Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo began with shoes, not scent. The Italian designer learned the craft as a boy, made his first pair at nine, and emigrated to the United States, where he dressed the feet of Hollywood and earned the nickname shoemaker to the stars. Puzzled by why beautiful shoes so often hurt, he studied anatomy before returning to Florence in 1927 to build his house. He went on to invent the cork wedge and the cage heel, and after his death in 1960 the company stayed in family hands and grew into bags, eyewear, ready-to-wear, and fragrance. The first scent arrived in 1998, and the perfume line, now produced with Inter Parfums, carries that same instinct for craftsmanship.

The fragrances favor refined warmth, with woods and amber framed by soft powder and aromatic detail. Bergamot and mandarin open things on a bright note, pink pepper adds a little spark, and peach lends a quiet roundness. Start with Punta Ala or Bianco di Carrara, or try La Corte and Gentil Suono for the more composed side of the line. These are scents cut with a designer's eye for fit and finish.