These French-Crafted Perfumes Are Like a Guided Meditation in a Bottle
I have a rule about expensive perfume: There had better be a good reason for it costing so much. As someone who views perfume as a form of art, I think that really good perfumes should be priced accordingly (because they are worth it!), but I also think that sometimes, that’s not what happens.
That’s why I like The Harmonist. The brand's perfumes don’t just smell good. They elevate the wearer by bringing them balance and, as the name suggests, harmony. Each Harmonist fragrance that I’ve tried is a unique, sensual experience that truly does capture equilibrium in a bottle. They’re also made with ethically sourced ingredients, which is something that not many fragrance houses can say. Below, I’ve rounded up the 10 Harmonist fragrances that I think would add a certain je ne sais quoi to your perfume collection—and I saved my favorites for last.
#10: The Harmonist Guiding Water Parfum
Key notes: watermelon, aquatic notes, ozonic accord, lotus flower, jasmine, cyclamen, lys flower, pink peppercorn, white musk
This scent is like a morning hike in a bottle. It smells like the break of dawn on a summer day—floral, fresh, and dewy, with a slight hint of watermelon floating in.
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#9: The Harmonist Magnetic Wood Parfum
Key notes: green mandarin, bergamot, osmanthus, mimosa, daffodil, iris, cedar, sandalwood, gaiac
If you want a scent that feels like it's all yours, opt for this dynamic fragrance—how often do you see daffodil as a scent note? A spritz of this transports you to a lush, secret garden in full bloom.
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#8: The Harmonist Moon Glory Parfum
Key notes: Hawaiian jasmine, queen of the night flower, passionflower, lychee, honey, ylang-ylang, amber musk
Somehow, this scent strikes the perfect balance between complex and subtle. Picture a hot, sticky twilight in a tropical oasis—that's what this floral-centric perfume smells like.
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Key notes: mandarin orange, blood orange, gardenia, orange blossom, peach, jasmine, honey, patchouli, beeswax, caramel, licorice
#7: The Harmonist Metal Flower Parfum
Key notes: rosoxydes, aldehydes, orange blossom, Rose of May, Bulgarian rose, ylang-ylang, patchouli, white musk
A modern, steely take on rose, this fragrance blends together Bulgarian rose essence, the rare Rose of May, and something called rosoxyde, which brings a sharp, thorny quality to the scent. It smells like if a rose were made of metal—and it's intoxicating.
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#6: The Harmonist Desired Earth Parfum
Key notes: elemi, cade, immortal flower, red cedar, myrrh, tolu balsam, vetiver, iris, vanilla
This fragrance is meant to bring stability to whoever wears it. Spicy and woodsy notes add intrigue and sophistication.
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#5: The Harmonist Yin Transformation Parfum
Key notes: orchid, mandarin, Bulgarian rose, almond milk, ylang-ylang, iris, white musk, sandalwood, benzoin
In feng shui, yin energy is slow, smooth, wet, and dark, while yang energy is energetic, bright, and loud. Smooth, milky, and aquatic, this perfume encapsulates yin energy perfectly.
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#4: The Harmonist Sacred Water Yang Parfum
Key notes: citron, mandarin, fresh ginger, magnolia, orange blossom, laminaria blossom, amyris, grey amber, cedar
Take a trip to the seaside with a spritz of this fragrance, which immediately envelops you in a mineral, invigorating scent reminiscent of lapping waves and saltwater.
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#3: The Harmonist Golden Wood Parfum
Key notes: bergamot mandarin, bitter orange, beeswax, pear granita, guaiac wood, oak, tonka bean, cabreuva
Perfect for anyone who wants to gain confidence and inner strength from their signature scent, this woodsy fragrance smells like the most luxurious fireplace.
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Key notes: davana, tonka beans, coffee, labdanum, agarwood, sandalwood
#2: The Harmonist Matrix Metal Parfum
Key notes: metallic notes, cadamom, nutmeg, white tea, cyclamen, vetiver, sequoia, sandalwood, white musk
This scent is unlike anything you've smelled before—it's somehow creamy, metallic, and spicy but not overpowering. It's hard to describe the scent, but perhaps it embodies the act of chopping spices with a freshly sharpened knife.
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#1: The Harmonist Velvet Fire Yang Parfum
Key notes: Cypress, clary sage, myrtle, neroli, saffron, tobacco, cistus, tonka bean, oud
Of all the Harmonist scents I've tried, this is the one I've consistently gotten the most compliments on. My favorite compliment? "You smell expensive," which is A) true and B) the mark of a scent worth its money. I'd personally describe this perfume as a passionate embrace in a bottle, if you can imagine that.
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Key notes: vetiver, cedar, benzoin, pine, patchouli, bergamot
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Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.