By Arissa Ha - published
Each year, the Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s Beauty Awards spotlights the most exceptional products that redefine beauty standards and captivate our senses. The 2024 edition brings a fragrant feast for the olfactory connoisseur, celebrating scents that range from timeless classics reimagined to innovative newcomers pushing the boundaries of perfumery. These winning fragrances have not only enchanted us with their aromatic allure but have also set new benchmarks in the world of perfumery. Join us as we unveil the olfactory masterpieces that have earned their place at this year’s Beauty Awards.
Winner: Fragrance of the Year (Women)
Les Exclusifs De Chane EDPl - Comète, $670 for 200ml, Chanel
Les Exclusifs De Chanel - Comète is a fragrance that captures the luminosity and sensuality of Gabrielle Chanel’s iconic “Bijoux de Diamants” collection. Inspired by the revolutionary Comète necklace created in 1932, this scent is a homage to the intimate and mystical allure of the stars that guided Chanel in her jewellery designs. The perfume unfurls a radiant cherry blossom accord, intertwined with the powdery nuances of iris and the soft, enveloping presence of heliotrope.
Crafted by Chanel In-House Perfumer-Creator Olivier Polge, Comète Eau de Parfum leaves a lingering, musky trail of stardust, embodying the essence of a shooting star nestling in the hollow of the neck—a symbol of the deep, sensorial connection between a person, their jewelry, and their fragrance.
Related article: Inside The Mul Farm: Harvesting The Jasmine Flower That Goes Into The Iconic Chanel Nº5
Winner: Fragrance of the Year (Men)
Nanyang Extrait De Parfum, $415 for 100ml, Maison de L’Asie
Maison de L’Asie’s Nanyang Extrait De Parfum captures the essence of the South Seas and the Chinese diaspora through its bold, androgynous scent profile. With a base of deep, hazy black tea complemented by the warm facets of green tea and malt, Nanyang evokes a rich, cultural past. Subtle hints of white flowers bring to mind crisp linen suits, while stark leather notes offer a vivid contrast, playing with shadows and light. This scent masterfully blends the old with the new, weaving Eastern traditions with Western flair and balancing the feminine Yin with the masculine Yang, creating a harmonious and unique olfactory journey.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Citrus
Moonlight in Heaven EDP, $440 for 50ml, Killian Paris
Capturing the magic of a moonlit romance, this enchanting fragrance opens with a burst of citrus—bright lemon and grapefruit—spiced subtly by pink pepper berry, immediately invoking a fresh and radiant energy. At its heart, creamy coconut milk mingles with rice, perfectly blending with juicy mango and the delicate floral note of jasmine sambac. A base of roasted tonka beans and vetiver adds a warm, velvety depth that lingers like a tender memory.
Part of Kilian’s Fresh Citrus family, Moonlight in Heaven brings freshness and lightness, a serene ode to the intimate, dreamlike moments shared under the night sky. Housed in a bottle adorned with a Klein blue lacquer and intricate engravings, this fragrance epitomises the Kilian ethos of luxury that’s designed to endure.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Green
Il Etait Un Bois EDP, $275 for 100ml, L’Artisan Parfumeur
L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Il Était Un Bois beckons you into a mystical forest where magic and mystery unfold with every step. This fragrance captures the enchanting allure of the woods, a place where hidden stories and timeless beauty reside. Inspired by the sounds, colours, and enveloping scents of the forest, perfumer Caroline Dumur ventures into its heart to reinterpret the classic note of vetiver with bold creativity. Il Était Un Bois—which translates to “Once Upon a Wood”—evokes a fairytale landscape where light and shadow intertwine, offering a sensory journey that bridges the ancient and the new, the real and the imagined.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Fruity
Oud Maracujà Extrait de Parfum, $409 for 50ml, Maison Crivelli
Maison Crivelli’s Oud Maracujá Extrait de Parfum invites you on an olfactory journey to the heart of remote oud wood forests, where the unexpected fusion of exotic passion fruit and rich oud wood creates an unexpected contrast. This extrait de parfum marries the thirst-quenching freshness of passion fruit with the tropical warmth of oud, crafting a scent that is both luminous and intense. The composition is further enriched by lush saffron, Indonesian patchouli, and leather accords, all softened by benzoin from Laos and a harmonious blend of Turkish rose and vanilla absolutes. As part of the exotic, woody, and fruity fragrance family, Oud Maracujá offers remarkable staying power and a long-lasting sillage, encouraging you to relish in its unique and unexpected aroma.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Floral
L’eau D’Hiver EDP, $499 for 100ml, Frédéric Malle
Frédéric Malle’s L’Eau d’Hiver Eau de Parfum is a comforting blend that captures both crisp freshness and enveloping warmth, offering a scent experience akin to a warm embrace. Crafted by renowned perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena, this fragrance merges the clarity of water with the gentle softness of white heliotrope, iris, and a touch of honey. Opening with the freshness of bergamot and hedione, it transitions into a tender heart of heliotrope and hawthorn, evoking a delicate, powdery aura with subtle hints of sweet almond and mimosa. L’Eau d’Hiver is a minimalist yet reassuring scent, wrapping you in a warm, light veil that feels both personal and timeless—a poetic expression of inner comfort and understated elegance.
Editor’s Choice: Best Women’s Scent - Floral
Atelier des Fleurs Magnolia Alba EDP, $380 for 150ml, Chloé
As part of Chloé’s Atelier des Fleurs collection, this scent celebrates the art of floral composition, designed to harmonise with other fragrances for endless personalised combinations. Crafted by renowned perfumer Louise Turner, Magnolia Alba draws inspiration from the plump, slightly lemony magnolia blossoms of her native England. The result is a fresh and smooth Eau de Parfum that unveils the creamy, delicate scent of magnolia petals. Belonging to the floral green olfactive family, the Atelier des Fleurs Magnolia Alba EDP offers an alluring aroma that is both elegant and comforting.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Oriental
Oud Satin Mood EDP, $441 for 70ml, Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Offering a luxurious interpretation of oud wood—one of perfumery’s most treasured ingredients—This fragrance wraps you in a rich, silky aura, much like draping oneself in sumptuous satin. At its heart, the deep, musky warmth of oud is artfully blended with the delicate sweetness of violet accord—a note recreated through innovative perfumery techniques due to the flower’s elusive natural scent. The essence and absolute of Damascena rose add honeyed and slightly spicy nuances, intertwining beautifully with the oud. Completing the composition is a lavish vanilla amber accord, enriched with notes of benzoin, tonka bean, and resins, imparting a warm and enveloping finish.
Winner: Best Women’s Scent - Gourmand
Vanilla Powder EDP, $379 for 100ml, Matiere Premiere
Matiere Première’s Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum presents a modern and luminous interpretation of classic vanilla. At its core is the rich Vanilla Absolute from Madagascar, ethically sourced through the Fair for Life agricultural programme, ensuring both quality and sustainability. The fragrance explores a unique contrast between the deep warmth of dark vanilla and the bright, aromatic notes of white Palo Santo oil from Ecuador, which adds structure and a vertical dimension to the scent profile. This intriguing blend is further enhanced by subtle hints of coconut powder, amplifying the addictive nature of vanilla. Soft white musks envelop the composition, providing a contemporary, powdery finish that is both comforting and sophisticated.
The selections made for the Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore Beauty Awards 2024 are the result of extensive and rigorous testing of over 500 entries. Over the course of six weeks, the BAZAAR team, alongside a panel of esteemed experts from the beauty industry, including makeup artist Larry Yeo, aesthetic doctor Dr Rachel Ho, and beauty insider Michelle Sielman, each brought their unique expertise to the judging process and have meticulously evaluated each product.