Deena Curates

November 6, 2024

Take Five: Deena Curates Fragrances Primed for Layering

The right fragrance makes a chic woman unforgettable

Deena's Curation - No1: Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion; No2: Byredo Suede Hand Lotion; No3: Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent; No4: Calandra by Rabanne; No5: L’Heure Bleu by Guerlain. Artwork by Deenathe1st/Neighbour Design. Images courtesy of featured brands.

“LONG after one has forgotten what a woman wore, the memory of her perfume lingers.” – Christian Dior. There is nothing more personal in impersonal social circles than how one smells. It creates an intimate portrait of who you are as a person, your standards of self care and respect, whilst respecting your own physical bubble between yourself and those around you.

Trends in fragrance and perfume come and go (case in point: lavender was once highly revered and is not a frequently desired note for the great noses of modern times). Oud can be overdone easily but certainly has its place when worn in the right portions. However, the art of layering the right fragrance to suit your personality and mood is of utmost importance.

You don’t want to look like everyone else and it’s arguably not possible to smell like someone else (thankfully), even if you double dose up on Chanel’s No5. The unique chemistry of our upper epidermis blends with a perfume. That said, there are five products that reign supreme as being truly stunning and eligible players for mixing with others to create a fragrances wardrobe for eternally elegant modern women. Deena curates her top choices below…

No1: Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion

$380 USD / 1,430 SAR

“As part of the Editions Frédéric Malle, perfumer Dominique Ropion collaboration with the perfume house and struck gold with ‘Portrait of a Lady’. It’s a deep and woody scent that is centered around Turkish rose,” says Deena.

Look 31/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 42/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 4/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 48/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Dior Haute Couture

Look 28/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture

Look 30/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture

Look 33/47, Zuhair Murad Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 11/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 17/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 29/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture

Look 10/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 14/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 3/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 22/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 20/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 32/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 39/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Chanel

Look 43/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 26/42, Alexis Mabille Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 46/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 69/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 89/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 22/65, Elie Saab Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock

Look 28/39, Balenciaga Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Balenciaga

No2: Byredo Suede Hand Lotion

$65 USD / 246 SAR

Technically not a perfume but this hand lotion has the most subtly chic scent of clean, pampered skin that creates the perfect veil for two spritzes of scent layered in addition on the wrist. “It’s a long-standing favourite of mine. My journey with Byredo goes way back and this has been a go-to beauty product for me for years,” says Deena.

No3: Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent

$116 USD / 437 SAR

“I often wear multiple perfumes at once, from Calèche by Hermès and Suede by Byredo to Comme des Garçons 2. But Rive Gauche can stand alone for me or be layered with Escentric Molecules,” adds Deena.

No4: Calandra by Rabanne

$110 USD / 414 SAR

“It’s a delicious fragrance! My mother led me to Calandra. When I saw the genius bottle design - I swooned. This was before the time of airport duty free, it was created in the ‘70s. It’s similar to Rive Gauche - they both smell clean and strangely metallic. The formulations have changed slightly since inception but its a fragrance I always return to,” reflects Deena.