Jasmine has captivated noses around the world since ancient times, when it was used in fragrant offerings to the gods. No wonder; this note has an alluring sillage that distinguishes it from its floral sisters. Rich, exotic, sometimes musky, occasionally indolic – jasmine exudes sensuality. Here are my 5 favorites.
Jasmin de Pays by Perris Monte Carlo is verdant and lush – it smells like it’s still attached at the root. It’s softened, though, by a cloud of orange blossom that infuses it with honeyed sweetness. Think of a garden of hot blooms, warmed by the sun in a cloudless sky. This blend of jasmine absolute, clove, tagete (the scientific name for marigolds) and musk smells like its namesake flower and crystalized sugar. It’s slightly indolic (a term that refers to the complex ripeness jasmine and other white florals may have) only straight out of the atomizer, then becomes crisp and white for the duration of wear. Pair this with a white cable knit cardigan and a glass of chardonnay, and you’ve nailed the old money aesthetic.
For a more ozonic take on jasmine, try Jasminum Sambac by Chloe’s Atelier des Fleurs. Wearing this is like standing near the sea, droplets of salty ocean misting your face as you ponder a trellis dotted with the white flowers. It is named after its singular note – although no others are listed, I do get an aquatic sense from this one. It would be heavenly on a beach vacation. I don’t get any indolic notes at all – it’s cool, quenching, and truly serene.
Jasmin de Minuit by Veronique Gabai is the cleanest-smelling of the bunch; think tiny fairies doing laundry in the creek near flowering jasmine. Uplifting and bright, it has an almost minty quality to it, despite not containing the note. Bergamot, jasmine, vetiver and patchouli harmonize for a breezy whiff of night air, sweetened by delicate petals. This one is also not indolic at all, to my nose.
Jasmine fanatics, please try Jaz by Jazmin Sarai. With notes of bergamot, ginger co2, jasmine grandiflorum india, jasmine absolute Egypt, jasmine sambac absolute, jasmine leaves, soil and musk, it’s wildly intoxicating, heady, and super sultry. It smells of freshly picked jasmine, the smell heightened by the humid air. This one is definitely indolic in its top notes, but it’s blended beautifully. Don’t be afraid of indole in fragrances – if done right, it can add a creamy earthiness. That’s how it functions here, and what makes Jaz so captivating.
Finally, I thought I’d end with the iconic Fracas by Robert Piguet. A trendsetter since 1948 (and some say worn by Marilyn Monroe), this fragrance was designed to make the wearer feel like a bombshell. Jasmine is complemented by opulent tuberose, bergamot, mandarin, gardenia, musk and sandalwood for a bewitching concoction that feels shockingly modern. Luscious, elegant, and instantly recognizable, Fracas is an expertly blended confidence booster that transcends time.
