When it comes to perfume, the classics are widely regarded as the best, with Chanel, Dior, and Lancôme being regarded as some of the most desirable. More recently however, new fashion houses have risen to challenge the old guard, and one of those is Lebanese based Elie Saab.
The best Elie Saab perfumes fuse classic and more modern ingredients in collaboration with perfumers such as Francis Kurkdjian, Jerome Di Marino, and Sophie Labbe. Saab has created a range of perfumes which are modern, fresh, and infused with classic sophistication.
Background Of Elie Saab
While his perfume brand is relatively new, opening in just 2011, Saab’s career in fashion is more established. Opening his label in 1982, at the age of just 18, Saab worked with a team of 15 employees in Beirut specializing in wedding dresses and bridal couture.
By 1997 he had become the first non-Italian designer to become a member of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion, and shortly after in 1998 he opened his ready-to-wear line in Milan. Since then the Eli Saab brand has gone from strength-to-strength, being sported by Oscar winners like Halle Berry, and even members of the British Royal family!
Also Read: Best Guerlain Perfumes For Spring & Summer
6 Best Elie Saab Perfumes
Elie Saab perfumes are perfect for modern women who want to stay fresh and classy, and all his fragrances are delightfully mixed and blended to provide unique and interesting scents. Here are 6 of the best Elie Saab perfumes reviewed by Viora London.
1. Girl of Now By Elie Saab
Review
Launched in 2017, Girl of Now Eau de Parfum is a sweet, oriental floral fragrance with hints of mandarin orange, pear, pistachio and almond. Designed by Dominique Ropion and Sophie Labbe, this is a gentle, feminine fragrance which is at once demure and sophisticated, but far from retiring. Girl of Now is the perfect daytime perfume for fall and winter, with warming fruity and nutty tones that linger in the air without being over-powering.
Perhaps because of the subtlety of its tones, Girl of Now doesn’t last as long as some of Saab’s other perfumes. A single application will last about 4+ hours at full strength, after which it begins to fade, but nonetheless traces of the perfume remain for around 8 hours making it a perfect perfume for your working day.
In terms of presentation, this is a very pretty perfume which stands out from the crowd. Tall, coloured bottles are very much in vogue, but Saab has once again chosen to divert from the well-trodden path with a small, well-rounded bottle in classic pearlescent and gold colors.
Top Notes:
Mandarin orange, Pear, Pistachio
Mid Notes:
Orange blossom, Magnolia, Almond
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Cashmeran, Tonka bean, Almond milk
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
2. Girl of Now Shine By Elie Saab
Review
Also designed by Dominique Ropion and Sophie Labbe (in 2018), Girl of Now Shine, is a fresher, fruitier scent to the nutty tones of the original. Inspired by the fashion line, this perfume was designed to add a touch of luxury and deliver a positive aura.
The mixture of pear, pineapple, and ylang-ylang with the patchouli and almond scents of the original makes this at once familiar and new. The increased floral notes brought in by the jasmine and iris give this perfume a slightly heavier hang in the air, and make it strong upon first application. However, this perfume doesn’t last as long as the original Girl of Now, fading after 4+ hours.
While retaining the same shape and gold colours, this bottle is simpler than the original and the added gold colouring makes it look a little more luxurious. This is a perfect perfume for daytime or evening wear, and its light yet luxurious scent complements spring fashion trends very well.
Top Notes:
Pear, Mandarin orange, Pineapple, Roasted almonds
Mid Notes:
Bitter almond, Orange blossom, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang
Base Notes:
Vanilla, Patchouli, Iris
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
3. Girl of Now Forever By Elie Saab
Review
Composed by Dominique Ropion alone in 2019, Girl of Now Forever is a stronger, punchier variation on the original with some seriously fresh and fruity tones that make it perfect for spring and summer daytime wear.
A primarily sweet and citrus perfume, Girl of Now Forever has notes of lemon zest, raspberry, blackcurrant, and cashmeran. This final blend seems to have mixed the strengths of its two predecessors to achieve a good mix of longevity and sillage. It hangs in the air well but doesn’t overpower, and a single application generally provides 6+ hours of fragrance.
By retaining the original shape of the bottle in homage to the first two perfumes, but changing the colour scheme to a light and feminine pink, this perfume makes its mark well. The only downside is that while the overall scent lasts well, it’s complexities fade fairly quickly due to their light nature.
Top Notes:
Lemon zest, Raspberry
Mid Notes:
Blackcurrant, Rose, Almond, Orange blossom
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Cashmeran, Musk, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
4. Le Parfum By Elie Saab
Review
The very first fragrance launched by Eli Saab remains one of his best (and most loved) contributions because of its classic, timeless, scent. Composed by Francis Kurkdjian, this ultra-feminine perfume went through 279 trial versions before being released, and as a result, is incredibly well-balanced.
With notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and honey, supported by a base of fragrant cedar, Le Parfum is suitable for both day and night time wear but shines best on fresh spring days. The design of the bottle, like the mix of fragrances, is designed to be timeless; a simple glass bottle in a baroque style stands out well on the shelves but ensures that it fits well in any bag or dressing table.
Very long-lasting and quite heavy in the air at first, this is a strong, all-day perfume which won’t need reapplication unless you’re constantly on the move. The musky undertones, however, can be a little stifling at first, so this is not the best option for those with sensitive noses.
Top Notes:
African orange flower
Mid Notes:
Jasmine
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Cedar, Rose, Honey
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
5. Le Parfum in White By Elie Saab
Review
The chic, modern follow up to the 2011 Le Parfum, Le Parfum in White was mixed by Francis Kurkdjian and Jerome Di Marino and launched in 2018. With a slightly fruity and floral character, it has a musky base that increases it’s staying power and makes it a perfect evening perfume for spring.
Retaining the original baroque glass structure, the image has been upgraded with a clean, silver top and band around the neck. This, as well as the light pink colour of the perfume itself, gives the bottle a distinctly feminine and girlish look.
As a light, floral scent, this perfume does not hang heavily in the air when sprayed, but it has an impressive staying power which will see you through the largest part of the day. Each application lasts around 5+ hours and the fragrance retains its complexity.
Top Notes:
Orange blossom, Red berries, Lime, Mandarin orange
Mid Notes:
Jasmine, Peach
Base Notes:
Patchouli, White amber, White musk, Tolu balsam, Benzoin, Vanilla.
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
6. Le Parfum Royal By Elie Saab
Review
Blended by new nose Maia Lernout, Le Parfum Royal is a decadent and rich fragrance which the brand themselves state as being fit for royalty. It is bold and vibrant notes of sandalwood, mandarin orange, and honey, it is a delicious, sweet scent which lasts well throughout the day.
With an average of 6+ hours of cover from one application, Le Parfum Royal is the perfect spicy and warming perfume for dark winter nights and fall evenings. It is a rather intense perfume, however, and may overpower itself if applied too liberally, so be gentle.
Once again, the baroque glass bottle has been retained but has been spruced up with royal blue and gold accents which make it look as luxurious and special as it smells. This is without a doubt one of the best Elie Saab perfumes for those who like to add a touch of luxury to their everyday lives.
Top Notes:
Mandarin Orange
Mid Notes:
Rose, Neroli
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Vanilla, Amber, Sandalwood
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at one of these well known stores:
USA & UK readers can view this perfume at Amazon
UK readers can also view this perfume at John Lewis & Partners
Conclusion
What makes these the best Elie Saab perfumes is their ability to each have a distinct and individual scent.
Girl of Now Forever is perfect for those who like light, fruity scents that last well and lift the spirits, while Le Parfum Royal is the most decadent night time perfume for those who love luxury.
Likewise, the original Girl of Now provides a classic meeting point between luxury and freshness. Nonetheless, Le Parfum, his first offering, has been the most enduringly popular, and with its fusion of classic and modern fragrances, it really is the perfect scent for the classy, modern woman who likes to add a little luxury into her day to day routine.
By considering the top notes and longevity first, then considering the base scents you can find a perfume that is just right for you. Consider which parts of your nose it activates and how it makes you feel in order to choose a scent that makes you feel as good as you deserve.
Before you go, I have put together a review of the most elegant perfumes ranging from timeless classics to modern day sophistication that I think you will enjoy.
