Best Perfumes Of 2019 – Waiting For The Revolution

And so here we are again, somehow just about in sight of the finish line, despite the odds. I don’t like to start a celebratory post on a less-than-cheerful note, but I don’t think that, in terms of olfactory achievements, this was an especially memorable year. Sure, there were a few commendable releases – as the list of the best perfumes of 2019 below shows – but there didn’t seem to be much in the fragrance world about which we could get genuinely excited. An unsurprising repercussion, perhaps, of how so many brands have been playing it safe for so long.

That said, the scents below are all worthy of your time and attention, so if you don’t already know them, I’d advise you to seek them out without delay. And if I’ve left out any of your personal favourites of 2019, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Before we head over to the list, I have to thank each and every single one of you for your support and encouragement this year. This site is on the verge of celebrating its tenth anniversary (!) and there is no way I would have reached such a milestone if it hadn’t been for all of you. Wherever we interact, whether it’s here on Persolaise.com, or over on my YouTube broadcasts, or on Insta or Facebook or Twitter, I always appreciate the fact that you take the time to get in touch. Your warmth and friendliness and generosity of spirit mean so much to me. Thank you!

So… here we go: the best perfumes of 2019, as chosen by your truly (based, of course, on what managed to make its way to my nose during the last 12 months). The scents are in no particular order. You can click on their names to be taken to their original review (where available). Scroll down to the bottom for a link to the Love At a First Scent YouTube video that goes with this post.

Wishing you laughter, peace, good health, kindness and plenty of gorgeously scented memories for 2020,

Persolaise

Serge Lutens La Couche Du Diable (Christopher Sheldrake; 2019)

Uncle Serge gave us his most fan-pleasing release in years with this unashamed homage to labdanum, made suitably devilish through the inclusion of spices and midnight woods. 

Gucci Memoire D’Une Odeur (Alberto Morillas; 2019)

In another solid year for Gucci, this was a brave standout, daring to bring bitter chamomile to the mainstream. Curious, haunting and hard to pin down. 

Amouage Opus XI (Pierre Negrin; 2018)

The oud scents that are part of the new wave don’t feel the need to represent the material slavishly, and Opus XI is one of the best examples of this group, using the incendiary spirit of its main ingredient as a base for a rocket-fuelled, futuristic leather. Fasten your seatbelts. 

Etat Libre D’Orange Experimentum Crucis (Quentin Bisch; 2019)

My personal jury is still out on whether I actually like this perfume — its heavy reliance on the weird, tangy Akigalawood is a touch unpalatable to my constitution. But the very fact that I haven’t been able to make up my mind about it for so long compels me to include it here. A strange, arguably over-large and far-too-tenacious clash of fruit, honey and patchouli, it’s one of the most striking releases we’ve had from ELDO for a while. 

Salvatore Ferragamo Testa Di Moro (Fabrice Pellegrin; 2018)

The attitude of great 80s leather masculines made more modern with a streamlined profile and a careful handling of the volume control. Superb. 

Tom Ford Metallique (Antoine Maisondieu; 2019)

Ford essayed a welcome break from current trends by offering this suitably chilly presentation of candle-wax aldehydes, whispered musks and frosty florals. A breath of delightfully icy fresh air. 

Gallivant Los Angeles (Karine Chevallier; 2019)

The pretty and the profane come together in this enigmatic love letter to LA: tuberose, narcissus and tobacco fizz with electric vitality whilst simultaneously suggesting the pain of losing one’s dreams. A subtle triumph. 

Bulgari Falkar (Jacques Cavallier; 2019)

You can almost feel yourself slowing down beneath the heat of a huge Arabian sun when you wear this all-consuming musky, woody leather. Irresistible. 

Comme Des Garcons Copper (Alienor Massenet; 2019)

The natural and the synthetic – and I use the words in a conceptual sense – form a curious hybrid in this suitably unconventional scent from CdG. Silver-edged galbanum. Pepper sifted through iron filings. Myrrh with a glint of steel. They all come to life like specimens in some hydroponic garden orbiting the moon. Delightfully strange.

Le Labo Tabac 28 (2019)

Yes, it largely operates within the realm of tobacco cliches – rum, smoke, cardamom, cedar – but it balances them with commendable finesse, conjuring convincing images of neon-lit parties blazing long into balmy Miami nights. 

And a couple of extra mentions…

Perfumer H

The two ‘collections’ Lyn Harris gave us this year were amongst her best, displaying her trademark restraint, elegance and attention to detail. I was especially taken with Gold, Indian Wood, Dust and Suede. Here’s hoping she makes her work more widely available in 2020.

Jacques Fath Iris De Fath (Patrice Revillard; 2019)

I’m not including this on the main list, partly because its price tag is insane, but mostly because its distribution is painfully limited, meaning that few people will have a chance to try it. But if it ever comes within your personal inhalation zone, don’t pass up the opportunity to smell it. It may well be one of the most flawless iris compositions ever. 

There’s also going to be a special Love At First Scent episode showcasing some of the best perfumes of 2019. As soon as it’s available, I shall link to it here. You can watch the video below or by clicking here.

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