Here, in no
particular order, are the Top
fragrances for women,
Top Three for men and numero uno
universal fragrance formulated for both men and women to wear:
Top fragrances for women
 Miss
Boucheron -- Sophisticated and elegant, this eau de parfum by the
famed French jewelry house is as much jewelry and vanity curio as it is lush
aromatic veil. Perfectly measured doses of bergamot, pink peppercorn,
pomegranate and violet are complemented with white suede, Bulgarian rose,
Virginia cedar and musk for a captivating aroma.
L de Lolita Lempicka --
 An elegant melange of bergamot, bitter orange,
cinnamon bark and everlasting flower with a seductive drydown enhanced by base
notes of musks, sandalwood, tonka bean and vanilla extract.
Chanel No.
5 Eau Premiere -- Who said you shouldn't tamper with a classic? Perfumers
tweaked the queen of classics in a way that would make La Chanel peacock
proud. Original notes such as rose absolute, vetiver, sandalwood and jasmine
remain, but there's an airier, lighter quality to Eau Premiere thanks to less
emphasis on the aldehydes and ylang ylang. The new concoction may smell a
little more contemporary, but it's still a scent for the supremely confident.
Elle by
Yves St. Laurent -- Wear this sultry eau de parfum morning, evening,
whenever you want to turn heads. Perfumers combined cedrat, lychee, citron,
jasmine and bourbon vetiver with freesia, patchouli, peony and pink berries
with eminently feminine results.
Covet Sarah
Jessica Parker -- The actress-cum-fashion designer is the first celeb to
land two scents on our year-end favorites lists, with only three other
entertainers ever making the cut (Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia in 2003, Spirit
Antonio Banderas for men in 2004 and Live by Jennifer Lopez in 2005). Parker's
debut fragrance, Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker, scored a spot in the women's top
10 in 2005. Covet is different but even more alluring, a fresh and intriguing
marriage of wet grass, Sicilian lemon, lavender, chocolate, honeysuckle and
vetiver on a bed of musk and woods.
Prada
Infusion d'Iris --
 One of those rare, eagerly anticipated fragrances that
generated pre-purchases and waiting lists. And its launch was worth the
anticipation. This captivating eau de parfum beckons with an irresistibly
ethereal blend of orange blossom, mandarin, iris, incense, vetiver and cedar
Coach
-- The luxury goods brand launches its first scent, a delighful
fruit-tinged floral. Tart green mandarin, guava, orange flower, giant water
lily and violet petals blend with honey, mimosa, jasmine, sandalwood and
amberwood for a pleasing scent that makes a woman unforgettable long after her
departure.
Top three for
men
Tokyo by
Kenzo -- An eau de toilette for the lively, energetic man who knows where
he's going and wants to enjoy the journey. Lemon, grapefruit, green tea and
pink pepper balance deeper notes of ginger, cardamom and sap; $50 and $65 at
Sephora.
Narciso
Rodriguez for Him -- One of those rare men's scents that's distinctive and
flat-out handsome. With elements of Egyptian musk, lavender, amber and
patchouli, the eau de toilette is for the guy who's thoughtful but not
brooding, and introspective without being egocentric; $54 and $72 at Saks.
Tom Ford for Men -- A scent that proves that it's
possible to be both sexy and dignified. Mr. Ford, arguably the most
influential man in terms of the direction of American fashion today, continues
his successful foray into fragrance with this subtly hypnotic blend of Indian
cypriol, lemon leaf oil, citrus, basil, ginger, black pepper, tobacco leaf,
amber, vetiver and woods. The eau de toilette is $60 and $85 at Saks.
Best Universal
Virgin
Island Water by Creed -- You don't even have to close your eyes to feel
immediately transported to a tropical paradise. All it takes is a single whiff
of this millesime inspired by Olivier Creed's sailing adventure in the Sir
Francis Drake Channel near Ginger Island last year with his son Erwin Creed
and two royal guests. Using the company's rare infusion method that dates back
247 years, the Creeds fused elements of coconut, lime, ginger, sugarcane and
white rum with hints of exotic florals, mandarin orange and musk. The result
is an unforgettable scent that wears equally well on men and women. It's $98
to $285 at Schiller's Pharmacy and Toadflax in Shadyside and at Saks. A
portion of proceeds of U.S. sales benefits the nonprofit Natural Resources
Defense Council.
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