9 Most Expensive Cologne
Many things make rare perfume unique and expensive. The majority of the ingredients used in expensive colognes are exotic and only found in certain parts of the world. This makes them challenging to obtain and therefore increases the cost. Another factor that makes rare perfume unique and expensive is the perfumer's skill. Creating a special perfume takes a great deal of skill and experience. The perfumer must be able to work with these rare ingredients and develop a scent that is both pleasing and unique. Finally, the process of creating cologne is often very time-consuming. Components must be gathered and then carefully blended; it can take months or even years to achieve the perfect scent. All of these factors combine to make perfumes memorable and expensive. Add luxurious bottles, high-end packaging, and sought-after brand names, and there you have it.
Gentleman Givenchy via Saks Fifth Avenue
Let's take a look at the 9 most expensive cologne in the world:
Shumukh - USD 1.29 Million
Shumukh is one of the most expensive scents to have ever been sold, and it's also one of the most beautiful cologne bottles. The bottle is designed to look like an ornate gold piece of jewelry, with the lid set in place by a ruby-filled crown. Shumukh is made by The Spirit of Dubai Parfums and is Arabic for "deserving the highest." it is a luxury fragrance and jewelry in one art form. The bottle of Shumukh has 3,571 diamonds, a total of 38.55 carats, and a combination of topaz and pearls to further adorn the bottle.
The price of a fragrance is often determined by its rarity and the amount of time, effort, and materials required to produce it. In the case of DKNY Golden Delicious, the ridiculously high price is the result of all three. With a base note of sandalwood, a heart made entirely of rose and lily-of-the-valley, and a clean musk placed on top, this spicy floral perfume is designed to be worn by women who have an appreciation for luxury.
The astonishingly expensive DKNY Golden Delicious was created from 2,909 precious stones. That's not surprising for perfume at this price point—what is unusual is that every single element in the bottle was handcrafted. The bottle features 2,700 white diamonds, 183 yellow sapphires, and a Cabochon sapphire from Sri Lanka. The cap is embellished with turquoise Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil, while four rose-cut and fifteen pink diamonds come from Australia.
Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty - USD 12,722 per ounce
Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty is a classic, oriental-Fougere breed of cologne with a bold, spicy character and warm, woodsy underpinnings. Suited for the most formal occasions and gentlemen of discerning tastes, this gorgeous fragrance opens with lively citrus notes of bergamot and Sicilian mandarin, softened by the subtle floral sweetness of ylang-ylang and sweetened neroli. The heart is pure magic: clove buds are woven into a musky base of creamy sandalwood and smooth vanilla balanced by vetiver's rich earthiness. A masculine, aromatic finish combines with a rich, spicy character to create one of the most decadent, luxurious scents ever.
Eden-Roc via Dior
Baccarat Les Larmes Sacree de Thebes- USD 6,800 per ounce
Baccarat Les Larmes Sacree de Thebes (The Sacred Tears of Thebes) is a cologne that's certainly priced on the high end (at $6,800 per ounce), but it makes purchasing sense for the man that loves everything luxury including a memorable scent. It's made with expensive ingredients (amber and rose), and the bottle is designed to evoke a timelessness that some clients may want. It's meant to invoke Egypt, which gives it a flair that could appeal to some clients' senses of history and elegance.
Chanel Grand Extrait is a luxurious and sensual perfume, its top notes of Neroli from Grasse creating an airy and luminous trail that unfurls into the voluptuousness of May Rose, Jasmine from Grasse, and Iris. The N°5 Parfum is a delicate symphony of raw materials and precious essences. This richly scented potion contains ingredients that are traditionally used for hair care: sunflower seed oil, almond oil, orange flower water, and beeswax. More than just a scent, it is an elixir that pampers and nurtures the skin. With most fragrances sold in sprays or roll-ons, it is difficult to find something that will last you through the entire day, but Chanel Grand Extrait does not disappoint.
Chanel Grand Extrait via Chanel
Clive Christian No.1 - USD 2,150 per ounce
At $2,150 per ounce, No. 1 cologne smells insane—an understatement. A floral oriental with fruity top notes of Mirabelle Plum, white Peach, and Bergamot slowly and sensually unravel to reveal Jasmine, Carnation, and a heart blooming with Rose, a flower symbolic of Aphrodite's gardens of love and beauty. A rich and complex perfume that is subtle yet sophisticated—this scent is so expensive that it comes in a bottle that looks like it's made of solid 24-carat gold!
On the spectrum of luxury colognes, Hermes 24 Faubourg falls on the high end, with an average price of $1,500 per ounce. The fragrance is housed in a beautiful bottle with a gold and white design that mirrors the packaging style of other high-end brands like Chanel. This cologne has top notes of Hiacinth, Orange, Ylang-Ylang, Peach, and Bergamot; middle notes of Orange Blossom, Gardenia, Jasmine, Black Elder, and iris; base notes of Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli, and Vanilla.
Caron Poivre - USD 1,000 per ounce
Caron Poivre is a spicy, peppery perfume that has been popular since 1954. The fragrance contains the pepper note of cardamom and juniper berry, which gives it a robust and masculine scent that is perfect for a night out on the town. It has a floral heart note, which gives way to rich woody base notes. This perfume is one of the most expensive men's colognes today at $1,000 per ounce.
Joy by Jean Patou - USD 850 per ounce
Unlike some other high-end perfumes that rely on an isolated or synthetic ingredient for their distinctive smell, Joy combines over a dozen ingredients, all sourced from natural sources. They include roses from Grasse and jasmine from Egypt. The result is a heady mixture reminiscent of a garden in full bloom to many who first came across it. Perhaps this explains why it remains so popular decades after its introduction. The name "Joy" didn't come about until later, though it seems to be a fitting moniker for such a flowery fragrance.
Conclusion
The right cologne can make you feel more confident, powerful, and attractive. But when looking for high-end scents, you rarely get them for bargain prices. Several of the world's most expensive colognes are complicated mixtures that take a skilled perfumer to create, with rare and valuable natural ingredients thrown in for good measure.