Beauty

The Fragrances the MILLE Team Swears By

BYKhaoula Ghanem

February 5, 2026

Your go-to scent is basically your vibe in a bottle. It’s the invisible calling card you leave behind in elevators, the thing that clings to a borrowed blazer long after you’ve given it back, and the trace that lingers in a room after you’ve slipped out five minutes too early. In an office where taste might as well be an Olympic event, fragrance isn’t an afterthought, it’s a personality trait. One of us once missed boarding because of a last-minute duty free perfume purchase (Priorities!)

Some of us rotate depending on mood. Others have been faithful to the same bottle since university. There are the sweet girls, the smoky ones, the “I want to smell expensive but not obvious” minimalists.

So instead of gatekeeping, we’re opening up our vanity trays. From cult classics to niche finds you won’t smell on every cafe table in d3, these are the fragrances we reach for on deadline days, date nights, fashion weeks, and everything in between.

Loewe Roasted Vanilla — Sofia Guellaty (Founder and Creative Director)

At first mention, Roasted Vanilla might conjure sugary gourmand tropes, but Loewe’s interpretation is anything but sweet-shop familiar. Part of the house’s Crafted Collection, this unisex eau de parfum reimagines vanilla through a more textured, sophisticated lens. Think: woodsmoke and spice before the creaminess unfurls. Pink pepper and oakwood open with a nuanced spark, giving way to vanilla that’s dry, slightly resinous and wrapped in the round warmth of cognac and amber. As striking as the scent itself is the bottle. Pared-back yet sculptural, with fluid, organic lines that feel more objet d’art than typical fragrance flacon, it’s a bottle you’ll happily display on your vanity long after the last drop is gone.

Valentino Anatomy of Dreams Sogno In Rosso — Khaoula Ghanem (Editor-in-Chief)

There are perfumes you wear for yourself. And then there are perfumes that turn strangers into investigators. Sogno In Rosso is firmly the latter. It opens with a flicker of spice— black pepper and juniper— just sharp enough to catch attention mid-stride. But before it ever feels intimidating, it melts into something creamier, softer, almost addictive. There’s a milky accord at its heart wrapped in orange blossom and incense that feels warm against skin, before the vanilla and sandalwood settle in. It’s the kind of scent that prompts “Sorry, I have to ask— what are you wearing?”

Guerlain Absolus Allegoria Tabac Sahara — Yassine Hariss (Senior Editor)

On paper, Tabac Sahara sounds like the kind of fragrance you’d raise an eyebrow at. Raspberry? With tobacco? And ambergris? It reads almost chaotic, but it surprisingly works. The raspberry isn’t syrupy or overly sweet. It’s sharp and slightly dry. The tobacco comes through warm and smooth, more sun-warmed leaves than smoke, with just a touch of sweetness that feels natural rather than sticky. And the ambergris sits close to the skin, adding that soft, almost salty depth that makes everything blend together in a way that feels effortless. Tabac Sahara proves that unlikely pairings can be the most compelling ones.

Christian Dior Cuir Saddle — Ines Bouassida (Director of Operations)

Composed by Francis Kurkdjian, this is one of those rare scents that suits anyone, regardless of gender. On paper, “leather” can read as gritty or stereotypical, but here it’s anything but. The cuir shows up in the opening— smooth, polished, with a flicker of smokiness and the faintest animalic edge— then quickly softens. If you’re expecting something dense or aggressively leathery, it pivots almost immediately. A creamy, almost gardenia-like glow slips in, gently steering the fragrance into muskier territory. There’s the faintest gourmand warmth underneath, never sweet, just skin-like and addictive. You could wear it with a fur coat, with jeans, with a tee, and it will feel right every time. Then there’s the staying power. You’ll catch it hours later and remember you’re wearing it. Not in an overpowering way, but in that subtle, “what smells so good?” way.

Parfums de Marly Valaya Exclusif — Leila Khatib (Head of Marketing)

Valaya Exclusif smells expensive in the way certain fabrics feel expensive. It has that polished, almost luminous quality from the very first spray, where airy citrus and delicate white florals give it a freshly pressed crispness. There’s almond woven through the opening, creamy and smooth, softening the brightness and giving the fragrance a plush texture that feels considered rather than sugary. As it settles, the warmth starts to reveal itself. Vanilla and amber glide in quietly, not in a dessert-like way but in that skin-hugging, subtly addictive way that makes you keep catching traces of it throughout the day. The musk in the base is what really seals it. It’s clean but sensual, diffusive without being overwhelming, and it lingers beautifully on fabric and hair long after you’ve left the room.

Armani Oud Nacre — Radouan Labidi (Creative Producer)

Oud Nacre is one of those fragrances you don’t expect to love as much as you do. Oud can easily veer into heavy, smoky, or overtly rich territory, but under Giorgio Armani’s direction, it reveals a gentler side that feels surprising, effortless, and strangely addictive. Bright pear and soft citrus open the scent with a lightness you wouldn’t normally associate with oud, which here isn’t dark or brooding. Wrapped in creamy woods, it shimmers with warmth rather than smoke. As the day wears on, a powdery musk takes over, lingering close and personal. The scent feels like being wrapped in a warm fleece blanket at the end of a long day. It’s cozy, enveloping, and reassuring.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 — Adwa Adil (Design Manager)

Baccarat Rouge is one of those scents you hear about so much you almost resist it. That is, until you spray it. Only then you will realize that it certainly lives up to all the hype. The first time you smell it, you get it. That glowing saffron opening, slightly sweet but not edible, airy but somehow dense at the same time. Jasmine softens it just enough, before that unmistakable ambergris-cedar combo kicks in— warm, woody, almost mineral. What makes it addictive is that strange push and pull. It projects, but it also clings. It feels airy, yet it lasts for hours. You’ll stop smelling it on yourself and then suddenly catch a cloud of it in the air and remember why it went viral in the first place.

Hermes Hermessence Myrrhe Églantine — Hela Farah (Project Director)

Christine Nagel approached Hermessence Myrrhe Églantine like a study in contrast, and you can feel that precision from the first spray. The rose here is vivid and dewy, and almost startlingly realistic, like crushing wild eglantine between your fingers and catching that faintly tart, fruity breath that rises from the petals. The myrrh wraps the rose in something deeper and more sensual, adding a subtle boozy nuance that’s not syrupy or sticky. As it settles, the fruit facet lingers softly, giving the composition a natural sweetness. The scent is sophisticated and mature without ever slipping into something dated, and classy without trying too hard.

Rasasi Perfumes Hawas Fire — Meriem Belhiba (Content Strategist)

There’s something deeply satisfying about a fragrance that performs like it costs three times the price. Hawas Fire is exactly that. The profile leans seductive without being obvious about it. You get that fruity lift in the opening, quickly melting into a warm amber base that feels smooth rather than syrupy. It’s sweet, but not sticky and there’s a modernity to it that feels distinct. But performance is where it really flexes. The projection is strong (and not in a headache-inducing way). The sillage trails behind you, and it lasts eight to ten hours easily, sometimes longer on fabric. It’s the kind of scent you put on before heading out at night and don’t have to think about again.

Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning — Reema AlMouh (Senior Graphic Designer)

This fragrance smells exactly like its name. One spritz immediately conjures freshly washed sheets warmed by sunlight, skin that still holds onto last night’s shower, and a room that hasn’t been rushed into yet. The pear at the top gives it a gentle, almost airy sweetness, but it’s the powdery and slightly creamy iris that does most of the work. The white musk running underneath keeps everything feeling clean but not sharp, more cotton T-shirt than hotel lobby. A touch of rose peeks through, subtle and blurred, like color seen through sheer curtains. It doesn’t overpower or dominate, but lingers quietly, like the best kind of morning— slow, warm, and slightly undone.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle — Zamzam Rage (Operations Manager)

If femininity came in a bottle, this would be it. The citrus hits first, sharp and sparkling, like the snap of a freshly buttoned cuff. Orange and bergamot keep it bright, but it never lingers in that “just showered” space for long. Then the rose and jasmine step in, polished rather than romantic. And just as you start to think you’ve figured it out, the patchouli arrives. It’s not earthy in a bohemian way, but smooth, slightly creamy, and almost glossy. It gives the whole thing backbone. As it dries down, vanilla and white musk soften the edges. For anyone still searching for their signature scent, this is a perfect choice.

Byredo Bois Obscur — Dean Mascarenhas (Head of Digital)

This isn’t a fragrance for someone looking for softness or universal appeal. It’s for the person who appreciates that rubber-leather nuance, who likes a scent that feels deliberate and a little unconventional. It smells like design, like intention, like someone who prefers sharp tailoring over romance. If that’s your language, Bois Obscur speaks it fluently. It opens with a whisper of citrus and soft sweetness that keeps things from going straight into heavy territory. Underneath, there’s incense and woody warmth trying to soften the edges, but the overall impression stays cool and slightly mechanical. It’s niche in the truest sense.

The Fragrances the MILLE Team Swears By

Loewe Roasted Vanilla — Sofia Guellaty (Founder and Creative Director)

Valentino Anatomy of Dreams Sogno In Rosso — Khaoula Ghanem (Editor-in-Chief)

Guerlain Absolus Allegoria Tabac Sahara — Yassine Hariss (Senior Editor)

Christian Dior Cuir Saddle — Ines Bouassida (Director of Operations)

Parfums de Marly Valaya Exclusif — Leila Khatib (Head of Marketing)

Armani Oud Nacre — Radouan Labidi (Creative Producer)

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 — Adwa Adil (Design Manager)

Hermes Hermessence Myrrhe Églantine — Hela Farah (Project Director)

Rasasi Perfumes Hawas Fire — Meriem Belhiba (Content Strategist)

Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning — Reema AlMouh (Senior Graphic Designer)

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle — Zamzam Rage (Operations Manager)

Byredo Bois Obscur — Dean Mascarenhas (Head of Digital)

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The Fragrances the MILLE Team Swears By

Loewe Roasted Vanilla — Sofia Guellaty (Founder and Creative Director)

Valentino Anatomy of Dreams Sogno In Rosso — Khaoula Ghanem (Editor-in-Chief)

Guerlain Absolus Allegoria Tabac Sahara — Yassine Hariss (Senior Editor)

Christian Dior Cuir Saddle — Ines Bouassida (Director of Operations)

Parfums de Marly Valaya Exclusif — Leila Khatib (Head of Marketing)

Armani Oud Nacre — Radouan Labidi (Creative Producer)

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 — Adwa Adil (Design Manager)

Hermes Hermessence Myrrhe Églantine — Hela Farah (Project Director)

Rasasi Perfumes Hawas Fire — Meriem Belhiba (Content Strategist)

Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning — Reema AlMouh (Senior Graphic Designer)

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle — Zamzam Rage (Operations Manager)

Byredo Bois Obscur — Dean Mascarenhas (Head of Digital)

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