Here are 5 cult classics that defined the ‘90s scent—and the perfect way to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
1. Tommy Girl – By Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger was a staple spritzer for popular and sporty girls. It oozed (and still does) the perfect mix of blithe and luxury. Part of Tommy Girl’s appeal is its accessibility and affordability.
The memorable composition is full of character, yet simple. It achieves a delicate balance of freshness and sweetness—owing to its floral and fruity notes. For lack of a better reference, spritzing a bottle of Tommy Girl is like taking a sip of fresh fruit juice on a sunny summer afternoon.
2. Angel – By Thierry Mugler
Angel by Thierry Mugler was launched in 1992 and inspired an entire genre of fragrances. The 2007 FiFi Hall of Famer, is often credited as the muse behind popular scents such as Lancôme La Vie Est Belle, Prada Candy, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, and Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb, among others.
Angel is one of those scents you can pinpoint from a mile away. It has prominent and multi-layered gourmand notes of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and honey. But it also happens to a divisive fragrance—drawing on its characteristically strong scent and unconventional ad campaigns.
3. Gucci Rush – By Gucci
Few fragrances from the ‘90s—if any—were as sensual as Gucci Rush. The Eau de Toilette is an explosion of irresistible vanilla, freesia, jasmine, and gardenia blend with a patchouli base. It’s strength and floral notes make Gucci Rush the go-to fragrance for a good night out. The iconic scent is housed in an equally ingenious bright red cassette-shaped bottle that is simple and striking enough to give you an idea of the scent it holds. It was an addictive combination then—and it’s still as euphoric today.
4. Classique – By Jean Paul Gaultier
Launched in 1993, the first thing you notice with the Jean Paul Gaultier Classique fragrance is the controversially cool torso-shaped bottle that attracts its fair share of fanatics and critics.
Next is the sweet, light, and nearly transcending scent you’d be hard-pressed to hate. It’s a musky floriental with notes of amber, wood, mandarin, rose, orange blossom, musk, vanilla, and bergamot.
The Jean Paul Gaultier Classique is an easy choice for your next fragrance as long as you’re old/mature enough to have the bottle sitting on your dressing table.
5. Le Male – By Jean Paul Gaultier
Another blast from the past is Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male. Though it was launched over 2 decades ago in 1995, the fragrance is still a best-seller today—and for good reason. It has magnetically attractive Fougere oriental scent—with dominant notes of vanilla, lavender, and mint.
Similar to the feminine Jean Paul Gaultier Classique fragrance that features a female torso, the Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male’s bottle is shaped like a masculine torso with a sailor’s t-shirt.
The fragrance is perfect for anyone looking for something comfortably warm, modern, and sensible.
