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17 cult French perfumes you must try

Best French Fragrances Reviews - Marion Cotillard

They’re refined, they’re timeless and they’re oh-so-French

By Chelsea Tromans

Beauty Crew Contributing Editor / February 12 2019

Fragrance is a way of life in France. It defines who they are and they never leave home without it. So, as you can imagine, meticulous devotion is taken when concocting a French perfume, which is probably why so many of the most-loved and iconic fragrances in the world originate from there.

When you think signature scent, you think French fragrances. They’re sophisticated and seductive, striking a balance between an uncomplicated yet statement scent in a way that only the French know how to achieve. And we are BIG fans.

We asked our Beauty Crew team and SUPERcrew members to share their reviews for the best French perfumes. This is their list of favourite women’s fragrances by French perfume brands. Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest French perfume names, including CHANEL and Guerlain, received more than a couple of votes, but you’ll also find some unique niche spritzes in here, too.

#17 / Guerlain Mon Guerlain EDP

The review: “This is a great long-lasting perfume that is feminine and floral yet also has a confident sharpness to it.” Milan, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $151 (50mL)

#16 / Lancôme La vie est belle Eau de Parfum

The review: “This is one of the most beautiful perfumes I own. The scent lasts all day and I get so many compliments when I wear it. The bottle is also beautiful and feels special when you put this on every day. It is a sweeter smell without being sickly or too sweet.” Evana, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $147 (50mL)

#15 / Robert Piguet Fracas EDP

The review: “Fracas is the greatest perfume ever created as far as I'm concerned, and it has been a classic for many a bombshell over the years (from Brigitte Bardot to Madonna apparently). The description of it being a tuberose-filled (tuberose dominates the perfume) and white flower masterpiece is very apt, but it also has some citrusy, light top notes of bergamot and mandarin, which then make way for the white floral middle notes (tuberose, jasmine and gardenia). It is exxy in the extreme, and quite hard to find, BUT when you do find it, you will have found fragrance nirvana.” Jacqui, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $249 (100mL)

#14 / CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle EDP

The review: “The best French perfume that I love to wear is Coco Mademoiselle by CHANEL. To me it’s fresh, feminine and not too overpowering, and it also smells expensive.” Aneta, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $165 (50mL)

#13 / Guerlain Shalimar EDP

The review: “My favourite French perfume house is Guerlain and [my favourite fragrance] is Shalimar! It’s a timeless piece of elegance and sophistication. It is oriental, but subtle. It has quality vanilla written all over it. I like the slightly smoky opening of citrus and the leather notes too.” Anita, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $156 (50mL)

#12 / Thierry Mugler Alien EDP

The review: “This is my go-to perfume for dates and nights out. It's warm, confident and sexy! It's very high quality, lasts a long time and has a depth to the scent that is hard to find with some perfumes.” Georgia, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $161 (60mL)

#11 / Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Mon Paris EDP

The review: “YSL Mon Paris is one of my favourite French perfumes. I wore it when I was in Paris last year and it always brings back fond memories of traipsing around the museums and galleries during the day, and exploring the French cabaret shows and bars by night! At first blush, it’s quite a sweet, fruit fragrance with a feminine floral heart, which is balanced by the elegance of the deep chypre base. For me, this is the epitome of a ‘date night’ fragrance – it’s flirty and seductive, yet also sophisticated and elegant.” Isobel Larkin, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Assistant

Cost: $165 (50mL)

#10 / Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum

The review: “J'Adore is a stunning and timeless floral scent that turns heads and infuses your senses with a bouquet of roses, African orchids, damascus plum and violets. It is perfect for the warmer months when Dior Midnight Poison is a little too rich and indulgent. J'Adore is sexy, feminine, and above all romantic. J'Adore EDP is one of the most beautiful fragrances I have discovered to date and I will always have a bottle on hand because I honestly feel lost without it.” Tammerley, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $165 (50mL)

#9 / Chloé Eau de Parfum

The review: “Chloé EDP is a classic that will always have a spot in my fragrance wardrobe. It has a beautiful lightness to it that’s perfect for everyday wear, and is elegantly feminine and floral. I love it as much today as I did in my early 20s.” Chelsea Tromans, Beauty Crew’s Contributing Editor

Cost: $145 (50mL)

#8 / Diptyque Philosykos EDP

The review: “I find that Diptyque perfumes have a very unique scent that is different to other brands, such as Diptyque Philosykos and 34 Boulevard Saint Germain - they both have fig tree, ripe fruit and a bit of floral. These scents are refreshing but sophisticated at the same time.” Helen, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $227 (75mL)

#7 / Annick Goutal Tenue De Soirée

The review: “Not only is the bottle beautiful on my dressing table, but the scent is divine with notes of patchouli and iris. I save it for special occasions as it makes me feel a little more dressed up and polished. All Annick Goutal’s perfumes are handmade in France so I can daydream of walking the streets of the Seine with every spritz!” Toni Hynes, Who & New Idea’s Beauty Editor

Cost: $184 (50mL)

#6 / CHANEL No 5. EDP

The review: “It is classic. Just represents simplicity of elegance and power.” Jovanka, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $165 (50mL)

#5 / Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady EDP

The review: “An elegant and magnetic scent by one of the fragrance masters. When I'm wearing this l'm constantly asked what fragrance it is! A modern twist on a classic oriental rose, it is unique and sophisticated, and has become my not-so-secret signature scent!” Carmen, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $332 (50mL)

#4 / Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita

The review: “This summer, my spritz of choice is Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita. The airy fragrance, which features notes like juicy grapefruit, lemon, orange blossom and pear, is a brilliant concoction that so perfectly encapsulates the feeling and mood of eating a Calippo at the beach.” Iantha Yu, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Editor

Cost: $95 (75mL)

#3 / Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning EDT

The review: “The combination of notes in Lazy Sunday Morning (pear, lily of the valley, white musk and orange flower to name a few) work perfectly to make this the kind of perfume that makes you smell amazing without it seeming like you’re even wearing a perfume. The soft, subtle notes aren’t sweet or flowery, so it’s the perfect fragrance for someone who prefers something more understated. This has become a daily spritz for me (and not just for those lazy Sunday mornings…).” Carli Alman, Beauty Crew’s Editor

Cost: $170 (100mL)

#2 / CHANEL Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Sycomore EDP

The review: “CHANEL Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Sycomore Eau de Parfum is one of my all-time favourites. First created by Gabrielle Chanel in 1930, this is a woody and slightly spicy scent that I reserve for the cooler weather. It’s comforting but uplifting and evokes memories of winter getaways and open fires.” Alex Noonan, Beauty Crew’s Digital Content Director

Cost: $285 (75mL)

#1 / Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Black Opium EDP

The review: “I adore Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent as it has a deep and sultry smell with notes of black coffee, yet remains feminine and elegant with its hints of vanilla and white florals.” Alex, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $165 (50mL)

Looking for some men’s fragrance inspo for your significant other? Shop these popular colognes (psst, you ladies will love them, too!).

Plus, learn how to find a fragrance that matches your fashion style.

What’s your favourite French perfume? Share your reviews with us below!

Main image credit: Getty

Chelsea Tromans

Chelsea is BEAUTYcrew’s Contributing Editor. She has a sweet spot for anything that claims to make skin glow and won’t leave the house without a slick of mascara. Chelsea has 10 years of experience as a beauty editor and her words can be found on BEAUTYcrew, Women’s Health, Daily Addict, The Joye and Primped.