After getting left behind in the noughties, bag charms and phone charms have made a very fashionable comeback. Now purse perfumes are here to add a little extra glamour to the interior (and in some cases exterior) of our handbags.
The luxury perfume market has boomed as a whole new generation has prioritised investment scents as a cherished part of their beauty routine. Take Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s now ubiquitous Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume for example. It’s become a cult status symbol that It-girls are queuing up to buy, alongside the Van Cleef Alhambra bracelet and Cartier Love ring.
Details, personalisation and small luxuries are in, so it stands to reason that the next obvious step for perfumes was to give them some extra fashion kudos with a glow-up to make them even more aspirational. Better still if it’s something you can take with you on-the-go and tap-up at multiple moments throughout the day. Instead of cushioned and monogrammed compacts, purse perfumes are becoming everyone’s new favourite way to hype up their beauty stash.
One brand that’s really leant into this trend, is Chanel. They recognised the demand for beauty products that feel as much of an accessory as a coin purse or phone charm. In their holiday collection around Christmas last year, the brand released a limited edition travel version of the iconic No.5 fragrance on a gold or silver key chain, complete with dainty No.5 details (it’s out of stock everywhere). Now, they’ve given Coco Mademoiselle the same treatment, only this time, it’s extra bougie thanks to the gold and pearl chain detailing.
Likewise, Dior has recognised that purse perfumes are an opportunity to turn a dinky travel-sized scent into an exquisite keepsake. Reformatting three of the brands most beloved Miss Dior perfumes (Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, Miss Dior Eau de Parfum, and Miss Dior Parfum) into a solid perfume that’s swirled intimately into pulse points rather than spritzed openly, the couture accessory was inspired by the presentation set that allowed Christian Dior to transport and present his collections.
Elsewhere, Tom Ford has shrunk some of its best-loved perfumes into palm-sized 10ml atomisers that co-ordinate with the colours of the original bottles and look like miniature versions of the brand’s body sprays. You can pick up Rose Prick in a teensy pale pink spritzer, Neroli Portofino in aqua blue, Bitter Peach in a tangy peach spray, Lost Cherry in sultry red, Tobacco Vanille in rich brown and Soleil Blanc in minimalist white, among others.
Prestige insider brand, Ex Nihilo, developed a small edit of five ultra concentrated perfume oils in mini handbag sized 15ml bottles. You need a single drop of the silky oil to enjoy each scent, which includes Musc – a cashmere inspired perfume with notes of rose, freesia and patchouli.
If carting round Diptyque’s much-loved L’Eau Papier skin scent is too clunky for your handbag, the brand has created a delicate 30ml hair mist rendition in a shrunk-down bottle that looks adorable and is much more lightweight. And Louis Vuitton has a limited selection of its best-selling scents available in travel sprays, complete with a luxe gold and black atomiser and four refills that click in easily and are compact enough to fit in a clutch.
As for the Baccarat Rouge fragrance we mentioned at the beginning? She comes in a miniature 35ml size with her own swanky red leather jacket, so you can keep the cult favourite fragrance close in extra special packaging. The perfect balance of beauty and fashion.
For more from GLAMOUR’s Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk
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