A fragrant affair

Bergamot, rose de mai, jasmine, cedar, ginger, clove and cinnamon – Enter the world of ‘haute parfumerie’, a term coined by master perfumer Roja Dove, with a fragrance he created for himself. The Haute Luxe perfume, with gold particles added for shimmer, comes ensconced in a flacon, with a gold-plated and violet enameled plaque, topped with a violet Swarovski-encrusted stopper.

This creation by Dove, whose impressive credits include a 20-year stint at Guerlain, where he was the first non-family member in history to be named Global Ambassador, will only set you back by Rs. 200,000 for a 100 ml bottle.

The world of luxury perfumes, where no synthetic materials are used, also features Clive Christian’s No. 1, which lasts for more than 24 hours. Priced at Rs.110,000 for a 30 ml bottle, it uses three base notes in its preparation - virginia cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, musk and tonka bean for the strong, long lasting essence. The middle notes include rose, jasmine and ylang ylang for a subtle aroma while the top notes include lime, mandarin orange, paprika and grapefruit for the rich, everlasting fragrance.

“The strong, yet soft smell of these perfumes makes it all the more exclusive,” says Marian Lee, business development officer at Cart2India.

By Kilian’s Straight to Heaven is packed with a unique rum essence, with dried fruits and nutmeg and an added essence of Brazilian rosewood and cedar. Incorporation of vanilla and white musk lend it softness, complementing the onyx exterior. A 50 ml of this piece of art by Kilian costs between Rs.22,000-32,000 for a 50 ml bottle.

Crafted with precision and care, the colognes are nestled inside exquisite clutches or wooden boxes. Clive Christian’s No 1 flacon comes with an 18-carat gold inset that includes an embedded 5-carat cut diamond. “People look at the quality, strength and also the packaging and décor. The way it is packaged gives it a niche value,” adds Lee.

Though online portals constitute a major portion of the Indian market's supply, customers still nurse a preference to the few retail showrooms that exist here. “Due to the risk of duplication, consumers prefer retail showrooms to online showrooms for such luxury perfumes,” says Sabhyata Sharma, category associate at Giftcart.

There is another reason. “Not all consumers are habituated to these colognes. It requires users to develop their preference for the same,” says Gaurav Verma, founder, Splash Perfumes, an online portal that imports exclusive perfumes.

“A good fragrance is really a powerful cocktail of memories and emotion,” says Jeffrey Stepakoff in The Orchard. Why not go with the best for long-lasting ones…