Expensive Perfume - Worth the Splurge?

Have you ever wondered if expensive perfume is worth the splurge? Maybe you accomplished something very important in your life and are ready for a once in a life time treat. While you don't want to spend the money on something huge like a car or trip around the world, perhaps you are ready to spend some cash on something quite out of the ordinary.

Perfumes make nice splurges because you can wear them every day or save them just for special occasions. The truly exclusive perfumes come packaged in stunning bottles that are collectibles themselves, not to mention how beautiful they look on a dressing table.

So what makes a perfume expensive? Simply put, the ingredients and the packaging. The very exclusive perfumes use rare ingredients that are not sustainable in the sense that they are not available in high quantities throughout any given year. Almost all expensive perfumes come in beautiful crystal bottles. Some of the world's most expensive perfumes are only available in very limited quantities which also drives up the price. Let's take a look at some of the more expensive perfumes in the market place.

No 1. by Clive Christian, a british designer turned perfumer, is the world's most rare, exclusive and expensive perfume. This perfume is said to be produced for the world's most wealthy and discriminating perfume connoisseur and comes at a cost of $2,150 an ounce. The number of bottles sold is limited to 1,000 per year for both the men's and women's lines. The bottle for No.1 is lead crystal with a 24-carat gold plated sterling silver collar. The bottle stopper is designed after the original pattern granted by Queen Victoria.

Some of the world's rarest ingredients are used in the manufacture of this exclusive perfume, including natural aged sandalwood from India that's so rare it's under government control. Also used are Tahitian vanilla, bergamot essential oil, orris root essential oil, and ylang ylang essential oil from flowers that are grown specially in Madagascar for No 1.

For those who can afford the decadent No.1 perfume, many upgrade to a completely customized bottle. Sir Elton John did just that when he requested a custom bottle in the shape of a piano!

As a one time "upgrade" to No. 1, Christian sold a limited edition of five bottles of No.1, each 16.9 ounces, and made from Baccarat Crystal with a solid 18-carat gold collar. The bottle collar featured a five-carat brilliant cut white diamond for a truly unique accent. This perfume, called Imperial Magesty, sold for a whopping $215,000!

There are two highly interesting things about Caron's Poivre. The first is that the perfume is unisex, meaning it's produced for both men and women which is somewhat unique in the high end of the perfume world.

The second is that the perfume is produced by one of the last perfume houses to use a Master Perfumer (known in perfume jargon as a "nose"), named Madame Fraysse. The perfume was created in 1954 although the house itself is around 101 years old. Poivre means pepper in French and there are definite notes of black and red pepper, cloves and other spices.

Caron's Poivre sells in this limited edition bottle for $2,000 and is also made from ingredients from lavender, jasmine, rose, Lily of the valley, carnation, cedar, sandalwood, Tonka and musk.

Chanel No. 5 is arguably the most widely known of the expensive perfumes and was Parisian Couturier Coco Chanel's first fragrance. Although expensive at around $1,500, this perfume is so popular the company estimates they sell a bottle somewhere in the world every 30 seconds!

Chanel No. 5 has been sold continuously since its introduction in 1921. At the time of its inital creation, jasmine was the most expensive ingredient to use in perfumes. Coco Chanel wanted to create the world's most expensive perfume and as such relied heavily on the use of jasmine. Chanel No. 5 is the perfect perfume for those who love the scent of jasmine although the perfume also has notes of ylang ylang, neroli, sandalwood, and vanilla.

Many celebrities have had a love affair with Chanel No. 5 including Marilyn Monroe who when asked what she wore in bed famously said "well, Chanel No. 5, of course".

Chanel No.5 parfum is the purest version of the perfume and sells for around $1,850.

Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes translates to "the sacred tears of Thebes" and is made by Baccarat, better known for their high end crystal. This perfume is their introduction into the world of perfumery and has been highly successful since its inception. Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes relies on frankincense and myrrh to give it its unique and luxurious woody scent.

No surprise, the Baccarat Crystal pyrimid shaped bottles are further adorned with the addition of more crystals around the gold collar. The high end cost of the bottles is said to account for at least some of the price of the perfume which sells for around $1,700.

Eau d'Hadrien is made by Annick Goutal, a prize winning pianist and model, turned perfumer. This perfume has a light, citrusy scent which is reminiscent of lemons from Sicily, as well as notes of citron and cypress. Because of the lighness of the scent, Eau d'Hadrien has been called the quintissential summer perfume. The limited edition Baccarat bottle of this perfume sold for $1,500.

As you can see, it's not only the perfume that accounts for the high prices. The bottles can have value in their own right and are justifiably collector's items themselves.

Fortunately, if you are willing to forgo the limited releases and fancy bottles, it is easy to find these exact same fragrances much less expensively. You can also save money by looking for these scents in other less expensive forms like cologne sprays, eau de toilettes, and even soaps and room fresheners. Finally, some of these perfumes come in travel sizes bottles so if you don't plan on using the perfume daily, these smaller bottles might be the perfect option. Be sure to comparison shop at your local stores and online to find the best deals.

However, if you really want to splurge, or need a truly unique gift, the perfumes in their beautiful bottles above are for you. It is easy to see why these perfumes are among the most expensive perfumes in the world.

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