These 10 fragrances will take you back to all the key moments in your life

It’s often said that scent is the most evocative of the five senses, and for good reason – our smell receptors are hard-wired to the emotion and memory centres of the brain. These 10 fragrances may not be new, but they’re classics for a reason.

The iconic Chanel No 5 EDP ($295 for 100ml) was released in 1921 and remains the No. 1 fragrance worldwide. Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was always ahead of the pack, and this classic scent has embodied luxury since its inception with its sublime combination of heady jasmine and May rose.

In 1925, Guerlain’s Shalimar EDP ($286 for 90ml) became one of the original oriental scents (now categorised as amber scents) and still holds its own thanks to delicious defining notes of vanilla, iris and bergamot. It is famed for its warmth, depth and sensuality.

Joy by Jean Patou EDP ($154 for 75ml) was launched in 1930 and is another of my all-time favourites thanks to its intense, lush floral notes. According to its maker, each bottle is made up of 10,600 jasmine flowers and 336 roses.

Dior’s Miss Dior EDP ($295 for 100ml) arrived in 1947. It belongs to the “chypre” family and combines floral, woody and citrus notes with high points of centifolia rose and lily-of-the-valley.

When Estée Lauder launched Youth-Dew EDP ($152 for 67ml) in 1953, she called it “one of the sexiest fragrances ever created”, and it retains a strong following nearly 75 years on. Youth-Dew was considered revolutionary for its time with its notes of rose, jonquil, jasmine and vetiver.

Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDP ($290 for 90ml) was launched in 1977 and was considered a defining moment for the brand. It broke all the rules with its simmering, spicy overload of patchouli, mandarin, myrrh, jasmine and amber while paving the way for the glamour of the opulent ’80s.

Then in 1978, we got Polo By Ralph Lauren EDT ($130 for 118ml), encased in its classic green bottle emblazoned with a golden polo pony containing a standout wood-and-leather scent that remains popular to this day.

For the boys, 1982 saw the release of Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir EDT ($40 for 100ml), an intoxicating aroma for men that is still going strong.

Arriving in 1988, Davidoff Cool Water EDT ($40 for 125ml) is a men’s fragrance that’s just as often worn by women and embodies a fresh, aquatic trend in fragrances.

This list would not be complete without the inclusion of Calvin Klein CK One EDT ($45 for 200ml). This much-loved unisex scent is the perfect embodiment of fresh, citrusy minimalism and is as popular today as it was when Kate Moss fronted the first campaign in 1994.

ASK STEPH

What’s a good lipstick colour for autumn?
I’m punting for bold hues like Cocoa (a cool brown) and Rich Cocoa (a warm brown) from the Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Colour range of moisturising, balm-like lipsticks ($58 each). They’re long-wearing and come in a satiny-matt finish.

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