8 October 2026
Paris has been the capital of perfume for more than three centuries. Choosing a luxury perfume in Paris means choosing a history, a craft and a signature. Here is the guide of the Maison Dorin, a Parisian perfumer since 1780.
Paris, capital of perfume since the 18th century
As early as the 17th century, Parisian glove-makers and perfumers scented the leather gloves of the Court, and perfume became part of the French art of living. In the 18th century the great houses opened their doors: Houbigant set up shop in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1775, Lubin was founded in 1798, then Guerlain in 1828 on the rue de Rivoli.
This is the Paris in which the story of the Maison Dorin was written. In 1780, Queen Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI granted it the title of supplier to the Court of Versailles for the quality of its powders and rouges. We tell this story in the history of the Maison Dorin and in the perfumes of Marie-Antoinette and the Court of Versailles.
Versailles 1780, a tribute to the year the House became supplier to the Court
What makes a luxury perfume
A luxury perfume is about more than a price or a bottle. Three things make the difference:
- The composition: carefully chosen raw materials, a well-crafted accord and a trail that evolves on the skin over the hours.
- The concentration: an extrait de parfum contains about 20 to 30% perfume concentrate, an eau de parfum about 15 to 20%, an eau de toilette even less. The higher it is, the longer the perfume lasts.
- The craft: the creation, making and checking of every bottle. Dorin perfumes are made in France; discover our savoir-faire.
Choosing by scent family
Before buying, ask yourself which scents you are drawn to. A few landmarks, with the creations of the House.
Floral and powdery: Parisian elegance
The powdery note is Dorin’s signature, inherited from its rice powders. Un Air de Paris, born in 1886, blends fruits, flowers and spices; Versailles 1780 is a subtle, powdery fragrance. To learn everything about this note, read what is a powdery water and discover Les Eaux Poudrées.
Floral and woody: the spirit of Versailles
The Versailles Scents collection draws on the palace: Les Jardins du Château, floral and woody, recalls André Le Nôtre’s gardens; Bureau du Roi pays tribute to Louis XV’s famous desk; Figue Divine celebrates the fruit Louis XIV adored.
Oriental: oud, amber, rose and musk
Oriental perfumes are warm and long-lasting. Un Air d’Arabie Oud pairs rose with a traditional oud, Un Air d’Arabie Ambre offers an amber wood with a vanilla sap and Un Air d’Arabie Rose de Taïf celebrates the rose grown more than 1,800 metres above sea level. Our guide how to choose an oriental perfume will help you find yours.
Un Air d’Arabie Oud, rose on an oud base
How to try a perfume before buying
- Try the perfume on your skin, not only on a blotter: it reacts to your skin.
- Wait at least half an hour: the heart and base notes reveal themselves after the top notes.
- Do not test more than three perfumes at a time, your nose tires quickly.
- Think about the season and the moment: a fresh perfume by day, an oriental one in the evening or in winter.
And to make it last all day, follow our tips to make your perfume last.
Giving a luxury perfume
A perfume is a very personal gift. If you are unsure, a gift box lets someone discover several fragrances: the Dorin d’Or Duo Box brings together Pour Madame and Pour Monsieur, the Trio Box adds Dorin d’Or Classique, the parfum version of Un Air de Paris, and the Royal Box gathers twelve fragrances of the House. Find more ideas in our Christmas perfume gift ideas.
The Dorin d’Or Royal Box and its twelve fragrances
Discovering perfume in and around Paris
To go further, the Osmothèque in Versailles, created in 1990, preserves historic perfumes, some of which are no longer sold. In Chatou, between Paris and Versailles, the Musée Dorin holds more than 700 pieces and archive documents on the history of the House: bottles, powder compacts and make-up. It can be visited by appointment, Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm.
And to choose your luxury perfume from the comfort of your sofa, the whole collection is waiting for you in our online boutique.