The best perfumes every woman should try is a subjective statement because perfume is the ultimate signature for any woman. It marks your entrance into a room and can unlock memories. Whether you’re looking for an everyday fragrance or one to savor for special occasions, there’s something for every woman’s taste.
Some perfumes become cult classics and are instantly recognizable. They’re the women’s fragrances that will make you stop in the street when someone walks by wearing them. Perfume is highly personal, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ scent. Finding the right perfume for you can take a little trial and error or sniffing and spiritizing.
We’re sharing the 13 fragrances every woman should try, from the best-selling scents to the noteworthy hidden gems you can make your own.
How to Apply Perfume for Longer-Lasting Fragrance
Before we jump into the best fragrances for women, it’s worth summarizing the correct way to apply perfume. Doing it incorrectly can cause the scent to evaporate faster, leading you to use up your bottle quicker.
Spray the fragrance on your pulse points, as this will naturally warm up the fragrance, slowly revealing its trail, known as silage. How you apply your perfume will also impact its lifespan.
Perfumes last longer on the skin when it’s hydrated, so you can apply a body lotion or oil before adding perfume. Spray the perfume onto your skin instead of into the air. Spraying and walking through perfume isn’t an effective way of applying fragrance, as most of it won’t reach your skin.
13 Must-Have Perfumes Every Woman Should Try
Now you know how to correctly apply perfume, it’s time to find your signature scent. Some fragrance families are more popular than others, with perfumes that have floral and amber bases usually being the most common. Here are 13 perfumes every woman should try at least once.
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1. Chanel – No5 Eau de Parfum
Few perfumes are as recognizable or iconic as Chanel’s No.5. Originally introduced in 1921, this perfume defined the industry. Gabrielle Chanel set out to create a “woman’s perfume, a scent of woman,” resulting in this timeless scent. The eau de parfum version was reinterpreted in 1986 to become a fuller scent.
It’s a classic floral perfume perfect for everyday wear or as a splurge purchase to keep for special occasions. Its notes of rose and jasmine make it a popular choice for brides. As part of Chanel’s permanent perfume range, you can enhance its longevity with body oils, creams, and shower gels in the same scent.
2. Maison Francis Kurdjian – Baccarat Rouge 540
Although Maison Francis Kurdjigan is a perfume brand with over 250 years of history, its perfumes have found a new, younger audience. All thanks to Baccarat Rouge 540.
This woman’s fragrance is a cross between floral and woody notes, blending saffron and jasmine with cedarwood. It’s a mystery aroma that the brand describes as embodying “the alchemy of the senses.” This is the perfect perfume to wear on special occasions, such as date nights or vacations, to create lasting memories. Its distinctive blend of jasmine and cedar makes this perfume instantly recognizable.
3. Byredo – La Tulipe
If you’re a perfume connoisseur, you’ll want a fragrance for every season. Byredo’s ‘La Tulipe’ smells like the first days of spring. It’s a versatile floral fragrance that feels undeniably contemporary with an unexpected edge.
While it’s a spring perfume, it’s not overwhelmingly sweet with a delicate intensity. It contains almost 80% natural ingredients and is described by the brand as a ‘genderless’ scent.
4. Juliette Has a Gun – Not a Perfume
Juliette Has a Gun is a brand reinventing our concept of women’s fragrances. What makes ‘Not a Perfume’ unique is that it revolves around one ingredient, Cetalox. This ingredient has historically played a background role in other perfumes as a base note, but takes center stage with this fragrance.
It’s a clean fragrance that is allergen-free as a single-element perfume. ‘Not a Perfume’ is the brand’s most iconic fragrance and is a minimalistic choice for the woman looking for an elegant, simplistic perfume.
5. Viktor&Rolf – Flowerbomb
Flowerbomb is a fragrance you’ll regularly see at the top of the list of best-selling perfumes for women. It’s an ultra-feminine perfume launched in 2005, becoming an instant hit. Emily Ratajkowski is the latest face of the fragrance, which is described as “an explosion of 1,000 flowers”.
This floral perfume, with notes of peony, rose, and freesia, is highly versatile as an addictive aroma to transition you seamlessly from day to night. It’s perfect as a weekend fragrance or for date night.
6. Marc Jacobs – Daisy
When a perfume becomes a cult classic, it creates a whole range of fragrances. Marc Jacobs’ Daisy has had several iterations since its original fragrance launched in 2007. While perfumes like ‘Daisy Dot’ and ‘Daisy Dream’ have been released in recent years, it’s hard to pass by the original.
Daisy has an effortless charm and a youthful aroma. It’s an ideal choice if you’re searching for your first signature perfume with notes of wild berries, white violet, jasmine, and sandalwood. This woman’s perfume is synonymous with the optimism of summer.
7. Narciso Rodriguez – For Her Eau de Parfum
Narciso Rodriguez is famous for its women’s perfumes that celebrate inner strength and beauty. ‘For Her’ is an elegant fragrance with a sensual feel, blending notes of wood and amber. The EDP edition comes in a pink bottle, while the EDT is in a black bottle. It has moderate longevity, making it ideal for everyday wear.
‘For Her’ is a distinctively modern perfume that develops slowly on the skin with opening notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and honey flower.
8. Jo Loves – Amber Bergamot
Jo Malone is one of the most popular perfume brands for women, but have you heard of Jo Loves? It was founded by Jo Malone herself, offering long-lasting perfumes that stay on your skin all day long.
This is a sexy and elegant perfume that is inspired by the glamour of the 1920s. It feels like basking in an amber glow with notes of patchouli, amber, bergamot, suede, and lime. It’s ideal for evening time and special occasions.
9. Maison Margiela – Replica Beach Walk
If your soul belongs at the beach, this is the woman’s perfume for you. Inspired by the tranquility of summer days spent by the beach, this summer perfume is one you can wear year-round. Its distinctive notes of pink pepper, bergamot, and neroli oil make it a transitional scent that can take you from day to night.
This perfume is described as smelling like “sun kissed salty skin.” If you want a perfume to buy before vacation, this is the sun and beach in a bottle.
10. Dior – J’adore Eau de Parfum
Chanel has No5, Dior has J’adore. It’s hard to walk past this perfume with its elegant bottle and classic design. It’s the most popular feminine floral fragrance from Dior and is effortlessly seductive.
This woman’s perfume is the perfect choice as a gift or if you’re looking for your first signature scent. It’s a lightweight floral perfume with notes of Damascus rose, jasmine, and ylang-ylang that you can wear year-round.
11. Yves Saint Laurent – Black Opium
If you want a perfume that gives you a confidence boost, check out Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic ‘Black Opium.’ What makes it unique is its black coffee accord, which blends with notes of sensual vanilla and orange blossom for a perfume that contrasts lightness and darkness.
Launched in 1977, this is a captivating scent best reserved for evening wear with a bewitching aroma.
12. Armani – Sì
Sì is one of Armani’s best-selling fragrances for women, with Cate Blanchett as its ambassador. It’s one of the most popular intense fragrances for women, with a little going a long way. This clean and fresh scent presents the concept of contemporary femininity with notes of rose, freesia, and oakmoss.
This Armani perfume is a long-lasting and sensual aroma that is graceful and ideal for everyday wear. It’s confidence and femininity in a bottle as a classy perfume that works best for fall and winter.
13. Le Labo – Santal 33
Are you searching for a perfume that’s guaranteed to get you compliments? Santal 33 by Le Labo is the ultimate chic girl perfume. It’s the brand’s most popular scent and the edgiest on this list. This fragrance has a distinctive firewood aroma, making it ideal for the colder months or as a signature fragrance that stands out from the crowd.
It’s unexpectedly complex, with smoky notes of cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood. This is a perfume for women inspired by the American West that is equal parts comforting and sensual.
Final Thoughts on Perfumes Every Woman Should Try
Every perfume takes you on a journey. Whether you’re searching for your signature scent or want to shake up your daily routine, these 13 perfumes for women are scents you should sample at least once. What’s your go-to perfume? Let us know in the comments below.
