Coco Chanel once said, “No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.” Honestly, no truer words have been spoken, at least in the world of fashion and fragrances. You may have the latest handbag or the most stylish shoes, but the outfit still wouldn’t be complete without a good fragrance. It adds that little ‘oomph’ that turns heads and makes a strong impression. Your shoes may be remembered, but your fragrance makes you unforgettable.
The thing is, nowadays, there are just way too many choices out there. When you step into the fragrance section of the department store, there’s a barrage of many different scents, with so many varied and beautiful bottles, from ultra-minimalist to uniquely shaped and crafted ones. Let’s not even get started on all these fancy names we can barely pronounce.
No worries, though! We’ve done the hard part for you. We’ve narrowed down the best fragrances for women, ranging from fresh and fruity scents down to deep and sensual ones. Guaranteed, there’s a scent in this list to suit any mood.
Whether you’re just starting on your fragrance journey or you’re a fragrance lover looking for your next scent, this list will definitely help you make your final choice. You can consult this list too if you’re someone looking to gift a good fragrance to a loved one.
Here are the best fragrances you should check out if you’re looking to…
Smell Fresh
Citrusy, fruity, zesty scents with touches of flowers
Smells are linked to mood and memories, so it’s no surprise that many people prefer bright, happy, and optimistic fragrances.
Fresh scents are usually zesty, fruity, and citrus-forward with just a touch of flowers. Ideal for everyday wear, especially on hot, summery days, these fragrances are sure to put a spring in your step.
Versace Bright Crystal
Versace Bright Crystal combines floral, fruity, and musk notes to create a truly captivating fragrance. The fragrance boasts of juicy notes of pomegranate and Yuzu, as well as florals, musk, mahogany, and amber.
Wear this when: you want to radiate freshness with a hint of sensuality.
Bvlgari Omnia Coral
Part of Bvlgari’s popular Omnia series, Omnia Coral is reminiscent of summer days and of beautiful, cool oceans from far away. This is a romantic scent with bursts of pomegranate, bergamot, and tropical hibiscus.
Wear this when: you want to revisit memories of summertime and blue seas.
CK IN2U for Her
CK IN2U for Her was launched in 2007 as half of the CK IN2U duo. From the fragrance down to the packaging, everything about CK IN2U for Her is vibrating with youthful energy. Trendy, fresh, and young, this perfume features notes of pink grapefruit, Sicilian bergamot, red currant leaf, cactus, orchid, vanilla, cedar, and amber.
Wear this when: you’re feeling fun, young, and in the loop.
I Love Love by Moschino
The name is so apt for this joyous, optimistic, and bright fragrance. I Love Love! Do you know what else I love? Wonderfully fruity and bright fragrances, that’s why I’m loving it. I Love Love begins with juicy top notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon, and red currant. The heart of the fragrance reveals notes of sugarcane, flowers, and cinnamon, resting atop warm notes of wood and musk.
Wear this when: you want a dash of bright optimism.
Clinique Happy
This 1997 classic is a timeless wonder. Clinique Happy is incredibly popular, and it is also the brand’s best selling perfume for ladies. The fragrance is nothing short of joyous, emanating the warmth and glow of sunny mornings. It starts with fruity top notes of citrus, apple, and plum, which blooms into a floral heart. The base is of mimosa, lily, magnolia, musk, and amber.
Wear this when: you want to enjoy the exuberance of sun-dappled mornings.
Smell Flowery and Feminine
Floral-forward scents
Aside from fruity fragrances, floral ones are probably the most popular in the women’s fragrance category—and for a good reason! Flowers are a timeless symbol of femininity, may it be for their beautiful colours, delicate petals, or their exceptional scents. There’s always a floral fragrance to express different sides of femininity. Here are some of the best floral fragrances you can try next:
Flora by Gucci
Flora by Gucci, if its name is any indication, is a wonderful floral fragrance. It comes in beautifully designed packaging, which was originally designed by Vittorio Accornero in the 1960s. Flora by Gucci is wonderfully feminine, with bursts of florals and citrus notes alongside patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla.
Wear this when: you want to flaunt your femininity in its full bloom.
Cartier Baiser Vole
Cartier’s devotion to lily blooms is captured in this perfume for women. This sophisticated fragrance combines lily and citrus notes to create a fresh and feminine scent.
Wear this when: you want to exude sophistication and elegant femininity.
Marc Jacobs Daisy
Marc Jacobs Daisy is incredibly popular. It’s probably hard to find a woman’s perfume collection that doesn’t include this cult classic. With its playful, oversized daisy cap and its youthful notes of violet, gardenia, jasmine, and fruits, Marc Jacobs Daisy is and always will be iconic.
Wear this when: you want to radiate playful sophistication.
Flower by Kenzo
Flower by Kenzo is another popular fragrance worth a try (if you haven’t already!). This fragrance is fresh, clear, and powdery, opening with notes of Bulgarian rose, hawthorn, blackcurrant and Mandarin orange. The heart is floral with a touch of opoponax, and the base is of musk, vanilla, and incense.
Wear this when: you want to exude a modern sensuality.
Moschino Cheap & Chic
Moschino Cheap & Chic is bright and light-hearted. The fragrance opens with juicy yuzu and bergamot, as well as petitgrain and Brazilian rosewood. The heart then blossoms with floral accords, laid on top of a base of musk, iris, ambergris, vetiver, orchid, sandalwood, Tonka bean, and vanilla.
Wear this when: you’re in the mood for something bright and romantic
Paul Smith Rose
Paul Smith Rose is a limited-edition fragrance from the brand. A floral and feminine fragrance, Paul Smith Rose boasts notes of green tea, rose, Turkish rose, violet, cedar, and white musk. Use this enticing scent anytime and anywhere.
Wear this when: you want to be enveloped with the alluring scent of roses.
Rose Morning by Fresh
Rose Morning by Fresh is said to be inspired by a blooming rose under the sun. With floral notes of Bulgarian rose, peach blossom, and freesia, this is a modern and floral scent that’s reminiscent of beautiful mornings.
Wear this when: you want to emanate the freshness of sunny mornings.
Carolina Herrera 212 Vip Rose
212 VIP Rose represents the glitz and glamour of New York parties as well as the carefree elegance of the partygoers. Fresh, elegant, and sensual, 212 VIP Rose has notes of champagne and fruits as well as floral notes of peach blossom. The base of white musk and wood bring in the sensuality, tying the whole fragrance together.
Wear this when: you’re feeling fun, glamorous, and ready to take on the dance floor.
Smell Delicious
Gourmand, foodie, and delectable scents
Gourmand fragrances smell so delicious you can almost taste them. Known as “foodie” scents, gourmand fragrances blend delicious edible notes like vanilla, chocolate, honey, almonds, or candy with many other different scents, creating a sumptuous olfactory experience that’s simply irresistible.
Remember, a good gourmand fragrance makes you smell seductive and delicious without making you smell like an actual plate of food. Here’s a list of popular gourmand fragrances you can try:
Burberry Brit Her EDP
The 2003 Burberry Brit For Her Eau de Parfum is a smooth and sensual fragrance that opens with edible notes of green lemon, frosted pear and white almond. The heart blooms with white peony, and the drydown is very gourmand with vanilla, amber, mahogany and balsamic Tonka bean accords.
Wear this when: you want to exude a delicious sensuality that’s impossible to resist.
Burberry Weekend for Women
Dedicated to weekends, the fragrance is a relaxing, sheer scent with top notes of Mignonette, Mandarin orange, sage. The heart opens with nectarines and florals, which are complemented by a warming base of musk, sandalwood, and cedar.
Wear this when: you want to relax and be indulgent.
Prada Candy Gloss
Prada Candy Gloss is the fifth fragrance from the Prada Candy collection. This is deliciously sweet and fruity, with notes of sweet and sour cherry as well as cassis. The heart boasts of floral notes, while the base is of almond, vanilla, benzoin, heliotrope, and musk.
Wear this when: you want to exude a joyous sweetness unlike any other.
Fantasy by Britney Spears
This fragrance from world-renowned singer and performer and princess of pop Britney Spears is a rather popular gourmand scent. Fantasy smells incredibly delicious, with fruity top notes followed by a heart of white chocolate, cupcake, orchid, and jasmine. The fragrance ends with notes of orris, musk, and woodsy notes.
Wear this when: you want to indulge in your deepest fantasies.
Viva la Juicy Gold Couture
Viva la Juicy Gold Couture is a new version of the 2008 Viva La Juicy Fragrance. This is a more decadent and glamorous version of the original. With luscious notes of wild berries, honeysuckle, Jasmine Sambac, caramel, and vanilla, this is a truly indulgent gourmand fragrance.
Wear this when: you’re feeling glamorous.
Smell Bold and Enticing
Spice-forward fragrances
Sometimes, you just want to break away from the norm and try something different. It seems like everyone, and their mothers are going for floral and fruity scents. However, if you want to take a different path, you can always opt for something much bolder.
Spicy scents are intense, unique, and truly captivating. They may not be your cup of tea at first, but you’ll soon find yourself (and everyone around you) drawn to their bold and alluring charm. Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and pepper are just some of the notes you’ll find in spicy scents.
Here are some good fragrances to start with, should you want to venture into bolder scents:
Hermes Un Jardin Apres la Mousson
Hermes Un Jardin Apres la Mousson is a woody and spicy fragrance for women. This unique fragrance evokes the wonders of nature and its cycles of rebirth. The heart of the fragrance boasts of cardamom, coriander, pepper, ginger, and ginger flower, resting on top of vetiver and vegetal notes, creating a truly striking fragrance.
Wear this when: you want to take a trip somewhere far and new.
Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme
Noir Pour Femme was released in 2015 as a pair to the Tom Ford Noir for men from 2012. Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme is a spicy and oriental scent that carries notes of ginger, bitter orange, Mandarin, bergamot, Kulfi, rose, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla, amber, sandalwood, and mastic. This one’s a sensual and intriguing scent.
Wear this when: you’re feeling a little daring and extravagant.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
A modern and opulent unisex fragrance, Tobacco Vanille is reminiscent of an English gentleman’s club. The fragrance opens with tobacco leaf and spicy notes, followed by a rich heart of vanilla, cacao, Tonka bean, and tobacco flowers. The composition ends with woody notes as well as notes of dried fruits.
Wear this when: you want to make a lasting impression.
Smell Seductive
Woody, earthy, musky, and luscious scents
If you want to branch out from the usual fruity and floral fragrances but don’t want to venture into spicy fragrances, there’s always, of course, other choices. Warm, understated, and earthy notes create deep fragrances that are quite far from the usual.
Woody and earthy notes are indispensable when it comes to perfumes. Tree bark, wood, resins, moss, musk, and the like are used as the base of many a perfume. However, there are fragrances that put these earthy notes at the forefront, making them the star. These scents are deep, cozy, and rich in character—they’re definitely worth a try. Here are some of the best woody, musky, and earthy fragrances that we rounded up for you:
Calvin Klein Beauty for Women
This one is a sophisticated floral woody musk scent. The fragrance begins with the musky warmth and spice of Ambrette, which blooms into a heart of jasmine. The drydown then reveals a touch of Virginia Cedar.
Wear this when: you want to exude worldly beauty and elegance.
Hermes Eau des Merveilles
Hermes Eau des Merveilles fully expresses femininity even without noticeable floral scents. With wood, fruit, amber, resin, oakmoss, and spice at its forefront, this fragrance still enchants and captivates with its feminine quality. It’s truly an intriguing scent!
Wear this when: you want to radiate a unique kind of femininity.
Oud Wood by Tom Ford
This one is not just for the ladies. Oud Wood by Tom Ford is a unisex fragrance that was released as part of Tom Ford’s Private Blend collection. Oud Wood is distinctively smoky, woody, and earthy. With notes of rosewood, spices, oud, sandalwood, Tonka bean, vanilla, and amber, this is a unique fragrance that’s truly rich and compelling.
Wear this when: you want to ooze a mysterious kind of sensuality.
Lady Million Prive by Paco Rabanne
Lady Million Prive is a popular fragrance from Paco Rabanne. Feminine and hypnotic, the fragrance boasts of woody notes, orange blossom, vanilla, raspberry, and heliotrope. The fragrance closes with a warm base of cacao, honey, and patchouli. This is an intensely addictive fragrance.
Wear this when: you want to exude an irresistible allure.
Narciso Eau de Toilette by Narciso Rodriguez
Narciso EDT for Her is a continuation of Narciso Rodriguez’s line of minimalist and sensual fragrances. The bottle is attractive in itself, but the true star is the juice within, with its woody and musky character and intense floral notes.
Wear this when: you want to radiate a sexy and attractive self-assuredness.
Estee Lauder Modern Muse
Modern Muse by Estee Lauder embodies the modern woman and all of her facets. The modern woman is complex, balancing her feminine and delicate side with her strength and fierce independence. In the same manner, the fragrance balances sensual wood accords with more feminine floral and citrus notes.
Wear this when: you want to flaunt your modern and independent spirit.
