10 Most extravagant and exciting perfumes of 2012

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Fantasy Fragrance
In October 2012, this one-of -a-kind $500,000 perfume debuted in Herald Square, endorsed by model Alessandra Ambrosio. It will go along with the $2.5 million Floral Fantasy Bra to make a holiday gift set for a fortunate somebody. London Jewelers designed both the garden-inspired bra and the bottle. The stout bottle is decked out with yellow and pink diamonds, sapphires, tsavorite, rubies and a hand-carved butterfly, whose body is made from a 10 carat white diamond. While Victoria’s Secret has other, more affordable versions of the Bombshell Fragrance line, Bombshell Fantasy contains a blend of passion fruit, peony and vanilla orchid, with a dry down of musk, cashmeran and oakmoss.


Burberry Body in Baccarat Crystal Bottle
Burberry launched a new limited edition of its 2011 Body Fragrance this November. Only 156 of the 1.5 oz bottles are available, at $2,545 each. The original Body costs $95 for a 2.9 oz bottle, but the limited edition has enhanced notes of rose, sandalwood, cashmere wood, vanilla and musk. The handblown French Baccarat Crystal bottles were designed by Burberry’s creative director, Christopher Bailey.


Gucci Premiere
The Gucci Premiere Fragrance was inspired by the Gucci Premier couture gown collection, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. According to Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini, the slightly musky fragrance is “womanly, intriguing and as seductive as the perfect couture gown.” The 1.7 oz bottle costs $87, containing top notes of bergamot and orange blossom, with base notes of leather, patchouli and sandalwood.


Coco Noir, Chanel
In August 2012, Chanel launched this Venetian-inspired fragrance. The scent was created by Chanel perfumer, Jacques Polge, to bring to life what Coco felt the color black embodied: striking seductiveness and intensity. A 1.7 oz little black bottle costs $98 and contains a mixture of floral accords and warmth. Top notes of grapefruit and bergamot are balanced by rose, jasmine, patchouli and sandalwood.


Ralph Lauren’s Big Pony Collection
After the success of the men’s Big Pony Collection in 2010, Ralph Lauren launched the women’s collection of four perfumes in April 2012. At $55 per 1.7 oz, each of the color-coded bottles contains a unique scent. Blue is fresh with sparkling grapefruit, Pink contains cranberries and other rich fruity tones, Yellow is invigorating with pear and mimosa, while Purple is infused with cherry and oriental florals.


Fabulous by Isaac Mizrahi
The fashion designer launched his debut perfume in September 2012, at $70 per 1.7 oz bottle. “I’ve been designing clothes, accessories, housewares – everything for a woman’s lifestyle – for nearly thirty years. Fabulous is my opportunity to offer women something to identify with on a whole other emotional level,” Mizrahi said. He collaborated with Firmenich, the largest privately-owned company in the perfume and flavor business. Fabulous’ top notes include bergamot, mandarin and nectarine, with middle notes featuring peony, freesia and jasmine. Sandalwood, vanilla and cedar come out when it’s dry, providing earthy warmth. The bottle is pink, plump and equipped with an atomizer, for even distribution of the mist.


Aqua Oriens by Van Cleef & Arpels
This limited edition of Oriens, launched in 2010, came out in April 2012, at $50 for 1.7 oz. The minty clear hue and ocean blue bottle top are Tahitian-inspired, encasing the fragrance designed by perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer. Strong top notes of pear and lime are followed by middle notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom. Base notes of musk and amber balance each fruity spritz with warm sophistication.


Armani Code Luna
At $60 per 1.7 oz bottle, this new edition of the original Armani Code came out in March 2012. It’s less sweet, but more warm and romantic than its predecessor, with a strong vanilla pod base note. Top and middle notes include Italian bergamot, petit grain and orange blossom. It also contains the night-blooming flower, mirabilis jalapa, inspiring the product’s name, and adding a dose of enchantment to every bottle.


Dot by Marc Jacobs
Launched in July 2012, Dot fits Marc Jacobs’ criteria of having an irresistibly cute name, along with Daisy (2007) and Lola (2009). At $70 per 1.7 oz bottle, the hybrid ladybug/butterfly bottle design is so eye-catching that what’s inside could almost be an afterthought. But the perfume has its own strong character, with an initial gust sweet honeysuckle and dragonfruit. The middle notes of coconut water and jasmine quickly come out, followed by a dry finish of driftwood, musk and vanilla, making it distinguishable from run-of-the-mill fruity and sweet teen scents.


Fame by Lady Gaga
No list of perfumes that made a splash this year would be complete without mentioning Lady Gaga’s new scent, launched in August 2012. “I wanted it to be a very slutty perfume, because that is sort of the addictive nature of fame. It is seductive,” the singer said in her Good Morning America interview on September 14. According to her, the black liquid sprays clear, but makes for a “nice artistic statement,” at $60 for 1.7 oz. She collaborated with Haus Laboratories to produce this mixture of belladonna, incense, apricot, honey drops and tiger orchidea.

By: Rachel Hennessey
From: http://www.forbes.com