Versace

Versace is an Italian house founded by Gianni Versace, who debuted with womenswear in 1978 and opened his first Milan boutique that same year. He chose the Medusa as his emblem and built a look that drew on everything from pop art to classical Greek and Roman form, attracting celebrities and helping fuel the supermodel era of the 1990s. After his death in 1997, the house continued under his family, with sister Donatella as creative director and brother Santo as president. The fragrance line, produced with Euroitalia, began in 1981 and remains a core part of the brand.

The signature runs fresh and confident, with citrus and aromatic notes laid over woods and a fresh spice lift. Amalfi lemon brightens the opening, mint adds a cool snap, atlas cedar gives a clean woody base, and tobacco lends a touch of warmth and depth. Start with Eros or Dylan Blue for Men for the house at its most recognizable, or explore Figue Blanche and Jasmin au Soleil for its lighter, sunnier side. Versace makes fragrance with the same bold instinct that runs through everything it touches.