13 Lesser-Known Perfumes That I Always Get Complimented on

One of the fascinating things about Byredo perfumes is that you will read through the fragrance notes, think you know exactly what it will smell like, only to take a sniff and be totally (but pleasantly) surprised. Black Saffron is the kind of scent I would disregard on paper—it has notes of leather, grapefruit, raspberry, and violet—which makes me imagine it would be rich and boozy (not my cup of tea). However, the leather is subtle and smoky and the fruity notes are much fresher and crisper than you would imagine. Overall, it's smooth, clean, expensive, and not to be overlooked.

Maison Margiela's Replica perfumes are created to capture places and moments in time, and while rich and boozy scents like By the Fireplace and Jazz Club are especially popular, Springtime in a Park is the real hidden gem. The perfect floral for people who don't think they like florals—it's light, fresh, and musky, with a smooth powdery base.

Phlur is a relative newcomer to the fragrance game (it only launched in 2022), but has already become a favourite amongst beauty editors and fragrance aficionados alike. Mood Ring is the latest launch from the brand, so it's still fairly unknown, but in my opinion is certain to become a classic. With vibrant, fruit top notes of fruit gummies, dragonfruit, and orange flower, it certainly stands out more than the brand's bestseller, Missing Person, but it still has a similarly warm, comforting base—thanks to notes of amber.

Dior have years of experience creating perfumes and is home to some of the world's most iconic fragrances, but they also have an impressive collection of niche scents known as La Collection Privée. These ultra luxurious perfumes feature some of the world's most unique and precious ingredients, so they're far from conventional. I particularly love Gris Dior—it's intensely woody, but with notes of citrus and moss which keep it fresh.

A heritage perfume brand with a legacy of iconic scents, Penhaligon's bestsellers are typically powerful stand-out fragrances which evoke times, places, and personalities. Personally, I'm more drawn to softer, subtle scents, which is why Juniper Sling is a favourite for me. Juniper is definitely the stand-out note in this perfume, but I also love the additions of pepper, vetiver, and cardamom. It's quite crisp at first, but becomes sweeter and more mellow as it settles onto skin.

Most people don't know Maison Francis Kurkdjian beyond the brand's most famous perfume, Baccarat Rouge 540. However, if you're after something that smells equally as good (but that won't put you at risk of smelling like everybody else), I'd urge you to try out Aqua Celestia. Although it has top notes of lime, mint, and blackcurrant, it's impossible to identify any of them individually. Instead, they meld into a deliciously sweet, green scent which smells at first fresh, but then warms up on the skin thanks to its musky base.

If you're looking for a new Jo Malone scent, don't worry, you've got plenty to choose from. The issue can be that when faced with such a wide array (there are well over 100), it can be hard to know where to start. However, if you're after something unconventional, I'd highly recommend Earl Grey & Cucumber. Tea is an unusual fragrance note, which was what drew me to this perfume in the first place. Combined with fresh, watery cucumber and notes of bergamot, and jasmine, this is a beautiful, uplifting fragrance, which deserves just as much hype as Jo Malone's bestsellers.

Vanilla and pepper are two notes that you don't often see combined, and you might find yourself wondering if they really work... The answer is yes, they do. Simultaneously sweet and spicy, this addictive scent is warm and comforting. It's impossible to draw comparisons between this and any other perfume, but if you're after a truly unique scent, look no further.

Chanel is another heritage fragrance brand with over a hundred years of experience in the perfume industry. Alongside their most classic scents, they also have a niche range, Les Exclusifs de Chanel, of which Le Lion is, in my opinion, one of the standout scents. Warm and aromatic, this perfume combines powerful notes of amber, leather, and patchouli with softer vanilla and bergamot. 

Serge Lutens isn't (yet) a mainstream perfume brand, but if you're in the know with fragrances, you're probably familiar with these iconic bottles. After working for Dior and Shiseido, Lutens utilised his experience to launch his own collection in 2000–it now features an impressive lineup of over 50 fragrances. While I've always tended to avoid rose-based scents, La Fille de Berlin totally reinvents the classic floral note. The headiness of the rose is totally balanced out by fresh, green geranium and a base of honey, moss, and patchouli.

After departing Jo Malone London, the perfumer created Jo Loves, a brand which has already become a favourite for fragrance obsessives. As in her (arguably) most famous creation, Lime Basil & Mandarin, in this fragrance Malone pairs a zesty citrus (orange) with an unconventional herbal note (coriander). Add black pepper and moss into the mix and you get an intoxicatingly aromatic perfume which is guaranteed to turn heads.

Le Labo's fragrance collection includes a number of perfumes built around hero notes—my favourite of which is Labdanum 18, a musky, animalic amber created by famous perfumer Maurice Roucel. Others in the range include iris, patchouli, and oud.

This bright and zesty take on Marc Jacobs' bestseller is perfect for spring and summer. It features the same classic floral heart notes, topped off with bright, citrusy ones.