Encyclopedia · 307 iconic perfumes
Everything a perfume says, note by note.
Perfumdle brings together the perfumes that shaped history, from Jicky to Baccarat Rouge 540, and decodes them with precision. Every day, a game also invites you to guess a mystery perfume from its clues.
The undisputed
Twelve perfumes that changed history
The vocabulary
Explore by note
Vanilla, iris, oud, bergamot: every material has its smell, its story and its masterpieces.
Timeline
A century of perfume
Guides
Understanding perfume
About
Reading perfume, note by note
Perfumdle is a bilingual encyclopedia dedicated to iconic perfumes. We have gathered 307 creations from 77 houses, from the great classics of Guerlain and Chanel to the signatures of contemporary niche perfumery. Each entry details the olfactory pyramid, with top, heart and base notes, along with the launch year, concentration, family and intended audience. Themed pages let you explore fragrance families, the great decades of perfumery and the scents best suited to each season. Alongside this editorial side, Perfumdle offers a daily game: a mystery perfume to identify in a few attempts, using clues drawn from its house, year, family or notes. It is a playful way to sharpen your nose and your fragrance knowledge, one day at a time.
What is the difference between eau de parfum and eau de toilette?
The difference lies in the concentration of aromatic materials. An eau de parfum generally contains more than an eau de toilette, which gives it longer wear and often more depth. Percentages vary between brands, and the same creation can smell different depending on its concentration.
What are fragrance families?
They are a way of classifying perfumes by their dominant character. The main families are floral, amber, woody, chypre, fougère and citrus, joined by gourmand, leather, aquatic and aromatic. A perfume often belongs to several families at once, with one main facet leading the composition.
What are top, heart and base notes?
They describe how a perfume evolves over time. Top notes, light and volatile, are perceived in the first minutes. Heart notes shape the perfume's personality for several hours. Base notes, the heaviest, provide longevity and the final trail that lingers on skin and clothes.
How can I make perfume last longer?
Apply it to moisturised skin, ideally after a shower, on warm areas such as the neck or inner elbows. Avoid rubbing your wrists. Spraying clothes or hair also extends wear. Store the bottle away from light and heat to protect its quality.
What is a niche perfume?
A niche perfume is created by a house that specialises in fragrance, often independent, with more selective distribution than big fashion brands. These houses favour a freer style and sometimes less consensual materials. Diptyque, Le Labo, Byredo and Frédéric Malle are well-known examples.