There is so much I love about spring—longer days, lighter evenings, discarding winter’s heavy coats and boots, an excuse to embrace some colourful nail art and spring nail trends, and that feeling when you first feel the sun’s warmth on your skin after a long, gloomy winter. But while I’ve not yet committed to a wardrobe refresh or edited my skincare routine for spring, there is one seasonal switch-up that I have already kicked off. Changing up my fragrance wardrobe with some of the best perfumes every quarter is my favourite way to lean in to the optimism of a new season, and I think this is especially appropriate in springtime—the season of fresh starts, change, and renewal.
Now, as much as I’m naturally drawn to the warm and cosy notes that feature in my go-to autumn and winter fragrances, by the time March comes around, I’m ready to set them aside in favour of fresh, lightweight perfumes. Typically, spring scents lean floral—and there are plenty of those below; both new and staple crowd-pleasers that rely on classic floral notes like rose, peony and jasmine to help you kick off the new season with an appropriately sunny optimism. In addition, as I’m not a great lover of conventional florals myself (I’m more often drawn to perfumes that lean slightly on the green or sweet or woody side of things), I’ve also added my favourite not-so-obvious spring perfumes for those after an unexpected twist that means you won’t smell like anyone else this spring.
Team Who What Wear UK have been busy putting the best spring perfumes to the test.
If, like me, you’re already keen to embrace the new season, keep scrolling for the best spring fragrances ever—from newer launches to cult classics I always come back to.
Best Spring Fragrances and Perfumes, According to a Scent-Obsessed Editor
- Best Floral Spring Scent: Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
- Best Fresh Spring Scent: Jo Malone London Beach Blossom
- Best Woody Spring Scent: Byredo Eyes Closed
- Best Fruity Spring Scent: Maison Margiela On A Date
1. Parfums de Marly Valaya
Fragrance family: Floral
Key notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nympheal, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix, musk
Spritzing Valaya feels like opening your window on the first day of spring, welcoming in an ethereal floral breeze. Easily one of the best floral perfumes I’ve ever experienced, it has a stunning floral composition, blending creamy white florals with soft, fuzzy peach skin and a skin-like musk that creates an airy, cloud-soft aura. I’ve yet to meet anyone who hasn’t completely fallen head-over-heels in love with it.
2. Molton Brown Bluebell & Wild Strawberry
Fragrance family: Fruity
Key notes: Wild strawberry, bluebell, warm amber, violet leaf
Another new spring scent that I can't get enough of is Bluebell & Wild Strawberry from Molton Brown. Yes, this is a fruity scent, but it doesn't have that sickly kind of sweetness that you would expect from notes of strawberry. Instead, amber, sandalwood and violet leaf add an earthy, woody touch that makes it smell super sophisticated. The fresh, light aroma reminds me of summers spent in the countryside, running through fields of bluebells with a picnic in hand.
3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724
Fragrance family: Fresh
Key notes: Aldehyde, bergamot, sweet pea, jasmine, orange, white musk, sandalwood
While Maison Francis Kurkdjian's bestseller, Baccarat Rouge 540, is undoubtedly an evening scent (if you've not smelt it, it's rich and gourmand), the brand's slightly newer launch, 724, is definitely more of a wearable daytime fragrance. Although the floral notes are key, if you love fresh or woody scents, you'll find that 724 provides the perfect middle ground. Clean soapy aldehydes and heady jasmine and sweet pea mingle with white musk and warming sandalwood.
4. Byredo Eyes Closed
Fragrance family: Woody
Key notes: Cinnamon, cardamom, orris, carrot, ginger, patchouli, papyrus
As someone who generally gravitates towards warm, cosy fragrances year-round, I tend not to get overly excited by the slew of new floral perfume launches every spring. This launch from Byredo, however, bucks convention and strays away from classic floral notes. Instead, it's a warm and papery blend of delicately spicy notes.
5. Maison Margiela On A Date
Fragrance family: Fruity
Key notes: Blackcurrant, pink pepper, bergamot, rose, davana, geranium, patchouli, vetiver, moss, musk
The name really says it all with this perfume—a bright floral scent that, like all of Maison Margiela's Replica fragrances, really transports you to a specific time and place. In this instance, it's a romantic date in Provence. It's delightfully playful and optimistic thanks to a contrast between hot pink pepper and patchouli, and mouthwatering blackcurrant and bergamot.
6. Creed Eladaria
Fragrance family: Floral
Key notes: Rose, mandarin, bergamot, pink pepper, vanilla
Creed's latest fragrance is a fresh, citrusy take on a classic rose scent, making it perfect for this time of year. Although it's a floral scent at heart, it has this green, dewy element thanks to notes of sparkling mandarin and bergamot. Spicy pink pepper and warming vanilla add even more depth, allowing the perfume to develop on the skin and transform right under your nose.
7. Acqua Di Parma Colonia Il Profumo
Fragrance family: Fresh
Key notes: Bergamot, blood orange, grapefruit, vetiver, patchouli
A reinterpretation of Acqua Di Parma's iconic Colonia fragrance, this citrusy scent comes alive on the skin. A more intense version of the original, zesty notes of bergamot and blood orange take centre stage, before being grounded by an earthy base of vetiver and patchouli. This is the kind of perfume that will add a serious spring to your step.
8. Penhaligon's Highgrove Bouquet
Fragrance family: Floral
Key notes: Hyacinth, geranium, lavender
A lesson in not judging a perfume by it's packaging—you might think that this would be a classic, old-fashioned floral, but in fact, it's nothing of the sort. Thanks to fresh, green notes of lime blossom and geranium, and warm suede-like orris, this is a truly modern floral. A tribute to the gardens at Highgrove, the home of King Charles III, it's overall an incredibly elegant and uplifting fragrance.
9. Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
Fragrance family: Floral
Key notes: Mandarin, peony, rose, apricot, peach, white musk
With its first iteration originally launched in 1947, Miss Dior is one of Dior's most iconic scents. Blooming Bouquet presents a more modern and playful take on the classic. Yes, it's still jam-packed with florals (mainly peony and rose), but there's also fruity notes of mandarin, apricot, and peach—so you're getting some spring sweetness too.
10. Ex Nihilo Honoré Delights
Fragrance family: Sweet
Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, ambrette, iris, orange blossom, musk, sandalwood, cedar
Inspired by the delicacies of a French patisserie, Honoré Delights is actually sweeter than I'd normally go for, with creamy gourmand notes. However, it remains grown-up thanks to neroli, iris, and some woody base notes. I first tried this back in 2020 and have brought it back out every spring since —wearing it brings me instant joy.
11. Guerlain Pêche Mirage
Fragrance family: Fruity
Key notes: Peach, blackcurrant, saffron, osmathus, leather, amber, sandalwood
Fruity fragrances typically lean summery, but the light, fresh, juicy scent of peach really comes into its own in spring. As well as Guerlain's trademark richness that runs throughout (thanks to saffron, leather, and osmanthus), this has warm notes of amber and sandalwood, and a sharp but subtle hint of blackcurrant blooming through its heart. It's complex yet very lightweight—the perfect signature spring scent.
12. D.S. & Durga Cowgirl Grass
Fragrance family: Fresh
Key notes: Lychee, geranium, bergamot, grass, peony, jasmine, vetiver, musk, amber
I'll admit that this is far from being your typical spring fragrance, but for those who avoid both floral and fruity scents, yet still want something light for spring, Cowgirl Grass is ideal. Sure, musk and amber don't exactly scream spring, but as well as an earthy base, there's a skin-like muskiness, and freshness thanks to the floral and fruity notes. It's chic, sophisticated and unexpected—and I can't stop spritzing it. It's now one of our favourite D.S. & Durga perfumes.
13. Vilhelm Parfumerie Dear Polly
Fragrance family: Fresh
Key notes: Bergamot, apple, black tea, black amber, musk, oakmoss
Probably one of the most green and grassy fragrances in this edit. Spring fragrances can lean towards the classically feminine, but this is definitely the type of perfume that you could share with your male partner. Mixed with bergamot, apple, and a touch of black tea, it's a citrusy-yet-spicy perfume that celebrates fresh, vibrant notes—perfect for spring. Oh, and the beautiful bottle is worth the money alone in my opinion.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.