The Most Expensive Perfumes: A Spritz of Opulence

11. Flowerbomb Haute Couture by Viktor & Rolf – $54 per ml / $1,588 per ounce

Launched in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Flowerbomb—one of the most popular women’s perfume—this exclusive edition further emphasizes Viktor & Rolf’s renowned opulence and exclusivity through decadent floral notes and exquisite extracts. The 3D-printed rose gold bottle is also a nod to the Dutch luxury fashion house’s constant innovation and perpetual relevance.

10. Jardin Nocturne Parfum by Shalini – $60 per ml / $1,764 per ounce

Priced at $3,000 per bottle, this fragrance combines the essences of oud, jasmine, and saffron, resulting in a captivating aroma. Encased in the meticulously crafted Lalique crystal flacon named “Le Tourbillons,” the design evokes the ethereal beauty of moonlit gardens. 

The perfume’s unique blend of scents and inspired visual presentation capture the night’s etherealism and sensuality.

9. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thèbes by Baccarat – $227 per ml / $6,800 per ounce

With a legacy spanning almost three centuries, Baccarat, a renowned crystal manufacturer, ventured into the realm of perfumery during the 1990s. The result? One of the world’s most exclusive—only three bottles released—and expensive fragrances: Baccarat Les Larmes Sacrees de Thèbes. Inspired by Ancient Egyptian mythology, the pyramid-shaped vessel is handcrafted from crystal, and adorned with an amethyst cap. While its spicy and woody essence encompasses notes of bergamot, myrrh, frankincense, and sandalwood.

8. Le Monde Sur Mesure by Morreale Paris – $300 per ml / $8,875 per ounce

Morreale Paris’ bespoke collection, Le Monde sur Mesure, offers some of the world’s most privileged perfumes. 

It’s a journey that spans up to a year, an exclusive process that crafts a unique scent tailored to the (wealthy) individual’s specifications using only the rarest and most distinctive ingredients like Parisian Roses de Mai or Himalayan Mountain Neroli.

So far, only one five-liter bottle has been sold in 2018 for $1,5 million to an anonymous family in the Middle East. The bespoke bottle itself is a masterpiece, adorned with two kilograms of gold and encrusted with 1,000 diamonds.

7. No. 1 Majesté Impériale by Clive Christian – $430 per ml / $12,722 per ounce

Clive Christian himself has fondly described it as “the perfume of his heart”. 500ml of absolute perfume oil, this luxury fragrance presents an aromatic floral symphony combining velvety vanilla, musk, and vivacious vetiver with invigorating notes of bergamot, Sicilian mandarin, ylang-ylang, and honeyed neroli. 

Encased in a hand-cut Baccarat crystal flacon with an 18-karat gold neck, the majestic bottle is equally befitting of such a name. It is adorned with a five-carat white diamond.

A mere ten bottles of this extraordinary fragrance were ever produced. Seven were acquired by private collectors for £115,000 (then $205,000) each and delivered in a luxury Bentley, while three remained part of Clive Christian’s exclusive collection.

In 2005, the No 1 Imperial Majesty was named the world’s most expensive commercially available perfume by the Guinness Book of World Records.

6. Parfum VI by Gianni Vive Sulman – $445 per ml / $13,088 per ounce

A favorite of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, you just can’t beat it (pun intended.) This sultry perfume was praised by designer Gianni Vive Sulman as being the best possible combination of the richness of Jasmine, roses from Grasse in France, and a selection of undisclosed natural ingredients. 

Like many of the most expensive perfumes in the world, the bottle itself is equally responsible for such a price tag. The crystal flacon is accented with gold and exotic wood. While the diamond-adorned stopper and ruby-encrusted key further add to the opulence of this gorgeous scent. 

5. Shumukh by Nabeel – $500 per ml / $14,794 per ounce

At $1.29 million, Shumukh by Nabeel is the world’s most expensive perfume bottle ever sold. But because it comes in a three-liter crystal bottle, the price per ml puts it at number five on our list of most expensive perfumes. 

Unveiled in 2019 with grandeur at the Armani Ballroom of the Burj Khalifa, Shumukh is an exquisite composition blending Indian agarwood, sandalwood, musk, ylang-ylang, Turkish rose, and an array of undisclosed ingredients. It was carefully crafted by Dubai’s master perfumer, Asghar Adam Ali. 

The extravagant bottle, which reflects Dubai’s heritage through symbolic accents, is displayed in a towering leather case, standing almost 2 meters (6 ft 5.55 in) tall.

Meaning ‘deserving the highest’ in Arabic, Shumukh holds a Guinness World Record for the most diamonds set on a perfume bottle with 3,571 diamonds (38.55 carats in total). Only one bottle of Shumukh exists, amplifying its rarity and undoubtedly increasing its value as time passes.

4. 1 Million Luxe Edition by Paco Rabanne – $570 per ml / $16,764 per ounce

Created by the skilled perfumers Christophe Raynaud, Olivier Pescheux, and Michel Girard, Paco Rabanne 1 Million 18 Carats unravels its captivating notes of seductive blood orange, invigorating grapefruit, warm cinnamon, refreshing mint, delicate rose, alluring spices, subtle leather, white wood, rich patchouli, and enticing amber.

As one of the most expensive perfumes for men at $57,000, it is encased in an equally extravagant 18-carat gold bottle and crowned with a 0.3-carat diamond. Each bottle in this limited edition series is individually numbered.

3. Opera Prima by Bvlgari – $3,133 per ml / $92,662 per ounce

Unveiled in 2014 to celebrate Bulgari’s 130th anniversary, Opera Prima is a magnificent Italian masterpiece that fetched US$235,000 in 2018.

The Mediterranean-inspired fragrance enchants with its fruity essence, accentuated by the vibrant notes of lemon and orange blossom. The perfume’s visual allure is equally enticing.

Sculpted by Italian glass aficionado Venini, the luxurious flacon is encrusted with citrine, amethyst, and diamond accents, each elevating the bottle to magnum opus status.

2. No. 1 Passant Guardant by Clive Christian – $7600 per ml / $228,000 per ounce

Priced at £143,000 (or about $228,000), Clive Christian No. 1 Passant Guardant was designed to commemorate the inauguration of the Salon de Parfum boutique at Harrods in 2014. This perfume showcases Queen Victoria’s iconic crown, an exclusive trademark of the historically significant British perfume house (Clive Christian is known for crafting the world’s finest fragrances since 1872).

The fragrance comes in the brand’s signature crystal bottle, which is adorned with more than 2,000 diamonds and covered in 24-carat gold. Like the vessel it comes in, the pure perfume is crafted with utmost intricacy and attention to detail. It features a multifaceted composition of bergamot, Sicilian mandarin, ylang-ylang, and honeyed neroli.

The standard bottle of the No. 1 fragrance costs £670 (or about $856) and is marketed as ‘the world’s most expensive perfume’.

1. Golden Delicious by DKNY – $20,000 per ml / $591,470 per ounce

Priced at $1 million, this special edition (one-of-one bottle) of the Golden Delicious range by DKNY was designed for a charitable cause, and all proceeds were donated to Action Against Hunger. 

The brand commissioned renowned jewelry designer Martin Katz to design the bottle. The result after 1,500 hours? A gorgeous vessel adorned with 2,909 precious stones, including 2,700 white diamonds, 183 yellow sapphires and other carefully chosen rare gems. Of course, you can purchase a bottle of Golden Delicious for under $50, but the bottle won’t have quite the same allure. 

Conclusion: The smell of high luxury

Showcasing incredible craftsmanship and extravagance, the world’s most expensive perfumes are permeated by unparalleled opulence. Each scent represents a unique blend of rare and precious ingredients, meticulously curated to create olfactory masterpieces.

The bottles themselves are equally impressive, encased in crystal and adorned with precious gemstones and gold. They not only house the luxurious elixirs within but also serve as symbols of status and exclusivity. 

And released in limited editions, the most expensive perfumes in the world harness the power of exclusivity and elitism to create an olfactory experience that the world’s most prominent figures and collectors are willing to pay scent-sational amounts for.

The world’s most expensive perfumes are: 

1. Golden Delicious by DKNY

2. Clive Christian No. 1 Passant Guardant

3. Opera Prima by Bvlgari

4. 1 Million Luxe Edition by Paco Rabanne

5. Shumukh by Nabeel

6. Parfum VI by Gianni Vive Sulman

7. No. 1 Majesté impériale by Clive Christian Perfume

8. Le Monde Sur Mesure by Morreale Paris

9. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thèbes by Baccarat

10. Jardin Nocturne Parfum by Shialini

11. Flowerbomb Haute Couture by Viktor & Rolf