Like many crafts and industries, the perfume world has its own language. Most of it is French and all of the terms indicate something about the fragrance’s concentration. For example, eau de colognes and eau de toilettes have a lower concentration, which makes for a lighter scent. Eau de parfum, on the other hand, is much higher in concentration and has more potent formulas. But what, exactly, are elixirs?
A term originally used in apothecaries, elixirs fall at the furthest end of the spectrum and are the most concentrated and intense version of a fragrance. They tend to be powerful and offer great longevity. One morning spritz is all you need for a signature scent that goes the distance.
Want to add some to your collection? Here are 10 we recommend for women and men.
For her
Burberry Her Elixir de Parfum
Bold, sensual and adventurous, this fun, free-spirited fragrance has irresistible fruity and gourmand notes. These include top notes of strawberry and blackberry; jasmine in the middle; and vanilla, amber and sandalwood at the base. Yum!
Clinique Aromatics Elixir
This iconic fragrance is over 50 years old and the oldest from the house of Clinique. Launching in 1971, it has timeless appeal. A chypre-floral scent, it is made up of floral, earthy and woody notes, such as geranium, clary sage, jasmine, patchouli, incense and vetiver.
Elie Saab ELIXIR Eau De Parfum
Described by the brand as a love potion for magnetic women, this is a sparkling but sophisticated scent. It has a trio of precious resins as the base notes, combined with fresh iris and neroli and juicy Mandarin orange.
Mugler Angel Elixir Eau De Parfum
A new and more intense take on the original, this fragrance exudes modern femininity. It has top notes of pink pepper; ylang-ylang and sandalwood in the middle; and base notes of vanilla and amber.
Carolina Herrera Confidential Blossom Elixir
A blend of both fresh and sweet notes, this scent, which was created for women and men, is a blend of green notes at the top; orange blossom and jasmine in the middle; and honey at the base.
For him
Paco Rabanne 1 Million Elixir Parfum Intense
The shiny gold packaging is as bold as the aromatic perfume inside! It combines apple and davana at the top, with rose and cedar in the middle. To round it off, it has notes of warm tonka bean, vanilla and patchouli.
DIOR Sauvage Elixir
The original version of this is *so good* that it was declared the best-selling perfume of 2021. This variant, the elixir, is just as worthy of a spot in any fragrance wardrobe, with notes of cinnamon, grapefruit, lavender, patchouli and amber.
Banderas The Icon Elixir Eau de Parfum
If you love the smell of sea air, then this elixir is a must-have. It contains a blend of spicy and citrus notes at the top; oceanic and salt notes in the middle; and woody and musk at the base.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir
This bottle – like all of Gaultier’s creations – is made to stand out. And so is this scent! It has fresh mint and lavender up top; vanilla and resin in the middle; and honey, tonka bean and tobacco as base notes.
Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir
This popular amber-woody fragrance comes in a trophy-shaped bottle. It contains four notes: vanilla, olibanum, amber and tonka bean, which come together to create a powerful perfume.
