The Captivating Story Behind Burberry Perfumes: From 1981 to 2025

Burberry's perfume line has evolved from a single men's scent in 1981 to an impressive collection of 99 fragrances. This British design house has managed to keep its prestigious status since 1856. People worldwide recognize the brand for its iconic trench coats and distinctive tartan pattern.

The brand's fragrance portfolio features signature collections like the award-winning Burberry Brit, the garden-inspired My Burberry, and the popular Burberry Her. Each fragrance creates its own story. Burberry Her delights with blackcurrant and raspberry notes, while Weekend Eau de Parfum has enchanted users since 1997. The brand plans to launch a new fragrance in 2025, expanding its aromatic heritage through work with prominent perfumers like Francis Kurkdjian and Michel Almairac.

The British Heritage Behind Burberry Scents

Burberry's perfumes carry the essence of British identity that has shaped the brand for over 165 years. These iconic fragrances serve as scented ambassadors of British heritage. Each bottle tells a unique story of the nation's character.

Translating tartan and trench coats into fragrance

My Burberry's 2014 launch brought the brand's fashion DNA into the world of scent. Christopher Bailey, then-Chief Creative Officer, called it "a trenchcoat in a bottle." This wasn't just clever marketing. Every element of the fragrance reflected the signature garment. The bottle featured a horn-finished cap that looked like trench coat buttons. The golden liquid matched the traditional coat's honey color. A hand-tied gabardine bow adorned each bottle. The Yorkshire factory wove this same fabric for Burberry trench coats.

The scent captured the trench coat's elegant yet practical spirit. Master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian created a modern British grand floral with sweet pea and bergamot top notes. The blend balanced sophistication and function, just like its iconic inspiration.

London weather as perfume inspiration

British people love to talk about weather. Burberry cleverly uses this cultural obsession in their fragrance creation. Their archived slogan "It's Always Burberry Weather" speaks to both their durable garments and Britain's unpredictable climate.

My Burberry draws its inspiration from "the scent of a London garden after a rain shower". Kurkdjian shared his vision: "You have the garden. You have the flowers...and the art of gardening, which is very important for the British. The flowery aspect of the perfume comes from that idea of the garden after the rain. You have the lush wetness. You have the soil. You have the earthiness". This captures a uniquely British moment - the bright aftermath of London's famous drizzle.

Kurkdjian chose notes that would evoke "the feeling of the light of London: clouds, wetness, rain, flowers". Roses and freesia add brightness, geranium leaves bring herbal vibrancy, while patchouli and quince create depth. These elements paint a rich picture of British weather in scent form.

How British identity shapes Burberry's olfactory signature

British identity combines tradition with rebellion, countryside with city life, aristocracy with counterculture. Burberry's fragrances mirror this dual nature. Former Creative Director Riccardo Tisci explained: "This country, in history, is the most representative country of duality. You have the Queen, aristocracy, culture, elegance, perfection. Then you always have this other side. Punks. That is the beauty of Britain".

The Burberry Signatures collection showcases this British character through fragrances inspired by:

• English country breezes carrying flowering blooms
• Midnight wanderings through London's mysterious streets
• The distinctly British tradition of afternoon tea
• The first signs of spring in Yorkshire dales

Christopher Bailey's vision of "Britishness linked to the coat" lives in these perfumes. They blend practical weatherproofing with refined elegance - true hallmarks of British identity. The scents feature ingredients that echo the British landscape: earthy tones like heather and grass, and notes that remind you of straw.

Jefferson Hack praised the brand's "democratic" nature. These fragrances offer available luxury across class lines while staying unmistakably British.

Inside the Creative Process: Crafting a Burberry Fragrance

Creating a Burberry fragrance requires balancing tradition with breakthroughs and careful attention to detail. The world's most respected perfumers guide each iconic scent from concept to finished product.

Key perfumers who shaped the brand

Burberry has worked with remarkable master perfumers who defined the brand's scent identity since launching their first fragrance in 1981. Francis Kurkdjian, who created Burberry Her, describes his creation as "a memorable signature" achieved through "a strong accord, an olfactory story that translates your vision". He blended sunburst berries and British spirit with ambery musky accord to create a distinctive scent.

These notable perfumers have contributed to Burberry's fragrance legacy:

• Michel Almairac (Burberry for Men)
• Aurélien Guichard (Burberry Hero)
• Nathalie Gracia-Cetto
• Dominique Ropion
• Emilie Bevierre-Coppermann

Each perfumer brings a unique point of view while celebrating the brand's British heritage. Guichard's work on Burberry Hero shows this connection - he "constructed a fragrance that embodied the texture of a Burberry trench coat".

From concept to bottle: The development timeline

A creative brief that captures Burberry's heritage and current fashion direction starts each new fragrance. Guichard worked with chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci to develop Hero as "the first men's fragrance pillar" under Tisci's direction.

The brand combines artistic vision with technical expertise. Perfumers build layers of ingredients "to create a complex and multi-dimensional scent that evolves over time". They test multiple versions before finding the perfect formula that creates the desired emotional response.

The fragrance needs packaging that captures Burberry's style. Burberry Her's 2018 release marked a key moment as "the first one whose packaging is marked with the new logo". This shows how packaging choices reflect the brand's development.

Ingredient sourcing and quality standards

Quality starts with Burberry's approach to sourcing. The brand "prioritizes high-quality, sustainable materials, ensuring that each scent has a unique character". Their perfumers "take great care in selecting the finest raw materials from around the world".

Burberry Hero showcases this attention to ingredients. It features "a combination of three cedarwoods – carefully sourced from the Atlas Mountains, Virginia and the Himalayas for the distinctive properties of each". This worldwide search for ingredients helps create unique scent profiles while keeping the brand's sophisticated character.

Burberry made a key change in 2012 by moving fragrance production in-house instead of using licensing agreements. This gave them more control over quality and protected their brand identity. The company strengthened its "business model rooted in British craftsmanship" by mixing "traditional craftsmanship and innovative manufacturing techniques".

Through creative partnerships, careful development, and exceptional ingredients, Burberry creates fragrances that strike a chord with consumers personally. This allows them "to connect with the scent and create their own personal experiences".

Iconic Collections That Defined Decades

Burberry's perfume collections have reached iconic status over the decades. Each fragrance captures a unique moment in the brand's progress while staying true to its distinctive British identity.

The enduring appeal of Burberry Brit

Burberry Brit became one of the brand's soaring wins after its 2003 launch. This modern classic continues to strike a chord with consumers today. Perfumer Natalie Gracia-Cetto created this fragrance that "keeps the tradition but with a modern sound, it brings the English irony and English dignity". The scent starts with fresh green lemon, frosted pear, and white almond notes. These give way to white peony heart notes before settling into a gourmand base of vanilla, amber, mahogany, and balsamic tonka bean.

Burberry's executives aimed for a youthful and spirited positioning. They "wanted a young, fun-loving British sensibility" and described their vision as "the new British It Girl, full of energy and full of enthusiasm". This approach connected with consumers so well that Burberry Brit spawned several successful variants including Brit Red, Brit Gold, and Brit for men.

My Burberry: The garden-inspired breakthroughs

My Burberry launched in 2014 as the brand's "most important new fragrance to date". This groundbreaking scent drew inspiration from "a London garden after the rain". The name comes "from the affectionate way in which people refer to their Burberry trench coat".

Francis Kurkdjian collaborated with then-Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey to create what he called "a beautifully crafted grand floral unique to Burberry". Sweet pea and bergamot lead the composition's top notes. The heart combines geranium leaf, golden quince and freesia. Patchouli and rain-tipped damask and centifolia roses form the base notes.

My Burberry earned enthusiastic reviews from consumers. They described it as "a bit woodsy at first, but blooms into a delightful blend of crisp and fruity/flowery". Others noted it was "perfect for first time perfume wearers and able to be worn in any setting".

Signature and Bespoke: Luxury redefined

Burberry lifted its fragrance offerings with two ultra-premium collections. The Burberry Signatures line captures "the beauty of the outdoors" through scents inspired by flowers that thrive in challenging environments.

The brand's greatest breakthrough came with Burberry Bespoke – seven tailored perfumes priced between USD 300.00 and USD 700.00. These store-exclusive scents capture natural elements of the British countryside. The inspiration ranges from "the Cornish cliffs, gardens in Kensington and Bloomsbury, the Yorkshire countryside in spring, British shipyards and the Scottish heath".

Francis Kurkdjian spent four years crafting these perfumes with "no restrictions on the cost of sourcing or the concentration of a given fragrance note". These exceptional experiences could be customized with monogramming and a choice of 16 Burberry leather ribbons.

The Rise of Burberry Her: Anatomy of a Fragrance Phenomenon

Burberry Her hit the market in 2018 and quickly became one of the most important chapters in Burberry's perfume story. This modern British scent captured a new generation of fragrance lovers. The fragrance has grown from a new release into the life-blood of the brand's perfume collection in just a few years.

The creation story behind the bestseller

Francis Kurkdjian became skilled at crafting what he calls "the first gourmand fragrance with a British twist". His creative vision combined "a burst of red and dark berries lightened by a luminous, white woody accord" that captures London's vibrant energy. The scent starts with blackcurrant, blueberry, and raspberry notes. These blend into jasmine and violet heart notes before settling into an elegant base of dry amber and musk.

Kurkdjian believes that "to achieve a memorable signature, you need a strong accord, an olfactory story that translates your vision". The bottle design celebrates Burberry's heritage. Its smooth curved glass draws inspiration from the 1981 'Burberrys for Men' archive design. Customers can add their personal touch with engraved initials.

How social media transformed its popularity

Burberry's digital expertise shone through the fragrance's launch strategy. British actress and model Cara Delevingne starred in London-based photos by Juergen Teller. She also recorded her version of "Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner" as the campaign soundtrack, which created a genuine London connection.

Burberry proved its digital leadership by using Snapchat extensively during the launch. The campaign featured custom lenses, London-specific filters, and special Giphy stickers for Instagram. This strategy built on the brand's 5-year old status as "the first luxury brand to invest wholeheartedly in social media".

Elixir and flanker innovations

Her Elixir de Parfum leads many more variations of the original scent. This new creation emerged as "a bold and sensual fragrance" with "signature fruity gourmand notes alongside a daring burst of dark red berries with jasmine, rounded with sensual and addictive vanilla and amber".

The collection expanded to include:

• Her Eau de Toilette: "a blooming peony scent" with honeysuckle and musk
• Her London Dream: combines "ripe top notes of lemon and fresh ginger" with rose and peony
• Her Blossom: a "bright and spontaneous fragrance" with plum blossom and pink peppercorn

The Burberry Her collection has achieved "a huge success for the brand, after some less successful releases in the last 10 years". These fragrances now stand as a testament to Burberry's perfume heritage.

Burberry's Fragrance Revolution: Hero and Goddess

Burberry's perfume lineup has seen two game-changing additions that redefined the brand's scent identity—Hero and Goddess. These fragrances stand as bold statements about gender, sustainability, and modern luxury.

Breaking gender norms with Hero

Burberry Hero emerged as "an intense and invigorating scent for men" and challenged traditional masculine fragrance norms through its unique blend and marketing. The fragrance showcases "a trio of cedarwood oils at the base"—sourced carefully from the Atlas Mountains, Virginia, and the Himalayas. The scent draws attention for its gender-fluid qualities despite its masculine positioning.

Hero comes in multiple formulations, each creating a unique experience:

• Hero Eau de Parfum enriched with incense and benzoin
• Hero Parfum enhanced by amyris and cypriol oil
• Eau de Toilette energized by juniper and black pepper

This bold exploration beyond traditional boundaries matches broader industry changes, as "we are at a critical inflection point [where] binaries are being left by the wayside".

The making of Goddess: Burberry's newest icon

Master perfumer Amandine Clerc-Marie created Burberry Goddess, which stands as "Burberry's first refillable fragrance". The scent breaks new ground with its unprecedented use of "three distinct types of vanilla extraction".

"My original goal for Burberry Goddess was to expand upon the common use of vanilla to deliver a new kind of rich olfactive experience," Clerc-Marie explained. The fragrance has Vanilla Infusion, Vanilla Caviar (using Firgood™ technology "for the first time in a fragrance"), and Vanilla Absolute.

Celebrity ambassadors and their effect

Emma Mackey became the perfect face of Goddess with her "striking beauty, fashionable reputation and slight sense of rebellion" that embodies the fragrance's spirit. Footballer Son Heung-min and actress Tang Wei joined as brand ambassadors, adding global appeal to Burberry's fragrance collection.

These mutually beneficial alliances delivered remarkable results. Burberry Goddess "helped Burberry's revenue skyrocket recently". The perfume gained exceptional social media popularity and became "the first fragrance to reach influencer status".

Conclusion

Burberry's fragrance experience spans over four decades. The brand evolved from modest beginnings into a prestigious collection that captures British elegance and state-of-the-art design. The brand's collaboration with renowned perfumers like Francis Kurkdjian and Michel Almairac has successfully transformed its fashion heritage into memorable scents.

Each fragrance narrates a unique story. Burberry Brit radiates youthful spirit. My Burberry showcases garden-inspired sophistication. Hero and Goddess collections express modern boldness. These creations showcase Burberry's ability to balance tradition with contemporary appeal, especially with their eco-friendly initiatives and gender-fluid approaches.

Burberry shapes the future of luxury fragrances continuously. The brand's steadfast dedication to quality ingredients, state-of-the-art techniques, and authentic British character ensures its strong influence in the perfume industry for years ahead.