Hanae Mori Haute Couture among best little-known perfumes

Hundreds of new fragrances are launched each year in the United States alone. Invariably, some superb scents get lost in the retail shuffle, becoming known to and treasured by only a few. Hanae Mori Haute Couture is one of them. Like the senior stateswoman of Japanese fashion designers whose name it bears (say “honna-ay moray”), the perfume debuted in 2003 yet remains a mystery to the American masses. It’s a sultry and sophisticated blend of more than 50 ingredients, defying easy classification with a masterful blend of notes ranging from coriander and tangerine to musk and just enough floral aldehyde to fuel the scent’s lasting power. Hanae Mori Haute Couture, encased in a bottle with a butterfly-shaped cap, will have a woman receiving compliments every time she wears it. Click on the picture to get it at a discount.