10 Must Have Fragrances From The 90s

So many incredible fragrances hit the market each year. But we could never forget about the classic perfumes and colognes from 90s.

Today we wanted to bring you a guide to some of the best perfumes and colognes released in this incredible decade. We're sure that you will find something unique that might even become your signature fragrance.

Are you ready to find a vintage scent to add some flair to your fragrance line-up? Then keep reading for our top ten fragrance releases from 1990 to 1999.

Calvin Klein Eternity for Men

Eternity for Men debuted at the beginning of a new decade. Yet, to this day, it is still one of Calvin Klein's top-selling colognes. The brand describes this cologne as distinctive, romantic, and timeless — perfect for the masculine yet refined man.

Notes

This cologne features top notes of sweet mandarin orange and lavender backed by a collection of green botanicals. The middle body of Eternity for Men showcases florals (jasmine and geranium) as well as herbs (basil and sage).

When the cologne dries down, you can detect its light masculine undertones. Sandalwood and vetiver give it some body, while rosewood and amber offer a delicate and sensual skin scent.

The crisp herbs and clean sandalwood provide consistency to this cologne that never disappoints. But the most obvious scent is lavender, which provides a calming appeal.

Wear Test

Eternity for Men is in the mid-range when it comes to longevity. It typically lasts about 5–7 hours, depending on where you are and what you're getting up to.

Dior Dune

Launched in 1991, Dune by Dior is a women's fragrance. Perfumer Nejla Barbier created this scent, and you can really feel how nature inspired its formulation. Dior describes Dune as "sky meets the sea" with feminine, floral notes throughout.

Notes

The top notes of Dune are all florals, plus the addition of sweet mandarin orange. The heart of the fragrance layers on more florals like jasmine, rose, lily, wallflower, and ylang-ylang.

Despite its heavy floral top and mid notes, most people would describe Dune as a woodsy scent. This overarching profile comes from the base notes of sandalwood, oakmoss, and musk.

Many people consider Dune by Dior to be one of the classic skin scents. Skin scents contain ingredients like vanilla, amber, and musk. All of these are present in the perfume's base notes, providing an almost natural skin-like smell.

Wear Test

Upon the first spray, this perfume seems strong and heavy. But it mellows out throughout the day. Most people find that it lasts around 6 hours.

Mugler Angel

Mugler's Angel is a timeless perfume for women. The French perfumers Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin created this love-it or hate-it scent in 1992. Today, it has returned to popularity with the help of its delicious gourmand notes.

Notes

The term "gourmand" refers to fragrances that are reminiscent of desserts. Top notes include tart red berries and sweet, smoky caramel and honey. The middle notes almost exclusively showcase spicy patchouli for depth.

When this perfume dries down, it offers depth with its bitter chocolate and almond praline accords. Patchouli also lingers upon dry down, offering a surprising and earthy quality that foils all that sugary-sweetness.

Those who are just dipping their toes into the perfume world may want to be cautious about a blind buy with this fragrance. Angel offers an extremely decadent and heady aroma that can be overwhelming to some, but beautifully seductive and enticing to others.

Wear Test

Angel by Mugler is not only strong upon the first spray. It will also last all day and maybe even into the night.

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique

Classique is a floral fragrance Jean Paul Gaultier released for women in 1993. It was originally named Jean Paul Gaultier and was one of the French luxury design house's first forays into fragrances.

At the time of release, Jean Paul Gaultier himself said the Jacques Cavallier-created perfume was inspired by "powder, the theater, and a hint of nail polish remover."

Notes

Despite how Gaultier described his cologne originally, the main accords in Classique for women are white florals, powdery florals, and sweet citrus. Top notes are abundant and include orange blossom, star anise, and rose.

The middle notes also strongly feature florals. Ylang-ylang, orchid, iris, and tuberose sit beautifully beside spicy ginger and sweet plum. The base notes are both complex and exciting, featuring skin scents alongside cinnamon and sandalwood.

Taking center stage are the orange blossoms and iris. But the spiciness of the ginger, anise, and cinnamon offer a distinct oriental flare. Overall, Classique seems reminiscent of a chypre perfume with far more complexity.

Wear Test

Before this perfume dries down, it may seem a touch loud and synthetic to begin with. However, it dries down beautifully and offers a long-lasting appeal.

Calvin Klein CK One

Calvin Klein CK One is a unisex fragrance that launched in 1994. It is yet another of the brand's older, yet best-selling scents. It was among the very first fragrances marketed to both men and women.

Notes

Like all of Calvin Klein's classic scents, CK One features a simple list of ingredients. Top notes include tropical pineapple and papaya, along with fresh bergamot and spicy cardamom.

A floral mid-layer softens those top notes. You will smell jasmine, violet, and rose as well as nutmeg to support the cardamom. The base notes are simple and skin-like, featuring musk and amber.

Despite its scent notes, most people describe CK One as a refreshing green tea-like scent. This citrusy presentation makes CK One a perfect fragrance for the summertime, or any time after the shower.

Wear Test

We would describe this unisex fragrance as moderate in both sillage and longevity. Perhaps that is why Clavin Klein has described CK One as a fragrance "intended to be used lavishly."

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male

Another entry from Jean Paul Gaultier, this one is for men. Gaultier has said that his inspiration for this 1995 cologne was the sailor man. Sexy, strong, and oh-so-manly, this classic cologne is ideal for the typical 'mans man'.

Notes

A pure summer scent, Le Male begins with top notes of mint, bergamot, lavender, cardamom, and artemisia. These notes give way to a topical middle featuring spicy cinnamon, sweet orange blossom, and bittersweet caraway.

The base of this cologne surprises with skin-like hints of vanilla and amber. Tonka bean, sandalwood, and cedar offer the beachy vibes that make this scent ideal for a day in the waves.

Wearing this scent may remind you of shaving soap, and for good reason. The overwhelming notes of lavender backed by soapy sandalwood and refreshing mint are reminiscent of that after-shower smell.

Wear Test

The sillage of this cologne is not offensive. Yet, one spray will last you all day long. If you have a light day at the office, it may even last into the night.

Armani Acqua Di Gio

Georgia Armani's Acqua Di Gio men's cologne has been a household name since its release in 1996. Another ideal summer scent, the Mediterranean coast inspired the perfumers Alberto Morillas, Christian Dussoulier, and Annick Menardo when creating this timeless fragrance.

Notes

Most experts refer to Acqua di Gio as an aromatic aquatic scent. This makes sense considering the top notes of zesty unripened mandarin, lime, and salt. Mediterranean sage, lavender, and geranium mellow out these sweet and strong scents.

The woody base notes, though, are where Acqua di Gio really shines. Patchouli offers a strong and spicy body. Meanwhile, vetiver and cedar, alongside musk, oakmoss, and amber, offer depth.

Though this scent originally came out for men, Armani has since claimed that he originally meant it to be unisex. Perhaps this is due to the cologne's strong floral scents of jasmine, freesia, and hyacinth.

Wear Test

Acqua di Gio is anything but offensive. This classic unisex fragrance offers moderate sillage and equally moderate longevity, ideal for a day at the office.

Burberry Weekend

Launched in 1997, Burberry Weekend is a fragrance for women and men. Burberry Weekend for Men is a citrus cologne, while the for-Women version has a floral main accord.

Michel Almairac is the perfumer behind the classic men's scent. Meanwhile, Nathalie Lorson created Burberry Weekend for Women.

Notes

Weekend for Men gets its strong citrus smell from top notes of lemon, grapefruit, and orange. Melon, pineapple, and bergamot offer a summery overtone. The middle notes of ivy, oakmoss, and sandalwood offer a more masculine accord.

Burberry's Weekend for Men is a skin scent featuring base notes of musk and amber. Honey rounds out those base notes, offering a subtle sweetness. This cologne is best for a hot summer day.

Weekend for Women shares the men's version's mandarin orange top notes. But that is about where the similarities end. Mignonette and sage round out the for-her perfume.

Middle notes of nectarine, hyacinth, peach blossom, iris, and other florals give Weekend for Women an unexpected complexity. Meanwhile, base notes of musk, sandalwood, and cedar off some much-needed depth.

Wear Test

Weekend for Men has moderate longevity and sillage. This makes the cologne an excellent choice if your are looking for something you can spray on quickly in the morning, and not have to worry about re-applying later in the day.

Compared to the for-him version, Weekend for Women is longer-lasting. However, its sillage is moderate.

Hugo Boss Bottled Eau de Toilette

Boss Bottled by Hugo Boss came out at the end of the 1990s. Annick Menardo and Christian Dussoulier created the cologne for men in 1998. It is a unique scent combining accords of smoky wood, tart fruits, and sweet vanilla.

Notes

Boss Bottled offers a bouquet of fruit as its top notes, including apple, lemon, and plum. Bergamot, geranium, and oakmoss lend some depth and complexity. Cinnamon, mahogany wood, and carnation flowers are surprising as this fragrance's middle notes offer a spicy quality.

At the base of this cologne are sandalwood, cedar, and vetiver. Vanilla also makes an appearance and offers a lot of punch to the overall smell of this scent.

The most obvious notes in this cologne upon the first spray are the apple, wood notes, and cinnamon spice. Boss Bottled is a great cologne to wear in the fall and perfect for transitioning from day to night.

Wear Test

Despite its popularity, Boss Bottled tends to have moderate longevity. Its sillage is on the moderate side, too, making this yet another great scent for the office.

Gucci Rush

Gucci Rush is a scent for her. It is the newest perfume on our list as it came out in 1999. Michel Amairac — the same perfumer behind Burberry Weekend for Women — designed this cologne for the famed luxury brand.

Notes

Gucci Rush is a chypre perfume. Chypre fragrances tend to be warm and dry with woodsy accords. Perfumers pair the classic chypre ingredients with florals, fruits, or additional woodsy notes. In this case, Gucci Rush is a floral chypre.

The top notes of Gucci Rush include peach, gardenia, and African freesia. Florals also feature in the middle notes, with rose and jasmine backed by fresh and spicy coriander.

The base notes of this classic fragrance are classic to the chypre category. Patchouli, vanilla, and vetiver offer a nice depth to all those florals, making sure this fragrance is pretty but not too pretty.

Wear Test

Like most of the brand's fragrances, Gucci Rush has impressive sillage and longevity. You will be able to wear this fragrance all day and into the night. And though the sillage is strong, it is certainly not offensive.

Get These Classic Perfumes from Perfume Price

Classic perfumes and colognes offer unique scent profiles that modern fragrances just can not compete against. That is why you have to keep this list handy next time you are in the market for a new scent.

Are you looking to buy one of these vintage scents online? We offer all your favourite brands and fragrances, both classic and modern. Browse our fragrance brands and find your new signature scent today!