The 28 Best Perfumes of All Time

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For many people, a spritz of perfume is the best finishing touch to any outfit. Fragrance can be a powerful tool that can not only impact your mood each day but also aid in the exploration of identity and even be a source of comfort during a tough time.

While not an accessory in the traditional sense, scent can be just as sentimental as a family heirloom or as edgy as your favorite leather jacket — and that's where the fun lies. You can change up the scent you wear as frequently as you change your clothes. Experimenting with fragrances offers an unusual freedom: you can mix, match, and layer different notes until you find a combination that is so personal that someone can smell it and recall with vivid clarity one obscure interaction they had with you years ago. However, we can admit, there are a lot of options to choose from. Throw in the many different scent families available, and finding a signature fragrance can feel like a full-time job.

What Makes a Great Perfume?

The best thing about perfumes is also what makes the category such a confusing one: it's entirely subjective. You can love a gourmand fragrance and recommend it to a friend, only to discover they despise everything you love about it. Still, there are a few qualities that all great fragrances share. When shopping for your next perfume, consider the following:

  • Is it easily identifiable as a member of the fragrance family that you are looking to stay within? For example, if you're looking for a citrus perfume, you should be able to close your eyes, smell it, and immediately tell what it is.
  • Do the perfume's heart and base notes complement the initial top notes? Fragrance can tell a story, and more often than not, the heart and base notes are what you will notice the most. That's why it's important to walk around with a fragrance on before committing — it helps you determine if it works with your body chemistry.
  • Does the fragrance have the sillage that you are looking for? Sillage is just another word for a scent trail. So, when picking a new perfume, you need to determine if you want all heads to turn or if you'd rather something a bit closer to the skin.

Different Types of Perfumes:

If you're trying to get into fragrances but feeling completely overwhelmed by all of the options, we put together the best perfumes to buy to get your collection started. All perfumes have been tested by POPSUGAR editors who gleefully shared their recommendations based on everything from particularly unique, but incredible-smelling scent profiles to notable lasting power and sillage. Editors love scents across the spectrum, so whether you're looking for light, airy florals or deep woody notes, find the best perfume for you ahead.

Best Woody Perfume
sephora.com

Best Woody Perfume

Boy Smells Woodphoria Genderful Fine Fragrance ($98)

On the surface, this contains everything that would make for a well-rounded cocktail — fig, coconut water, a little smoke — but it's the woody dry-down and soft musks that make it the spritzer you'll want to wear year-round.

Best Woody Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Woody Perfume

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum ($220)

The hold that Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum has on the city of New York is unparalleled, and it's easy to see why. The top notes of violet accord and cardamom settle into soft sandalwood once dry, making this woodsy, unisex fragrance perfect for a day of running errands.

Best Woody Perfume
Getty

Best Woody Perfume

Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait ($435)

By now, we're probably all familiar with the infamous Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. However, if you're looking for a similar fragrance with a more prominent woodsy note, try the Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait. The added bitter almond note takes this scent to an entirely different level of coziness while still giving the wearer an edge.

Best Woody Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Woody Perfume

Byredo Bal D'Afrique Eau de Parfum ($196)

The Byredo Bal D'Afrique Eau de Parfum is the perfect combination of citrusy lemon and woodsy amber, as well as vetiver notes, for a unisex fragrance that wears well regardless of the season.

Best Woody Perfume
lesdeuxfragrances.com

Best Woody Perfume

Les Deux No 2 Perfume ($185)

This is a sweet unisex fragrance that should be on your radar. Amber, jasmine, saffron, and marigold are a few of the notes that make this fragrance impossible to miss (or resist).

Best Fresh Perfume
violetgrey.com

Best Fresh Perfume

D.S. & Durga Bistro Waters ($190)

Pear, lime, red pepper, and basil (among other ingredients) come together to create the light, fresh scent of the D.S. & Durga Bistro Waters. It smells like lunchtime at a cafe on a warm spring day. It's a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

Best Fresh Perfume
sephora.com

Best Fresh Perfume

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum ($180)

If you're like us, you can't just jump on a plane to Portofino, Italy, at the drop of a hat. But you can let the Tunisian neroli, Italian bergamot, and Sicilian lemon notes in this perfume make you feel like you're there in spirit, which is basically the same thing, right?

Best Fresh Perfume
sephora.com

Best Fresh Perfume

Maison Margiela Replica Bubble Bath ($160)

Want to smell like you just stepped straight out of the shower all day? Try the Maison Margiela Replica Bubble Bath. One spritz of this scent will transport you (and anyone in your immediate vicinity) to the most relaxing bath you can imagine.

Best Fresh Perfume
sephora.com

Best Fresh Perfume

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette ($92)

The Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette is a staple for a reason. The primary notes of cedar, green apple, and bluebell make for a fresh, clean scent that's perfect for year-round wear.

Best Gourmand Perfume
sephora.com

Best Gourmand Perfume

Burberry Her Elixir Eau de Parfum Intense ($131)

The combination of warm vanilla, red berries, amber, and jasmine creates the intoxicating scent that is the Burberry Her Elixir Eau de Parfum Intense. Even if you're not typically a fan of gourmand scents, we recommend giving this one a try. It's a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

Best Gourmand Perfume
sephora.com

Best Gourmand Perfume

Kilian Paris Angels Share Eau De Parfum ($230)

If you like smelling sweet — borderline edible, even — gourmand fragrances might be your go-to scent family. The Kilian Paris Angels Share Eau De Parfum is just the right combination of warm cognac and sweet tonka bean to make you feel like a delectable glass of brandy.

Best Gourmand Perfume
dior.com

Best Gourmand Perfume

Dior Vanilla Diorama ($125)

Vanilla Diorama is the culmination of your obsession with vanilla as a child. This perfume is the grown and sexy version of the scent and has a bit of spice to it that keeps it from being your regular run-of-the-mill vanilla. Perfect for year-round wear, if you're on the market for a can't-miss vanilla that feels more elevated, try this one out.

Best Gourmand Perfume
sephora.com

Best Gourmand Perfume

Nest Fragrances Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil ($35)

If you want to ease ever so slightly into fragrances, a fragrance oil may be what you're looking for. The Nest Fragrances Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil is a deep, warm, vanilla scent with subtle hints of coconut, making it perfect to wear by itself or a great layering scent underneath other perfumes.

Best Floral Perfume
sephora.com

Best Floral Perfume

Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum ($122)

The Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum is the definition of a cosmopolitan scent. This powdery floral perfume can take you from school to work and even on vacation without ever being cloying or overpowering to others around you.

Best Floral Perfume
ulta.com

Best Floral Perfume

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine Eau de Parfum ($95)

The Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine Eau de Parfum is for jasmine-lovers and jasmine-lovers only. One spritz will have you smelling like you're walking around with a big bouquet in your bag in the best way. It's a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

Best Floral Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Floral Perfume

Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum ($125)

The Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum is a perfect floral-meets-amber scent with hits of neroli bud, white amber, and white musk. One spray instantly fills you with a warm light and makes you feel ready to take on the day.

Best Floral Perfume
sephora.com

Best Floral Perfume

Tom Ford Rose Prick Eau de Parfum ($395)

If you want to wake up in a bed of roses every day, this is your easiest shortcut. Not only is the bottle extremely chic, but this perfume will also last for days on both your skin and clothes.

Best Floral Perfume
saksfifthavenue.com

Best Floral Perfume

Nishane Rumi Hundred Silent Ways Extrait de Parfum Spray ($380)

On first sniff, you wouldn't be able to tell that Hundred Silent Ways is a floral perfume, but one quick glance at the scent profile, and you'll stand corrected. White florals, vanilla, and powdery notes make up this delicious fragrance, giving it a sweet disposition that could almost make it pass as a gourmand. Notably airier than perfumes that traditionally fall in the latter category, the staying power on this perfume is also excellent, making it particularly perfect for the spring and summer months.

Best Spicy Perfume
anthropologie.com

Best Spicy Perfume

Who Is Elijah Nightcap Eau De Parfum ($125)

Trust us when we say: this perfume exudes sex appeal. Notes of dark leather and spicy cardamom will instantly transport you to an intimate corner of a dark bar. It's a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

Best Spicy Perfume
ulta.com

Best Spicy Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum ($155)

Some of us drink coffee in the mornings, while some of us like to smell like coffee in the mornings. If you fall within the latter category, the coffee notes in this would make the fragrance a great addition to your morning routine.

Best Spicy Perfume
jomalone.com

Best Spicy Perfume

Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne Intense ($160)

Another standout oud fragrance is the Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne Intense. An inviting floral scent, damask rose, and clove make up some of the mouthwatering notes in this perfume.

Best Spicy Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Spicy Perfume

Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum ($90)

If you want a warmer fragrance with a little something extra, try the Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum. It's sexy, spicy, and really freaking cozy, thanks to notes of patchouli, vetiver, and wood.

Best Spicy Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Spicy Perfume

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum ($300)

Oud fragrances are not for the faint of heart. An easy introduction to the category? The Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum. The combination of rose and violet accord tempers the strong oud scent and makes for a sweet, floral, and woody aroma.

Best Fruity Perfume
sephora.com

Best Fruity Perfume

Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette ($65)

For a bright scent that isn't too overpowering, the Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette will be your new go-to. Notes of yuzu and pomegranate make this perfume smell equally as fruity as it is floral — perfect for someone who may not want to lean too heavily into either category.

Best Fruity Perfume
ulta.com

Best Fruity Perfume

Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Eau de Parfum ($75)

The Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Eau de Parfum marries notes of juicy, velvet peaches with a vanilla base for a scent that would satisfy any lover of floral, fruity, or gourmand scents.

Best Citrus Perfume
sephora.com

Best Citrus Perfume

Ellis Brooklyn Sun Fruit Eau de Parfum ($108)

The electric-green bottle that houses the Ellis Brooklyn Sun Fruit Eau de Parfum won't be the only thing that captures your attention. The intoxicating combination of fresh fig, handpicked jasmine, and vanilla planifolia will have you feeling like the walking version of your summer mood board. Read our full Ellis Brooklyn Sun Fruit Eau de Parfum review.

Best Citrus Perfume
sephora.com

Best Citrus Perfume

Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de Toilette ($136)

The Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de Toilette opens with the zesty scent of citron and is balanced by a delicate jasmine and teakwood base for a clean fragrance that smells more like fresh citrus than soap.

Best Citrus Perfume
nordstrom.com

Best Citrus Perfume

Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum ($205)

The Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum is a woody, aromatic fragrance with notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper, and juniper berries. This scent is light enough to not be offensive to others but unique enough to smell completely different on every person.