According to Beauty Editors and My IG Feed, These Are the Most Underrated Perfumes of All Time
No gatekeeping here!
As the fragrance market slowly morphs into one nostalgic, vanilla-kissed cloud, it pays to smell a little different. Yes, I'll always adore the universal icon I can clock from a mile away ("Is that Baccarat Rouge?"), but standing out among the masses and earning praise from an underrated hero—a hidden gem lurking just underneath the surface of TikTok fame—feels like a special sort of win.
As tempting as it is to gatekeep said hero, it genuinely brings me joy to wax poetic on a perfume that, in my opinion, deserves way more hype. It seems other fragranceheads agree, as when I put out a call for the best underrated scents on my Instagram Story, my DMs were flooded with recs—some indie, some designer, and a majority with proven compliment power. It'd be a sin not to pull back the curtain, so after flagging repeat mentions, consulting my equally fragrance-obsessed WWW beauty team, and testing the blends myself for utmost uniqueness, I whittled down the list to these 16 standouts. Below, the coolest, non-basic perfumes—from my feed to yours.
A quick peek
The 16 Most Underrated Perfumes of All Time
Key notes: Incense, clove bud, jasmine sambac, red seaweed, aqual, patchouli, vetiver, myrrh resinoid, amber
L'été 67 popped up a few times in my DMs, and WWW beauty editors (namely, Erin Jahns and Kaitlyn McLintock) were quick to second the solar-floral aroma. Inspired by summers along the French Riviera, the scent merges elegant blooms with breezy marine notes to channel sweet, salty air. Earthy notes like vetiver, amber, and myrrh shine through on the dry-down, which then creates a warm, golden-hour effect. It smells like the most sophisticated summer outing—a glamorous day spent lounging by the sparkling sea.
Key notes: Cardamom, cinnamon, carrot, ginger, orris butter, papyrus, patchouli
"I also think Byredo Eyes Closed is underrated for a spicy scent," shares McLintock. Now, I wouldn't necessarily classify Byredo as an "underrated" fragrance brand, as it's responsible for quite a few viral hits (namely, Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Bal d'Afrique). That said, Eyes Closed does tend to get overlooked in favor of those aforementioned sensations. But when you give the cardamom-, cinnamon-, and iris-infused potion a whirl, you'll be quick to fall head over heels.
Key notes: Black tea leaves, bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedarwood, vetiver, musks
Similarly, Le Labo has plenty of viral favorites (hello, Santal 33!), but of all the winners in the brand's A+ portfolio, Thé Noir 29 does tend to fly under the radar. Boasting addictive notes like fig, bergamot, and cedarwood, this is a fragrance that beckons "What perfume are you wearing?!" compliments, so much so that one participant in my Instagram poll even deemed it her "forever scent." Not for nothing, it's one of the best unisex blends you can buy (coming from someone who frequently shares it with her husband).
Key notes: Tangerine, white peach, musk, nori
Ocean-inspired scents seem to be a common theme among the DMs! Multiple users called out Abel's Cyan Nori, a briny, seaweed-forward potion that settles into an intoxicating musk. It's a gulp of fresh air on a rocky coastline, but I wouldn't describe it as "beachy" in the slightest. It leans more on a raw, crisp quality than salty heat, which makes it fabulous for year-round wear. "Hands down, this is the most exquisite quiet It-girl fragrance that no one knows exists," one reviewer gushes online. I have to agree, though I'll add that donning it during winter makes it even more unexpectedly alluring.
Key notes: Clove, saffron, rose, fir balsam, oud, patchouli, diesel exhaust
If one look at "diesel exhaust" made you immediately cock a brow, well, same. But this rec came directly from Patricia Voto at One/Of, who is, hands down, one of the chicest people I follow. (Take a peek at her stunning Upper East Side showroom, and you'll quickly agree.) I wholeheartedly trust her taste, so I can expect this rose, saffron, and oud blend to deliver its moody-decadent promise.
Key notes: Blackcurrant, lemon, coriander seeds, ambrette, basil, peppermint, orange
Bright, fresh, and fruity, Pacific Chill transports you right to the coast. "I get so many random compliments," one beauty editor tells me of the juicy, herbaceous blend. I can totally see why; it's nearly impossible not to feel uplifted whenever you catch a whiff. Redditors agree, calling it a "happy" scent that smells uncannily like an L.A. smoothie shop. (Stay with me here.) "Like, those really expensive smoothie bars that claim they are 'healthy' and sell 15-dollar smoothies with 'zinc and potassium shots.'" Hilariously accurate.
Key notes: Fig skin and sap, apricot, cardamom, cut grass accord, sandalwood
"Late August is when I start to want to bottle everything: garden dinners in Anacapri, ripe fruit, sun-warmed shoulders, and laughter still echoing from lunch," says aesthetician Jordan Samuel regarding his juicy, sun-drenched fragrance. Cardamom and cut grass accord slice through its initial fruity notes, adding a cool, lush quality, while sandalwood lingers with a warm, velvety haze. Essentially, it's laissez-faire energy in a bottle—one that always garners compliments, according to a beauty editor in my DMs.
Key notes: Moroccan orris, nutmeg, black pepper, frankincense, white musk
Come for the cheeky name, stay for the influx of compliments and energetic benefits. (No, really. Each ingredient in Witchy Woo is backed by neuroscience to enhance courage and creativity.) This warm, incense-like scent is perfect for fall and winter, evoking candlelit libraries where one might be engrossed in a book of spells. "I always get compliments on it and love how it's so IYKYK," fashion editor and writer Aaron Royce says of the bewitching blend.
Key notes: Cardamom, crushed leaves, lemon, rose, cypriol, sand vetiver, cedarwood, ambrofix, akigalawood
"I think Chloé fragrances are often underrated in the designer ring and looked over for other trendier brands/scents," declares McLintock. I'm totally aligned, especially when it comes to the brand's Atelier des Fleurs collection, an assortment of reimagined florals designed to be mixed and matched (like a bouquet). My personal favorite, wildly underrated pick has to be Cedrus Intense, a warm, breezy concoction that, to me, gives free-spirit energy. I love it so much that I wore it on my wedding day (and inspired multiple of my guests to add it to their own collections!).
Key notes: Tuberose, cappuccino accord, ginger, sandalwood, cedarwood, white musks
Another favorite among the designer realm, Valentino's Private Talk is at once sensual, delicate, and bright. "[I] have been loving it for any outings that feel elegant or clean—think office vibes or a museum date," notes WWW associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia. "[It has an] interesting mix between tuberose, sandalwood, and cappuccino that I really love."
Key notes: Neroli, tuberose, jasmine
Tuberose is such an elegant note, IMO. Whenever I think someone smells especially "pretty," there's a 99% chance their fragrance du jour features the timeless white floral. When combined with neroli and jasmine—both of which are known for smelling expensive—in this Aerin blend, it becomes downright intoxicating. "THE BEST. I gatekeep it lol," declares a participant in my Instagram poll. That's when you know it's ridiculously good!
Key notes: Saffron, tobacco, gardenia milk, suede, sandalwood, patchouli, cedarwood atlas, musk, animalic notes, tonka bean, amber
Beauty editor Mary Honkus is one of the most well-informed fragranceheads I know, so suffice it to say I trust her recs implicity. Though, I was particularly jazzed when she called out this L'Objet beauty—an intimate, skin-like blend that evokes a warm embrace. The musky, powdery aroma feels familiar with an air of mystery, which is exactly the kind of tension I look for in fragrances. I personally love a blend you can't quite put your finger on, and that's Blindfold to a T.
Key notes: Petitgrain, bergamot, lilac, neroli, ambrette, musk, tonka, vanilla, soil.
"All I wear is Marissa Zappas, but mostly Dream Sequence," shares WWW associate features editor Ana Escalante. Her favorite elixir calls to mind lush greenery but also powdery blooms, thanks to the combination of earthy soil and antique lilac. The bottle itself—a nod to historic French perfume houses, complete with scalloped glass and a dainty black ribbon—is particularly dreamy, a work of art worthy of displaying on your vanity.
Key notes: Black pepper, lime, tangerine, eucalyptus, jasmine sambac, water lily, Turkish rose, smoked sea salt, seaweed, labdanum, petrichor
Heretic popped up a few times in my DMs (shoutout to Nosferatu!), but I have to go with Black Salt as the ultimate underrated pick. Brascia agrees, dubbing it an "alt, grungy, yet oddly beachy scent that smells like salty skin and fresh rainfall." Imagine the beach at midnight, the inky ocean abyss striking up something haunted. "It [reads] musky right out of the bottle but leans into the salty vibes after some time on the skin, which ends up smelling very vacation-appropriate despite its spooky bottle," Brascia describes.
Key notes: Orange blossom, lavender, ylang-ylang, vanilla, amber, woody accord
Love Baccarat Rouge? Same here, but I implore you to make APOM your next scent obsession. A unisex version of the brand's discontinued APOM Pour Femme and APOM Pour Homme scents from 2009, the amber-floral blend never fails to make me feel elegant. It's vastly underrated among the MFK portfolio, IMO, and it's one that earns me at least three "You smell so good" compliments every time I wear it.
Key notes: Bergamot, lemon, lavender, orange blossom, lily of the valley, musk
Italian perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri, founder of Orto Parisi, is known for creating bold, niche scents, and his Bergamask blend (a cross of bergamot and musk) certainly fits the bill. "I get compliments every single day on it," one fashion writer tells me. Titillating musky-floral composition aside, the juice has an impressively long-lasting sillage that transforms throughout the day, slowly revealing new facets of its funky personality. If you don't enjoy being stopped on the street to discuss your scent, I'd probably steer clear; this is a fragrance that's meant to turn heads.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
