I recently requested a selection of the Fragrance Foundation’s “greatest hits” and got a mix of award winners for 2022 and likely nominees for the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards in NYC. Some I am familiar with and some are new to me. (By the way, the nominee luncheon is super fun and one of the big social events of the year!) The organization’s president, Linda G. Levy, is a genuine scent maniac like the rest of us and whose previous job was as the merchandise manager of fragrances for Macy’s. Three of the big FF Award winners from 2022 are featured in my post on Coty Fragrances for V-Day, so check it out!
Parfums Christian Dior Sauvage Elixir was voted the 2022 Fragrance Of The Year by the Fragrance Foundation and the way it smells of grapefruit, cardamom, cinnamon and woods knocks every man’s socks off. I consider it the great grandchild of the legendary Au Savage which never went out of style! It’s a bit pricey at $180 for the two ounce bottle but worth every dime because this fragrance lasts and lasts. As a woman who enjoys wearing men’s fragrances, this one will get you stopped on the street by people wanting to know what scent it is. Order here: SAUVAGE ELIXIR.
Tom Ford has taken the fragrance world by storm in the past 10 years and he is the king of unisex fragrances (at least in my book). I believe he is so successful in the scent biz because each scent is unique and highly mysterious—and many of them have very sexy names! Black Orchid, a spicy mix of dark florals, plum and bitter orange that people especially love to wear in winter, got big props from the Fragrance Foundation in 2022 when it walked away with the Fragrance Hall Of Fame Award. It is a well-deserved award! Order the 3.4 ounce bottle for $150 on this link: BLACK ORCHID.
Speaking of Tom Ford (a guy who really “gets around” in both the fragrance and fashion worlds to put it mildly), Electric Cherry is really causing a stir. This unisex fragrance merges the scent of Morello cherry with the warmth of musk and sultry jasmine. There is some spicy pink peppercorn in the mix as well. I love the block shaped bottles of all of Tom Ford’s scents—they really feel substantial and look very cutting edge. The deep red color of the Electric Cherry bottle is intriguing and something you will be proud to display on your vanity. Order here at $250 for a one ounce bottle: ELECTRIC CHERRY.
Diptyque’s Limited Edition Do Son EDT is a must for those who love fragrances that combine “blue” sea scents and florals! The floral notes here are the bomb—you get tuberoses are mingling with jasmine and ylang-ylang. Diptyque might be more known for its candles but they have really been coming up in the luxury fragrance world—and this one’s a unique masterpiece. The Asian blue and cream label on this bottle is stunning and I suggest buying the Diptyque’s Tuberose candle to make an amazing gift set. This long lasting, memorable scent is available for $78 on this link: LIMITED EDITION DO SON.
Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne has top notes of violet leaves and Lemon; middle notes are Rose, Bulgarian Rose, Turkish Rose, Damask Rose, May Rose and French Rose; base note is Honeycomb. This is a dream scent for rose lovers and it smells as if you have three dozen roses right next to you. Jo Malone fragrances are all about freshness and that is why they are so beloved—whatever flower or fruit is in the title is bottled up into a fabulous scent but it still smells like the item was just picked on a farm or in a garden. If you like Red Roses, I suggest Jo Malone’s Scarlet Poppy Cologne Intense as your next dramatic floral scent purchase. Order the 1.7 ounce bottle here for $110: RED ROSES.
Another top unisex fragrance (that Gucci likes to refer to as a “universal” scent) is Gucci Memoire D’Une Odeur. This stunning EDP won the Fragrance Foundation’s 2022 Fragrance Of The Year, Universal Prestige. The cut glass bottle is oh-so-retro and classy but wait until you smell it—Memoire blends Roman Chamomile and Indian Coral Jasmine to establish a new olfactive family, Mineral Aromatic. There is a little bit of vanilla and “woodsy” vibes going on in this high end EDP as well. If you want something that is mysterious and subtle, this is the fragrance for you. Order the 3.3 ounce bottle here for $122: MEMOIR D’UNE ODEUR.
Prada Paradoxes EDP Refillable Spray is truly a unique product. It resembles the triangular Prada logo and lays on its side instead of straight up. It’s very cute and sophisticated at the same time. Prada Paradoxe was created by Nadège Le Garlantezec, Antoine Maisondieu and Shyamala Maisondieu. Top notes are Pear, Tangerine and Bergamot; middle notes are Orange Blossom, Neroli Essence, Neroli and Jasmine Sambac; base notes are Bourbon Vanilla, White Musk, Amber and Benzoin. I honestly want to get three bottles and stack them just like the promotional picture above, LOL. This is a strong, sophisticated Neroli centered scent ideal for the mysterious woman of many moods in your life. Buy the three ounce bottle here for $152: PARADOXE EDP.
If you like gifting sets to your lady, Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb Eau De Parfum Gift Set is perfect because you get full and travel sizes of this legendary scent. Specifically, you get a 1.7 ounce bottle of EDP, a .34 ounce bottle of EDP and a .24 oz rollerball. This warm and spicy fragrance is an intoxicating mix of Cattelya, jasmine and rose and has been said to smell like “a room full of rose petals.” A set like this should keep even the biggest Flowerbomb addict “good” for a year. This scent won a Fragrance Foundation Award way back in 2006 for Media Campaign Of The Year. It can be ordered here for $135.00: FLOWERBOMB EDP SET.
