Bon Parfumeur: where to start? 8 perfumes to discover the house

Bon Parfumeur is the house with numbered perfumes: 101, 402, 801… Every name starts with a three-digit number, followed by a short name that sets the mood. Handy for finding your way, but with more than twenty perfumes it's easy to hesitate.

Good news: you don't need to smell everything. Here are eight eaux de parfum to understand the house, from flowers to the seaside. The notes we quote are the ones on our pages, nothing more.

The bouquet: 101 Parisian Bouquet

101 Parisian Bouquet opens on Italian bergamot, Indian cardamom and a freesia accord. The heart brings together Turkish rose, rose absolute and a sweet pea accord, then the base pairs a white wood accord, patchouli and musk. A fresh, sparkling rose for anyone who likes flowers without fuss. See 101 Parisian Bouquet.

Floral tea: 102 Chaï Mimosa

102 Chaï Mimosa opens on bergamot, coriander and cardamom. The heart mixes jasmine, tea and mimosa, then the base brings oakmoss, musk and violet leaves. Chai spices and mimosa make it a soft, slightly spicy floral. See 102 Chaï Mimosa.

The orchard: 201 Gold September

201 Gold September opens on nashi pear, pear, green apple and quince accords, with green mandarin. The heart pairs ylang-ylang, a lily of the valley accord, a freesia accord and carrot seed, then the base brings vetiver, Virginia cedar, akigalawood and white musk. A crisp fruity scent, perfect for September. See 201 Gold September.

Soft fig: 204 Velvet Fig

204 Velvet Fig opens on a fig accord and violet leaves. The heart brings together orris, ambrette seed and an edamame accord, then the base brings cedar heart and New Caledonian sandalwood. A green, creamy fig, softened by orris. See 204 Velvet Fig.

The gourmand: 402 Guilty Vanilla

402 Guilty Vanilla opens on almond blossom, icing sugar and almond. The heart pairs vanilla, caramel and jasmine, then the base brings musk, benzoin and sandalwood. Almond and caramel: it's the most gourmand one here, ideal for winter. See 402 Guilty Vanilla.

The woody one: 601 Nuit Vétiver

601 Nuit Vétiver opens on bergamot, pink berries and grapefruit. The heart mixes pepper, violet leaf and cypriol, then the base brings vetiver, cedar and sandalwood. Fresh at first, woody at the end: an easy vetiver. See 601 Nuit Vétiver.

Incense: 702 Encens Privé

702 Encens Privé opens on incense, elemi and pink berry. The heart pairs lavender, cashmere wood and cedar, then the base brings Peru balsam, vanilla and white musk. A soft incense, rounded by vanilla and lavender. See 702 Encens Privé.

The seaside: 801 Blu Palermo

801 Blu Palermo opens on lemon, mandarin and grapefruit. The heart brings together sea spray, rosemary and pink berry, then the base pairs cedar, cypress and white musk. Citrus and salt: the freshest of the house on this list, for sunny days. See 801 Blu Palermo.

Which one should you pick?

• You like fresh roses: 101 Parisian Bouquet.
• You want a soft, spicy floral: 102 Chaï Mimosa.
• You're after a crisp fruity: 201 Gold September or 204 Velvet Fig.
• You love gourmands: 402 Guilty Vanilla.
• You prefer woody scents: 601 Nuit Vétiver or 702 Encens Privé.
• You want freshness: 801 Blu Palermo.

One tip: start with two very different numbers, one fresh and one warm, to see which way you lean. And compare prices on Fragist before you buy.