Best French Perfume Brands You Need To Own - Parfumery.co.uk

If you’re looking for a new perfume brand that stands out, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we will cover best French perfume brands that deliver unique scents that can make all the difference to your fragrance wardrobe.

As you read through this blog, keep in mind that every perfume brand has its loyal fragrance enthusiasts who swear by it. So whether you’re looking for an everyday fragrance or something extra special for a special occasion, we have you covered!

Best French Perfume Brands

French perfumes are renowned for their quality and style. Many popular brands like Chanel N5, Coco Mademoiselle, and Guerlain Shalimar are based in France. These perfumes offer signature scents that can be easily recognised by the general public.

Some of the best-known perfumes of French origin include Hermès, founded in 1837, Terre d’Hermès by Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne perfume brand, which features a long-lasting fragrance with a signature scent. Other brands in the market include Fumé d'Opium by Thierry Mugler and Annick Goutal Perfumes.

The best perfume brands in the market have been able to develop new fragrance concepts that enhance the beauty and elegance of women. The fragrances offered by these brands are made from pure essential oils and fine fragrance compounds. They are also known for the unique blends of fragrance ingredients used in their perfumes.

1. Chanel

Chanel No. 5 is the most well-known perfume by the brand, and it has been a signature scent for decades. Chanel perfumes are some of the most popular in the world, with Chance by Chanel and Coco Mademoiselle being the most popular. Besides Chanel No. 5, La vie est Belle by Lancôme and Amazing Grace by Philosophy are also popular French perfumes.

If you are looking for a new perfume to try out, there are plenty of options available. These brands offer a wide range of perfumes that can suit any taste, from light citrusy fragrances to more exotic perfume blends.

Whether you are looking for something classic and elegant or something more daring and unique, you will find something that suits your personality and individual scent signature in the French perfume category. If you'd like to try any perfumes out by this brand head on over to our Chanel Perfume Samples page. 

2. Guerlain

Guerlain is one of the oldest perfume brands in the world, with a history dating back to the early 19th century. The perfumery was founded by Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain in 1828, and since then it has become renowned for its signature scent, the “Guerlinade”.

This signature scent is characterised by hints of tonka beans, iris, rose, vanilla, bergamot, and jasmine.

Guerlain perfumes are among the best in the business, and its signature scent is distinctive and unique. The brand is known for creating perfumes with a subtle yet distinct olfactory signature that offers a lasting fragrance experience. Besides perfume creation, Guerlain also produces luxury beauty products such as creams and lotions.

3. Christian Dior

Christian Dior is world-renowned for its perfume and beauty products. The brand’s perfumes, cosmetics, and fragrance eau de parfum have revolutionised the fashion industry and gained widespread popularity over the past several decades.

Some of the best perfumes from the brand include Miss Dior, J’Adore and Poison. In recent years, Christian Dior has expanded its perfume offerings by releasing new scents such as Miss Dior Le parfum in 2012. This fragrance features seductive notes of Rose and Jasmine with a bouquet of roses from an expensive florist.

Whether you’re looking for a signature scent or trying to find a new favorite perfume to wear everyday, Christian Dior perfumes are sure to please. Their signature fragrance range is diverse and captivating, making them ideal for wearing at work, on a date night, or just hanging out with friends. Whether you want to wear a perfume that makes a statement or one that is subtle and gentle, Christian Dior perfumes will surely suit your needs.

4. Nina Ricci

Nina Ricci is a French fashion house best known for its signature scent, L'Air du Temps. The fragrance was created by perfumer Francis Fabron in collaboration with Robert Ricci, the brand's founder and creative director.

L'Air du Temps is described as youthful, modern, and magnetic due to its signature note of bergamot combined with jasmine and citrus notes. Other popular perfumes from Nina Ricci include L'Air Du Temps and Nina.

The brand has developed a reputation for creating fragrance that is rich in sensory appeal and easy to wear, making it a popular choice among perfume lovers everywhere.

Perfumes from Nina Ricci are often described as unique and signature due to the brand's signature scent.

5. Mugler

Mugler is a French fashion and perfume brand founded in 1974 by Thierry Mugler. The brand is best known for its signature scents, notably the best sellers Angel and Alien.

Angel is a sweet and fresh fragrance in a diamond-colored star-shaped bottle, while Alien is a woody fragrance with an amber base. These unique perfumes have made the brand of interest to perfume lovers around the world.

Mugler eventually made their bottles refillable by providing dual sources – both perfume and parfum, allowing consumers to try multiple scents from one bottle. Today, Mugler perfumes are sold at upscale department stores and fashion boutiques worldwide.

6. Chloé

Chloé perfume is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. The brand is best known for its signature scent, which features a floral combination of vibrant aromas. Chloé perfume has been designed in collaboration with some of the best perfumers in France and has been worn by celebrities such as Madonna, Emma Stone, and Katie Holmes.

The brand's signature scent has become a popular choice for women seeking a signature fragrance that is versatile and sophisticated.

Chloé perfume is available in a wide range of fragrance options, including women's signature fragrance and body perfume. The signature scent of Chloé perfume is a floral combination of vibrant aromas that can be worn anywhere from day to night.

Whether you are looking for something light and subtle or something extra bold and boho, Chloe perfume has you covered.

7. Lancôme

Lancôme is one of the most famous perfume brands in the world, with Miracle and La Vie Est Belle being two of its best-selling perfumes. Miracle is a women’s fragrance with a unique blend of bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood.

Meanwhile, La Vie est Belle is a floral fruity gourmand fragrance for women that entwines iris, patchouli, and Arabian jasmine sambac with sweet notes of orange blossom, warm vanilla, and spun sugar. Whether you are looking for a signature perfume or just want to try something new,

Lancôme has something that will fit your needs and fragrance preferences. With richly flavoured perfumes like Miracle and La Vie Est Belle, it’s sure to be a fragrance journey worth taking.

8. Goutal

Goutal is a perfume brand established by Annick Goutal in 1981. The perfumery uses authentic raw materials and is environmentally conscious in its production processes.

The perfumes are known for their combination of elegance and sensuality, creating an intimate and personal scent inspired by nature, poetry, and music.

Annick Goutal Paris perfumes are characterized by a desire to create perfumes that are rich in fragrance, but also reflective of the personality of the wearer. The brand’s first scent was Eau d’Hadrien, which was inspired by the summery Tuscan hills of Italy.

Goutal perfumes are known for their fresh, radiant scent that is balanced between sweet and spicy notes. The brand’s signature perfumes are known to be unique and memorable, creating the perfect fragrance for any occasion or personality type.

9. Lolita Lempicka

Lolita Lempicka is a French tailor and fragrance creator, who launched her eponymous brand in 1997. Her signature fragrance, Le Parfum, is a floral, fruity gourmand fragrance that has been eau de parfum par excellence since its launch in 2006.

The scent is based on licorice, anise, and violet, with notes of incense and amber. Yves Saint Laurent's Opium Eau de Parfum is a seductive scent with notes of incense, amber, patchouli, and myrrh.

Lolita Lempicka's perfume line features cologne and perfume for men and women as well as body care products. One of the most popular perfumes from the brand is Si Lolita, a delightfully scented elixir of affection created by Christine Nagel and Benoit Lapouza.

10. Ex Nihilo

Ex Nihilo is one of the newer perfumes from France and was founded in 2013 by a young trio. Ex Nihilospecializes in fragrance customization, offering creative freedom to its creators. The brand cares deeply about the quality of its perfumes and ensures that they always deliver signature fragrance with exceptional staying power and performance. 

11. Hermès

Hermès, a French fragrance brand, was established in 1837 by Thierry Hermès. The brand has since become world renowned for its signature perfume collection, known for its rich and unique scent combinations.

Hermès perfumes have been featured in many Hollywood movies, including the 1995 film Scent of a Woman and the 1997 film All About Steve. They have also been worn by celebrities such as Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, and Salma Hayek.

The brand's signature perfume collection Eau d'Hermès was first released in 1949. Since then, it has developed into a popular choice among perfume lovers worldwide.

Perfumes from this collection include Eau d'Hermès I, Eau d'Hermès II, Eau d'Hermès III, Eau d'Hermès IV, Eau d'Hermès V, and Eau d'Hermès VI. All of these perfumes have earthy, woody scents that reflect the power of nature.

12. Cacharel

Cacharel is a ready-to-wear brand founded in 1958 by Jean Bousquet. Cacharel perfumes are created in France and are best known for their signature floral fragrance, Anaïs Anaïs.

The scent was first launched in 1978 and quickly became a popular favorite among perfume aficionados. Today, all of Cacharel's perfumes are made in France, ensuring that they are of the highest quality. The brand is recognized for its signature floral fragrance, Anaïs Anaïs, as well as other unique scent blends.

Cacharel perfumes have earned a reputation for being both beautiful and mysterious. Their signature fragrance, Anaïs Anaïs, is described as a blend of jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, vanilla, and amber.

Amor Amor was one of Cacharel's more recent perfume releases and features a blend of cedarwood, amber, musk, sandalwood, and sandalwood absolute. Both perfumes are available in various scent options to suit individual preferences and cravings.

13. Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian was established in 2009 after a collaboration between perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and perfumer Marc Chaya. The brand is best known for its signature fragrance, Kurkdjian Woman, which was created by Francis Kurkdjian himself.

The creative vision of Maison Francis Kurkdjian is to create perfumes that are in the tradition of luxury French perfumery, while offering a contemporary vision of the art of creating and wearing perfume.

The Maison Francis Kurkdjian collection features fragrances that range from seductive women's frags to signature perfume for men. Some of the signature frags include Monalisa, Kurkdjian Woman, Baccarat Rouge 540 and Le Male. The brand's signature fragrance has become popular among fashion designers and celebrities worldwide.

For more on this perfumer take a look at what Maison Francis Kurkdjian perfume samples we've got in stock.

14. Diptyque

Diptyque is a French luxury fragrance brand founded in the early 1960s by Desmond Knox-Leet, Yves Coueslant, and Christiane Gautrot. The brand creates perfumes, scented candles, and perfume oil diffusers.

One of Diptyque’s popular fragrances is Eau des Sens, which is a floral and fruity scent. Their signature scent, Philosykosis, smells like a fig tree from its roots to its fruits. This brand is best known for creating unique perfumes with a signature scent.

Diptyque’s perfumes are popular among fashion enthusiasts and perfume lovers alike for their unique blend of fragrance ingredients and rich aromas. The brand’s signature fragrance range includes Eau des Sens, which combines floral notes with citrus and fruit undertones. Philosykosis is another popular fragrance created by Diptyque that has a distinctive scent of ripe figs. You can try out this brand by choosing from our Diptyque Perfume Samples page.

15. Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier is one of the most renowned French perfume brands. It was founded in 1982 by the eponymous designer and is known for its unique, gender-bending fragrances.

The brand’s signature scent, Le Male, is a woody, spicy fragrance that has become a best-selling perfume around the world. Le Male is widely recognized for its signature scent and versatility.

The scent can be worn versatile from day to night and is best suited for men with a strong personality. Other popular Jean Paul Gaultier perfumes include Gout de Roulis and Ambre Colombo. The brand recently launched new scents, including Gaultier 2 and Ma Dame, which have a modern twist on traditional perfumes.

How to Choose the Right French Perfume Brand

If you're searching for the perfect French perfume brand, it's important to consider the age of the brand. For instance, D'Orsay is one of the oldest French perfume brands, created by Alfred d'Orsay nearly two hundred years ago. The brand has been known for its unique perfumes that feature jasmine, lilies, and amber since it was founded in 1836.

Another popular French perfume brand is Guerlain. The brand has been in business for more than a century and has released some of the most iconic perfumes of all time, like Shalimar and Mitsouko. Although it's best known for its fragrances, it also makes skincare products and perfumes for women.

Another popular brand is L'Artisan Parfumeur. It was founded in 1982 by Francois Demary and specializes in natural perfumery ingredients. Its perfumes are made with flowers such as jasmine, chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood, patchouli, cedar leaf, and vanilla that have been grown on farms across France.

Look for a brand that expresses luxury and desire such as Hermès. The brand was founded in Paris in 1837 and has released some of the most iconic perfumes of all time like Cashmeres de Turquie and Irène. You can find many of these perfumes online or at luxury beauty stores.

Types of French Perfume Brands

French perfumes are known for their unique elegance, art de vivre, and sophistication. French fashion houses such as Chanel and Guerlain are popular perfumery brands that have become synonymous with luxury and elegance. However, they also have a history of innovation, developing new perfume fragrance formulations and perfumes that have become signature pieces in fashion. Today, there are many iconic French perfume brands that have established themselves as leader in the fragrance industry. Some of the best-known ones include Hermès, D’Orsay, Amélie Huynh, and Thierry Hermès.

Hermès is a fragrance brand established by Thierry Hermès in 1837. It is known for its luxury perfumes and fragrances. D'Orsay is another perfume brand founded nearly two hundred years ago by Alfred d’Orsay. It has a reputation for creating signature scents that are popular globally. Amélie Huynh reintroduced d’Orsay perfumes in 2015 after shutting down her eau de parfum fragrance brand eau d’amour due to regulatory issues.

Thierry Hermès was one of the first brands to bring high fashion perfumery to France and today it continues to be on top of the fragrance world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good French perfume different from other perfumes?

French perfumes often stand out from other perfumes due to its elegance and fashion-forward scent. Yves Saint Laurent is renowned for its seductive and dark perfumes such as Opium Eau de Parfum, while Honore des Pres creates high-end perfumes using only natural ingredients. It is best to avoid perfumes that are too heavily scented or do not last long.

Finally, French perfumes tend to be more expensive than other perfumes due to their quality ingredients, craftsmanship and luxurious packaging. Therefore, it's important to keep in mind that a good French perfume may cost more but will have a longer lasting fragrance.

Are there any tips for picking the right French perfume for me?

Choosing the right perfume can be an intimidating process, but these simple tips can help to make it easier. First and foremost, do your research: brands like Guerlain, Yves Saint Laurent, L'Artisan Parfumeur, and Nina Ricci have a reputation for quality and are great places to start. In addition, perfume.com offers discounted perfumes with free shipping!

When you’ve narrowed your choices down consider 15 of the best french perfume brands such as Guerlain and Nina Ricci to find the scent that best reflects you. Finally, don’t forget to check reviews and ratings of the perfumes you are considering to ensure you make the best choice. Following these steps will help guide you to making the perfect perfume selection.

What factors should I consider when choosing a French perfume?

When it comes to selecting a French perfume, there are many factors to consider. Firstly, it's best to choose timeless and iconic perfumes that are suitable for your lifestyle and suitable for the occasion. A fragrance should be strong and last through the day so you can enjoy its scent all day long.

To make sure you get a unique scent, research some of the best French perfume brands to find out which ones best suit your style. Ultimately, it is important to trust your instincts when choosing a perfume that best reflects who you are and the image you would like to create.

Finally, it is best to try out different perfumes by sampling them first before committing to buy one. This will allow you to find the perfect scent for you!

Conclusion

From Chanel's No. 5 to Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male, there is a fragrance brand for every perfume lover. If you want to smell as amazing as these French perfume brands, pick the fragrance that best suits your personality and flaunt it like a true Parisian. Happy scenting! Here’s a quick reference on the types of perfume brands: Floral perfumes are usually feminine fragrances with floral notes such as jasmine or lavender. Oriental perfumes have rich, musky scents such as vanilla or patchouli. Fresh perfumes have notes of citrus or mint while masculine perfumes have woody scents like sandalwood and amber.