Notes: To create this fantasy, Le Labo roots Santal 33 in iris and ambrox, introduced by top notes of violet accord and cardamom. At the base, however, are cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood for hints of Western spice.
This Smells Like: A spicy, woody leather.
The Royalty-Inspired: Floris London Platinum 22
Why We Love It
Londoners celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum jubilee in various ways, but few tributes were as fun as Floris of London’s Platinum 22. As England’s oldest fragrance retailer and the holder of multiple royal warrants, Floris of London’s connection to the crown runs deep. Still, you don’t have to be a Windsor watcher to appreciate this sophisticated and feminine composition.
Notes: Drawing inspiration from the gardens at official residences like Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, and Holyroodhouse, the scent utilizes a mix of traditional florals—rose, violet leaf—and quintessentially English ingredients like oats, blackcurrant, and black tea, to honor her majesty’s seven decades of service.
This Smells Like: A woody flower.
The Fragrance Enhancer: D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What
Why We Love It
Sometimes you want a scent that smells like a blank canvas; something easily worn each day on its own, or paired with other perfumes (for all my fans of fragrance layering!). If that sounds like you, D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What is for you—an elixir designed to enhance the scent of whatever accompanies it.
Notes: That certain je ne sais quoi arrives by way of a blend of bergamot essence, iso e super (a woody, cedar-like aroma), and ambrox super (another woodsy, amber aroma) that adds freshness and softness to the wearer.
This Smells Like: You—but better.
The Powdery Spice: Henry Rose Queens and Monsters
Why We Love It
Michelle Pfeiffer has portrayed every type of character imaginable during her onscreen career, and the acting icon brings that same level of drama to her fragrance line Henry Rose. The range’s scents gamut from demure to devilish, and the standout Queens and Monsters lives up to its name.
Notes: Neroli and petitgrain are often subtle background notes, but they’re the stars here, brought to the forefront by opposing freesia, jasmine, vanilla, coco musk, and sandalwood. It’s a clean beauty lover’s dream that is zesty, aromatic, and surprisingly potent.