Septieme – Sonia Rykiel named one of her scents Septieme Sens – seventh sense. Samsara – An exotic sound with the friendly nickname Sam, Guerlain named their 1989 fragrance after a Hindu and Buddhist term to describe the circle of life. Lou Lou – Another repeating name from Cacharel, famous for Ana ïs Ana ïs Liu – A 1920s scent from Guerlain, or a modern spin on Leah and Louise. Despite its hefty price tag, Joy remains a favorite indulgence today. Joy – Jean Patou launched this expensive scent in 1929, as an antidote to the doldrums of the Great Depression. Launched in 1889, Jicky is one of the first unisex fragrances in the modern era, and remains in production a dozen decades later.

Jicky – Either a nickname for Jacques Guerlain, or possibly the name of a girl who broke the heart of another Guerlain. Ivoire – Said to be inspired by a woman wearing a white dress on the steps of the Paris Opera House, Pierre Balmain’s 1979 creation was worn by the legendary Audrey Hepburn. Lauder’s given name – a French spin on Esther – has graced a perfume bottle, too.įifi – Not a scent, but the fragrance industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Her first and last names have graced perfume bottles, too.ĭior – Miles of style, and a modern sound, too, but perhaps Dior is too much luxury brand to put on a child.Įstée – Her eponymous company has three fragrances inducted into the Fragrance Foundation’s Hall of Fame. Few of their fragrance names would wear well, but the company name might.Ĭharlie – Remember Shelley Hack as Charlie, the ultimate modern woman in Revlon’s campaigns from the 1970s?Ĭoco – Coco Chanel is famous for fashion, and her No. Here are some of the best choices from the world of fragrance:Īmaranthine – From Penhaligon’s, an English perfume house that once served Queen Victoria **.**Ĭaron – The French perfumer first opened shop in 1904 by Ernest Daltroff, with former dressmaker Felicie Vanpouille designing inventive bottles and packaging. Before he was a character on The Office and a rock band, Creed was – and still is – a storied perfume house established in London in the 1700s. If you’re determined to find an unexpected option for a son, there’s always Creed. Most of these are better suited for a daughter.

Britney and Paris have their signature scents, but their names don’t make you think of perfume. Of course, no matter how much you love Poison, it isn’t an option for your child – though Yves or Laurent might be.

Giovanni Farina left Italy for Germany in the 1700s, where he would establish Europe’s first dedicated perfumery, and launched a revolutionary fragrance: Eau de Cologne, named after his new hometown. Yet for every Bluebell, Iris, or Cool Water, there’s an intriguing name with a story to tell.

Little wonder that many fragrance names are simply botanicals or other names borrowed from the natural world. There’s a science of scent, with a complex system to characterize each perfume, a system that owes something to music (floral notes) and something to taxonomy (the aquatic family). It has evolved into a billion-dollar industry, with certain scents tied to famous figures or specific eras. Perfume is nearly as old as civilization itself, a luxury found among many an ancient tribe. Let’s all take a deep whiff as we join Appellation Mountain ‘s Abby Sandel as she explores the perfume counter to find some fragrant name inspiration.

Inspired by lux socialite cologne