In the era of instant gratification and fast-moving fashion, perfume is one luxury that is still cherished. In fact, perfume sales are increasing—especially for women’s fragrances—as women seek more personalized experiences with their scents. Niche shops like New York’s Bond No. 9 offer just a few scents, which help you weed out the objectively bad (like fragrances that smell like cats, mothballs, or fruitcake) as well as the celebrity-inspired ones made to smell like Jennifer Aniston’s childhood or Jennifer Lopez’s last love affair. Meanwhile, beauty companies are leveraging perfume in their marketing campaigns. Perfumes are used to define brand universes and even create a narrative that is woven into film, books, and music.
The chemistry of perfume is complicated and there are many different ingredients that can make up a perfume’s notes. The most popular scents are woody, floral, and vanilla. Perfumes are also often infused with musk and patchouli, as well as the essential oils of rose, jasmine, tuberose, lily, and orchid flowers. Additionally, there are a variety of synthetic odorants that are used in perfumery, including calone, hedione, and coumarin. These compounds can be used in perfume to add a specific aroma that may not be readily available in nature, or they can act as a filler in a scent’s composition to enhance its longevity and wearability.
Perfumes can be a great way to express your personality, style, or mood. When choosing a perfume, there are several things to consider, such as the intensity of the scent, its projection and how long it lasts on your skin. The type of scent you choose will also depend on the occasion you’re wearing it for. For example, a fresh and floral perfume will be a great choice for an event that requires a more feminine fragrance, while a musky or woody scent will work best for a business meeting or date night.
To help you find the perfect perfume, we asked a panel of experts to blind-test the most beloved fragrances on the market and rate them according to their longevity, projection, and wearability. We then ranked them from one to ten, so you can easily pick the perfume that’s right for you.
Our picks below include both classic and modern scents that will add a hint of mystery to your day-to-day routine. Whether you want to be fresh and floral, woody and mysterious, or sweet and fruity, these perfumes are sure to please your nose.
Who What Wear editor Amanda Rosenthal is a perfume connoisseur who’s smelled hundreds of scents. She prefers warm, amber scents and delicate florals, but loves anything surprising and unique. She also loves learning how different notes impact each other and how a perfume can change on different people.
Victoria Beckham’s perfume isn’t your typical celeb scent—it’s moody, adult, and far from sugary. The designer based the fragrance on a real moment from her trip to Java, where she was surrounded by nature and candlelight. This unisex scent is the perfect blend of femininity and strength.