Prada seems to have the uncanny knack of creating incredibly captivating fragrances. With this in mind, I have taken it upon myself to discover the best smelling Prada perfumes for her. From the stunningly elegant Amber Eau de Parfum to the mysteriously sensual Candy Night, the Prada fragrance collection demands attention.
Let us kick off with a little background of Prada, then review each of the 10 best Prada fragrances that we fell in love with. Who knows, you may uncover something utterly special in this very article!
The World Of Prada Fragrance
Prada was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, the Italian brand began life in Milan selling leather goods. It was not for another 60 years until a young Miuccia Prada steered the brand into the modern age in 1978.
Under her guidance, Prada eventually made it onto the pages of Vogue and quickly gained international attention. Their designer handbags, in particular, were incredibly well-received. It was not until 2004 did Prada eventually enter the world of fragrance with the release of Prada Eau de Parfum. This classic of classics remains in the collection under the name Prada Amber.
What you wear is how you present yourself to the world.
– Miuccia Prada
10 Best Smelling Prada Perfumes
Both myself and Andrew spent a significant amount of time discovering what we felt are the best smelling Prada perfumes for women. After sampling many fantastic Prada fragrances, here are our top 10 picks.
1. Prada Les Infusions de Prada Iris Eau de Parfum
Review
Prada Les Infusions de Prada Iris Eau de Parfum is an incredibly elegant powdery/floral feminine fragrance. Very soft and gentle, although it has excellent projection. A high-class scent that, for some reason, gave me the feeling of classic Chanel.
Opens with such zesty vigour that I thought I was not going to enjoy the experience. Well, my worries soon dispersed as in only a few moments was met with powdery iris and mild woody notes. Upon dry-down, it becomes slightly sweet/vanilla thanks to benzoin, also a little green with more woody notes and somewhat smokey. The delicate and powdery iris remains throughout and gives a soothing carefree feeling.
Les Infusions de Prada Iris is more slanted to spring/summer with that delicate powdery floral. More day-time than night, perhaps creeping into the early evening.
As for longevity, not super long-lasting. I found it lasted 4+ hours on my skin before I felt I needed to re-apply.
This is such a delicate and pretty fragrance, a serious contender for a place in your collection.
Top Notes:
Mandarin
Mid Notes:
Neroli, Iris
Base Notes:
Cedar, Benzoin
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at John Lewis:
2. La Femme Intense Eau de Parfum
Review
Prada La Femme Intense Eau de Parfum is one of those sophisticatedly mysterious and sultry feminine fragrances that can put a spring in your step. Smells expensive right from the start. Compared to Prada La Femme Original, the intense version is more vibrant and richer.
The opening is a stunningly smooth floral affair of buttery ylang ylang and sensual jasmine. As dry-down commences, a wave of white tuberose brings more of a green floral vibe to the soft and buttery ylang ylang and jasmine. Musky notes of patchouli longer one this fragrance settles. If done correctly, ylang ylang does tend to give a feeling of elegance and sophistication, Prada La Femme Intense certainly delivers.
As for when to wear, although this is floral, I felt its more autumn/winter. Perfect for chilly evenings as the nights draw in. What a way to welcome the winter months.
Excellent longevity, lasted 7+ hours on my skin before it’s beauty subsided.
A future Prada classic. A clean and elegant feeling floral fragrance where the ylang-ylang, patchouli and tuberose in particular delight the senses.
Top Notes:
Frangipani, Ylang-Ylang, Iris
Mid Notes:
Tuberose, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Sambac
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Vetiver, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at John Lewis:
3. Amber Eau De Parfum
Review
Prada Amber Eau De Parfum is a luxuriously warming modern oriental/woody feminine fragrance that oozes sophistication and depth due to the exquisite arrangement of perfume notes.
Opens brightly and is quite green and spicy but with a zing of zesty bergamot to keep things clean smelling. After only a few minutes, you are greeted with a welcoming fruity sweetness.
In my opinion, it’s after a few minutes that this fragrance truly reveals itself; carnation, rose and ylang ylang all bloom beautifully and blend so well with the oriental-esque amber that begins to emerge. Upon dry-down, the intoxicating warm/musky/sweetness of stunningly beautiful amber, together with vanilla and quite heavy patchouli all play their part perfectly.
definitely leans more towards autumn/winter with those woody/amber oriental notes, that pairs so nicely with ylang ylang
Excellent longevity at 7+ hours on my skin. The patchouli and amber in-particular are very high performing.
I love the crisp, clean lines of the bottle and the way the cap is offset to one side. Feels nice and heavy too!
A divinely rich and warming woody/amber oriental feminine fragrance
Top Notes:
Green Notes, Tarragon, Fruity Notes, Bergamot
Mid Notes:
Honey, Carnation, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Rose
Base Notes:
Sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli, Musk, Benzoin, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at John Lewis:
4. Les Infusions de Prada Rose
Review
I fell in love with Les Infusions de Prada Rose Eau de Parfum before I even opened the bottle. It is so beautifully presented that I could not stop looking at it! Thankfully this rose focused elixir does not disappoint.
The opening is simply beautiful. Divine wafts of rose delicately dance with the sweetness of mandarin orange. The rose is so perfect you can close your eyes and see their delicately soft petals before your eyes. Does not alter much during dry-down, but galbanum brings some welcome bitterness.
The perfect spring fragrance and of course summer-time too. Puts a smile on your face.
These delicate floral notes will not be super long-lasting, and this is no different. Lasted about 3 – 4 hours on my skin. It is so beautiful that I was more than happy to re-apply.
I love the crisp, clean lines of the bottle and the way the cap is offset to one side. Feels nice and heavy too!
An incredibly pretty feminine fragrance that not only delights the wearer but those around you too.
Top Notes:
Mandarin orange
Mid Notes:
Turkish Rose, Bulgarian Rose
Base Notes:
Galbanum
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at John Lewis:
5. Olfactories Pink Flamingos
Review
Olfactories Pink Flamingos is a sparkling, fresh and vibrant feeling fragrance that screams fun, fun, fun. Certainly, the sort of fragrance that will make you sit up and take notice. Containing Japanese rose and cherry, you know you are in for one heck of a ride.
Opens with powdery Japanese rose, iris and sweet cherry. As things begin to settle, you are greeted with fruity notes of raspberry, blackcurrant and deeper cherry. Vanilla and musk at the base hold things together to keep a sense of adult sensibility with a rather fun and daring inner self. Could almost make its way into the Prada Candy range.
Although the notes suggest spring/summer, I would wear this all year round just to keep the smile on my face.
4+ hours longevity, but when a fragrance smells this good, you don’t mind topping it up again.
A fun and almost daring feminine scent that gives floral and cherry vibes. Happy days.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, lemon, lime
Mid Notes:
Japanese Rose, iris, cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry
Base Notes:
Vanilla, violet, musk
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Selfridges:
6. Les Infusion de Prada Mandarine
Review
Les Infusion de Prada Mandarine is an aromatic citrus fragrance with a darker side.
Opening with a truly sparkling and ultra-realistic display of mandarin and bitter orange. Soon settles to include rich bitter-sweet orange blossom and neroli. A powdery/ balsamic base of Opponax gives a smokey/incense vibe that, for some reason, reminds me of the wonderful smell when I open my violin case.
If you are a true mandarin lover, then you are in for a treat as this is not just orange, but far more precise. The remarkable base that keeps this fragrance from getting lost in the sea of other orange/citrus fragrances.
5+ hours longevity in my skin which is pretty good considering the notes are more top/mid-heavy.
As for when to wear, spring/summer daytime would be perfect. One to enjoy on a sunny day to add the icing on the cake.
A bright and fresh feminine fragrance that has a softer side. Certainly, one to add for your summer collection. Divine.
Top Notes:
Bitter Orange, mandarin
Mid Notes:
Orange Blossom, neroli
Base Notes:
Opoponax
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at John Lewis:
7. Olfactories Heatwave
Review
Brace yourself for a full-on summer evening holiday fragrance that is rather aptly named ‘Heatwave’. Offering an array of night-blooming summer florals will ensure you smell divine on those summer nights.
Opens briefly with citrus and herbs, then straight into night-blooming florals. Ylang ylang , tuberose and frangipani and blend together for a beautiful floral experience. The frangipani, in particular, gives off a sweet/spicy coconut vibe. Smooth vanilla/benzoin in the base adds elegance.
As the evening went on, it became sweeter and the coconut more pronounced. The florals work incredibly well and make a welcome change from many of the single flower fragrances on the market at the moment.
The kind of spring/summer fragrance that you will keep coming back to. Offers a different side to summer.
Longevity is pretty long-lasting at 6+ hours, the ylang ylang and frangipani steal the show in my opinion.
Olfactories Heatwave is a steamy tropical floral feminine fragrance that screams summer nights.
Top Notes:
Citrus, davana
Mid Notes:
Ylang-Ylang , tuberose, frangipani
Base Notes:
Benzoin, vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Prada:
8. Candy
Review
Here we have the first of three fragrances from the ‘Candy’ collection. Prada Candy Eau De Parfum the original classic. A heavenly, warming, sweet and powdery creation.
Softly opens with divine caramel and powdery notes. Soon comes the smooth and sultry sweetness of benzoin that works so well with the sweeter top notes.
As dry-down commences, this fragrance reveals a darker side of musk and spiced vanilla. Candy becomes warmer as time passes and becomes almost spicy whilst maintaining the creamy sweetness of caramel.
Although sweeter fragrances can feel spring/summer, the musk and benzoin of Prada Candy gave me a feeling of autumn/winter. Think party-time!
Performance is not incredible. I found its longevity on my skin was 3-4 hours. One that will need a top-up but that’s no problem for a scent that smells this good.
Strikingly presented in a bottle that gives an orange glow. The combination of pink coloured band and Prada logo in gold lettering works really well.
A mixture of warm and sweet caramel, benzoin and sensual musk. Prada Candy is a smooth operator, indeed.
Top Notes:
Caramel
Mid Notes:
Powdery Notes, Musk
Base Notes:
Vanilla, Benzoin
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Amazon:
9. Candy Night
Review
Prada Candy Night Eau De Parfum is perhaps more sensual and seductive than the original Candy Eau De Parfum.
It begins with deep chocolate orange notes that are somewhat powdery. The chocolate is dark and sultry. Sweet caramel and mild floral notes blend with soft musk to create a sophisticated experience. Finishes with a warming and slightly powdery vibe for something unique and intimate.
Please be aware, testing this fragrance just on paper will not give you the full experience. You need to apply it to your skin and allow it 20 minutes to reveal its true self.
I feel this is an autumn/winter scent that of course leans towards night-time.
Medium lasting fragrance at 4+ hours on skin, and longer on clothes.
Presented in a striking bottle that gives a light purple glow. The darker top with its black band and Prada logo in gold lettering is classy.
Top Notes:
Bitter Orange, Neroli, Iris
Mid Notes:
Cacao, Caramel
Base Notes:
Vanilla, Tonka, White Musk
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Amazon:
10. Candy Kiss
Review
One of the more unusual fragrances in the Prada Candy line. Candy Kiss focuses pretty much on one note, musk. The Candy fragrance is a gentle experience that aims to delight your senses.
A soft opening of clean musk that is almost cotton-like. Candy Kiss the eases towards notes of orange blossom and beautiful powdery vanilla. The musk blended with orange blossom is gorgeous.
This is an every-day all-year-round fragrance. Perhaps leans slightly more towards daytime rather than all dressed up for a night out.
This is a medium-lasting fragrance at 4+ hours on my skin.
Uses the same clean bottle design that flows through the Candy collection. The white band with the Prada logo has gold lettering that really pops.
Prada Candy Kiss is a carefree fragrance that was far more sensual and sophisticated than I was expecting.
Top Notes:
orange blossom
Mid Notes:
musk
Base Notes:
vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Amazon:
Conclusion
This concludes our 10 best smelling Prada perfumes review. Prada is so much more than being a designer handbag brand, and clearly, fragrance has become a huge part in their being.
Related Read: Best Prada Perfumes For Summer
Each of their extraordinary fragrances can stir emotion and reward you with feelings of style and elegance. This does not happen by chance, it takes both passion and the ability to blend exciting notes to create individual masterpieces in their own right.
If you have yet to sample the many fabulous Prada fragrances in their current collection, perhaps a promise to yourself is what is required.
Before you go, I have put together a review of the most elegant perfumes ranging from timeless classics to modern day sophistication that I think you will enjoy.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, designer handbags, luxury accessories and more.
