I could talk about fragrance until I’m blue in the face. A fashion editor with a slight perfume mania. haha. I have tested hundreds – if not thousands- of different perfumes. If you ask me what I think the top ten best perfumes of all time are, I could give you an answer in five minutes flat with my definitive rankings. You might call me a perfume snob of sorts.
Even though I have my own perfume convictions, I’m always intrigued to see what perfumes have cemented themselves into the cultural zeitgeist. In a new study, analyzed google search data and social media figures these perfumes were widely searched for and mentioned on social media, and it makes sense since each of them smells objectively magnetic. With endless choices and no signs of slowing down, curating our perfume wardrobe is very much limitless. To make the process a little bit easier, I put my nose to the job to bring you the best perfume brands that I think you should have on your radar.
Below, find out what perfumes got the people going this year. Curation Includes Women’s and Men’s both. Happy Scrolling!!
(Pictures used in this post are for the reference only, all copyrights belong to the respective owners of the images. Image sources include but not limited to – google, IG, respective fashion magazines, fashion designers, fashion models and fashion brands)
Ruth Mastenbroek Perfumer London –
Is one of the very few classically trained perfumes in the UK. “The perfumes in my collection are for people who appreciate all forms of art, for people who choose to express themselves in a different and unique way”, Mastenbroek says of her brand.
Family – Herbaceous Oriental
Type – Elegance with a unique twist
Key Notes – Amber, Vanilla, Vetiver, Oudh
LE Labo Santal 33 –
If I would have been a perfume, it would be this. A true “Libra” scent for sure. Loved by fashion insiders and beauty editors around the world, the fragrance has very clean-smelling scent. A head-turner, guaranteed.
Family – Woody, Spicy
Type – Leathery, Comforting
Key Notes – Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Iris & Voilet
JO Malone London –
A pleasant surprise of earl grey works exceptionally well with cucumber. It creates a lush citrusy scent, that brings the freshness of the cucumber and sweetness of the base notes of beeswax and vanilla all together.
Family – Citrusy, Fresh
Type – Crunchy, Refreshing
Key Notes – Bergamot, Cucumber, Beeswax
Diptyque –
If you have wanderlust but can’t exactly make it to Paris, Diptyque’s Eau Capitale fragrance might be the smallest consolation since it’s inspired by the City of Lights.
Family – Fresh
Type – Fresh, Lively
Key Notes – Rose, Bergamot, Patchouli
Medeau –
A luxury fine fragrance that also has an ocean conscience. All of Madeau’s perfumes are vegan, PETA-certified and cruelty free, made with bioidenticals to protect vulnerable natural species. The philosophy behind the brand is, to create incredible perfumes that uphold the same values and safety standards that you would expect from any truly luxury product.
Family – Floral
Type – Springy, Clean
Key Notes – Vanilla, Amberwood, Bergamot, Rose, Peony
Penhaligon’s –
The first fragrance was created in 1872 by William Penhaligon, and the brand has expanded ever since. With a distinctive Britishness at the heart of the scents, it even has the royal stamp of approval from the Queen. Elisabethan Rose is inspired by the famous Tudor rose, the flower of England. a unique blend of rose, hazelnut leaf and vetiver.
Family – Airy
Type – Floral
Key Notes – Hazelnut Leaf, Rose Centifolia, Vetiver
Gucci –
This scent is free-spirited and fearless. the blend includes scents of mandora (a Mediterranean citrus fruit), pink pepper, lilac, patchouli and geranium oil.
Family – Floral
Type – Warm Florals
Key Notes – Mandora, Pink Pepper
Tom Ford –
Rich blend of spicy heat and glowing citrus, wrapped in rose and orange flower. Noir Extreme captures the daring. Uber sexy let me tell you.
Family – Warm & Spicy
Type – Woody Spices
Key Notes – Amber, Cardamom, Sandalwood
Maison Francis Kurkdjian –
If I have to describe the scent in three words, “Unbothered rich woman”. The scent is constantly mentioned as one of the best scents out there. The people I actually know in real life who consistently wear it are some of the most successful people of my industry. You can’t go wrong here.
Family – Woody, Floral
Type – Woody
Key Notes – Jasmine, Saffron, Cedarwood
Chanel –
Inspired by the free and passionate woman who became the Coco Chanel. GABRIELLE ESSENCE is intensely feminine interpretation of the luminous floral fragrance and one of the things that you can find in my every handbag. I think I prefer this over Coco Mademoiselle.
Family – Floral
Type – Classic Florals
Key Notes – Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Gasse Tuberose
Bond No. 9 New York –
An optimistic olfactive ode to one of New York’s most beloved neighborhoods. To capture the individuality and creativity for which Greenwich Village is known, Bond No. 9 embellished the iconic Silhouette Bottle with a mix of cabochon, heart, aqualine and teardrop Swarovski crystals in turquoise.
Family – Fresh
Type – Fruity & Fresh
Key Notes – Mandarin, Waterlily, Peach Musk, Oakmoss
Yves Saint Laurent –
Bold and woody men’s cologne for the self-accomplished man. The scent is very seductive, infused with sophisticated and revitalizing notes. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a bougie gift for your man:)
Family – Earthy & Woody
Type – Citrus & Woods
Key Notes – Sensual Wood, Geranium, Sage
BYREDO –
Young Rose is a floral fragrance for people who don’t like floral fragrances. With a dash of Sichuan Pepper, it has some major bite to it, which gives it an interesting twist. It’s like if a rose were mixed into a cocktail at the coolest bar in town.
Family – Floral & Peppery
Type – Romantic, Genderless
Key Notes – Orris, Ambrette Seeds, Damascena Rose, Sichuan Pepper
Henry Rose Queens & Monsters –
Do you know Chocolate Perfumes are trending? Yap!! This scent has Coco musk at the base, imagine dewy, fresh, woody along with a hint of chocolate. The brand is founded by Hollywood icon Michelle Pfeiffer.
Family – Fresh & Sweet
Type – Woody Aroma
Key Notes – Vanilla, Coco Musk, Sandalwood
Bulgari –
The citrus essence of Magnifying Bergamot bursts with sunny energy. The freshly picked bergamot contains sweet and crisp notes. Distilled to retain the fruit’s multi-faceted freshness. Magnifying Bergamot exudes the upbeat promise of a gorgeous summer day.
Family – Citrus
Type – Summer Scent
Key Notes – Bergamot
Parfums de Marly Paris –
The influence of the French Royal court on the world of fashion and beauty are unrivaled, evidence of this cultural reset can be found in the luxurious fragrance selection of Parfums de Marly. They are so good, that it has been trending on social media for weeks. This particular fragrance makes the perfect scent for the festive season.
Family – Spicy
Type – Intense, Fresh, Spicy
Key Notes – Blood Orange, Black Pepper, Lavender, Spices, Solar Notes
Maison Margiela –
The scent is light and fresh with hints of salt and vanilla. smells amazing and is long-lasting, A warm-weather fragrance, this captures the scent of salt air, perfume of sunscreen and the glow of Sunkissed skin.
Family – Fresh
Type – Fresh Solar
Key Notes – Heliotrope, Coconut Milk, Bergamot
Veronique Gabai –
The scent of bare skin under the sun, refreshed by the salty waters, caressed by the balmy air, enriched by orange blossoms, magnolia, and jasmine… This is the beach, an ode to sensuality, a dive into pure pleasure. An experience that screams, “I own a sweet little summer home in the Hamptons.”
Family – Marine & Warm
Type – Sunny, Refreshing
Key Notes – Orange blossom, Magnolia, Jasmine, Tuberose, Pink pepper, and Cedarwood
Bond No. 9 New York –
A vivacious feminine floral fragrance celebrating the city in bloom. Brand’s concept: the profusion of vibrant florals throughout New York City’s green spaces, from the High Line to Central Park, from Bryant Park to Washington Square. Every Bond No. 9 fragrance is named after one of the city’s most recognizable neighborhoods.
Family – Floral
Type – Feminine, Sweet
Key Notes – Lily of the Valley, Passionflower, Honeysuckle, Jasmin, Freesia, Amber, and Musk
Montblanc –
Inspired by the blue of the sky, seas, and ice-covered mountains, Montblanc Explorer Ultra Blue embraces the explorer’s adventurous spirit to embark on an epic olfactory journey. My friend uses this, and every time we are together, I feel like we are on vacayy.
Family – Woody, zesty
Type – Marine woody, Earthy
Key Notes – Italian Bergamot, Citrus, Marine Accord, Patchouli
Linking some of my all-time favorites below –
Tip – to make your fragrance long-lasting, use thick body cream or a Vaseline on your pulse points and spray perfume on top. The cream/Vaseline will add depth to the fragrance and help its longevity.
And that’s the end:)
