Lavender Thorne - Fragrance Discovery

Most celebrity fragrance preferences are pleasant but predictable. Safe designers. Crowd-pleasers. Things their stylists probably recommended.

And then there's Dita Von Teese.

The burlesque performer and vintage style icon has, over the years, revealed a fragrance collection that would make serious perfume collectors take notes. This isn't casual dabbling—it's genuine connoisseurship.

The Collection

When Dita discusses fragrance, she doesn't mention one signature. She mentions a carefully curated rotation:

Houbigant Quelques Fleurs — One of the first true multi-florals, created in 1912. A granddame of perfumery that most people under 60 have never heard of. Tuberose, rose, jasmine—lush and opulent.

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique — The corseted bottle containing a warm, powdery oriental. More mainstream, but worn with intention. Orange blossom, rose, vanilla.

Chanel Cuir de Russie — A leather chypre from Chanel's Les Exclusifs line. Smoky, sophisticated, and decidedly not for everyone. This is serious fragrance territory.

Caron Narcisse Noir — A dark, animalic floral from 1911. Orange blossom, sandalwood, musk. Vintage in the truest sense.

By Kilian Back to Black — "Aphrodisiac" is in the official name. Honey, tobacco, and cherry—decadent and unsubtle.

JAR Bolt of Lightning — The holy grail. JAR fragrances are sold only at the Place Vendôme boutique in Paris and are considered among the finest perfumes ever made. This is collector territory.

What Her Choices Reveal

Dita's collection tells a story:

She knows history. Half these perfumes predate contemporary fragrance marketing. She's studied the classics.

She embraces the unfashionable. Animalic notes, heavy orientals, vintage florals—none of this aligns with current "fresh and clean" trends. She wears what she loves, trends be damned.

She invests seriously. JAR Bolt of Lightning isn't an impulse purchase. Neither is maintaining a rotation of vintage parfums.

She matches scent to persona. These fragrances reinforce her aesthetic: glamorous, retro, unapologetically dramatic.

Lessons for Developing Taste

You don't need Dita's budget or access to learn from her approach:

Explore history. Sample classics from earlier decades. Understand what perfumery sounded like before the industry homogenised around safe, focus-grouped compositions.

Ignore trends. What's "in" this season matters less than what resonates with you personally.

Build a wardrobe, not a signature. Different occasions, moods, and seasons call for different scents. Having range isn't indecisive—it's sophisticated.

Take it seriously. Fragrance can be as rich a cultural field as wine, art, or fashion. The more you learn, the more there is to appreciate.

Accessible Entry Points

If Dita's taste intrigues you, here's where to start exploring:

Classic Orientals:

Cinnabar (Estée Lauder) — Spicy oriental that's been quietly excellent since 1978
LouLou (Cacharel) — Floral oriental with jasmine, mimosa, and heliotrope. An 80s classic with devoted followers

Dramatic Florals:

Flowerbomb (Viktor&Rolf) — Not vintage, but shares that "more is more" philosophy
Love by Kilian — Marshmallow and orange blossom. Decadent without being old-fashioned

Sophisticated Woods & Leather:

Terre d'Hermès Parfum — Earthy sophistication. A modern classic
Halfeti (Penhaligon's) — Dark rose and oud. Dramatic statement-making
Good Girl Gone Bad (Kilian) — Tuberose-jasmine seduction

Affordable Luxury:

Lattafa Bade'e Al Oud Oud for Glory — Complex, luxurious oud at an accessible price point. The Arabic fragrance houses excel at this opulent territory

Best for: Evening, special occasions, cooler weather, whenever you want to make a statement.

Ready to develop your own sophisticated taste? Tell us what intrigues you and we'll help you explore.