6 Perfumes Every French Woman Has Owned at Least Once in Her Life

Good skin, great hair, and an excess of insouciant charm are the hallmarks of la Parisienne—and while we’ve given plenty of thought to her rumpled, lived-in mane and her pharmacy skin-care secrets, this season we find ourselves wondering about her perfume. Fragrance, after all, may be personal, but it’s also the stuff of culture. And a stroll through the City of Light confirms that the art of perfume is still thriving here, with innovative new niche boutiques and storied houses from Guerlain to Annick Goutal nestled behind every glorious Haussmannian corner. Which got us thinking: Classically speaking, what are really the most French of the French perfumes? You know, the ones every Parisian under the age of 40 has had on her dressing table at least once in her life? In search of a professional opinion, we called up French nose Francis Kurkdjian, whose own self-titled jewel-box boutique on the Rue d’Alger, with its exquisitely made perfumes, is a mandatory stop on any Fashion Week itinerary.

Here, six timeless perfumes that are quintessentially French.