Best 10 Fragrances of 2025 Sandi and Hernando
How did it get so late so soon? Once again, we find ourselves ready to close out another year as we look toward a new one. It has been a year that has asked many of us for courage. Fragrance became more than an accessory for many of us; it was memories bottled, armor for uncertain days, secrets shared with a friend, and also a quiet revolt when words are not enough. Perfumes are our collection of memories and moods; they soothe, provoke, or even transport us. Fragrances should feel like home, chosen not only for their composition but for how they make us feel when the world around us keeps changing, or perhaps when we want to change our surroundings. –Sandi Lundberg, Editor
In no particular order: Sandi’s Best 10 Fragrances of 2025
Hez Parfums 504 Extrait (Hez Binkowitz): 504 Extrait is particularly adept at conjuring place and mood without veering into cliché. I adore fragrances that evolve, divulging themselves to me slowly, as I discover new details with every wear. 504 is quintessentially New Orleans, spirited yet refined, and just a little mysterious. I find myself moving unhurriedly, paying attention to details, and enjoying each small, radiant moment. As I wear it, I feel both playful and poised, a little daring and wholly myself. @hezparfums
Scents of Man 1651 (Andrea Bryne): A must for rose lovers, this perfume balances centifloria and damascena facets, full-bodied and alive with bright red fruits, warm tea, and a soft, resinous heart. Dewy honeyed sweetness, and a caramelized, Turkish delight fruitiness weave through magnolia, jasmine, and amber, yielding an opulent bouquet. It is simultaneously vivid with light and steeped in antique depth. @scentsofman
The 7 Virtues Blackberry Lily (Angela Stavrevska and Julie Pluchet): It opens with a dark, fruity gleam of blackberry and blackcurrant, the dewy floral notes unfurl gently, while davana weaves a curious, herbaceousness through them. The warmth and sweetness of caramel blend with the base notes, settling the scent into a grounded, quietly resonant finish. It is a composition that lingers, soft and unmistakably intimate. Blackberry Lily was brought back in 2025 after loyal fans of the brand requested it. @the7virtues
Wit and West Caldera Flower (Whitney Swales): Caldera Flower is a memory poured into a fragrance. Step into paradise, the air bright with bergamot’s zest and neroli’s ethereal sweetness, ginger teases. Creamy gardenias joined by airy magnolia and sensual ylang-ylang cascading like nectar. Sandalwood grounding with warmth and the soft, fruity musk of ambrette complete this fragrance, culminating in a comforting, intimate finish. @witandwest
Nicolai Parfumeur-Createur Crème Ébène (Patricia De Nicolai): Saffron and cardamom open with a piquant spice suggesting warmth, as delicate white flowers and a whispered hint of cumin lend an intriguing gentleness. Dates and twin cedars bring honeyed resinous heart, softened by papyrus and sandalwood. Vanilla, patchouli, and white musk settle the base into a tender, subtly radiant tapestry that is personal and quietly noble.@nicolaiparfumeurcreateur
Darren Alan Perfumes Cuir De Russie (Darren Alan): Cuir de Russie is an exquisitely blended perfume paying homage to its predecessors while standing confidently on its own. It feels like I am donning a second skin; it empowers me and tells a story that needs no words. It is timeless yet refreshingly modern. Bright, floral, and deeper resinous notes create a well-rounded, dynamic, lavish scent. It is perfect for those who appreciate complexity in a fragrance and leaves a memorable, luxurious imprint. As I write this, I am reminded I need another bottle.@darren_alan_perfumes
Cypress Cove Evening At The Resort (Cecile Hua): Bergamot lifts with a bright, clean edge while lavender and pear-skin lend an aromatic freshness that feels tenderly modern; rich florals and rose unfold like velvet, nuanced and alive. Mahogany and nagarmotha bring a deep wood gravity, and a veil of musk lingers, elegant and radiant. @cypresscovellc
Statik Olfactive Scarlet Lady (Darren Alan): A vintage rose bouquet brightened by bergamot, rose de mai, and tuberose wrapped in a pillowy marshmallow hush before suede and a lipstick-tinged iris fold into a cool, bracing heart laced with gin and tobacco’s smoky sophistication. The finish turns desert-worn and intimate, sagebrush and cedarwood threaded with a patina of vintage musk, create a wild west elegance that feels weathered, sensual, and utterly alive. @statikolfactive
Neil Morris Fragrances Shimmering (Neil Morris): Shimmering’s quiet power lies in suggestion rather than spectacle, subtle, not intense, it lingers at the edges of moments, lifting them with a radiant, tender grace, as a graceful form of solace. Its sincerity feels transcendental, warming memory not by force but like an unnoticed current of unconditional devotion.
Maison Tahite Tonka Rouge (Sébastien Cresp): A warm opening with Cherry liqueur that is playful and intimate, tonka’s creaminess folds with the tartness of raspberry. A thin thread of licorice adds a quiet depth to vanilla and brandy’s soft, boozy consolation, anchored in woody sandalwood. A subtly radiant composition that lingers gently. @maisontahite
Best 10 Fragrances of 2025 Best Perfumer of the Year: Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes
Darren Alan is an independent artisan whose rigorous talent for crafting his own perfumes enriches my olfactory world each month. He releases a new perfume (through his Perfume of the Month Subscription) and also serves as a perfumer for a few other brands, broadening his influence. He has quietly and steadily defined a graceful neo-vintage sensibility. I look forward to receiving packages from his studio every month.
Best 10 Fragrances of 2025
New York City is so back as the top retail destination. If you can’t find what you are looking for at the numerous fragrance destinations, then maybe it might not be worth your purchase. Some new offerings: starting downtown, the new French department store Printemps, Estée Lauder’s four new boutiques side by side on Prince Street: Kilian Paris, Jo Malone, Tom Ford, and Frederic Malle, along with Christophe Laudamiel’s boutique, Naked Ghosts, are must-stops. In Midtown, the recently opened Trudon and Creed in Rockefeller Plaza, and Guerlain’s Park Avenue Fragrance Boutique are wonderful additions to the area. Further up on the Upper East Side, the new Parfums de Marly and the recently relocated Frederic Malle boutique are not to be missed visits on Madison Avenue. There has never been a better time to be a fragrance shopper in the city, whether you are a local or a tourist. We Love New York! – -Hernando Courtright. Senior Event Contributor and Brand Ambassador
Best 10 Fragrances of 2025 (Hernando)
KELLY+JONES Mezcal Azul (Steven Claisse and Kelly Jones) For Azul, Kelly journeyed to Oaxaca, into the agave fields, and captured the fragrance of various types of Mezcal and its unique range of tasting notes. The opening of Agave embers throws off a refreshingly sweet, earthy, aquatic aroma, with a cooling citrus note that adds an invigorating element. Azul wears close to your skin; it can be very worn in the heat of the day and the cool of the night. Like the desert, Azul’s beauty lies in its simplicity. For Kelly, heaven is the essence of sipping Mezcal under a clear, deep blue desert sky. Azul transports me there. @kellyandjones @slclaisse
Parfums Quartana Beaut’Air (Christina Christie) Beaut’Air’s maiden notes of citrus, grapefruit, and Lemon are pure morning glory. An exultation of sunny days with feel-good vibrations. These notes are all light, with no shade. The grapefruit here is soft and brings a cleansing aura, supporting the mental-physical connection. The composition and focus are designed to inspire healing and foster an overall sense of wellness, positivity, and abundance. The scent lies close to the skin, so wear this without qualm, day or night. And you will be better for it. @parfums_quartana @christinaperfume
Cognac Reign D.S. & DURGA (David Seth Moltz) Cognac Reign holds court for this time of the year, Autumn. David Moltz conjures up a few tricks and treats here. The tricks are in the notes, some that don’t outwardly shed light on what’s brewing in the potion here. The caramelized bergamot opening fuses to produce an amuse-bouche confection of dark chocolate with caramel, bringing on an Earl Grey-like nimbus. The sweetness crossed with the wood imparts a dichotomy of flavors, rolling back and forth. A royal, luxurious perversion manifests itself after a period of wear. This is my kind of treat. @dsanddurga
Creed Oud Zaraian (Cécile Zarokian) Oud Zaraian is that rich, spicy, and opulent scent that I was searching for. It is light and dark and old and new, at the same time. The draw for me here is that the 80-year-old oud is kept in check. This is not another boorish oud. Also, it may not be for everyone, so you won’t smell like everyone. This might be one of the most long-lasting fragrances I have encountered in some time, and I’m all for it. Two favorite notes, patchouli and rose centifolia, interlace in a most luxurious and regal manner. And it’s unlike any scent in the Creed library. Bravo Cécile! @creedfragrance @cecilezarokianparfumeur
Bond No.9 Chic (Miroslav Petkov) Unlike most Bond No. 9 fragrances, this one does not capture a neighborhood’s vibe, but rather encapsulates the city’s aura. Big and bold and so addictive. Intense and attention-grabbing, that speaks uptown chic all the way. Sweet, woody, fruitiness dripping in honey (but not listed as a note). Opulent is the keyword here. Leans feminine. The cognac and patchouli notes give this that late-night out on the town booziness I remember so fondly from my younger years.@bondno9ny @miroslav.petkov_perfumer
Byredo Alto Astral (Jérôme Epinette): I almost pulled away when informed that there was a coconut water note here (no fan am I) when testing it. Glad I overlooked it and wore it out. What I discovered was a magnificent, effervescent fragrance. Apparently, it takes its name from a Brazilian Portuguese expression that evokes the feeling of joy, optimism, and good vibes that uplift everyone around. I can attest to that. A superb summer scent that I imagine will certainly lift one out of the winter doldrums. Note to self, must get to Brazil. @officialbyredo
Balmain Blanc Galaxie (Rodrigo Flores-Roux) Blanc Galaxie, the latest release from the Les Éternels de Balmain collection. is encased in a white striated bottle that is inspired by that of Élysées 64-83. Master perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux delivers a fragrance built on a total alignment of five citruses that are meant to evoke the brilliance of an eclipse. This citrus explosion is so right on for the warmer months of Spring and Summer. So uplifting. The creamy dry down is luscious. This could be my favorite new citrus. @balmainbeauty @rodrigofloresroux
Hermès Barénia Eau de Parfum Intense (Christine Nagel), ok, the original was close to being on my Top Ten last year, but something held me back. This is the one I wanted! Christine Nagel has masterminded a more intensified fragrance than the original with a richer patchouli, a more profound oakwood note, and a more prominent leather note. This comes out right out of the gate as a more robust, sensual, and darker reading of the original with added longevity. Housed in the signature Hermès gem-like bottle that was inspired by the Collier de Chien bracelet, this is true luxury you can’t afford to miss. @hermes
Infiniment Coty Paris Ambre Antique 1905: Where do I even start here? First off, this is an out-of-this-world recreation of the 1905 Ambere Antique. Bridging past and present, Infiniment Coty Paris revives an icon from its archives with the reissue of Ambre Antique. This collector’s item is a limited run of 1,905 units. So, how do you recreate a timeless classic? Well, I won’t get into how it was rebuilt; that is a story in itself. Launched in late October, Coty’s timing could not have been better. The warm, textured, and nostalgic Ambre Antique transports me back. For sure, hands down, this is the best Amber of 2025 @infinimentcoty
Dior La Collection Privée Rose Star (Francis Kurkdjian): And here’s my rose. A beautiful modern, not a fusty or old-fashioned rose. Francis Kurkdjian reveals Dior’s radiant new perfume inspired by Heritage and Hope. In Rose Star, he fuses two of Dior’s most poetic emblems—the beloved Centifolia rose and Christian Dior’s guiding star. It’s pale, transparent, and infused with light. It radiates the clarity and the soft beauty of both the flower and the celestial body it’s named after. Kurkdjian composed the scent so that it remains unchanged even hours after application, like a star that does not flicker. @diorbeauty @franciskurkdjian_official
Photo by Hernando
Best 10 Fragrances of 2025 Hall of Fame: Olfactory Art Keller
It was with sadness that I learned Olfactive Art Keller has shuttered. The Manhattan-based gallery space dedicated to exhibiting scent as an art form was founded by Dr Andreas Keller. While not a nose or a perfumer in the traditional sense, he was obsessed with ‘smell’ as the stimulus for conversation, memory, and experience. The gallery sought to encourage artists working in all mediums to experiment with scents and perfumers to create scents as objects of aesthetic experience by providing a dedicated exhibition space for olfactory art in Manhattan. The experimental gallery opened in 2021 in New York’s Chinatown, examining how ‘smell’ can become an art piece. In collaboration with artists, he curated customized olfactory exhibits for presentation in the space. Artists that “performed” there include Perfumer David Falsberg (who passed away earlier this month), Irina Adam, Carlos Benaim, Christina Christie, Mackenzie Reilly, Stephen Dirkes, Darryl Do, Alexis Karl, Maria McElroy, Christophe Laudamiel, and David Seth Moltz. New York lost something it did not know it had. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. @olfactory_art_keller
For our Best 10 Fragrances of 2025 Giveaway
Thanks to the generosity of Neil Morris Fragrances, we have a 30ml bottle of Shimmering to give away to one registered reader in the USA only. You must register for your entry to count.
Thanks to the generosity of Statik Olfactive we have a 50 ml bottle of Scarlett Lady for one registered reader in the USA or EU. You must register or your entry will not count.
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Please share your thoughts about Hernando’s and Sandi’s Best 10 Fragrances of 2025.What sparked your interest? What do you want to try or have tried, where you live and which you would like to win was there a quote that resonated? Draw closes 1/3/2026
Remember there are draws you can enter (closes 12/31 NVC Creations ESHAL, Marc-Antoine-Barrois Aldebaran, Etat Libre D’Orange Above The Waves and Anthologie by Lucien Ferraro) Badar Parfums Rouge Eclat, Olivier Durbano Deux EX Petra Hiram Green Ultra Essential Parfums Velvet Iris Élisire Aliksir Testament London Twisted Hearts
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