The Byredo Scents That Are Worth the Money, Ranked by Me
At this point, I've smelled almost every Byredo fragrance there is. It's easy to see why the Stockholm-based brand is so popular. In addition to the incredibly chic and minimalist packaging, the unisex scents are unique while still being undoubtedly wearable and intriguing. Trust me—everyone will ask you what scent you're wearing when you spray on Byredo, and anything you buy from the brand is worthy of the price tag, but I'm here to help you narrow it down to the best perfumes it has. (There are so many good ones to choose from.)
For my fragrance-buying mission and your fragrance-buying missions (I'm here to serve), I asked Byredo to send me samples of its best-selling scents, and they kindly obliged. Over the past few weeks, I've been switching up my scent daily because variety is the spice of life, and I wanted to give you my honest reviews of the 11 most popular Byredo perfumes.
There are plenty of fragrance reviews out there, but I find them quite technical, speaking to all of the different layered notes in a scent. My reviews are more about how they'll make you feel when wearing them, the best occasions and seasons to wear them, how versatile they are, etc. Keep scrolling if you're intrigued, and head to the bottom for what I think is the best Byredo fragrance.
#11: Oud Immortel
Oud Immortel is a beautiful scent, and I was excited to get to try it, but for me, it was just a bit masculine. It was created around a certain type of dark wood that's used in traditional incense, so it's as smoky and complex as you'd imagine. While it may not be right for me, I'd buy a bottle for my husband in a second.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: Limoncello, incense, cardamom, patchouli, papyrus, Brazilian rosewood, tobacco leaves, and moss
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Customer Review: "Oud in the most unexpected way… sweet, woody, sensual. I don’t know how this scent has flown under the radar—it’s just perfect. Highly recommend you try it on your skin! Amazing performance too, with about 10–12 hours of projection."
#10: Mojave Ghost
Mojave Ghost is one of Byredo's buzziest scents, so I was eager to try it. I see why this one is so popular—it's a lovely option for the evening but isn't sweet or overly floral. It's soft, and the floral aspect is soft and more woodsy, with a hint of sandalwood and amber. The only reason I don't think I'd adopt it as my signature scent is that it develops a bit of a powdery note on me as the day wears on, but some people may embrace that.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, amber, and cedarwood
Duration: 6 to 8 hours
Customer Review: "The perfume smells lovely and has a lasting power too. I was trying the fragrance from this brand for the first time so didn’t know what to expect. It's not too overpowering so it's perfect for everyday wear. I highly recommend it if you are looking to try something new."
#9: Bibliothèque
Byredo's Bibliothèque candles have an intense cult following (I'm a member of that cult), so it was wise of the brand to create a perfume. I honestly couldn't describe this scent to you if I tried. It's unique. There is a rich patchouli note that is overarching, so if you like expensive-smelling patchouli, you'll love this. Again, this one was a wee bit too masculine for me (but my love for the candle lives on), and I'd 100% buy it for my husband and require that he wear it every day.
Fragrance Family: Warm
Key Notes: Peach, plum, peony, violet, vanilla, leather, and patchouli
Duration: 7 to 10 hours
Customer Review: "This is my favorite perfume I have ever owned. It’s like the sexiest cross between a beautiful sweet floral scent and brand-new leather-bound books. It’s definitely there and stays with you but still manages to not be overpowering. I get so many compliments on it. Like a crazy amount. All of Byredo’s fragrances are just gorgeous and sophisticated. Wish I could own them all."
#8: Flowerhead
Flowerhead is definitely the most floral scent in the bunch and would make the perfect daytime scent in spring and summer. As is the norm for Byredo, it's a very complex floral that feels exotic and fresh. It certainly has signature scent potential but not really year-round.
Fragrance Family: Green and floral
Key Notes: Angelica seeds, Sicilian lemon, lingonberry, jasmine sambac, tuberose, rose petals, amber, and suede
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Customer Review: "This an absolutely fabulous scent. I think it might be my signature scent. I love how green and floral it is. The notes are blended so well it can't easily be deciphered. I'm so happy with this purchase."
#7: Slow Dance
I'd seen Slow Dance all over several cool girls' Instagrams, so I had to try it. Like Bibliothèque, this one is also a bit tricky to describe. It definitely feels like a rich, cold-weather fragrance to me, and patchouli and vanilla are the base notes, but they're the most sophisticated versions of patchouli and vanilla you can imagine. If you like your scent to be warm and slightly sweet, this one's for you.
Fragrance Family: Amber
Key Notes: Opoponax, geranium, labdanum, violet, vanilla, and patchouli
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Customer Review: "My all-time favorite perfume. I’ve never smelt anything that comes close to this or that could be copied. It’s sweet warm and lasts forever. This is my third bottle now and I will continue to buy this. Everything about it feels special. The packaging is gorgeous too!"
#6: Rose Noir
This is the first of the two rose fragrances (more to come on the other soon) I'll mention. Rose Noir is a bit earthier, but Byredo describes it as "dirty," and I'd have to agree. It has some depth to it but is undeniably a rose lover's dream.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Cardamom, freesia, red berries, lily of the valley, raspberry, rose damascena, musk, and patchouli
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Customer Review: "Rose Noir is a catchy take on cool floral facet engaging bitter grapefruit note—a must try if you collect rose perfumes! Mossy facet creates additional depth for this composition and a very natural green fresh feel."
#5: Velvet Haze
I apparently live on the edge because I bought Velvet Haze without even smelling it a few months ago. (The brand had me with the "coconut water" description.) Luckily, I loved it. I prefer it for the evening, as it's a bit musky, but it's also a great anytime scent during fall and winter. When I first sprayed it on, I was struck by the smell of patchouli, but it softens beautifully. Highly recommend.
Fragrance Family: Amber and fruity
Key Notes: Ambrette, coconut water, patchouli leaves, cocoa absolute, cotton musks, wild musk
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Customer Review: "This fragrance is so unique and special. Without knowing, it's hard to put your finger on exactly what the notes are but it smells sexy and exotic without being overly strong. I get compliments on it absolutely every time I wear it. Try it and you definitely won't regret it."
#4: Bal d'Afrique
Bal d'Afrique is another one of the brand's cult favorites that I was so intrigued by. You just feel cool and in the know when wearing it. If I'm putting it simply, the incense is a notable layer, but very expensive and rare incense that you can only get in Africa.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Bergamot, African marigold, bucchu, violet, cyclamen, vetiver, Moroccan cedarwood
Duration: 2 to 4 hours
Customer Review: "A gorgeous and elegant scent that is delicate. It is a floral scent with some sweet notes but definitely not overpowering. Perfect for spring and summer! It is a very decadent scent overall that you cannot go wrong within your collection. I would definitely recommend trying it on as it smells even better on the body and last for a long time."
#3: Mixed Emotions
When I first tried Mixed Emotions, I had a hunch it was going to be good, but it exceeded my already high expectations. The name and even the brand's description didn't completely prepare me for the first sniff. It reads, "Comforting notes of maté and the sharp sweetness of cassis sit within a wooden framework; the reassuring scent of black tea disturbed by violet leaf synthetics." After the initial spritz, I definitely picked up on the blackcurrant, which I'm always partial to, and tea, which balances out the floral note of the violet. As it dries down, a subtle woodsiness develops, which lingers throughout the day. Mixed Emotions is a scent that works beautifully day or night, year-round.
Fragrance Family: Fresh and woodsy
Key Notes: Maté, blackcurrant, Ceylon black tea, violet leaves, birchwood, papyrus
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Customer Review: "Initially smells like woodsy berries—I can imagine it's the currant. The dry down smells of almost cozy warm tea. Really wearable scent. Leans on the feminine side in my opinion. Definitely one of my favorite all-time Byredo scents now!"
#2: Rose of No Man's Land
I'm always on the hunt for a cool rose fragrance, and I really struck gold with this popular Byredo scent. It's subtle and fresh but with a hint of richness (thanks to the white amber base note). This is one of those rare scents that I'd be happy to wear every day, year-round. I'm probably going to have to add it to my collection.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Pink pepper, Turkish rose petals, raspberry blossom, Turkish rose absolute, papyrus, white amber
Duration: Over 10 hours
Customer Review: "Normally, I would not wear a fragrance that smells of roses as it can often be too intense or cloying. Instead, this Byredo Eau de Parfum is beautifully subtle. I find it is my everyday go-to perfume because of this. I love it so much that I have given it as a gift."
#1: Gypsy Water
We've come to the end, and my number one paycheck-worthy pick is Gypsy Water. Sorry, no surprise here! It's the brand's best-selling, most well-known, and most Instagrammed (I checked) scent, and for good reason. It's the one I reached for the most these past few weeks because wearing it makes me happy. It smells of sandalwood and vanilla, lemon and campfire, and so many other things you would never believe could smell so intoxicatingly good together. It smells so beautiful that I don't even care that it's not particularly under the radar. I want to wear it constantly so I can smell my wrist whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: Bergamot, lemon, pepper, juniper berries, incense, pine needles, orris, amber, vanilla, sandalwood
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Customer Review: "I had been reluctant to buy given it’s quite expensive but this perfume is so, so beautiful. It has a lovely woody/powdery scent, and I particularly love that it is unisex. Definitely a favorite—my only regret now is not buying the 100ml bottle!"
How to Choose the Best Byredo Perfume for You
When selecting the ideal Byredo perfume for yourself, it's important to consider factors such as your personal scent preferences, the occasion for which you'll be wearing the perfume, and the lasting power of the fragrance. Byredo offers a wide range of scents, from floral and fruity to woody and spicy, so it's essential to test different perfumes on your skin to see how they interact with your body chemistry. Additionally, consider the season and time of day you'll be wearing the perfume, as certain scents are more suitable for specific seasons and occasions. For example, Byredo fans love Flowerhead for spring and summer because of its green and floral notes, while others prefer Velvet Haze for its amber notes. By considering these factors, you can find the perfect Byredo perfume that complements your style and personality.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
-
Prepare Your Wallet: 10 Jewelry Brands Running Deep Discounts for Cyber Monday
Snag that tennis bracelet for 40% off.
By Ana Escalante
-
Chanel's Loafers Are the Ultimate Luxury—Here's Why the Fashion Set Think They're Worth It
The dream.
By Elinor Block
-
The Stunning Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry That's Worth the Investment
Shine bright like a diamond.
By Ana Escalante
-
We're Fashion Editors—the 9 Best Items From The Row That Are Truly Worth the Investment
They'll never date.
By Emily Dawes
-
The Only Watch Styles Worth Investing In According to an Expert
Sponsor Content Created With AP
By Aniyah Morinia
-
My Mom and I Agree—These "Forever Pieces" Are 100% Worth Buying
Don't just take my word for it.
By Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour
-
I'm a Luxury Jewelry Designer: 6 Investment Pieces That Will Last a Lifetime
Diamonds are Olivia Landau's best friend.
By Ana Escalante
-
The Luxury Bag Kendall Jenner and I Think Is Worth Investing In
Perfection in the form of a handbag.
By Natalie Munro