Having written extensively in the past about how much I love perfume, I'll try my hardest to prevent this piece from becoming an ode to my fascination with fragrance. From cult £165 fragrances to affordable hidden gems from the high street, I'm not fussy about brand or price point when it comes to scents, but I am fastidious about the fact that whatever I'm wearing must smell incredible. My main criteria? For a perfume to take up permanent residence in my stash it should spark happiness whenever I wear it and it must smell unique; I'm not in the market for fragrances that can be easily duped. A scent that literally turns heads isn't essential—I'm not an egomaniac after all—but I have to say that there's one brand of perfume that fulfils my perfect fragrance formula and has people asking about it whenever I wear it: Maison Margiela's Replica collection.
Launched in 2010 by the French fashion house Maison Margiela, Replica is a collection inspired by specific points in time—moments and memories rather than particular notes or individual scents. My first introduction to the brand came a couple of years ago with Whispers in the Library, a name which my inner bibliophile couldn't resist, and it was love at first spritz. Inspired by Oxford in the '90s, it's described on the bottle as paper and waxed wood.
To me, it smells like the pages of an old book—musky, slightly sweet and familiar. It's the perfume equivalent of a comfort blanket and I've been obsessed with it ever since. And honestly, someone always asks me what I'm wearing when I've got this fragrance on.
Keep scrolling to shop some of my other favourite Maison Margiela Replica perfumes and the ones on my shopping list.
My favourite: a peppery, woody scent with a warming hit of sweet vanilla. It's basically a hug in a fragrance, and don't we all need that right now?
Generally speaking, I don't tend to like scents that can be described as "fresh," but this perfume is my one exception. It smells like clean skin, crisp cotton and freshly laundered bedsheets, and I adore it.
A heady blend of patchouli and tonka with hints of creamy coffee. My husband immediately stole this from me when I brought it home, but I equally love this rich, creamy scent.
To me, this smells exactly as it says on the bottle: like a warm, relaxing soak in the tub. It's slightly floral and slightly fruity and provides an instant moment of calm.
So many beauty editors rave about this cosy aroma which evokes toasted marshmallows around an open flame. I'm sold.
This is a cult favourite amongst Maison Margiela Replica fans. It smells of tobacco, rum cocktails and the kind of intoxicating nights out that we're all dreaming of.
This perfume totally took over my Instagram feed last summer. While I haven't tried it myself it's describe as a tropical blend of coconut milk, musk and a hint of cinnamon—basically a holiday in a bottle.
A fruity bouquet of pear and blackcurrant crossed with jasmine and rose makes this floral fragrance top of my spring perfume shopping list.
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