This year has seen a a new guard of luxury fragrances find their way into our lives. We'll always be partial to the classics, but anyone who leans into the idea of a fragrance wardrobe will jump at the news of a really good new launch. Plus, what's better than being ahead of the game, wearing a hit before the rest of the world catches on?
From Fendi's return to perfume, to a superstitious new scent from CHANEL's Exclusifs collection, to caramel notes made sophisticated by Celine – here are all the new luxury fragrances that have launched in 2024 that are poised for icon status.
LOUIS VUITTONL Lovers
While technically a masculine fragrance, this is light, bright and green (perfect for all genders). A sunny collaboration between Pharrell and LV perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, it pairs ginger with cedarwood and galbanum — think fresh, energetic and very lean.
FENDI Roma Ciao Amore
Fendi's return to fragrance is one to pay attention to. The collection is composed of seven personal scents, each inspired by a family member from within the House. Ciao Amore is Leonetta Luciano Fendi's distillation of family summers spent in Ponza, a small Italian island between Rome and Naples. It's bright, woody and salty — the smell of love, sun and warm skin.
CHANEL Les Exclusifs Comète
The 19 scents included in the capsule Les Exclusifs de CHANEL fragrance range are all inextricably connected to Gabriell Chanel and the history of the House – and Comète is her 'lucky star'; a scent inspired by the Comète necklace as part of her 1932 Bijoux de Diamants jewellery collection. With notes of cherry blossom, heliotrope and powder, it's has a soft, feminine finish that's distinctly CHANEL.
BDK 312 Saint-Honoré
This scent is a tribute to BDK's newly-minted Paris boutique. Inspired by the raw materials used in its construction (glass, concrete and white Burgundy stone), 312 Saint-Honoré is a warm, amber-y floral that's easy to wear but leaves an impact. It opens with fresh pink pepper, but dries down to skin-like notes of Tonka bean, oud and musk.
PENHALIGONS Alula
Alula captures the sweetness and spice of the desert. There's vanilla, plum, patchouli and saffron inside, a heady blend that's punchy and guaranteed to earn you compliments.
CELINE Zouzou
Zouzou is Hedi Slimane's interpretation of the eternal Parisienne. Despite the prevalence of gourmand notes, it's refined and a little masculine — caramel and vanilla give it warmth while benzoin and patchouli add depth. This is a scent where the sum of all parts is greater than any single note (a Celine signature).
VICTORIA BECKHAM Portofino '97
Who can resist a fragrance inspired by the glistening seaside town of Portofino by the Victoria Beckham? A tribute to her and David's romantic trips to the Ligurian coast, Portofino '97 smells like skin, crisp white sheets, amber, bergamot and vetiver. Take us there.
GUCCI The Alchemist's Garden, The Heart of Leo
Rich and resinous, The Heart of Leo takes its cues from the power and elegance of the Lion. There's acidic blackcurrant, myrrh, lemon and incense; an eclectic mix but one that results in a deep, dark, moody fragrance that's very moreish.
ACNE STUDIOS x Frédéric Malle
The olfactory collaboration of 2024 was absolutely Acne Studios and Frédéric Malle. It's been a divisive launch, but all the best perfumes are the ones that solicit an immediate response. Creamy and sweet, it pairs aldehydes with peach, rose, sandalwood and musk. While it's sold as gender neutral, it has a feminine powdery finish that's wonderfully unique. This isn't a 'safe' scent – you'll either love it, or you won't.
CHRISTIAN DIOR New Look
Earlier this year, Christian Dior released New Look, an homage to the original couture collection that cemented Monsieur Dior as a prolific designer. It's an interesting but understated mix of aldehydes, frankincense and amber — like skin but better.
