And Now, Our List of the Best Perfumes of All Time

The olfactory equivalent of a designer handbag or a great pair of shoes, when it comes to beauty investments there is nothing quite like a great signature scent. Fragrance is the ultimate beauty statement maker—but at the same time is something that we all connect with on a deeply personal level. The best perfumes have the ability to boost our mood, evoke fond memories, and conjure emotions, and we’re all drawn to different scents for reasons that are beyond any scientific explanation. "Fragrance fits, regardless of your BMI, your bank balance, your heritage, or your age,” says fragrance expert and presenter Alice du Parcq. "There is something fantastic out there for everyone and it's the only beauty ritual that you can't make a mistake with, because it's so entirely subjective. Whereas skincare, make-up and haircare are all things that we 'need', fragrance is something that we 'want', so it's emotionally led and always a positive experience.”

It’s this personal aspect to fragrance that makes the appeal of finding a signature scent so compelling, but when shopping for fragrance there are a few key things to consider. Are you someone who likes to make a statement with their scent as soon as they enter a room? Or do you prefer a subtle, more intimate fragrance experience? Are you after a one size-fits-all scent that works no matter what the time of day or season? Or are you building a fragrance wardrobe, with options for day, night, spring, summer, autumn, and winter? Of course, another key thing to consider is what notes you’re drawn to. If you like sweet scents then seek out notes like vanilla, tonka bean, and almond. If you’re drawn to bright, fresh fragrances then look for citrus notes, or if you prefer warmer, deeper scents, keep an eye out for woody notes like cedar, sandalwood, and oud.

If you’re struggling to pick just one, be open to the idea of having a selection of different perfumes to choose from. "My advice when looking for a signature scent is always to think plural, not singular,” says du Parcq. "Aim to have a few signatures that work for four or five typical scenarios where you would wear fragrance.” Du Parcq advises keeping those four or five 'moments' in mind when out shopping for perfume and identify whether scents fit into one of those. "For instance an easy, comfortable work-office one; an outdoorsy or cosy scent for a weekend away with friends; an elegant but subtle one for a restaurant dinner; a glambomb for a cocktail party; a Sunday morning hangover splash,” she explains. "Above all, you need to ask yourself if it gives you joy.”

If you’re looking for something new or less well known, what exactly is it that differentiates the best perfumes from the average ones? According to du Parcq, it’s the ability for a scent to be polarising and statement-making. "I feel like anything in the room-rocker shoulder-pad-perfume category deserves a place in an Icons list because it shows true courage and balls to send a fragrance into a consumer world that you know loads of people might not like,” she says. "Think Dior Poison, Calvin Klein Obsession, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Mugler Angel, even the more recent Chanel Le Lion.” These scents are all powerful, unique, and highly complex. "Above all, they're fun and fabulous,” adds du Parcq. "That renegade attitude is really missing today - most major launches are so very safe, polite and restrained.” Fragrance expert and content creator Nicole Koremblum is of the same opinion. "It must have that ‘je ne sais quoi’, ‘never been done before’ aspect to it, it must break ‘fragrance rules" as we know them, and it cannot be considered a classic without evoking very strong feelings in its users,” she adds. "People must be divided in two categories, those who love it and hate it—no in between.”

While even some of the best new perfume launches can go in and out of style, there are a handful of fragrances that stand the test of time—or are set to. Indeed, the best perfumes remain wearable and timeless for years to come—and there’s a version for every occasion, season, and personal taste.

From perfume classics created by the iconic fragrance houses of Chanel and Dior, to innovative offerings from new and niche fragrance brands like Phlur, Jo Loves, and Boy Smells, this is our official list of the best perfumes for women. Whether you’re after the best floral perfumes, the best daytime perfumes, the best winter perfumes, or the best long-lasting perfumes, there’s something on our list for everyone.

Shop the Best Perfumes for Women:

1. Best-selling perfume: Chanel No 5
2. Best iconic perfume: Mugler Angel
3. Best new perfume: Diptyque L'eau Papier
4. Best celebrity perfume: Fenty Beauty Fenty
5. Best niche perfume: Vilhelm Parfumerie Dear Polly
6. Best luxury perfume: Tom Ford Rose Prick
7. Best affordable perfume: & Other Stories Sicilian Sunrise
8. Best everyday perfume: Glossier You
9. Best day time perfume: Jo Loves Pomelo
10. Best night time perfume: Byredo Slow Dance

1. Best-Selling Perfume: Chanel No 5

2. Best Iconic Perfume: Mugler Angel

3. Best New Perfume: Diptyque L'eau Papier

4. Best Celebrity Perfume: Fenty Beauty Fenty

5. Best Niche Perfume: Vilhelm Parfumerie Dear Polly

6. Best Luxury Perfume: Tom Ford Rose Prick

7. Best Affordable Perfume: & Other Stories Sicilian Sunrise

8. Best everyday perfume: Glossier You

9. Best Day Time Perfume: Jo Loves Pomelo

10. Best Night Time Perfume: Byredo Slow Dance

11. Best Spring Perfume: Ruth Mastenbroek Amorosa

12. Best Summer Perfume: Phlur Solar Power

13. Best Autumn Perfume: Malin + Goetz Dark Rum

14. Best Winter Perfume: Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace

15. Best Unisex Perfume: Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724

16. Best Men's Perfume: Rituals Maharaja D'Or

17. Best Perfume for Layering: Commodity Milk

18. Best Long-Lasting Perfume: Penhaligon's Juniper Sling

19. Best Subtle Perfume: Phlur Missing Person

20. Best Statement Perfume: Maison Francis Kurdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

21. Best Perfume for Migraine Sufferers: Aesop Eidesis

22. Best Uplifting Perfume: Sisley Eau de Campagne

23. Best Skin Scent Perfume: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01

24. Best Sensual Perfume: Byredo Eyes Closed

25. Best Floral Perfume: Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet

26. Best Smoky Perfume: Killian Sacred Wood

27. Best Citrus Perfume: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin

28. Best Woody Perfume: Byredo Super Cedar

29. Best Fresh Perfume: Serge Lutens L'Eau

30. Best Musky Perfume: Thé Noir 29

31. Best Earthy Perfume: Boy Smells Italian Kush

32. Best Fruity Perfume: Maison Margiela Replica On A Date

33. Best Spicy Perfume: Diptyque Eau Duelle

34. Best Gourmand Perfume: Ex Nihilo Honoré Delights

35. Best Travel Perfume: Byredo x Susanne Kaufmann

Beauty Editors' Favourite Perfumes

All of my beauty editor friends are equally perfume-obsessed, but they all have one key perfume that they swear by above all others. So who better to ask to help me create a definitive list of the most covetable, crowd-pleasing scents? Ahead, keep scrolling for the best perfumes for women, according to industry insiders.

Commodity Milk

Eleanor Vousden, Who What Wear UK Beauty Editor

"I'm not usually a fan of sweet fragrances, but Commodity's Milk has hands down become a firm favourite. Both skin-like and sweet in equal measure, it makes me think of luxury vanilla ice cream you might be served in a bougie desert.

It's warm, milky and softly sweet without being overbearing and it always generates compliments when I wear it. With tonka bean and mahogany wood, has a subtle woodiness and spiciness to it which makes it all the more addictive.

Commodity has cleverly formulated it in three projections, meaning you can choose to wear it close to your skin or opt for the bold option, which projects your fragrance even further—genius."

Maya Nije Tobak and Guerlain Angélique Noire

Morgan Fargo, Freelance Beauty Editor and Who What Wear contributor

"Some people have affirmations, others have meditation practises. I have perfume. A fragrance wardrobe that helps me feel stronger, calmer, more self-possessed and more like myself.

These two perfumes, one from independent perfumer Maya Nije and one from 19th-century-founded fragrance house Guerlain are sultry, smoky and alluring, with a kick of sweetness on top.

Tobak, a dark, woody, smoky scent combines tobacco leaf, vetiver and cinnamon. The version of me who feels comfortable in any situation and has the confidence of five women wears this perfume. And when I wear it, I do.

Angélique Noire, on the other hand, is sweeter but no less rich. It's sweet and floral, laced with vanilla and jasmine, but base notes of cedar wood and a pink pepper top note, keep it from veering into cloying. Instead, it's sophisticated and enticing. A timeless, alluring perfume I reach for evening after evening after – well, you get it."

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin

Erin Jahns, Who What Wear Beauty Director

"You know a perfume is one in a million when you fork out over £100 for the real thing less than 10 seconds after getting a whiff of a sample. I had an immediate 'where have you been all my life' reaction to this stunning fragrance, and I think you will too—especially if you're someone, like me, who goes weak in the knees for rose-led scents. The aforementioned is anchored by violet, musk, plus pink and black pepper. It's delicious, and it's quickly become my signature."

Byredo Velvet Haze

Mica Ricketts, Beauty Editor and Who What Wear UK Contributor

"I'd be hard-pressed to think of a perfume that I've recommended more than Byredo Velvet Haze—possibly the most delicious scent in my entire perfume collection and undoubtedly the one that I now wear most frequently. Like all of Byredo's cult fragrances, it's distinctive and unique, yet it isn't overpowering in the slightest. Ask me what it smells like, and I'd say it's a comforting, musky scent with a hint of almost vanilla-like sweetness and a healthy hit of floral patchouli. It's cosy without being heavy (I happily wear this all day and all night, whatever the season or weather), and it's wonderfully grown-up. I always feel like I have my act together when I wear this. Simply put, I adore it. It's unlike any other perfume in my stash, and I highly doubt I'll smell anything like it again."

Le Labo Thé Noir 29

Keeks Reid, Freelance Beauty Journalist and Cosmopolitan UK Contributing Beauty Director

"I have always been obsessed with the idea of having a signature scent, and I knew I'd finally found one when a co-worker told me she knew that I was in because she had smelt my perfume in the kitchen. I've been wearing Le Labo Thé Noir 29 for about three years now, and while I try other scents occasionally, it's my number one. I layer it with the body lotion to help the scent stick around, and it means I only need a little spritz, as the scent can be quite overpowering. Overall, it’s a pretty woody scent with warmth from the mix of fig, cedar and musk, but it's not at all feminine. In fact, my friend says it smells like a sexy man, which makes me love it more."

Glossier You

Laura Capon, Freelance Beauty Editor and Content Creator

"If soulmates came in a perfume form, Glossier You would be mine. To me it smells like a warm hug in a bottle and it's the scent I reach for whenever I need that extra emotional support. It’s meant to smell differently on everyone, which means whenever I smell it on someone else, it never smells quite the same as my version. For me, it’s the kind of fragrance where the notes don’t matter, but think Ambrette seeds (or amber, if you have no clue what they smell like), iris and pink pepper."

Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Rebecca Fearn, Freelance Beauty Editor and Features Writer

"When someone asks me what my favourite fragrance is, I find it almost impossible to answer. I'm a big perfume person who can feel and almost even see scents, so it's hard to choose just one, especially out of the rather ridiculous collection I've built over the years. I use scent to evoke memories; some fragrances I can no longer wear because they remind me of an ex-boyfriend, and others are comforting time capsules that transport me to my travels in faraway lands. If I had to choose one classic combination that I always return to, though, it's probably Jo Malone London's Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Nectarine Blossom & Honey. I started wearing this pairing when I'd just moved to London five years ago at the peak of my independence and freedom. It's cool and warm all at once, is somewhat unique to me (given that it's layered) and just smells like home."

Killian Love Don't Be Shy

Courtney Higgs, Editorial Director at Haus Labs

"I am a true lover of fragrance, and my collection of bottles is quite large. As a result, I tend to bounce around a lot in terms of what scent I'm wearing, but lately, I've been exploring a deepening love affair with Killian's Love Don't Be Shy. I was never a fan of sweet scents until I tried this one. It just smells expensive, and it's over-the-top sweet in a way that I actually enjoy. Plus, it's Rihanna's favourite, so that gives it extra points in my book."

Diptyque Tam Dao and Chloé Naturelle

Shannon Lawlor, Marie Claire Executive Beauty Editor

"I absolutely can't choose just one signature perfume. My 70-strong perfume collection is full of attention-grabbing scents calling out to be my signature, but I think I can whittle it down to two real stand-outs.

Diptyque's Tam Dao comes out on top when it comes to a day-to-evening classic, despite being an underdog. Like taking a walk through a warm jungle, it's the sort of deep, woody scent that lingers subtly, becoming one with the skin. It's the kind of fragrance that leaves people convinced you wake up in the morning smelling just that good. It's so convincing, in fact, that I had no idea this was my signature scent until a friend caught me spritzing it and said she felt deceived that my natural odour was just a perfume all along. Diptyque, if you don't mind too much, I plan to carry on deceiving people with this comforting bottle of joy for ever and ever.

But as for my everyday spritz of choice, Chloé's Naturelle is equally as cherished. It's fresh and floral but has an earthy richness to it thanks to cedar essence that takes away any hint of sweetness. Floral perfumes aren't typically my thing, but this little bottle is really special."

Tom Ford Tubereuse Nue

Giselle La Pompe-Moore, Spiritual Guide and Who What Wear Contributor

"During the day when I glance over my shoulder and this scent comes up to greet me, I always have that split second where I think I've got a clump of Juicy Fruit chewing gum stuck in my hair, as that's exactly what Tubereuse Nue reminds me of. All of the same bubblegum-scented joy and childlike connotations, minus the pain of an impromptu haircut. This is seriously grown-up, with just the right amount of softness that cascades into being ethereal. Whether I'm typing away on my laptop or frantically rushing out of the house, one inhale of this transports me to smiling bigger, breathing deeper and finding the otherworldly within this hectic world."

Jo Malone London Vetiver & Golden Vanilla 

Iman Leila, PR & Influencer Communications Manager and Founder of So You Want to Network

"My signature scent has to be Jo Malone's Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense. When I walk into a room, everyone knows I'm there because of this scent. I discovered this perfume a year ago, and during quarantine and numerous lockdowns, I caught myself spraying it often to bring some sense of normality to my life. The scent is the perfume equivalent of a warm hug. It's very strong, lingers on all my clothes and is a true representation of me. I'm warm and friendly, my wardrobe is bold, and I'm memorable, so I'll always linger in your mind!"

This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.