Though we love The Devil Wears Prada with all our hearts, we don’t necessarily agree with Ms. Priestly—spring is made for us to embrace florals, especially for the fragrance category. The gentle weather creates an environment that lets the scent breathe without the chance to turn sour from our sweat, so it’s the perfect time to break out your favourite flower-forward fragrances. Where new Spring 2025 perfumes are concerned, we’ve unearthed new releases and put them to the test.
Perfumers are definitely pushing the boundaries this time around because we’re seeing unlikely pairings that delight the senses and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the generation of new accords to create a scent that was previously unachievable. Even the most highbrow Maisons are coming out with unexpected, tongue-in-cheek creations that bring out the playful side of the brands. But no matter where you stand in your perfume consumption, this season will definitely have something that will tickle your fancy.
The Spring 2025 Perfumes We Love and Recommend
Aesop Aurner Eau de Parfum
Trust Aesop to launch a floral fragrance that isn’t really a floral fragrance. Their latest launch, Aurner, is derived from the Old Norse verb that means “to be adorned, to be embellished with flowers”. The brand partners with a longtime collaborator to craft this fragrance—Céline Barel—who was also the nose behind Tacit. Magnolia plays the key role in making up the predominant notes in Aurner. You might think that it’s the flower, but Barel goes a little lower and uses magnolia leaf instead, alongside Roman chamomile, and cedar heart. The resulting scent is altogether complex, bright, and tea-like.
“Floral is certainly not the first adjective I’d use to describe Aesop’s Aurner perfume. It’s herbaceous and slightly powdery from the cedar heart, while spices like cardamom and pink pepper adds a touch of freshness to this green scent,” says GRAZIA Malaysia managing editor PohNee Chin.
RM770 for 50ml | Available at all Aesop stores in Malaysia and online.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Rosa Verde Eau de Toilette
The latest of the Aqua Allegoria range from Guerlain stars a rose paired with an unlikely note: cucumber. Pleasantly unexpected, yet very much true to the Maison’s DNA, the green-hued juice starts out with a burst of refreshing cucumber and mint, immersing the user with its totally aquatic edge. Almost immediately after, the brightness of the bergamot takes centre stage, before the heart of the fragrance, the rose, unfurls itself. Throughout the day, the Rosa Verde Eau de Toilette settles into a comforting yet crisp scent that lulls you into a sense of zen with each sniff.
“Imagine you’re entering a luxurious spa, and all the lingering scent is just wafting in the air, enveloping you. I love this because it almost acts like a palate cleanser after multiple beast-mode releases of yesteryear that seem to try to outdo one another,” says beauty writer Najihah Rashid.
RM773 for 125ml | Available at Guerlain The Exchange TRX Ultimate Boutique, Pavillion Pop-Up, Isetan (The Gardens), & Parkson (One Utama, Pavillion)
Le Labo Eucalyptus 20
The new fragrance to join Le Labo’s Classic Collection is the Eucalyptus 20, inspired by the ambiguity of vastness. Amidst the vastness, a whiff in the wind stands out: eucalyptus. All this to say, the creators wanted this scent to be a sensorial homage to the paradox of getting lost to find yourself. Getting lost, in Le Labo’s terms, begins with the freshness of eucalyptus and cedarwood, which later warms up with labdanum, ending with musk notes and frankincense.
“The Le Labo Eucalyptus 20 is a comforting scent to me, but surprisingly not in the way the brand intended it to be. I’m brought back to my childhood days, when a relative used to light cedarwood incense sticks. Catching whiffs of that throughout the day was delightful,” comments PohNee.
RM1,000 for 50ml | Available at all Le Labo stores in Malaysia
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Kurky Eau de Parfum
Whatever you think you know about this perfume house, think again, because Master Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian is about to subvert your expectations. Unlike its hits Baccarat Rouge 540 and Oud Satin Mood, Kurky Eau de Parfum is meant to be a childhood fragrance created for adults. In creating this, the perfumer put aside the norms of classic fragrance structures to nose dive into creating a literal treat to the senses. Setting itself apart from other gourmand releases of late, mouthwatering accords of fruits and gummy candies sit atop notes of white musk and vanilla to capture the feeling of childlike wonder.
“Where many gourmand scents lean towards seductive, this one will have you reminiscing about simpler times without being overtly juvenile,” Najihah notes.
RM1,070 for 70ml | Shop here
Prada Paradoxe Virtual Flower Eau de Parfum
They say AI in perfumery is the future, but Prada has been there, done that. A second flanker to the Paradoxe fragrance, the Virtual Flower edition is regarded as one of the world’s first perfumes to be created with the use of AI. By incorporating the Jasmine AI accord, perfumers Nadège Le Garlantezec, Shyamala Maisondieu, and Antoine Maisondieu are able to synthesise a jasmine accord that mimics the airy floral scent of the actual flower versus its extract (which can be overtly sensual and intense).
“It’s crisp and sweet, and the jasmine AI accord gives you a photorealistic scent of the flower without the overwhelming headiness. If you tend to steer clear of jasmine, this one is definitely worth a shot,” Najihah remarks.
RM825 for 90ml | Shop here
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