Never have I been so attached to a perfume as to the famous Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. From the very moment I caught my first whiff back in the autumn months of 2017, I was hooked - and ever since it has been my go-to scent whenever I want to feel elegant, sexy and, quite frankly, very expensive.
But when one of the best perfumes for women is that good, it's only a matter of time until it flies off into the world of the mainstream. So what was once my mysterious little saffrony amber secret, is now emanating from the pores of every fashionista, beauty enthusiast and luxury department store regular walking the streets of the UK. And while I always hero a great product getting the reputation it deserves, my slightly irrational, maybe subconscious desire for a unique scent did leave me quietly wanting a new go-to long-lasting perfume.
Enter: my favourite perfume discovery of the year. And while I'd hate to lose individuality, I'm actually not really one to gatekeep, as I always love an amazing product to get its dues. So, throughout the festive season, when everyone has questioned me about what to ask for for Christmas, this year, I had a slightly different answer for them...
The perfume I'm telling everyone to get for Christmas
Every year when my friends ask me which perfumes they should put on their Christmas lists, my first and foremost answer is always Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540. However, for 2024, there's another elegant scent that has overtaken my everyday use of this industry icon.
I smelt Sydney-based fragrance brand Who Is Elijah's Nomad perfume earlier this year - and I fell in love at my first spritz.
RRP: From £155 for 30ml
A smooth blend of sweet, warm and woody, this industry-leading perfume features layers light jasmine and a touch of earthy sweetness from the addition of rich saffron, on top of warming amberwood and ambergris and a sharp and woody base of cedar and fir resin.
Sexy and animalic with an understated hint of woody sweetness.
Deal: was £80, now £60 (save £20) for 50ml | Anthropologie
A woody, floral number packed with amber, on the opening this displays a similar chic sweetness to Baccarat Rouge with its rich saffron, jasmine and almond top notes. While, like the Maison Francis Kurkdjian favourite, it wears warm and woody with amberwood, ambergris, cedar, fir resin, amber and musk , it offers a little something different in the heart with a sultry touch of Bulgarian rose.
While I'll always recommend my forever favourite, Baccarat Rouge 540, Who Is Elijah's Nomad is not only a few years newer and a lot less commonly worn among perfume fans, but it also comes in at £95 less than the famous gold bottle – and for 20ml more.
So while Baccarat Rouge 540 will always have my heart, I'm telling my girls to go for a touch of chic newness this year.
Affordable Baccarat Rouge 540 alternatives
But if you want to stick with the Baccarat Rouge 540 scent without splashing out, these are my favourite alternatives that feature a very similar scent profile...
RRP: From £22 for 90ml
This Brazilian jasmine & pink grapefruit fragrance mist is a great match for Baccarat Rouge 540. While it doesn't have the smoothness or woody depth of the expensive original and the blend, the sweet notes are similar so it makes for a lovely all-over spritz.
RRP: £54 for 100ml
So here's my dirty little secret...often if I'm spritzing for work or a casual occasion, I'll use this eau de parfum as a straight swap for Baccarat Rouge.
It's super long-lasting, allows me to save on the expensive stuff and no-one can ever tell the difference thanks to its delicious blend of pink pepper, fresh orange flower and warm cedarwood.
RRP: From £78 for 50ml
Created by fragrance legend Jo Malone CBE, this scent features juicy notes of zesty lime with earthy patchouli, layered over warm amber and fresh cedarwood, with smooth suede and a zing of tart bergamot on the base.
All of this blended together creates a truly elegant but unique scent that makes a sophisticated impression with a hint of sweetness for pleasure.
