Oscar de la Renta’s best perfumes lean into rich, classic florals — think the iconic 1977 original Oscar, the bright fruity-floral So de la Renta, and the leathery men’s Oscar Pour Lui. Below are 17 of the house’s standouts for women and men, with their notes, character and the occasions each suits.
When Oscar de la Renta launched his first signature scent in 1977, he was among the first fashion designers to enter fine fragrance — and the house has kept that mix of classic elegance and daring florals ever since.
Oscar de la Renta perfumes are globally respected thanks to their intoxicating blend of classic design and daring innovation.
This is a quick run-through of some of Oscar de la Renta’s most accomplished male and female fragrances. Read on for 17 of Oscar’s best.
Best Oscar de la Renta Perfumes for Women
Esprit d’Oscar Eau De Toilette Spray
Esprit d’Oscar is a modern update of their debut fragrance ‘Oscar’, first produced in 1977. It boasts strong notes of citrus and musk while retaining its oriental, floral demeanor. Created by Frank Voekl and Ann Gottlieb, this deep and intoxicating scent is creamy and rich. It has a classic, golden era atmosphere, but is by no means dated.
The bottle is elegant and taller than the original. An extravagant flower-shaped glass stopper crowns the design of this wonderful perfume.
Also available is this scent as a solid perfume ring plus refill. Perfect to wear on a night out and reapplying your favorite scent.
Fragrance Notes
Top: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, citron.
Middle: Egyptian jasmine, orange blossom, tuberose.
Base: musk, heliotrope, tonka and vetiver.
Oscar Rose
Subtle yet bold, Oscar Rose packs a punch of flowery freshness. The scent has underlying notes of pear to complement the stronger floral rose and peony aromas and create a sweetly fragrant smell.
Yet, the accompanying notes of musk downplay the sweet scent, making it ideal for wear during all seasons rather than in the warmer months, as one might assume. This Oscar De La Renta perfume will work well for casual daily wear, dates, or special events.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Pear, lily-of-the-valley, freesia.
Middle: Damask rose, rose, peony.
Base: White woods, musk, white amber.
Something Blue Eau De Parfum Spray
Something Blue is a magnificent celebration of weddings. When Frank Voekl and Ann Gottlieb set out to create something that would appeal to women who wanted to connect on a deeper level with Oscar de la Renta, they used “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” as their starting point. It is light, zesty and zingy – a fruity fragrance perfect for sunnier seasons.
It comes in a wide, transparent bottle topped with a gorgeous, sky blue, ball-shaped stopper. The wedding theme is expressed in the separation of bottle and stopper by a thin silver ring.
Fragrance Notes
Top: linden blossom, neroli, bergamot, and mandarin.
Middle: stephanotis, lily of the valley, narcissus, litchi.
Base: musk, vanilla, ambrette seed, ambergris, and warm cashmere wood.
Oscar Lavender
Lavender is most commonly associated with a sense of calm or relaxation. One whiff of Oscar Lavender, and you’ll understand. The perfume exudes rich lavender notes alongside jasmine, clove, and bergamot. Beneath the initial scent, you’ll discover sultry notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and musk.
This isn’t the best scent to wear during daily activities or events. Instead, it will go well with a late-night excursion, a relaxing date night, or a more formal event because of its deeper earthy notes.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Orange Blossom, Cloves, Gardenia, Peach, Bergamot, Coriander, Basil,
Middle: Jasmine, Rosemary, Tuberose, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Lavender, Iris, Orchid.
Base: Lavender, Amber, Cloves, Opoponax, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Musk, Patchouli, Coconut.
Extraordinary Petale
Extraordinary Petale is an Oscar De La Renta perfume for her, designed with romance in mind. The fragrance provides a floral aroma similar to the original Oscar scent but more powerful.
WIth accompanying notes of champagne, this is the best Oscar De La Renta perfume for date nights. While other perfumes might work well for a date, this scent will inspire a romance while remaining elegant, zesty, and soft.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Champagne, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot.
Middle: Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Rose.
Base: Amber, Vanilla orchid, Musk.
Oscar Jasmine Eau De Toilette
Oscar Jasmine floral fragrance is fresh, citrusy and green. A gorgeous white floral, this 2016 fragrance is beautiful and personal. It’s exquisitely feminine, a blend of nature and sophistication.
This Oscar de la Renta perfume bottle is a delightful shade of green. It’s slim, with a flower-shaped stopper.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, neroli.
Middle: Ylang-ylang, tuberose, orange blossom, Spanish jasmine.
Base: White woos, tonka, tolu balsam beeswax.
Oscar Velvet Noir
Think lush, lavish, and lustful. Oscar Velvet Noir gives you a combination of all three. The smooth scent is equal parts ambrosial as it is woodsy with underlying notes of musk and an aromatic botanic bouquet. Pair this Oscar de la Renta perfume with an elegant gown, and you’re red carpet ready.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Sweet Orange, Ginger, Tunisian Orange Blossom, Jasmine.
Middle: Violet, Rose, Osmanthus.
Base: Amber, Agarwood (Oud), Musk.
Oscar Eau de Toilette For Women
Oscar by Oscar De La Renta is a timeless classic that’s remained popular for over forty years. In fact, it’s still one of the best-selling perfumes in the world. The female-orientated perfume is a sophisticated blend of the refined and floral aromas of the Orient.
The bottle is sleek, simple, and cylindrical. Two sections of black and gold are separated by a thin metallic strip encircling the center of the bottle.
Fragrance Notes
Top: a rich mix of coriander, orange blossom, gardenia, peach, and basil.
Middle: ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, rose, rosemary, cyclamen, lavender, and orchid.
Base: opoponax, carnation, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, lavender, and amber.
Volupte Tendre
Translation? Tender pleasure. Volupte is an Oscar De La Renta perfume for her, designed back in the 1990s, but its scent remains as desirable as ever. It features a fruity aroma thanks to the watermelon, mimosa, melon, and mandarin accord additions.
You can spritz yourself with Volupte Tendre to liven up your daily routine or apply a few dabs behind your ears before a date to complete your outfit.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Ice, Citruses.
Middle: Rose.
Base: Oakmoss.
Volupte Eau De Toilette
Volupte is a floral, sweet fragrance is a classic that’s been delighting since 1992. The playful aroma brings out a fresh, summer garden party atmosphere to mind. It’s gentle, long-lasting and perfect for everyday use or adding a touch of magic to a special occasion.
The bottle is unusual, amber-colored, and diamond-shaped with a green stopper.
Fragrance Notes: Top: mimosa, melon, mandarin orange, freesia, osmanthus, watermelon, and cyclamen; middle notes are carnation, jasmine, heliotrope, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, narcissus, lotus, and peony; base notes are sandalwood, amber, patchouli, incense, tuberose, and vanilla.
So De La Renta
This 1997 triumph is refreshing, floral and fruity. Created by the Greek perfumer Ilias Ermenidis, the fragrance is understated, yet totally satisfying. A summery, sunny scent that is light and feminine.
“My first fine fragrance, Byblos, still reflects my love of transparent and Mediterranean-style notes.”
Ilias Ermenidis, in our interview with the perfumer
It comes in a pretty, round bottle of light green, crowned with a clear, elegant stopper.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: clementine, watermelon, mango, kiwi, cardamom, freesia, gardenia.
Middle: peony, narcissus, white lotus, and jasmine sambac.
Base: bourbon vanilla, musk, plum, and wood.
Rosamor
While rosy and floral like Oscar Rose, Rosamor is much more luxurious and synonymous with lust and sex. It’s an almost royal scent. It differs from the previous because of its hearty woodsy accords.
Instead of implementing the flowery additives as the top notes, the musky tones take the lead. Anyone who wants to feel elegant, sexy, and sumptuous would do their best to purchase Rosamor.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Italian Mandarin, Freesia, Lily-of-the-Valley.
Middle: Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Gardenia, Heliotrope, Indian Tuberose.
Base: Tobacco, Musk, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean.
Something Gold
You might not have a lot of wealth, but you can feel rich with Something Gold. This sultry scent features a floral bouquet of mandarin, bergamot, rose, orange blossom, and jasmine matched with a robust orris root bottom note. This scent pairs well for special occasions, events, and formal settings.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Bergamot, Citruses, Mandarin Orange.
Middle: Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Orris Root, Rose.
Base: Patchouli, Vanilla .
Live in Love Paris
If you could bottle up a lovely Parisian day, you’d get Live in Love Paris. Even though many perfumes try to recreate an authentic french scent, this Oscar de la Renta perfume perfectly captures French sophistication while remaining light and fun. The underlying punch of cedar, musk, galbanum, and amber perfectly juxtapose the orange blossom, jasmine, hyacinth, and rose notes.
Live in Love Paris is ideal for everyday wear but probably not the best for formal outings.
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Galbanum, Hyacinth, Orchid, Lily-of-the-Valley, Bergamot, .
Middle: Rose, African Orange flower, Jasmine;
Base: Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk, Amber.
Bella Rosa
Bella Rosa, an enchanting scent produced in conjunction with renowned perfumer Harry Frémont, has notes of rose, pink pepper, and fruity accords, including freesia and mandarin orange. The smell is ripe, juicy, and refreshingly bright.
“You want people wearing your fragrance to send a safe, feel-good message to others — it is beyond seduction. Power goes against beauty; that’s the fragrance creation conundrum.”
Harry Frémont, in our interview with the master perfumer
Fragrance Notes:
Top: Freesia, Pink Pepper, Mandarin Orange.
Middle: Jasmine, Pink Rose, Orris.
Base: Amber, Patchouli, Sandalwood.
Best Oscar de la Renta Perfumes for Men
Oscar Gentleman Eau De Toilette
This recent release entered the market in September 2016 and was created in honor of the late designer, Oscar de la Renta. It was inspired by his favorite pastime – dominoes.
Gentleman is so-called because Oscar was known as “the gentleman of fashion.” Its flavor is said to be bold, smooth and captivating, just like the man himself.
Fragrance Notes
Top: chilled bergamot, sparkling grapefruit, cardamom, champagne accord.
Middle: Egyptian geranium and rosemary, black oolong tea.
Base: intense amber, labdanum, vetiver, and leatherwood.
Oscar Pour Lui Eau De Toilette
Oscar Pour Lui launched in 1980, is leathery, deep and rich. Aromatic spices and woody herbs dominate the foreground of this fragrance, though it’s not too overpowering. The scent can be worn by day or night and suits the colder seasons. It is timeless and refined.
A dark and mysterious bottle that gives little away. Gold letters contrast against the solid black background of the vessel.
Fragrance Notes
Top: aldehyde, caraway, juniper berries, lavender, galbanum, basil, sage, anise, bergamot.
Middle: cyclamen, carnation, patchouli, cinnamon, vetiver, cedar, geranium.
Base: labdanum, leather, sandalwood, musk, oakmoss.
About Oscar De La Renta Perfume
Oscar De La Renta, the Oscar De La Renta couture clothing and fragrance line founder, was first a woman’s clothing designer. However, in 1977, after launching his first signature scent, Oscar cemented himself as a leader in the perfume industry. The original scent featured a light floral bouquet with subtle woody undertones.
After its launch, he told Elle Magazine, “There is no better way, or a more intimate way, of telling people who you are than with a fragrance.”
From there, the designer launched a strong fragrance campaign until his death, creating fragrant and flowery aromas alongside sophisticated ambrosial scents.
Who Makes the Scents?
Since Oscar De La Renta died in 2016, the company changed hands to a creative director commissioned from France. Five years following, the company changed creative ownership again to former employees Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, who worked directly under De La Renta.
The creative directors now work in conjunction with L’Oreal Paris to create all-new fragrances and colognes.
Oscar de la Renta Perfume FAQs
What is the most popular Oscar de la Renta perfume?
The original Oscar (1977) remains the house’s signature and one of its best sellers — a classic oriental-floral. Among newer releases, So de la Renta and the rosy Bella Rosa are also widely loved.
Are Oscar de la Renta perfumes long-lasting?
It varies by line. The eau de parfums and the richer orientals such as Oscar and Rosamor tend to last longest, while the lighter, fruity eau de toilettes like So de la Renta and Volupte are softer and shorter-lived, better suited to daytime and warm weather.
Who makes Oscar de la Renta fragrances now?
Since the designer’s death in 2016, creative direction passed to former proteges Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, working with L’Oreal. Individual scents have been composed by noses including Ilias Ermenidis (So de la Renta) and Harry Frémont.
Which Oscar de la Renta perfume is best for men?
Oscar Pour Lui (1980) is the classic leathery, spicy choice for colder weather, while the newer Oscar Gentleman is brighter and smoother, with bergamot, tea and amber.
Is Oscar de la Renta a luxury fragrance brand?
Oscar de la Renta sits in the designer tier rather than niche luxury. The fragrances are elegant and well-composed but generally affordable, which makes them a strong choice for classic florals without a high-end price.
Annie is a self-motivated, ambitious, enthusiastic individual and a self-proclaimed "people person." Her passion for communication and problem-solving is evident in a variety of media. She currently lives with her family in Washington DC.
