Carlos Huber, the fragrance architect behind Arquiste, draws from specific moments and places in history for each of the brand’s scents—they’re like time machines that transport you across space and time. L’Or de Louis allows you to feel like a member of Louis XIV’s court, visiting the Palace of Versailles’s orangery with the 17th-century king of France. Just as the 24-karat gold glimmers in the perfume’s vessel, the scent’s orange blossom sparkles on the skin, settling down to reveal warm notes of honey, pomegranate, and firewood smoke.
Key notes: Orange blossom absolute, pomegranate, bergamot, French jasmine absolute, honey, Florentine orris, musk, cedarwood, firewood smoke, cadewood, Oislet de Chypre (a resinous accord dating from the 17th century)
Size: 3.4 fl oz
Fragrantica rating: 3.5/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I receive compliments nearly every time I wear L’Or de Louis. If I didn’t have such an extensive perfume collection, it’d be a strong contender for my signature fragrance. Something about it is so comforting to me, and it’s just the right mixture of floral and smoky. I’m heavy-handed with my fragrances, but even if I weren’t, it’s just strong enough that it’ll latch onto your skin and last for an indeterminate amount of time.” —Carol Lee