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Clive Christian
Made of: aromatic musk, warm clove, smooth vanilla and spiritedly vetiver
It is undoubtedly the world’s most expensive perfume, Imperial Majesty, by Clive Christian that sets the standard for luxury and distinction in the perfume world. The grands old French arm of Baccarat decided in 2006 to offer Clive Christian’s very special customers an exquisite 500ml bottle of absolute perfume oil.
A five carat white diamond nestles in the 18 carat gold collar of the bottle, which is made of nest polished crystal. Only ten bottles were made because it is so precious. Clive Christian’s special collection consists of three sculptures and seven private collectors acquired the remaining seven. In regards to the perfume itself, it is well known that all of Clive Christian’s fans regard his No 1 as one of the best, and as such he refers to it as “his heart’s perfume”. Nothing could be more fitting.
05. Parfum VI by Gianni Vive Sulman
Price: $89k USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Gianni Vive Sulman
Made of: wood and gold
There was no better fragrance than Michael Jackson’s. There is a gold, diamond, and ruby key as well as a diamond stopper on the bottle that makes the perfume expensive since it is made of wood and gold. Natural ingredients from ancient recipes combine with jasmine and rose in this fragrance.
06. 1 Million, LUXE edition by Paco Rabanne
Price: $57k USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Paco Rabanne
Made of: N/A
Similarly, Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million luxury perfumes come in opulent bottles. There is gold and precious stone embellishment on these limited edition fragrances.
The 18-carat gold packaging of 1 Million by Paco Rabanne is encased in real leather.
07. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes by Baccarat
Price: $6,800 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Baccarat
Made of: Not Found
When translated, “Sacred Tears of Thebes” is the meaning behind Baccarat’s Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes. However, the price of the perfume per ounce comes out to $6,000. Baccarat bottles are handcrafted and topped with amethyst colored crystals, which account for most of the cost.
08. Lalique for Bentley Crystal Edition
Price: $4,600 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Bentley
Made of: Patchouli, cedar, leather, and wood notes make up the fragrance
An exclusive perfume for men is released by Bentley, a car brand. There are 40 ml of crystal in the bottle and a wood case that costs $4,600. Patchouli, cedar, leather, and wood notes make up the fragrance.
09. Coco Mademoiselle
Price: $4,200 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Chanel
Made of: Turkish Rose, Jasmine, Mimosa and Ylang-Ylang
Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle is a heavy, floral, mature scent from its Les Grand Extraits collection. The price per ounce was $4,200 when it was released.
10. Le N°5 Parfum Grand Extrait by Chanel
Price: $3,500 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Chanel
Made of: May rose and Grasse jasmine
In its most rare form, this is the ultimate fragrance. A collector’s item that is exclusively made to order, N°5 GRANDS EXTRAITS are exceptional pieces with a high value. This deluxe size of the Parfum is the most precious expression of High Perfumery. Presented in a white satin-lined case protected by a spring-like sleeve, the bottle is cut into the shape of a monumental diamond.
11. Clive Christian No. 1
Price: $2,000 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Clive Christian
Made of: Cardamom, Nutmeg, Pimento and Artemisia oil
There are a lot of fragrance notes in the perfume, such as lime, grapefruit, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika and others.
12. 24 Faubourg by Hermes
Price: $1,500 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Hermes
Made of: Orange blossom, Jasmine, Vanilla
Among Hermes’ 25 Faubourg fragrances, 24 Faubourg costs $1,500 USD per ounce. Thankfully, the price of the item has decreased quite a bit. There is no information on whether the formula is the same.
13. 1998, Ralph Lauren’s Notorious
Price: $1,416 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Ralph Lauren
Made of: Bergamot, Black Currant, Pink Peppercorn
Notorious was only available at Harrods when it was released in 1998 (you can buy it now at Amazon). This gemstone was priced at $1,416 USD per ounce because it was inspired by “Old Hollywood”.
14. Poivre by Caron
Price: $1,000 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Caron
Made of: black pepper from Madagascar with its vibrant power
Crystal is used in the construction of the bottle. This perfume combines spicy notes of pepper, cloves, roses, jasmine, lavender, lily of the valley, sandalwood, carnations, cedar, Tonka, musk and other spices.
15. Joy by Jean Patou
Price: $850 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Patou
Made of: jasmine and rose
Joy was created by haute couture designer Jean Patou in 1930, and quickly became known as “the world’s most expensive perfume.” This lavish scent features 10,000 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen May roses in one ounce. Women throughout the world are enamored with the luxurious composition. In order to achieve perfect proportions in architecture, the Ancient Greeks used the principle of divine proportion.
16. Ozone by JAR Perfume
Price: $765
Owner: N/A
Brand: JAR Perfume
Made of: soy + coconut wax, and a cotton braided wick
Ozone is responsible for the unique/particular smell of lightning. There is a lot of cleanliness here. Trying to bottle this scent in JAR Bolt of Lightening Perfume, that costs $765 USD per ounce, Joel Rosenthal liked it so much he created a $1,800 USD perfume based on it.
17. Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal
Price: $441.18 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Annick Goutal
Made of: lemons, citron and a tiny hint of cypress
The 1981 perfume Eau d’Hadrien was created by Francis Camail and Annick Goutal together. According to the 2017 price list, it retails for US $441.18 per ounce, which is approximately $1,186.79.
18. Emerald Reign by House of Sillage
Price: $1,510 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: House of Sillage
Made of: Not Found
With its high end perfumes, House of Sillage creates small works of art, known for their beautiful and different bottles. There is an additional cost of $1,510 USD for the 2.5 oz of Emerald Reign. However, it is so beautiful! In the company of a tiger!
19. Tom Ford Vert de Fleur
Price: $595 USD
Owner: N/A
Brand: Tom Ford
Made of: Not Found
In addition to making high-end clothing and beauty products, Tom Ford also produces fragrances and beauty products. In the Private Blend line, Vert de Fleur Eau de Parfum is available for $595 USD.
20. Clive Christian 1872
Price: $169 USD
Owner: Not Found
Brand: Clive Christians
Made of: rose de mai, orchid and jasmine combines with fresh citrus notes from bergamot and lemon
Approximately $169 USD is the price per ounce for Clive Christians 1872 for men. A new scent is created when the two lovers wearing the perfume embrace, and the perfume goes with the female version by the same name. Their creation was a tribute to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
There are perfumes whose prices have gone up not just because of their bottles but because of the legacy, authenticity, and originality of the fragrance. In 2000, the Fragrance Foundation Awards chose Caron’s fragrance Poivre and Joy by Jean Patou as the perfume of the century, winning Chanel’s N°5.