This year's list of best sellers from various online fragrance retailers focuses on the niche stores. Despite the massive number of new releases in 2006, older favorites dominate the lists. Kai, the gardenia scent that has long been something of a cult classic in the perfume oil format, was introduced in Eau de Parfum this year, and the new formula made several of the lists. And special mention goes to Diptyque's Philosykos, long in my own list of desert island favorites. I was thrilled to see that it still outsells other fragrances at Senteurs d'Ailleurs. Here are the lists of the top 5 sellers at each store:
Apothia's own white floral fragrance, IF, was the boutique's biggest seller this year:
1. IF Eau de Parfum by Apothia
2. Child Perfume by Susan Owens
3. Velvet Rope by Apothia
4. Kai by Kai
5. Nyakio Perfume Oil by Nyakio
At Beauty Cafe, Bond's popular Chinatown fragrance takes first place:
1. Chinatown by Bond No. 9
2. Dzongkha by L'Artisan
3. Laila by Laila (Geir Ness)
4. Geir by Laila (Geir Ness)
5. La Chasse de Papillons by L'Artisan
At Beautyhabit, Child by Susan Owens was the best selling fragrance for the second year in a row:
1. Child Perfume by Susan Owens
2. Kai by Kai
3. Vanille by L'Aromarine
4. Fifi Chachnil
5. Vanille Abricot by Comptoir Sud Pacifique
Kai won the top spot at b-glowing:
1. Kai by Kai
2. Linden Blond Tabac by Voluspa
3. Jasmine Brown Sugar by Voluspa
4. Encens Mystic by Crazylibellule & The Poppies
5. Vanille by L'Aromarine
Across the pond in Germany, the almond-scented Mandorlo di Sicilia by Acqua di Parma's Blu Mediterraneo line is the best seller at First-in-Fragrance:
1. Mandorlo di Sicilia by Blu Mediterraneo
2. Teint de Neige by Lorenzo Villoresi
3. Alamut by Lorenzo Villoresi
4. Satellite by Padparadscha
5. Chinatown by Bond No. 9
Montale takes both of the top spots at Four Seasons:
1. Crystal Flower by Montale
2. Vetyver by Montale
3. Loukhoum by Keiko Mecheri
4. X for men by Clive Christian
5. X for women by Clive Christian
At Fragrances & More, Kai takes another number 1 spot:
1. Kai by Kai
2. Scent of Peace by Bond No. 9
3. Clean Ultimate by Clean
4. Colonia by Acqua Di Parma
5. Exact Friction of the Stars by Pilar & Lucy
Frederic Malle takes two of the top five at Les Senteurs in London:
1. Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums
2. Pour Un Homme by Caron
3. Lux by Mona di Orio
4. Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums
5. Nuit Noire by Mona di Orio
Kyoto, from the Comme des Garcons Incense series, was the best seller at Luckyscent:
1. Kyoto by Comme des Garcons
2. Kisu by Tann Rokka
3. Orris by Tauer Perfumes
4. Acqua e Zucchero by Profumum
5. Aomassai by Parfumerie Generale
At My Beautiful Place, My Lulu from Fresh Scents by Terri takes the top spot:
1. My Lulu by Fresh Scents by Terri
2. Perfect Gardenia by Creative Scentualization
3. Kai by Kai
4. Vanilla Layering Wardrobe by Susanne Lang
5. Malie Kauai Solid Perfume
Creed's Love in White wins out at Parfums Raffy:
1. Love in White by Creed
2. Intense Tiare by Montale
3. Dia for women by Amouage
4. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
5. Burberry Brit for women by Burberry
At Scentiments, the only mainstream retailer in this year's list, Dolce & Gabbana's popular Light Blue was #1:
1. Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
2. Angel by Thierry Mugler
3. Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka
4. Burberry Brit by Burberry
5. Prada by Prada
Diptyque Philosykos was the biggest seller at Senteurs d'Ailleurs in Brussels:
1. Philosykos by Diptyque
2. Mûre et Musc Extrême by L'Artisan
3. Melograno by Santa Maria Novella
4. Aqua Motu by Comptoir Sud Pacifique
5. Fleurs d'Oranger by Serge Lutens
You can see the Top Selling Perfumes of 2005 here.
What is this Kai ? Seems to be very popular.
Is someone still buying Caron Pour Un homme at full retail price ?? (it can be found for $10 at many discount sites and ebay)
I liked reading these lists – gives an insight into which brands are selling/getting popular (Chinatown, L'Artisan frags).
Kai? I don't get it.
Kyoto, now. That's more like it.
Those Germans seem to be onto something. That Mandorlo by Aqua di Parma is fantastic! I have never been asked by more from strangers, what it was I was wearing. So if you're going to buy it be prepared and learn how to say it. The body cream and oil are the best smelling body prouducts I've ever smelled. If you've never smelled it, do yourself a favor and smell it!!!!!!!!!
Kai was a gardenia-based perfume oil — one of a group of what I think of as the “California perfume oils” — simple, relatively clean florals with musk. It is nicely done, actually I like it, but I am surprised by how often it appears on the lists.
I like Kai, actually, but agree that it is hard to understand how it could outsell Kyoto anywhere 🙂
I have smelled it but am not a huge almond fan so didn't adore it. But maybe I do need to do myself a favor and try it again!
Fascinating! thank you so much for doing this. I love the list at Luckyscent.
I am so surprised Kyoto is #1 — last year it was #5, and it isn't like it is new.
Ricky Martin wears it, that's why…LOL!!!!
Seriously?? That could do it!
Huh funny… I wonder if the lists are the real best sellers or what the shops would like to sell (mean thought, I know). According to First in Fragrances these are the best sellers:
01. Smith's Rosebud Salve
02. Clean – Baby Girl
03. Comptoir Sud Pacifique – Amour de Cacao
04. Clean – Fresh Laundry
05. Clean – Eau de Toilette
06. Keiko Mecheri – Peau de Peche
07. Acqua di Parma – Mandorlo di Sicilia – Acqua Profumata
08. Acqua di Parma – Arancia – Acqua Profumata
09. Lorenzo Villoresi – Teint de Neige EdT
10. Comptoir Sud Pacifique – Matin Calin
Nowhere near as glamourous, eh? Sorry, could not help it…
LOL…you are more suspicious than I am. I would have assumed those were current best sellers, and the list I have is the best sellers for the year. But what do I know 🙂
Mmmh, I think that Clean stuff has been topping the lists for ages 😉 But who knows….
Actually, I'm kind of amazed that the Clean line sells so well in Europe. I think of it as very American.
I know, weird isn't it? There is a huge hype about “Clean fresh out of the shower” smells at the moments. I do not get it myself, since I think there are so many fragrances here in Europe that have been going in that direction for ages. One of the most underrated ones for example is Anamor. Now that is a real “clean” fragrance. I guess Randi Shynder (spelling??) is a very clever marketeer…
I didn't know that at all. Everyone always says only the Americans want clean. I like a few clean scents (Mugler Cologne, for instance), but anything so clean that it smells like laundry detergent annoys me. Will have to try Anamor!