The Top 10 Best-Selling Perfumes

Scent has always been an essential part of making oneself enchanting to the opposite sex. Like all mainstays of the glamorous fashion world, some perfumes are destined to go down in history as must-haves for generations of lovers. Here are some of the top-selling fragrances from around the world, as reported by Britain’s Daily Mail magazine.

1. Chanel “No. 5”

This perfume is nothing short of legendary. Released in 1921 by Coco Chanel, and originally available only for select clients, the popularity of No. 5 exploded when none other than Marilyn Monroe endorsed it in the 1950s. It is still a best-seller after close to a century.

2. Calvin Klein “Eternity”

Eternity is an award-winning perfume that has flown off the shelves since it was first introduced in 1988. It was so successful initially that a version for men, designed by Carlos Benaim, was released less than a year later. Both fragrances have sold many millions of bottles.

3. Prada “Eau de Toilette”

Various brands and styles of “toilet water” have been in use for hundreds of years, but the one put out by the famous Italian company Prada has seen a particular surge in popularity. In the modern age, it is favored for its light, fresh scent.

4. Davidoff “Cool Water”

This youthful fragrance and its many iterations have been popular among both men and women since Cool Water’s introduction in 1988. It has been endorsed by television stars in memorable ads, which has led to its continued success.

5. Gucci “Rush”

Another legendary Italian designer label, Gucci, put out this perfume in 1999 and it won the most prestigious award in the fragrance world, the FiFi. The masculine version, also titled Gucci Rush, won the same award in the very next year.

6. Ralph Lauren “Romance”

The late 90s was a great time for best-selling perfumes, and the Romance fragrance by Ralph Lauren was no exception. With lines for both men and women, this award-winning perfume has remained popular for more than a decade.

7. “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has long been admired by the public for her stellar fashion sense, especially following the success of the “Sex and the City” franchise. Her fashion products, including this perfume line, remain consistently popular with women around the world.

8. Issey Miyake “L’eau d’Issey”

The acclaimed Japanese designer Issey Miyake created this hit of a perfume, which has been a favorite since being introduced in 1992. Its name is in fact a pun, which means “Issey’s water” but sounds like the word “odyssey” in French.

9. Estée Lauder “Beautiful”

With a pervasive ad campaign featuring celebrities such as Elizabeth Hurley, this 1984 scent was still being sold at record speed even 25 years later in 2009. The classic perfume has remained the designer’s top seller.

10. Tom Ford “Black Orchid”

Designer Tom Ford’s first perfume might not have the long history of some of the others, being introduced in 2007, but its popularity speaks for itself. A dark, ravishing scent, “Black Orchid” still does fabulous business around the world.


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