Most expensive perfume: the record bottle, and the dearest per ml you can try

The record bottle

Guinness World Records lists No.1 Imperial Majesty as the most expensive perfume that is commercially available. The record dates from November 2005. Clive Christian made ten bottles of 500ml, and each sold for £115,000, which Guinness gives as $205,000 at the time. The crystal flacon carries a five-carat diamond.

Guinness itself notes that records change on a daily basis, so read this as a record from 2005, not today's price list. It is also not something you can sample. Ten bottles of 500ml were made, and that is the whole edition.

What "expensive" means for a perfume you can buy

For a perfume on a shelf, the bottle price hides the real cost per ml. A large bottle and a small decant are not the same purchase, so we compare price per ml. If you want the method and the catalogue-wide context, the price per ml index sets it out.

This guide is narrower. It is the dearest perfumes per ml in the 10ML catalogue on 12 October 2026, grouped by style rather than ranked. Our prices are live, so the order can shift. For the wider difference between niche and designer houses, see niche vs designer perfume. For how much more niche costs than designer, measured, read niche perfume price per ml.

We never call a price good or bad. We say what the perfume smells like, who it suits, and what a small decant costs, so you can decide.

Clive Christian's No. 1 pair

The record-holding house also makes the No. 1 perfumes that sit near the top of our list. They are made for men and for women, and they differ more than the shared name suggests.

No. 1 Clive Christian for men by Clive Christian

No. 1 Clive Christian for men launched in 2001. It opens bright and spiced, with grapefruit, lime, nutmeg and cardamom. The heart turns floral, with iris, ylang-ylang and jasmine. The dry-down is warm and woody: sandalwood, amber, musk and vanilla.

Community votes on longevity for this one lean long lasting. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in winter, fall and spring, and for night and evening wear.

No. 1 Feminine by Clive Christian

No. 1 Feminine goes fruitier at the start, with apricot, peach, plum and pineapple over bergamot. Ylang-ylang, iris, jasmine and rose form the floral heart. Sandalwood, vanilla, benzoin and amber give it a warm base.

Community votes on longevity here lean long lasting. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for evening and night wear. It suits cold evenings when you want a rich floral rather than a fresh one.

More from Clive Christian: the lighter and the darker lines

The house has quieter perfumes too. These are the ones to try if the No. 1 pair feels heavy.

20 Iconic Masculine by Clive Christian

20 Iconic Masculine launched in 2019. It is a green, citrus-led scent: petitgrain, pink pepper and mandarin orange up top, then yuzu and rosemary, and a dry base of vetiver and cedar.

For longevity, most voters say 20 Iconic Masculine is long lasting. On sillage, most voters call it moderate. Voters reach for it most in spring, fall and summer, and for day and office wear.

20 Iconic Feminine by Clive Christian

20 Iconic Feminine also launched in 2019 and is built the other way. Saffron leads, plum, violet and damask rose form the heart, and amber and honey close it.

For longevity, most voters say 20 Iconic Feminine is long lasting. On sillage, most voters call it strong. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for evening and night wear.

C Woody Leather by Clive Christian

C Woody Leather is unisex and the darkest of the three. Agarwood and mandarin open it, tobacco and saffron sit in the middle, and leather carries the base.

Longevity votes for C Woody Leather lean long lasting. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for night, evening and day wear.

Leather, spice and oud

These three are the heavier end of the list. Community voters most often pick them for the cooler months and for evening and night wear.

Tuxedo Extrait by Yves Saint Laurent

Tuxedo Extrait launched in 2026 and is unisex. Bergamot, pink pepper and saffron open it. Leather, rose and violet leaf form the heart, and oak, patchouli and vanilla form the base.

Longevity votes for Tuxedo Extrait lean long lasting. On sillage, most voters call it strong. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for evening and night wear.

Nefs by Nishane

Nefs launched in 2019 and has agarwood in its base. Honey, saffron and fig lead, then rose, osmanthus and nutmeg, and a base of agarwood, whiskey, vanilla, leather and amber.

For longevity, most voters say Nefs is eternal. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in winter and fall, and for night wear.

The Moon by Frederic Malle

The Moon launched in 2019 and is unisex. It starts with a fruit rush of raspberry, litchi and blackberry, then moves into Turkish rose and olibanum. Agarwood, leather and amber hold the base.

For longevity, most voters say The Moon is eternal. On sillage, most voters call it enormous. Voters reach for it most in winter, and for night wear.

Sweet, almond and cherry

Fantasmagory by Louis Vuitton

Fantasmagory launched in 2025 and is unisex. Ginger opens it, almond and soft florals form the heart, and vanilla and leather finish it.

For longevity, most voters say Fantasmagory is eternal. Sillage votes from the community also lean enormous. Voters reach for it most in winter and fall, and for evening and night wear.

Electric Cherry by Tom Ford

Electric Cherry launched in 2023 for women. Cherry and ginger lead, jasmine sambac sits in the middle, and pink pepper, ambrettolide and musk form the base.

For longevity, most voters say Electric Cherry is moderate. On sillage, most voters call it moderate. Voters reach for it most in spring and summer, and for night and evening wear.

Love Don't Be Shy Extreme by By Kilian

Love Don't Be Shy Extreme launched in 2021 for women. Neroli and bergamot open it, orange blossom and Bulgarian rose follow, and marshmallow, vanilla, musk and pomegranate make the sweet base.

Longevity votes for this Kilian lean long lasting. On sillage, most voters call it moderate. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for night wear.

Fresh and floral

Expensive does not have to mean heavy. These three are brighter.

Valiant by Boadicea The Victorious

Valiant launched in 2013 and is unisex. It is a citrus and white floral scent: mandarin orange, grapefruit and ylang-ylang first, then orange blossom, neroli and jasmine, with vanilla and amber below.

Longevity votes for Valiant lean long lasting. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in spring, and for evening and day wear.

Isola Blu by Roja Dove

Isola Blu is unisex and opens with lime, bergamot, lemon and lavender. Apple, coconut and jasmine form a fruity heart, and cedar, amber and vanilla settle underneath.

Longevity votes for Isola Blu lean long lasting. Community votes on projection also lean strong. Voters reach for it most in fall and winter, and for night, evening and day wear.

Elysium Pour Femme by Roja Dove

Elysium Pour Femme launched in 2024 for women. Blackberry, bergamot and peach open it, and the heart is freesia, magnolia and jasmine. Musk, sandalwood and vanilla close it.

Longevity votes for Elysium lean moderate. On sillage, most voters call it moderate. Voters reach for it most in spring and summer, and for day wear.

Why a 3ml is how most people meet these

At this level of price per ml, a full bottle is a large commitment before you know how the perfume wears on you. A decant lets you wear it first. A 3ml decant is around 60 sprays, a 10ml decant around 200, and a 30ml decant around 600.

Here is what the 3ml costs for each perfume in this guide, with the price per ml.

Our advice is simple: pick two or three from the styles you already like and start with a 3ml of each. Wear one for a few days, in the weather you would actually use it. If it earns a place, a 10ml decant gives you around 200 sprays, and a 30ml decant is the one to keep. For how a decant works, see what a perfume decant is.

The bigger picture: How to find your signature scent in three steps.