It may be the beauty editor in me, but I consider "you smell good" to be the highest praise. Fragrance is highly subjective, so it's always thrilling when your perfume of choice elicits compliments from someone else. It's also fascinating to notice how others interpret your signature scent. Rarely does someone tell you they love the floral top notes and gourmand bottom notes of your perfume (well, unless you're in the Who What Wear office). Instead, they might say they love how you smell "clean," "warm," or "sweet." These descriptions may be abstract, but we always seem to understand what they're trying to convey.
For example, the first time I smelled Carolina Herrera's "lighter" Good Girl fragrances—the brighter, more feminine perfumes in the larger collection—I immediately thought they captured quiet luxury in a (very chic) bottle. This trio of scents is sophisticated yet playful, soft yet powerful, and confident yet demure. The juxtaposition is a truly alluring combination you can't quite put your finger on, but you just know it feels elevated.
If you want to smell like you jumped a tax bracket or two, here are the three Carolina Herrera scents that should be at the top of your shopping list.
Inspired by the power of pink, the Good Girl Blush Eau de Parfum is a bright, floral fragrance that leads with bergamot, develops into bursting peony and unexpected ylang-ylang, and leaves behind a warm trace of vanilla. It's fresh, romantic, delicate, and timeless. Splash it on before heading to an important meeting for an extra boost of confidence.
A personal favorite of mine, the Good Girl Eau de Parfum is an ambery, warm, floral fragrance that works just as well in the daytime as it does at night. It's empowering, unapologetic, and has just the right touch of sweetness thanks to notes of tonka bean and cocoa. I like that it's noticeable without feeling overbearing—isn't that what quiet luxury is all about?
Editor tip: You can instantly tell if a fragrance is inexpensive based on how complex it is. Something that smells the same at the end of the day as it did at the start implies a lack of forethought from the perfumer. You want your fragrance to be layered and intriguing—something that evolves with your own unique scent—and the Very Good Girl Eau de Parfum is certainly that. It's an intriguing blend of juicy red currant and lychee, timeless rose heart, and earthy, warm vanilla. It's the most flirtatious scent of the bunch, but still smooth and elegant.
