Trust Me—This Perfume Brand Is Why London’s Chicest Women Smell So Expensive
While the best French perfumers are known for bottling Paris’ effortless, elegant vibes, and US fragrance brands are famed for capturing the cool-girl spirit of New York City, if you want the best of both worlds with a dash of luxury thrown in, in my opinion, British perfumery is where it’s at. Combining the playful, slightly dishevelled spirit of London with our penchant for smelling expensive, British fragrance brands deserve pride of place on your dressing table—and I’m not just saying that because I happen to call the UK home.
I’m sure many of the best-known names are on your radar already—think Jo Malone, Penhaligons and the more niche perfume house of Miller Harris. However, allow me to introduce you to another brand which, since its launch in 2023, has been making waves in the perfume world with its succinct edit of interesting and exciting scents. Created by London-born retailer Liberty London, LBTY, draws upon the expertise of the best noses in fragrance and asks them to reimagine classic notes with a quintessential London twist.
How Many LBTY Perfumes Are There?
The LBTY fragrance collection currently consists of nine perfumes (although there are more on the horizon), each inspired by one of the store’s iconic Liberty fabrics. For that reason, many of the scents are unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before, as while they draw on knowledge from perfumers from around the world, each is infused with the history and heritage of the iconic London landmark.
What better way to prove this than to offer a little insight into each of the eight scents and the fabrics that inspired them? So, here’s my honest review of every LBTY perfume, ranked by a beauty editor…
The Best LBTY Perfumes, Ranked by a Beauty Editor
1. LBTY Tana Meadow Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Tana Meadow Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Cypress, pear, jasmine, coconut, rose, vanilla, praline, musk
My personal favourite LBTY perfume, Tana Meadow, is a creamy floral scent that’s light and elegant. Leading with notes of jasmine and white orchid, blended with hints of coconut and vanilla, it has a soft-perfume persona, remaining comforting without skewing too sweet or milky.
It’s a fragrance you can wear to the office without fear of overpowering those around you, but it also packs enough punch to elicit compliments from those who pass by. Liberty describes it as a memory of languid summers, and I have to agree; rather than an outright summer scent, it simply nods to lazy summer days, meaning you can get away with wearing it year-round, no matter the season.
2. LBTY Ianthe Oud Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Ianthe Oud Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Mimosa, bergamot, violet, cedarwood, guaiac wood, leather
It’s an oud perfume by name, but not by nature. If you’re familiar with the best leather perfumes, you’ll know that the smoky note is often paired with heady liquours or spicy elements to create a fragrance that’s often rich, dark and moody. Ianthe Oud is the exception.
Bright and light, it pairs creamy leather notes with vibrant bergamot and mimosa. Then a subtle hint of powdery violet creeps in, giving the scent a soft, almost vintage feel. It’s a luxury dressing room with a window left open on a sunny spring day, or an expensive leather handbag found in a flower shop. The result? A leather scent that’s delicate and inviting.
3. LBTY Adelphi Sun Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Adelphi Sun Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Grapefruit, cardamom, golden fern, jasmine, sandalwood, ambrox
Inspired by the vibrancy of a sun-drenched greenhouse, Adelphi Sun is a solar scent with a difference. Rather than leaning tropical or sweet, it instead combines delicate florals with zesty grapefruit and fresh green notes to create a scent that’s lush and juicy yet also grounding at the same time.
I’ll be honest, as someone who usually shies away from anything too green or citrusy, I didn’t expect to like this fragrance; however, after having my hands on it for a few weeks now, I’m converted. Yes, it’s fresh and juicy; however, there’s also something soothing and warm about it, too—it’s a green scent made for lazy days, and that I’m definitely on board with.
4. LBTY Vine Thief Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Vine Thief Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Strawberry liquor, orris, labdanum, vanilla, condensed milk
As someone who smells perfumes for a living, believe me, it takes a lot for me to come across a scent that I’d describe as truly unique. LBTY’s Vine Thief, however, fits that bill perfectly. Sweet like strawberry milkshake yet powdery courtesy of orris root and labdanum notes, two worlds come together to create what I’d describe as a mature gourmand fragrance.
If you don’t have a sweet tooth when it comes to fragrance, I’d probably give this a miss, but if you do and also want to indulge in a scent that’s a little unexpected, Vine Thief is for you.
5. LBTY Tudor Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
Key notes: Juniper, ginger, cypress, chamomile, sandalwood, iris, amber
LBTY’s Tudor takes inspiration from the iconic landmark of Liberty itself, channelling both the Tudor building it stands in and also the spirit of what’s inside. As a result, it’s a complex fragrance, rich with spicy woody notes, like nutmeg and sandalwood, as well as herby greens and resinous amber. It’s a fragrance that smells both comforting and exciting at the same time.
Plus, the bottle of this scent is a work of art in itself. Inspired by the tapestries that hang in the flagship store, it’s a statement piece both in terms of fragrance and style.
6. LBTY Wild Rosinda Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Wild Rosinda Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Black pepper, wild currant, rose, saffron, guaiac wood, amber
If you haven’t already heard, rose perfumes are experiencing a revival, shedding their dated image to take on a more modern, cool-girl feel.
Wild Rosinda is an excellent example of this. Pairing Bulgarian rose with spicy pink pepper and sweet saffron, this rose scent opens with a subtle kick before settling into a base of creamy guaiac wood and amber—an expensive-smelling rose perfume if ever there was one.
7. LBTY Liberty Maze Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Liberty Maze Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Bergamot, Earl Grey tea, honeysuckle, neroli, jasmine, hawthorn
Expertly bringing together a bouquet of white florals with bright bergamot and fragrant Earl Grey tea, Liberty Maze is a fruity scent for those who dislike the sharpness that often comes with citrus fragrances.
On their website, Liberty describes Liberty Maze as a tranquil citrus scent, and, for me, this hits the nail on the head. There’s no tartness, sharpness or acidity in this bottle; instead, it’s a smooth, watery take on bergamot turned ultimately pretty through the addition of honeysuckle and neroli.
8. LBTY Hera Reigns Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Hera Reigns Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Pink pepper, jasmine, gardenia, olibanum, oud, wood leather
If you’re a fan of heady, intense fragrances, Hera Reigns is your scent. A deep, leathery oud with an almost vintage, musky quality, this is a scent that you’ll either love or you’ll hate.
Personally, I fall into the latter when I apply this to myself; however, I love this scent on a man. It’s powerful and dark and slightly mysterious with a smoothness that draws you in and wraps you up.
9. LBTY Zephirine Eau de Parfum
(Image credit: Jazzria Harris)
LBTY
Zephirine Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Fig, cypress, clove, rose, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood
Of all the LBTY scents, Zephirine is the one that, in my opinion, is most unique. Mimicking the freshness of an expensive aftershave, you’ll find spicy clove paired with soft woody notes and sweet fig. It’s a blend that smells invigorating and incredibly clean—the perfect fragrance for wearing on bright winter mornings.
