If I have to choose just one perfume, I could live quite happily on Prada Infusion d’ Amande alone. But I am always game for pleasant olfactory surprises. When it comes to liking perfumes though, my process is really slow. I take my time getting to know the scent. I would carry the test strips from Sephora or fragrant stores, I go back again several times and test on my clothes, my skin, spray it on the air – I don’t fall in love with perfumes easily.

And when I do, I rarely change my opinion. In this blog, I’m sharing my list of beautifully crafted “love at first sniffs“. The first 5-6 on the list are what I consider my signature scents, while 7-10 on the list are part of my “cheerful collection”.

Enjoy reading fragrance lovers!

1. Prada Infusion d’ Amande Eau de Parfum

The love of my life. Wearing this scent is like hugging your favorite person.

This is one of my signature scents for years now. It is a personal unicorn perfume as this has been out of reach by 2023. To me a perfume is more than just a nice smelling scent, it is your personality. And this one is something that says “this perfume is me”.

Such a beautiful, gentle, clean, and comforting scent, it feels like a hug. It has a very polite sillage too. You can imagine being wrapped with soothing almond sweetness and fluffy clouds. It is hard not to admire this scent.

If you love the DNA behind Infusion d’ Iris or Iris, this one will be a love at first sniff. This is my personal favorite from the Infusions line and until now I have not found anything comparable to this one. It is simply a cut above most designer fragrances I’ve tried. For this, I can go heavy on the spraying with no risk of offending anyone.

It has a soft projection with moderate longevity (lasting power of about 4-5 hours on my skin). It dries down to a very lovely skin scent. It’s perfect for office scent, bedtime or quiet moments with a good book. If you’re into perfumes that don’t scream yet make lasting impressions and get you compliments, put this on your top 3 list. You can also read my separate post/review about Prada Infusion d’ Amande.

 2. Prada Infusion D’Homme Eau de Toilette

The perfume that introduced me to Prada’s Les Infusion collection. I will say it – Daniela Andrier is the best thing that ever happened in Perfume LaLaLand. She has a rare talent of making perfumes that don’t smell like perfumes in the Les Infusions collection.

This is a man’s perfume but this is very much wearable for women too. Refined, classic, clean, soft pure, the epitome of elegance. In the dry-down,  it exudes elegant powdery iris scent. The longevity is pretty outstanding for about 5 to 7 hours and has a moderate projection. It can be worn both in the day and night too. Infusion D Homme is definitely one of the best designer scents ever made, hands down. I have to say Prada’s Infusion collection marked my graduation from fruity, girly girly perfumes to a more refined, office-friendly and comforting scent choices.

3. Prada Infusion D’Iris Eau de Parfum

This is the female version of Infusion D’Homme and it had me hooked as well.

Sometimes you don’t choose your signature scent, it chooses you. I was introduced to the world of IRIS as a fragrance note 10 years ago and since then it has a tight hold over me. 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘, 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣, 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. This perfume gives me peace of mind. The EDP is like a beautiful symphony with a hint of excitement from light rooty iris and earthy cedar notes that balance with the vetiver in the base of the fragrance.

Daniela Andrier’s Les Infusions collection has a distinct perfume DNA that never disappoints discerning noses.

It smells like a reliable, contemporary, and clean fragrance that isn’t too strong or “pushy”.  The elegant sillage it leaves behind will catch attention. The topnotes are as clean, airy, and fresh as D’ Homme and dry-down has a tickle of lemony, woodsy aura. It’s definitely a scent I can trust as I put my best foot forward during client meetings or as an everyday office/ signature scent.

4. Prada Infusion D’Iris Eau de Toilette

That beautiful dress that you are wearing deserves a beautiful scent to go along with it.

Another beautiful female scent. It is effortlessly clean and I know there are many perfumes out there that carry the same description but they can be overpoweringly clean. This gem doesn’t SCREAM clean…. it’s very soothing, you can use it for your pillows.

The projection is respectful to the people around you, so pure and gentle that it’s hard not to love this scent. I wear this in the office, at home, on art shows, daytime walks and longevity is weak (EDT) about 3-4 hrs on my skin and clothes. Normally, I would layer this with Infusion d’ Iris EDP to extend its staying power.

𝙄𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩:🍃
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Iris or orris essence is one of the top 3 highly prized multidimensional ingredients in the world of perfume. If I’m not mistaken, the entire process takes a total of 7 years and many pounds of iris to make drops of iris essential. From after the flower blooms, harvesting, storing underground to drying out and then extracting. The transformation is like a fairy tale.
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Daniela Roche-Andrier will always be my favorite nose and Infusion D’ Iris is truly a masterpiece.

5. Prada Infusion d’Rose Eau de’ Toilette

Another love at first sniff from the Prada Infusion line. I am not so much into rose-heavy perfumes but this one is a total love at first sniff – beautifully made with outstanding ephemeral quality. This is not the typical high pitched, migraine-inducing, girly sweet rose scent. ⁣⁣

Prada fragrances are really a cut above most other designer fragrances I have spritz on. Prada describes this as “the rose’s very essence”. Adorable. This rose is very fresh, well-mannered, grown-up and graceful. It has a delicate projection and the trail it leaves behind is comforting to the senses without being cloying. Although it smells extremely soft and delicate, the staying power is remarkable, lasting almost a day on my skin (and on clothes – the smell lingers for days) making the price tag well worth it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣It reminds me of a rose face mist…rosey but in a low-key and refined kind of way. I also use this on linens.

I still find rose a challenging scent, and so far 𝘓𝘦𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘢 is the perfect one that’s worked for me. Daniela Andrier expresses rose in a new, distinct way weaving it with the Les Infusions DNA.⁣⁣

Those are my signature scents from Prada – my favorite designer house with Daniela Andrier as my favorite nose. She taught me to know my scent.

6. Penhaligon’s Artemisia Eau de Parfum

Ah my first Penhaligon’s perfume! This fragrance house has a huuuge selection of scents and I really took my time discerning on each perfume they have (the ones available in their Singapore store).

I find most of their fragrances too heavy, too “there” and can be a bit overpowering. So far, Artemisia is the only one that spoke to my nose. I like scents that are polite, approachable and fairly subtle. Like every fragrance in my collection, this has a refined, airy, powdery feel to it. It’s like a perfect company for slow and lazy afternoons in bed, soothing the wearer like an overall smell of “self-care”. This is a quiet skin scent.  Unlike most perfumes, it’s a straightforward scent that there is no complex intermingling of notes as it dries down.

I wonder why Perfumeland doesn’t have a lot of reviews for Penhaligon’s Artemisia. To me, this one deserves more rave than Penhaligon’s Luna (Luna has a similar perfume DNA to Incanto Bloom and VS Bombshell – just saying).

You may also want to read my full post/review on Penhaligon’s Artemisia.

7. Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette

If one could bottle up the “happy, youthful feminine feeling” on a skin, this would be Christian Dior’s Miss Blooming Bouquet. It is a fresh and ultra soft floral fragrance that exemplifies natural femininity and everything that the color pink is supposed to stand for.

The fragrance starts with a blast of Sicilian oranges and citrus fruits. Its bottle also expertly showcases a true work of art. A glossy metallic bow decorates the neck and Christian Dior’s signature houndstooth pattern is embossed on the bottle’s base.

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet opens with a crisp and dewy floral and fruit notes that is not overly sweet. There’s something green hiding in the background and a little bit of sweetness, something Miss Dior is known for. The only problem is that longevity is quite weak.

8. Tory Burch Eau de Parfum

You know when you smell a scent that is so distinct and it gives you that deja vu feeling? That is the kind of vibes this scent exudes. Tory Burch Eau De Parfum Spray is enchanting, classic, and refined. The perfect “sophisticated woman” kind of scent. Full of crisp citrus notes, this perfume smells perfect for spring or summer, but would not be out of place in the cooler months thanks to its velvety, nuanced base. The projection is quite strong but not “beast” strong. Feminine, attention-getter but not overpowering…this is one of my nice-to-have, happy scents!

The lasting power is about 7 hours on my clothes. It changes quite a bit over the course of the wear, but in an amazing way. First, it is fresh and energizing. The citrus and neroli are most prominent at first sniff. As it sets, the floral notes begin to mingle with the fresher, citrus-y notes, making for a scent that feels really happy and bright. And lastly, I love the bottle; it is such classic Tory Burch design. Sleek lines, gold writing and accents, and a pop of color.

9. Omnia Amethyste by Bvlgari Eau de Toilette

Whenever I see Iris and Heliotrope listed in a perfume’s top, middle or base notes, that calls for mandatory spritzing.

This is the kind of perfume I would wear on a rainy day. It’s well-blended, straightforward but never too much. I find this to be a unique and a crowd-pleaser scent too. The trail it leaves behind is very intriguing, the kind of stop-you-in-your-tracks scent.

10. Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Eau de Parfum

I gave in to the highly-raved bestseller from Victoria’s Secret. This reminds me a lot of being young, carefree and confident, such a “happy” scent! To me, this is a joyful mix of freshly cut flowers and happy get togethers with your besties. We all should have that one perfume that reminds us of our youth. How would that smell as a fragrance? Bombshell.

Thanks for being here. Let me hear about the perfume you fancy the most too:)