Whilst today I love it when somebody compliments me on my perfume, I’ll be honest, there was once a time when the words, "You smell incredible. What are you wearing?’" would give me pause. Not due to my perfume choice per se, or even an innate desire to gatekeep my signature scent. Instead, I found myself questioning if I'd overdone it and my perfume is too strong. Whether I'd sprayed a little too liberally that morning and now was inflicting my personal fragrance choice on everyone around me, whether they liked it or not.
Because I’m sure we’ve all known friends, family members or colleagues, whose favourite fragrances would waft into the room before they had. Yes, they smelled objectively great, but the way these scents would fill the space, often imposing on others around them, taught me that there are some situations where intense perfumes don’t quite fit the bill. The office is one such example, as nobody wants to be faced with a headache-inducing fragrance when they’re sitting through their fourth meeting of the day.
As a result, it’s for these occasions that I've learnt to ditch the more heady scents and instead opt for something sheer and lightweight—fragrances that sit like a veil on the skin rather than masking it. Now, when I'm wearing these scents, I know I can receive a compliment at face value, and so, these fragrances have become my favourites in recent years.
Now, before you worry that opting for a sheer scent means sacrificing longevity, think again. I can say from experience that the best sheer perfumes still deliver on sillage and longevity, often changing and transforming throughout the day.
Plus, what they lack in intensity, they make up for in sophistication—they are the most elegant scents. Trust me, sheer perfumes are the answer to smelling expensive because they offer the luxury of only those close to you being able to enjoy them.
Here are a few of my favourites…
The Best Sheer Perfumes
- Best Clean Sheer Perfume: Byredo Blanche Eau de Parfum (£150)
- Best Fresh Sheer Perfume: Bulgari Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert (£85)
- Best Sweet Sheer Perfume: BORNTOSTANDOUT Warm Air Eau de Toilette (£190)
- Best Musky Sheer Perfume: Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume (£100)
- Best Floral Sheer Perfume: Fresh Rose Morning Eau de Parfum (£46)
1. Byredo Blanche
Key notes: Aldehydes, rose, pink pepper, violet, musk, sandalwood
When choosing a sheer scent, one of the notes I always keep an eye out for is aldehydes. A note reminiscent of fresh air, soap and cleanliness, it’s usually found in airy, clean-smelling scents, adding a lightness that makes them so easy to wear. Byredo’s Blanche is one such fragrance. Described as the scent of a fresh white T-shirt against the skin, it’s effortless and understated with a freshness that’s not green, but rather pure and elegant, like a detox in fragrance form.
2. Bulgari Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert
Key notes: Bergamot, cardamom, lemon, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, green tea, musk
For something a little more vibrant, I’m a big fan of Bulgari’s Thé Vert. On first spray, you may think this perfume is anything but sheer as it’s alive with notes of zesty citrus notes of bergamot and lemon; however, this quickly dissipates, and you’re left with the most beautiful, fresh yet lightweight scent. It’s fragrant with notes of green tea and lily-of-the-valley, yet watery at the same time. A scent you can drink in time and time again without a dreaded scent headache.
3. Merit Retrospect
Key notes: Pear, aldehydes, bergamot, orris, violet, musk, vanilla
Since launching in 2024, Merit’s Retrospect has received many a gushing review from fragrance obsessives, proving our love for light, sheer scents is widespread. Alongside notes of sweet, juicy pear, you’ll also find aldehydes again, as well as orris and violet, which lend a soft powdery quality. The resulting blend is incredibly unique and takes you on a journey through so many fragrance families without leaning too heavily into any one. This is a scent that everyone can find something to love in.
4. Diptyque L’eau Papier
Key notes: Musk, sesame, mimosa, woody notes
I’m a big fan of Diptyque’s L’eau Papier, so much so that I’m actually wearing it as I write this edit. Inspired by the scent of ink soaked into fresh white paper, it’s musky and dry, yet there’s a depth to it, too. It’s a scent that doesn’t parade or shout its excellence, yet as soon as you smell it, you can tell it’s expertly blended. A sheer perfume at its finest.
5. BORNTOSTANDOUT Warm Air
Key notes: Caramel, geranium, rum, cashmere wood, amber
If you know niche fragrance brand BORNTOSTANDOUT, you’ll know that, as the name suggests, many of their scents are designed to grab your attention, and so, for that reason, they wouldn’t be my first port of call for a lightweight, sheer fragrance. What you may not know, however, is that they also have a collection of minimal scents, named Eau Intimité, designed to leave a soft veil of translucent fragrance on the skin. Warm Air is one such fragrance, and it’s perfect for those who like sweet gourmand perfumes yet often find them too saccharine or heavy. Instead, Warm Air lightly blends caramel with creamy woody notes, creating a comforting fragrance that’s indulgent yet light.
6. D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What
Key notes: Bergamot, iso E super, vetiver, sandalwood, amber
While technically, D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What is described as a perfume enhancer as opposed to a traditional standalone scent, if you’re looking for a fragrance that I’d describe as truly sheer, this is it. Incredibly light, it sits so close to the skin that you could miss it; however, as you breathe it in, you’ll catch gentle notes of creamy sandalwood, rich amber and woody vetiver. This is a fragrance for people who don’t like fragrance, yet still want to smell great.
7. Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume
Key notes: Ambroxan
Another perfume enhancer, although one that packs a little more punch than D.S. & Durga’s offering, is Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume. Featuring a single note, ambroxan, a synthetic note with a similar profile to amber, it’s clean and pure with soft musky undertones. It’s the perfect scent that won’t overpower clean skin or those around you.
8. 27 87 Per Se
Key notes: Aldehydes, pink pepper, orris, bamboo, floral notes, musk, ambrette
It’s hard to pinpoint what 27 87’s Per Se actually smells like, except to say that it’s a fragrance that makes me feel like I have my life together. It opens clean and elegant before moving through notes of powdery orris root and soft florals. If you thought this would make this scent smell old-fashioned, however, you couldn’t be more wrong. It’s modern and interesting with a slight sharpness that makes you feel calm and collected. The ideal office scent, if ever there was one.
9. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
Key notes: Iso E super
What I love most about sheer fragrances is that they don’t mask your natural scent. Instead, they work with it to enhance and elevate without overpowering. For that reason, many of the scents on this list will smell different on each person, as well as depending on which products you layer them alongside.
No fragrance proves this point better than Eccentric Molecules Molecule 01. A favourite among beauty editors and fragrance obsessives, the one-of-a-kind scent features just one note—Iso E super—which works with the body's natural pH to create a fragrance that’s unique to each wearer. For this reason, it’s a scent that almost seems to disappear on the skin on application; however, as you move, you’ll catch it again for a gentle dose of fragrance.
10. Floraiku Sand and Skin
Key notes: Vanilla, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, labdanum, musk, patchouli
I know it's winter, but I felt amiss not to include Floraiku's Sand And Skin on the list just to bring a little sunshine-inspired joy to the grey days we're currently faced with. Much like the best gourmand scents, holiday-inspired perfumes also tend to lean more into intensity, often packed with tropical fruity notes and fragrant white florals. Floraiku’s interpretation, however, is much lighter, gliding softly onto the skin with notes of sweet vanilla, sandalwood and ylang-ylang. It’s the scent of an expensive beach resort or tropical cocktails caught on the breeze. Inviting, indulgent but not overpowering.
11. Fresh Rose Morning
Key notes: Rose, blackcurrant, freesia, white tea, musk
To find a non-cloying rose perfume that is sheer and light at the same time is no mean feat. Trust me, I searched high and low, and so, I was extremely happy when I came across Fresh’ Rose Morning. Alongside rose, it also contains white tea, which turns the floral notes watery and clean. There’s also blackcurrant, for a hint of sweetness, and a delicate touch of freesia. The result is a youthful, light take on rose.
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