There is something decadent about owning a designer fragrance. Far from being a mere gateway for buying into luxury labels thanks to their more affordable prices - you may not be able to afford a designer bag, but perhaps you can make a play for a perfume – some ofthe best fragrances to exist come from fashion houses. In fact, while the fragrances market is projected to generate a worldwide revenue of £48.29bn this year, according to Statista, the lucrative sector is dominated by the likes of Chanel, Dior and Prada who have long-established olfactive offerings as well as clothing and accessories. One of the best premium fragrance brands that comes highly rated by the Grazia beauty team? Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton launched its very first scent, Heures d’Absence, in 1927, at the height of the Roaring Twenties and just six years after Chanel's iconic No5. For context, Christian Dior launched his first perfume, Miss Dior, in 1947, and Yves Saint Laurent followed suit in 1964. Interestingly, LV's scent story failed to continue outside of the 1920s and the brand didn't launch another perfume until 2016. But almost a century on, its modern collection contains some of our favourite fragrances of the moment.
One of my all-time favourite scents is Louis Vuitton's Les Sables Roses, £320. Part of the brand's Oriental Perfumes collection and crafted by Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, this unique offering is described as a 'a hot and cold perfume' and a quick spritz quickly reveals why. Drawing on notes of rose and oud – each equally rich but entirely unique to one another – the fusion of both creates an indulgent fragrance moment that smells truly expensive. It instantly takes me back to holidays spent in Abu Dhabi when I would wander Saadiyat Island and be caught in the wafts of all that is warm, cosy and woody.
Louis Vuitton certainly knows a thing or two about teleporting its wearer using the power of scent. Look to its Californian coast-inspired sunny scents: Sun Song, £260, Afternoon Swim, £260, Pacific Chill, £260, and Cactus Garden, £260, which were created by Louis Vuitton's master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, to uplift moods and spirits through the fresh and vibrant zesty notes of orange blossom, bergamot and lemon that will whisk you to the West Coast landscape.
Perfect for every occasion, Annie Vischer, Grazia's head of beauty, dubbed Le Jour Se Lève, £260, as one of the best scents for brides, noting, 'A blend of mandarin notes, blackcurrant accord, jasmine, peony and osmanthus deliver a heady, grown-up scent that lasts all day long. It's fresh, pretty and luxe enough to match the atmosphere and setting of a beautiful French château wedding.'
Grazia's Best Louis Vuitton Fragrances, At A Glance
The best Louis Vuitton oud fragrance: Louis Vuitton Les Sables Roses, £320
The best new Louis Vuitton fragrance: [Louis Vuitton]{href='https://uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gb/products/elves-louis-vuitton-nvprod6320098v/LP0418' class='add-referrer-link'} eLVes Louis Vuitton, £260
The best Louis Vuitton fragrance for summer: Louis Luitton On the Beach, £260
The best timeless fragrance from Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton Cœur Battant, £260
The best gourmand fragrance from Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton Attrape-Rêves, £260
With a lot on offer, you wouldn't be blamed for not knowing where to start when selecting the right Louis Vuitton perfume for you. So you'll be pleased to know we've done the hard work for you. Having spritzed through a fair share ourselves and received intel from the brand on its very best bestsellers, we bring you the Louis Vuitton fragrances worth adding to cart now.
Shop: The Best Louis Vuitton Fragrances
The best Louis Vuitton oud fragrance
uk.louisvuitton.com
What the brand says: 'Fascinated by the harmony that springs from contrasts, the Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has composed a hot and cold perfume playing with two exceptional qualities of rose and oud. Its simple, limpid script underscores the natural beauty and richness of two of perfumery’s most legendary ingredients.'
What we know: Part of the brand's Oriental Perfumes collection, this scent takes its inspiration from the Middle East's fragrance heritage and hones into the region's most beloved and expensive raw materials - oud.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I am obsessed with oud and one of my greatest joys is the curated edit I have on rotation day-to-day. While I have a fair share of favourites Louis Vuitton's Les Sables Roses sits among my most-loved. Oud is heavy, deep and rich – which I will never grow tired of – but the blend of centifolia rose absolute and Bulgarian rose essence in this scent lifts the profile of oud entirely into something fresh and wearable for any day.'
Pros
- Delicate blend of rose and oud
- Brand bestseller
Cons
- Very high price point
The best new Louis Vuitton fragrance
uk.louisvuitton.com
What the brand says: 'An ode to visionary Louis Vuitton women, this perfume is for those who seize the day with trailblazing energy, embodying a free-spirited boldness as they make their mark on the world. Imbued with the House’s audacious spirit, eLVes Louis Vuitton embraces the universal courage, strength, and beauty exemplified by women — the quintessence of a multifaceted femininity.'
What we know: Louis Vuitton's first ever fragrance, which launched in the 1920s, was decorated with a miniature airplane motif as a nod to the brand’s love of travel. LV's newest offering, again takes inspiration the Maison’s rich sense of adventure by honing in on how the Louis Vuitton woman explores with curiosity and boldness.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'That bold character is a hallmark of this scent, which is brought to life through rose. Feminine and delicate, yes, but as far as scent is concerned it is rich and immediately recognisable. This scent goes big on that facet by blending Bulgarian rose
absolute and a CO2-extracted centifolia rose (an exclusive to Louis Vuitton) to bring a whole new way to experience a classic fragrance note.'
Pros
- Tech-first formula uses CO2-extracted centifolia rose
- Uses lily-of-the-valley in never-before-seen ways
Cons
- Not for those who don't love floral fragrances
The best Louis Vuitton fragrance for summer
uk.louisvuitton.com
What the brand says: 'The ecstasy of the sun, the rhythm of the sea and the gentle warmth of sand on the skin. Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud blends the infinite emotions of a day spent on a sunny beach.'
What we know: Blended with hard-to-come-by citrusy yuzu from Japan, bright neroli, as well as herby aromatics like thyme, rosemary, pink pepper, and cloves, this scent is as fresh as they come.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'For a quick escape, look to this. It is bright thanks to the combination of niroli and yuzu, but is quickly balanced and brought back down to earth (quite literally) with an herby spice blend. Together they will transport you to sunny shores where a rosemary citrus sorbet is the only thing on the agenda.'
Pros
- Bright and uplifting scent
- Brand bestseller
Cons
- Best suited to those who prefer a fresh fragance profile
The best timeless fragrance from Louis Vuitton
uk.louisvuitton.com
What the brand says: 'Like a wave of emotion sweeping through you, Cœur Battant is an invitation to listen to your heart and live every moment with passion. The Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud gives body to this instinctive and passionate perfume with a luscious bite of sparkling pear inciting you to enjoy life to the full.'
What we know: Pear may be a hero note in this stellar scent but it is the blend of white flowers like sambac jasmine and ylang-ylang that really lifts it into a soft and fresh offering that works anytime of any day.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'For me, this scent falls into what I'd call a classic scent. It is entirely inoffensive and quickly pleasing meaning you don't need to be in any specific mood to love it - it just works given any moment, whether at the office or on a night out with the girls. It is soft and sensual, yet bold and present, which is exactly what I look for in an every day fragrance.'
Pros
- Classical fragrance profile
Cons
- Those who prefer something entirely unique could pass on this
The best gourmand fragrance from Louis Vuitton
uk.louisvuitton.com
What the brand says: 'Imagined with luminosity by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Attrape-Rêves embodies the daring and invigorating journey of realising a dream. Inspired by this journey that transcends the senses, the Louis Vuitton Master Perfumer imagined Attrape-Rêves as 'a conquering perfume' and created an empowering composition of contrasts.'
What we know: That contrast the brand speaks of is made apparent by the juxtaposition of delicate and dainty peony with deep raw cocoa powder. That delicate sweetness is further heightened by Turkish rose absolute and a heart of patchouli, but quickly balanced by spicy ginger and fresh bergamot.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'If you love a fresh take on a gourmand scent (guilty as charged), there is a good chance you will quickly fall for this. Loaded with rich cocoa powder, delicate peony and Turkish rose absolute, and sweet litchi accord, it works as the perfect partner for summer evenings when you find yourself basked in the glow of golden hour during date night.'
Pros
- Blends various fragance families together seamlessly
Cons
- May not work for those who don't like gourmand scents
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).