It is said that you are not fully dressed without perfume. And going by the $11,7 billion industry, it is an adage that many seem to believe.
A fragrance brings with it wafts of memories that you associate with that particular smell. It can be the freshness of the morning mist, the freshly washed laundry drying in the sun or your mother’s preferred perfume; the associations are a way of connecting to something pleasant and familiar.
Perfumes have been used since the beginning of civilization. Egyptians were the first ones to extract fragrances and the art spread to Persia. Initially, it was primarily used for religious ceremonies and less to mask smells and on the person.
A little history…
It was in 1190 that perfume started being produced commercially in Paris. Since then, the industry has grown and has slowly acquired a luxury status. New methods of extraction and discovery of synthetic compounds added to its popularity.
Along with its aromatic usage, perfumes are also known for their therapeutic qualities. Use of fragrances for hygiene purposes has become universal.
The costs of perfumes and fragrances vary from a few dollars to a few million depending on your purchasing power.
So why do people pay thousands of dollars to own a particular fragrance? The answer is exclusivity and marketing. The ingredients for any luxurious brands are positioning, claim of exclusivity and one-of-its-kind, the rare quality, and finally, the craft associated with it—it can be the extraction method, the person associated with it and their skills, or even the packaging. Adding the allure of a celebrity hikes the prices further.
Many perfumes use the musk secreted by rare animals or oils from unique flowers and trees.
Some perfumes take hundreds of flowers and a mix of rare roots to produce just some ounces of the fragrance.
World’s most expensive perfumes…
Here we bring you a list of the most expensive perfumes.
Shumukh
It retails for US$1.295 million. The bottle, made of Italian Murano crystal, comes adorned with 3,571 diamonds, and gold, silver, pearls, and topaz, It can be customized with even further jewels, according to the creators Spirit of Dubai part of the Nabeel Perfume Group. It took three years to create the fragrance. The perfume carries hints of sandalwood, musk, Ylang-ylang, Turkish rose, Indian agarwood, musk and patchouli. The Guinness World Records have certified it for the tallest remote-controlled perfume spray, and for carrying the maximum jewels.
DKNY Golden Delicious Million Dollar Fragrance Bottle
It costs $1 million. Renowned designer DKNY created this perfume in collaboration with jewellery designer Martin Katz. The exorbitant price is due to the bejewelled bottle. It has a 2.43-carat yellow Canary diamond in the cap, 4.03-carat rose-cut diamond, 3.07-carat oval-cut ruby, 1.06-carat Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil, four rose-cut diamonds, 15 stunning pink diamonds from Australia, 7.18- carat oval Cabochon sapphire from Sri Lanka, 2,700 white diamonds, and 183 yellow sapphires. The jewels are so placed as to resemble the skyline of New York. The collaboration for the unique perfume was for a charitable purpose. The proceeds from the sale were donated to the ‘Action Against Hunger’ charity organization.
Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty Perfume
It costs $12,721.89 per ounce. This perfume for women carries the scent of Tahitian vanilla, ylang-ylang, rosa centafolis, Italian cinnamon, jasmine, orris root, and rose oil. The perfume creator is Roja Dave. The bottle of the fragrance is delicate, and the glass is fragile and very difficult to mould as it shatters easily. This bottle also comes with a five-carat diamond inset in gold lining the neck of the bottle.
Baccarat Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes
It retails for $6,800 per ounce. Bacarrat perfumes are well known for their rich, exuberant scent. The fragrance comes in a pyramid-shaped bottle and is one of the three limited edition series from the company. The ingredients are aromatic myrrh along with frankincense musk, sandalwood, myrtle, basil, cardamom, ylang-ylang, geranium, jasmine, and amber. Christine Nagel designed it. The bottle is handmade and has an amethyst crystal.
Chanel Grand Extrait
It costs $4,200 per ounce.
Chanel is the most iconic perfume that is part of every fashionista’s wardrobe. The Grand Extrait is a limited edition fragrance and comes in a well-crafted bottle. The scent is a bouquet of flowery extracts with a tinge of May Rose and Jasmine, which lend it a unique feminity and grandeur.