Your new signature scent awaits: Here are 36 of the best perfumes to buy now
Perfume shopping can be a tad overwhelming, we see fragrance after fragrance hit the virtual shelves, all of which have dreamy ad campaigns (I'm looking at you, Jo Malone), cute bottles (hiii, Glossier) and most importantly, in-cred-ible scents.
So, how do you pick the best perfume?
Take notes
Grab your favourite perfumes and spend a little time googling the key notes (hint: if in doubt, check out fragrantica.com for beginner-friendly scent breakdowns). Are there any common occurrences? Got a thing for figs? Love some patchouli? (Us too). Well, these are the notes you want to look out for when hunting down your next perfume purchase.
Discovery kits are key
Tonnes of brands (including the likes of Jo Malone, Penhaligon's and Diptyque) sell sets featuring mini versions of all their best-selling scents, pick one up and you’re guaranteed to find your next favourite (or four).
Find your family
Nope, this isn’t a sneaky plug for Ancestry, I’m talking about your preferred fragrance fam. Yup, most scent ‘families’ are characterised by an overall accord they share. This could be anything from woody to floral and aromatic to sweet, find your fave and it’ll help narrow down your search. For example, if you prefer a light, fresh fragrance, it could be worth opting for a citrus or floral family... A perfect example would be Jo Malone London's best-selling English Pear & Freesia Cologne which has a fresh scent of, yep, you guessed it pears and patchouli.
If you prefer something a bit sweeter, take a cue from Rihanna and try one of her favourite scents – Kilian's Love Don't Be Shy Eau de Parfum. Loaded up with sweet floral top notes of orange blossom and neroli, combined with and a base of creamy musk, vanilla and caramel. Yum, right?
Or, if you want to make more of a statement with your scent, a heady oriental oud or a rich spice-loaded scent could be the way to go. Tom Ford's cult Black Orchid for women has hints of bitter chocolate, spices and vetiver.
Best perfumes for women
You
Smells like: A freshly-washed, crisp, clean T-shirt.
Sizes: 8ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Iris root, pink pepper, ambrette, ambrox, musk.
Scent family: Floral, woody
Let's all take a moment to appreciate how adorable this pink Glossier fragrance is...
The ergonomic bottle has a thumb-print design that allows the fragrance to sit perfectly in your hand. Described by the brand as a 'your skin but better scent', it has subtle notes of Ambrette and Musk, that smell comforting and familiar.
Xtra Milk Eau De Parfum
Smells like: Pure comfort. A universal musk, amplified with a fresh, powdery finish.
Sizes: 15ml, 50ml
Notes: Top: Bergamot; middle: white musk; bottom: amber.
Scent family: Fresh
If you're not yet familiar with DedCool, allow yourself to get acquainted. This brand originated in the US and recently has made its way over onto UK territory, taking up residence in Space NK's brick-and-mortar and online stores. And to say we're excited would be a complete understatement!
Arguably, Xtra Milk is the brand's most viral fragrance for its musky, genderless scent that has been crafted with a variety of certified organic extracts. It's perfect for those after a fresh waft of 'your skin but better' and is reminiscent of clean, fluffy, pillowy sheets.
Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
Smells like: You guessed it, fresh florals. Punchy notes of Jasmine and rose are combined with heady patchouli.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Tea, bergamot, osmanthus; middle: orchid, jasmine, rose, freesia, African orange flower; base: patchouli, musk, vanilla.
Scent family: Oriental floral
If you're after a scent that'll turn heads and get you countless compliments, this is it. With fresh sweet notes of rose, jasmine and orchid, combined with base notes of musk and bergamot, this is a serious crowd-pleaser.
Disclaimer: Be prepared for every person in your office to copy your signature scent, it's that good.
Fenty Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Rihanna, duh.
Sizes: 30ml, 75ml
Notes: Top: Blueberry, tangerine; middle: Bulgarian rose, geranium, magnolia; base: patchouli, musk.
Scent family: Chypre floral
You might think smelling like roses is more grandma than glam but Riri has done the impossible and made the antique fragrance note...sexy.
The warm scent is a cocktail of Bulgarian rose, tangerine and musk that manages to be both spicy and sweet at the same time. Basically, it oozes sexiness. I mean, Rihanna has been voted the best-smelling celeb for a reason, right?
Love, Don't be Shy Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Rihanna 2.0...
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Neroli, bergamot, pink pepper, coriander; middle: orange blossom, honeysuckle, jasmine, iris, rose, marshmallow; base: sugar, vanilla, caramel, musk, civet, labdanum.
Scent family: Oriental
According to many a media report, Rihanna's scent of choice is Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy. It's loaded up with sweet floral top notes of orange blossom and neroli, combined with and a base of creamy musk, vanilla and caramel. Yum, right?
Empressa eau de parfum
Smells like: The personal shopping private suites in Selfridges. In other words, ✨luxury✨ but in a quiet, unobtrusive way.
Sizes: 10ml, 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Blood orange, peach, bergamot, mandarin orange, pink pepper; middle: rose, dewberry, cassis, neroli, geranium; base: patchouli, brown sugar, musk, vanilla, sandalwood, olibanum, cacao, amber.
Scent family: Oriental floral
Founded in the 1800s, Penhaligon's has a wild roster of experience in the perfume world, even boasting clientele as big as Queen Victoria. And this perfume is certainly fit for royalty with an initial whiff of citrus scents (peach, bergamot, mandarin) that blend together and dry down to reveal a long-lasting musky vanilla.
Overall, this is an amber floral fragrance that is guaranteed to receive you many a compliment – and who doesn't want to be told they smell nice?
Replica When The Rain Stops Eau de Toilette
Smells like: A freshly watered garden in spring. Crisp and clean greens.
Sizes: 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Green notes, bergamot, pink pepper; middle: watery notes, rain notes, Turkish rose, jasmine; base: pine tree, moss, patchouli.
Scent family: Aromatic aquatic
Sharp, punchy greens and aquatic water notes are softened with hints of floral from Turkish Rose and Jasmine. The base notes of Moss, Pine Tree and Patchouli give a warm, earthy, comforting scent to the dry down.
English Pear & Freesia Cologne
Smells like: If you were to be wrapped up in a blanket of flowers but and mellowed out with a hint of patchouli. Equal parts fresh and sweet.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Pear, melon; middle: freesia, rose; base: musk, patchouli, rhubarb, amber.
Scent family: Fruity
Think about those fruity scents you wore in your youth: Sweet, citrusy and, erm, headache-inducing (I'm looking @ you, Nicki Minaj perfumes). Well, you'll be glad to know that while it has fruity notes, this Jo Malone scent is sophisticated AF. Once you spritz it on, you'll be immediately hit with the smell of fresh pears. It's the most elegant scent profile ever.
Not sure if this is the Jo Malone perfume for you? Well, head to our fool-proof round-up of the very best scents from the brand, here.
La Vie est Belle Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Julia Roberts...
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 75ml
Notes: Top: Black currant, pear; middle: iris, jasmine, orange blossom; base: praline, vanilla, patchouli, tonka bean.
Scent family: Floral, fruity
Yep, you read that right – Miss Roberts is the face of this sparkling iris fragrance. And not only is it celeb-approved but the layered notes of sensual vanilla make it my personal fave, too.
Young Rose Eau de Parfum
Smells like: The airiest, freshest rose fragrance we've ever met.
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Sichuan pepper, ambrette (musk mallow); middle: damask rose, iris; base: musk, ambroxan.
Scent family: Floral woody musk
There's nothing traditional about this rose scent, it's not heavy, powdery or old-fashioned, instead, it's light and fresh with a touch of creaminess and warmth from the hint of Damascena rose and musk.
Carlisle Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Sipping a whisky cocktail on a hot date.
Sizes: 2ml, 125ml
Notes: Top: Nutmeg, green apple, saffron; middle: tonka bean, rose, osmanthus, davana; base: patchouli, vanilla, opoponax.
Scent family: Floral, fruity
Is this technically a men's fragrance? Yes. Has this stopped it from becoming one of my favourite fragrances of all time? Not a chance.
With base notes of Guiaic wood and top notes of bergamot, this spicy, woody number oozes sex appeal. There's something warm and cosy about this rich, long-lasting scent that keeps me coming back.
ILIO Eau de Toilette
Smells like: Sun-soaked skin.
Sizes: 100ml
Notes: Bergamot, jasmine, iris.
Scent family: Soft floral, fruity
Looking for a scent for summer 2024? This blends fresh prickly pear with soft jasmine and bergamot, which essentially smells like a beach breeze. If you love a zesty floral, this will be right up your street. It's basically Mamma Mia bottled.
Alien Hypersense Eau de Parfum
Smells like: An amped-up, boozy, vibrant rebirth of Mugler's iconic Alien fragrance.
Sizes: 30ml, 60ml, 90ml
Notes: Top: Pear, green mandarin; middle: jasmine sambac, indian jasmine; base: musk, cashmere, amberwood, driftwood.
Scent family: Woody, floral, fruity.
The new and hyper-sensed (duh) iteration of the brand's classic Alien, Hypersense is the quintessence of unapologetic and hypnotic beauty. With added jasmine sambac and cashmeran notes, the crispness of pear invigorates so vividly that you can almost taste the smell – in a good way, ofc. It is, dare I say, a deeper, more sophisticated dupe of Rabanne's Lady Million.
All Of Me Eau de Parfum Spray
Smells like: If Soho House member's club were to be filled with late 20-something-year-old socialites.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 90ml
Notes: Top: magnolia; middle: rose and bourbon geranium; base: musk, sandalwood.
Scent family: Floral, woody
With a base that I can only describe as creamy rose, this fragrance is a gorgeous milky floral that has added – though, very subtle –hints of tropical coconut. Spring/summer captured in a bottle.
Addictive Vibration eau de parfum
Smells like: Beyoncé's "Pure/Honey" in fragrance form.
Sizes: 90ml
Notes: Apple, blossom, orange blossom, honey, vanilla, musk
Scent family: Floral
Upon first spritz, this initially smells sweet and syrupy – thanks to notes of apple blossom and honey – but the musk and vanilla orchid quickly come into play to leave you with a head-turning sensual scent that smells good enough to eat.
Cloud Pink
Smells like: Calpol, if she were all grown up and for adults...
Sizes: 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Oriental vanilla
Scent family: Top: Pitahaya, wild berries, pineapple; middle: coconut water, vanilla orchid, ambrette; base: praline, musk, amberwood, moss.
Yes, just like the sugary infant paracetamol, this perfume is nostalgically medicinal – that is, in the best way possible. Thanks to the main sweet and fruity accords of wild berries and pineapple, this is a classic amber vanilla scent. Plus, who doesn't want to smell just like *the* Ariana Grande?
Black Orchid Eau de Parfum Spray
Smells like: The Harrods Chocolate Hall – aka, where you go to buy a swanky box of truffles for your mother-in-law's 60th birthday.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Truffle, gardenia, black currant, ylang-ylang, jasmine, bergamot, mandarin orange, amalfi lemon; middle: orchid, spices, gardenia, fruity notes, ylang-ylang, jasmine and lotus; base: mexican chocolate, patchouli, vanille, incense, amber, sandalwood, vetiver, white musk.
Scent family: Oriental floral
If you want to make more of a statement with your scent, a heady oriental oud or a rich spice-loaded scent could be the way to go. Tom Ford's cult Black Orchid for women has hints of bitter chocolate, spices and vetiver, making for a deep, rich waft of gorgeousness with every step you walk.
Black Opium Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Initially sweet with punchy notes of vanilla and coffee, but dries down to a musky white floral base.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 90ml, 150ml
Notes: Top: Pear, pink pepper, orange blossom; middle: coffee, jasmine, bitter almond, liquorice; base: vanilla, patchouli, cashmere wood, cedar.
Scent family: Oriental vanilla
YSL's Black Opium has become one of the world's most-loved perfumes, and it's easy to see why.
The creamy notes of coffee and vanilla give a non-sickly sweetness that develops into a dry white floral scent, after which you get the base notes of musk and patchouli. It's unique and oh-so more-ish, this one will 100% become the most-reached-for in your perfume collection.
Baccarat Rouge 540
Smells like: Nothing you've ever smelt before and it gets you compliments from everyone from random taxi drivers to Kylie Minogue (excuse my name-dropping).
Sizes: 35ml, 70ml, 200ml
Notes: Top: Saffron, jasmine; middle: amberwood, ambergris, hedione; base: fir resin, cedar, sugar, ambroxan, oakmoss.
Scent family: Oriental floral
Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but everything you've heard about this perfume is true.
Yes, the price is eye-watering but you genuinely don't need more than two sprays and this sweet scent really lasts. For example, a dress I wore to dinner for a few hours and hung back in my wardrobe still smells of Baccarat Rouge 540.
If you've been on the fence it's time to hop off.
Coco Mademoiselle
Smells like: A clean, strong, independent woman who has all her finances in check.
Sizes: 35ml, 50ml, 100ml, 200ml
Notes: Top: Orange, mandarin orange, bergamot, orange blossom; middle: Turkish rose, jasmine, mimosa, ylang-ylang; base: patchouli, white musk, vanilla, vetiver, tonka bean, opoponax.
Scent family: Oriental floral
Controversially, I don't think this smells grandma-esque at all –rather, it is grown, put together and expensive-smelling. And that's all thanks to the main oriental floral blends of orange, bergamot, mimosa, jasmine, Turkish rose, tonka bean, patchouli and vanilla.
And yes, while it is an amber floral, the citrus notes do transform what would be a traditionally sweet perfume into a deeper, more aromatic spritz.
MOD Vanilla Eau de Parfum
Smells like: A warm hug from your sweetest friend. Happy, with subtle sugariness but without being sickly.
Sizes: 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Musk, plum, pink freesia; middle: praline, orris root; base: vanilla, cacao butter.
Scent family: Oriental vanilla
We know that celebrity perfumes can be a bit hit-and-miss but if you like your scents on the sweeter side, you’ll love this, even if you’re not an Arianator.
The top notes are pink freesia, juicy plum and creamy musks but it has a refreshing warmth with base notes of orris butter, white praline and jasmine petals.
Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Centifolia rose mixed with honey and peppery notes.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 1o0ml, 150ml
Notes: Top: Iris, peony, lily-of-the-valley; middle: apricot, rose, peach; base: vanilla, musk, tonka bean, benzoin, sandalwood.
Scent family: Oriental floral
This fragrance has been reincarnated many times over the years, but this is *hands down* the best one yet...
Its creamy velvety heart is packed with notes of fresh lily of the valley, peony and powdery iris. Whilst the base is delectably creamy with touches of vanilla and musk.
Missing Person Eau De Parfum
Smells like: Your skin but better.
Sizes: 9.5ml, 50ml
Notes: Top: Musk, bergamot, jasmine; middle: neroli, cyclamen, orange blossom; base: white musk, Australian sandalwood, white wood.
Scent family: Floral woody musk
If you missed the TikTok hype (don't worry, so did I), this is the latest skin scent on the block and it's a comfort blanket you can take with you everywhere.
As with most skin-like scents, everyone has a different opinion on this, but to me, the feeling I get is that familiarity of warm clothes. Like when you snuggle into your favourite pyjamas at the end of the day.
Gloam Eau de Parfum
Smells like: A walk in the woods after a rain storm.
Sizes: 50ml
Notes: Top: Saffron, pink pepper, cardamom; middle; neroli, orange flower, mimosa; base: iris, patchouli, copaiba, sandalwood.
Scent family: Woody, spicy
This woody scent pairs spicy saffron, fresh florals and, what smells like, a damp oak tree after fresh rainfall.
All in all, it transports us to a cosy cabin in the woods in Autumn. If Evermore had a scent, it would be this Who needs your Calm app to relax you when you can spritz this?
Wildly Me Eau de Toilette
Smells like: Nostalgic memories of school summer holidays.
Sizes: 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Clary sage, pink pepper, bergamot; middle: lavender, iris, violet, wisteria, flowers; base: sandalwood, cedarwood, amyris, cypriol oil.
Scent family: Floral
Whether it be the botanical bergamot or freshly bloomed wisteria, there's something in this that transports you back in time, where the only thing you had to worry about was the countdown to heading back to school that loomed in the distance.
The calming lavender notes are perfectly balanced with smokey cedarwood, which prevents it from being too sickly sweet. Think earthy but vibrant.
Eau de Parfum Naturelle
Smells like: A fresh herby bouquet, with touches of rose and creamy vanilla.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Citron, black currant; middle: rose, neroli; base: mimosa, cedar.
Scent family: Floral
Rose scents have a rep for being a little, well, stuffy… But this one couldn’t be further from that. Think, herby neroli with a touch of smoky vanilla and woody rose, it’s light, fresh and invitingly clean.
Whisky & Cedarwood Cologne
Smells like: Sipping an old fashioned by the fire with a sexy man.
Sizes: 100ml
Notes: Top: Pimento; middle: whisky; base: cedarwood.
Scent family: Woody, spicy
If you're one for stealing your boyfriend's/situationship's cologne, this dark and stormy number is going to be right up your street.
The blend of hot pimento, smooth whisky and warm cedarwood makes for a heady scent that *screams* sophistication.
Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Freshly chopped flowers. Think, white florals teamed with warm earthy notes.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Pear blossom, red berries, Italian mandarin; middle: gardenia, jasmine, frangipani; base: brown sugar, patchouli.
Scent family: Floral
Gucci's latest fragrance wins bonus points for the chicest packaging out there. The printed box teamed with the floral-patterned pink bottle will instantly make your dressing table look cool. The scent itself is a dreamy white floral bouquet - which is hardly surprising given the name.
Santal 33 - Eau de Parfum
Smells like: The smouldering, sexy, date night scent of your dreams.
Sizes: 15ml, 50ml, 100ml, 500ml
Notes: Top: Violet accord, cardamom; middle: iris, papyrus, ambrox; base: cedarwood, leather, sandalwood.
Scent family: Woody
The fragrance that needs no introduction, Le Labo's cult Santal 33 is so recognisable, that you'll notice as soon as someone wearing it enters a room.
Musky and masculine, it's based on the memory of an old Marlboro advert, which gives it the perfect spicy punch. Cardamom, ambrox, violet and iris bring the whole thing together - it's hands down one of the best things we have ever smelt.
Invite Only Amber 23
Smells like: Think sweet but without a trace of synthetic, sickly notes.
Sizes: 10ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Tobacco leaf, sour cherry, honey, chocolate, hazelnut; middle: ceylon cinnamon, may rose, damask rose, citrus leaf; bas: amber, agarwood (oud), vanilla, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, cypriol oil or nagarmotha, musk.
Scent family: Oriental spicy
This fragrance is rich with warm honey and a touch of bitter chocolate, all of which are grounded with heady patchouli and creamy sandalwood.
I Want Choo Forever Eau de Parfum
Smells like: The perfect first-date fragrance.
Sizes: 40ml, 60ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Bitter almond, rose; middle: cherry, jasmine and vetiver; base: vanilla, tonka bean, amber, oakmoss.
Scent family: Floral, fruity
Forget the sugary perfumes of your teen years, this sweet scent is all grown up. With dashes of cherry liquor and vanilla, swirled together with heady vetiver and earthy moss, it’s addictively moreish.
Collection Noire, Poivre Noire Eau de Parfum
Smells like: An oh-so-fancy cocktail bar
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Black pepper from Madagascar, nutmeg, cedar.
Scent family: Spicy
With Madagascan black pepper and creamy nutmeg, this spicy, seductive scent is so long-lasting, that it’ll see you through post-work cocktails all the way to the night bus home.
Replica Springtime in the Park Eau de Toilette
Smells like: Fresh flowers and fruity notes.
Sizes: 30ml, 100ml
Notes: Top: Pear accord, bergamot essence, blackcurrant accord; middle: lily of the valley accord, rose damascena absolute; base: musks, vanilla accord.
Scent family: Fruity floral
When I picture my local park, I think of strewn black plastic bags, empty vodka bottles and intimidating 14-year-olds.
However, when I smell this, I’m transported to a green space straight out of Mary Poppins – spectacularly clean, blooming with flowers and full of happy, fictitious children who spontaneously burst into song. It should come with a picnic hamper.
F***ing Fabulous Eau de Parfum Spray
Smells like: The intoxicatingly effortless girl everyone is desperate to speak to at a party.
Sizes: 10ml, 50ml, 100ml
Notes: Almond bitter oil, tonka resinoid, orris accord, cashmeran, leather accord, clary sage oil.
Scent family: Warm, spicy
A powerhouse scent, this fragrance mixes luxurious bitter almonds and vanilla with earthy notes of leather. Sensual and dramatic, this isn't for the faint-hearted: one spritz will see you through your whole night.
Intense Eau de Parfum for Her
Smells like: Fresh, crisp, citrus notes paired with a musky, powder base.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 75ml
Notes: Top: Pink pepper, pear, mandarin leaf; middle: iris, jasmine, rose; base: musk, benzoin, vanilla, cashmeran, amber, carrot.
Scent family: Oriental floral
Inspired by Tiffany diamonds (of course) you can almost smell the sparkle in this dreamy scent.
With top notes of crisp mandarin followed by freshly cut iris and finishing with a trail of patchouli and musk, it's exactly what you'd expect Tiffany & Co. to smell like. Divine.
PARIS Moonlight in Heaven Eau de Parfum
Smells like: Beachy nights. The milky, coconut top notes are combined with creamy aromatic vetiver.
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 250ml
Notes: Grapefruit, mango, roasted tonka beans.
Scent family: Fresh, fruity
If you're looking for a perfume that'll attract, this is it. The addictive scent is mesmerisingly good. With notes of sweet coconut, milky rice and heady vetiver, it's incredibly sensual. One spritz is all you need as this perfume lasts and lasts (and lasts).
How to make your perfume last longer
We hit up fragrance expert, Thomas Dunckley, to get his top two tips for making the most of your perfume...
If your perfume seems to disappear by noon, it might be down to the ingredients. “Some notes take longer to evaporate from the skin, but citrus materials are more volatile and tend to vanish quicker,” explains Dunckley. Fan of fresh, summer scents? Layer them with matching body lotions to eke them out.
The best way to store your perfume
Stored correctly, your perfumes should last longer than most of your romantic relationships (no shade intended). “Keep fragrances somewhere dry, cool and away from sunlight,” advises Dunckley. Equally, you can read up on this viral TikTok hack that warns against a *major* perfume storage faux pas! Spoiler: It'll save you so much money...So, now you're armed with all the knowledge you need to make the most of your perfume, here are the scents we swear by. From new fragrances to cult classics, we've covered them all...
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