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Fragrance Family: Warm, woody | Highlighted Notes: Hedione, amber, cedar, saffron | Size: 1.2, 2.4 6.8 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re not a newbie to the perfume world, chances are you’ve heard of this incredibly popular scent from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. It’s easy to recognize when someone is wearing it thanks to the sweet scent that’s full of depth, warmth, and a bit of spice—not to mention the impressive projection it provides. During our lab test where we spritzed it onto fabrics, hair, and our skin to test for staining, scent, and residue, we had no issues with any of that; it performed beautifully. We found that as it settled onto the skin, it smelled sweet, soft, warm, and just a bit woody and spicy, giving it the depth that helps to create a luxurious finish. Just one or two sprays of the fine mist give you a nice amount of intensity, and we found that it lasts on the skin and fabric nicely throughout the day.

Between the wonderful scent, impressive lasting power, and luxe packaging, we believe this one is worth the splurge—especially considering that a little bit truly goes a long way. We also love that it doesn’t feel particularly seasonal, making it a great choice for year-round wear. If you love warm, sweet, and feminine scents, we think you’ll adore this popular pick.

Fragrance Family: Woody, fresh | Highlighted Notes: Ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, cedarwood, musk | Size: 1.7, 3.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re looking for a light scent you can wear day or night, this beloved option from Byredo could be right up your alley. Although it has a unique scent profile that combines notes of ambrette, magnolia, musk, and a variety of woods that blend to create an aromatic, juicy, and woody fragrance, it never smells overpowering. It smells fresh and sophisticated with a nice amount of depth and uniqueness, making it suitable for everything from a day at the office to a night out.

During our test, we didn’t experience residue, staining, or quick fading on the paper test strips, hair, or skin. After 30 minutes, it still smelled just as fragrant on our wrists as it did upon the initial spray. Although some online reviewers say they wish it had better lasting power, we found that it lasted nicely throughout the day. As for the packaging, we like that the design is simple and neutral, and we love that the cap is magnetic.

Fragrance Family: Warm floral | Highlighted Notes: Lavender, orange blossom, musk accord | Size: 0.33, 1, 1.7, 3.04 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you want to feel sexy but also understated on a date night, we recommend this fresh, floral, and musky scent from YSL. Notes of lavender, orange blossom, musk accord, and vanilla marry together to create a fragrance that smells clean and intoxicating with a subtle hint of warmth. When you spray it on initially, you’ll get more of the lavender and musky notes, but as it dries down and meshes with your skin, it warms up a bit, bringing out a bit of your natural scent.

We were impressed by how nicely it performed, we didn’t experience staining, greasy residue, or fast fading. While we found that the atomizer was a bit tilted and let out a fairly intense mist making for a less than ideal initial spray, it’s certainly not a dealbreaker. Overall, we adore this pick and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fresh scent with a nighttime flare. It’s available in four different sizes so you can try it before you invest in a big bottle (though we think you’ll eventually want to!) Plus, the sleek bottle is refillable and customizable — perfect if you’re shopping for a beauty gift.

Fragrance Family: Fresh, warm | Highlighted Notes: Lily of the Valley, iris, white musk | Size: 0.3, 1, 3.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Those who like clean, fresh, and floral scents—like freshly washed linens—will love this perfume that was inspired by a leisurely morning in bed on crisp, comfy sheets. Notes of Lily of the Valley, iris, ambrette, and white musk fuse to create a soft, casual fragrance that feels innately unisex. It’s the kind of scent that you can spritz on yourself for any occasion, or you can spray on your duvet before bedtime for a calming, sensorial experience. Though we don’t love that it opens up with a bit of an alcohol scent (a lot of perfumes do), it dissipates quite quickly before drying down and bringing out some warmth once it settles into the skin.

As for the performance, we had no issues with it. It passed our tests beautifully and we were impressed that despite the fragrance being subtle, it has a solid projection (the area where you can smell it while wearing it). If you gravitate towards fresh, floral, or clean scents with a bit of warmth and a powdery finish, we think you’ll enjoy this one. Think of it like a “your skin but better” type of fragrance with a bit more projection than your average skin scent.

Fragrance Family: Floral, aldehyde | Highlighted Notes: May rose, jasmine, aldehydes, bourbon, vanilla  | Size: 1.2, 1.7, 3.4, 6.8 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

When you think about what a truly classic perfume smells like, chances are a perfume like Chanel No. 5 comes to mind. After all, it was created in 1921 by the iconic designer label, so it’s no surprise it’s become an industry staple. It’s floral and aldehydic (think a bit soapy) with a touch of warmth to soften the finish. It’s a sophisticated scent that would be perfect to buy for someone in their 40s or older, though it’s a great choice for anyone who likes a fragrance with a bouquet of floral notes.

We were impressed by how well it lasted on our skin and particularly on our hair, though we did notice just a bit of minor staining when spraying it on a white fabric. If you’re planning on sporting a white top, we recommend spritzing this one on your skin before you get dressed. We also enjoyed that it seemed to warm up a bit on our skin, making the aldehydes in the fragrance appear more subtle throughout the day. And of course, the chic, neutral bottle with the iconic Chanel logo is a total bonus.

Fragrance Family: Fresh, woody | Highlighted Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage | Size: 0.34, 1, 3.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Comprised of sea salt, sage, and ambrette seeds, this popular scent smells like a walk by the seaside on a crisp summer morning. It’s fresh and woody with a slight herbaceous twist, giving it a unique depth that sets it apart from other options in the fresh fragrance category. Upon the initial spritz, we found that it had an alcohol-forward scent. But thankfully, that faded quickly, eliminating the sharpness and lending to a scent that warmed up a bit on the skin. We also would prefer if it had slightly better projection, but we were pleased by how nicely it lasted on our wrists and the hair samples.

Because of its fresh base, we think it’s suitable for day and night and is a great option for all occasions. And because it wears close to the skin, it’s nice for those who prefer something more subtle.

Fragrance Family: Warm floral | Highlighted Notes: Almond milk, iris, musk | Size: 1.7 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Musky scents are sexy and intoxicating, but sometimes they can border on animalistic and sharp. We love this one because it combines the best parts of a musky fragrance, with the right amount of warmth from an almond milk note to round it out. It also features an iris note for a dose of powdery florals that give it a feminine twist.

During testing, we loved that we could detect all of the highlighted notes right off the bat, but it still smelled like a sophisticated and dynamic scent, all without being too heady or overpowering. It wore beautifully on our wrists and performed nicely on the test strips, though we did notice that the fragrance wasn’t as potent on the satin fabric swatch—this is something to keep in mind if you typically spray your perfume on your clothing. All-in-all, it’s a gorgeous warm, powdery, and musky perfume in elegant red packaging, making it a luxurious option that’s perfect for musky fragrance lovers.

Fragrance Family: Smoky, woody | Highlighted Notes: Cardamom, iris, violet, Australian sandalwood, cedarwood | Size: 0.5, 1.7, 3.4, 16.9 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This smoky fragrance is extremely popular—it’s one of Le Labo’s bestsellers and we can understand why. It beautifully combines earthy, spicy, leathery, and woody notes to create a smoky scent that feels more unique than some options that smell like a straight-up bonfire. This wood-forward, smoky fragrance is reminiscent of the smell of palo santo or a campfire with a bit of a spicy twist. It’s complex yet comforting and familiar.

Just one or two sprays provide a powerful dose of fragrance, though we appreciated that it isn’t too sharp or overpowering—it took just a few minutes to settle into the skin and warm up slightly, making it extremely wearable. It offered impressive lasting power (one of the most long-wearing options we tested) and projection, though we did notice that it left a bit of residue and stains on the fabrics. We recommend applying this one straight to your skin to avoid ruining your clothes. If you like smoky fragrances but you’re looking for something with depth and intricacy, we highly recommend checking it out.

Fragrance Family: Fruity, spicy | Highlighted Notes: Black cherry, tonka bean, almond | Size: 0.33, 1, 1.7, 3.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Fruity scents can often lean sugary or even a little bit tart, but we love that this one is fruity in an expected way. A sultry black cherry note is the foundation of the fragrance, but it’s decorated in notes of tonka bean and almond for a warm and sweet touch, as well as Turkish rose and jasmine sambac for a faint floral finish. It’s potent but not overpowering, and though it’s certainly wearable for daytime, we think it’s a perfect sensual scent for nighttime.

It did create minor staining on fabrics so we recommend spritzing it directly on your skin, but other than that, it performed very well in our tests. Just a few sprays were all we needed to yield an ideal projection, and we found that it lasted quite well on our skin and hair. In addition to the gorgeous scent and impressive performance, we love that it’s available in four sizes and it comes in a luxurious burgundy bottle.

Fragrance Family: Floral | Highlighted Notes: Lily of the Valley, centifolia rose, soft musk | Size: 0.7, 1, 1.7, 3.4, 5 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This beloved fragrance from Dior is a classic floral scent. It blends Lily of the Valley, rose, peony, powdery iris, and musk to create a floral bouquet with a burst of powder and a faint, musky finish. It’s ideal for spring and summer since it’s a bright floral, though we think it can be mixed with a warmer (perhaps vanilla) fragrance to give it a slight wintry, or nighttime flare. Just a few spritzes are enough to get the full effect, and we appreciate that it’s not too heady or overwhelming. It lasted beautifully on our skin and test strips, and we didn’t notice any staining or residue.

One thing to note is that the rose note is quite prominent which can be a bit polarizing. If you enjoy the scent of roses, you’ll love this one, but if you’re not into rose-forward scents, this isn’t for you. Overall, we’re impressed by the performance of this and think it’s a great pick for most people who adore floral fragrances. Not to mention, it’s available in five sizes.

Fragrance Family: Floral | Highlighted Notes: Vanilla, jasmine, rose, peony, orange blossom | Size: 0.33, 0.68, 1, 1.7, 3.4, 5 | Cruelty-Free: No

Those who like a fragrance that smells like an explosion of flowers have met their match with this well-loved floral scent from Viktor & Rolf. It combines a variety of florals—jasmine, rose, peony, and orange blossom—with a burst of vanilla and a bit of musk that effectively warm it up and prevent it from being too heady. The scent is a beautifully balanced floral, but be aware that it’s quite strong and could be overpowering for someone who’s even relatively sensitive to fragrances. We think it’s best for those who love flowery perfumes and enjoy some major projection.

During our test, we found that it lasted beautifully on our skin, hair, and test strips, though it created very minor staining on fabrics. We also appreciate that it comes in six different sizes so you can purchase a trial size before committing, or you can opt for the value size bottle if you fall in love with the fragrance.

Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Highlighted Notes: Green apple, pink pepper, bergamot, rose, lilac, sandalwood | Size: 1, 2.5, 8.5, 17, 34 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Opening up with a crisp note of green apple, this quickly fruity floral fragrance transforms from tangy to something more nuanced. As it settles on the skin, it becomes fresh, floral, and juicy with a bit of warmth and muskiness. We love that it doesn’t stick to a singular fruit note, it offers a variety of notes that beautifully complement each other to create a bright, happy perfume. We also love that as it dries on the skin, it warms up a bit and brings out your natural scent.

We didn’t experience any staining or residue when using it in the testing lab, and we found that it wore nicely throughout the day. A bonus is that while quite expensive, it comes in some huge bottles—17 and 34 fluid ounces—that could be a wise investment if this becomes your go-to scent. Our only con is that we find the packaging to be a bit outdated and less on the luxe side than other options we tested, but if you’re not super hung up on the aesthetic and you love a fruity-floral scent, we think you’ll love this pick.

Fragrance Family: Floral, fresh | Highlighted Notes: Hibiscus, palm, melati flower, coconut milk | Size: 0.27, 1.7, 3.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Inspired by a trip to a beach paradise, this beautiful scent combines floral and fruity notes found in tropical destinations. Hibiscus, palm, melati flower (jasmine), and coconut water marry to create a floral and juicy fragrance with a solar component. It’s perfect for summer or bringing with you on a beach trip or tropical honeymoon. We love that it’s potent and easily detectable on the skin and hair, though it’s not too strong or overwhelming.

It performed nicely during our test—no concerns with staining or fast fading, though we notice that the juice does feel slightly oily, so we recommend applying it directly to your skin rather than on your clothing or hair. Overall, it’s a fantastic choice for anyone who’s looking for a tropical, beachy fragrance that’s sophisticated and multi-dimensional.

Fragrance Family: Earthy | Highlighted Notes: Fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood, black pepper | Size: 2.5 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

To put it bluntly: this perfume is hard to describe. It’s got a variety of fig notes which gives it a subtle sweet and juicy quality, but black pepper and white cedar provide a strong dose of spice and woods. Perhaps one of our testers said it best; “It has a really unique scent that is naturalistic, almost plant-like, and a bit fruity,” she said. “I am a gardener/plant lady, so I loved the scent.” Because it’s so hard to accurately describe, we don’t think this is a blind buy if you’re not already a fan of earthy and plant-like fragrances. But if you’re into complex fragrances and you’re looking for something that doesn’t smell like anything else you’ve tried, this is a great option. We also think it’s suitable for day or night.

It performed beautifully during our test without staining, creating residue, or fading fast. It lasted quite well throughout the day, and we appreciated that it was potent and had nice projection but wasn’t overpowering.

Fragrance Family: Floral | Highlighted Notes: Orange, jasmine, May rose, patchouli, vetiver | Size: 1.2, 1.7, 3.4, 6.8 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Those looking for a bright and feminine fragrance should try this fan-favorite from Chanel. It opens with a vibrant, sparkling orange note that maintains its character while slowly warming up and garnering depth thanks to patchouli, vetiver, jasmine, and rose. There’s also an ambery quality to it, which provides just the right amount of sweetness and warmth. It’s elegant, feminine, and fun, making it suitable for a wide range of age groups.

We appreciated how potent (yet not overwhelming) it was, though we found that it faded fairly quickly on our skin—we noticed it slightly dissipating after about 30 minutes. We also experienced some minor staining on fabric, so we recommend applying it to your skin rather than your clothing. But between the lovely scent and the beautiful bottle that looks gorgeous on any vanity, we recommend it to anyone in the market for a bright, sparkling scent.

Fragrance Family: Floral, woody | Highlighted Notes: Rose, blackcurrant, raspberry, patchouli, sandalwood | Size: 0.34, 1, 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Frédéric Malle is known for creating luxurious, unique, and sophisticated scents, and this one is among their most popular. Notes of rose, blackcurrant, raspberry, patchouli, and sandalwood blend together, creating an elevated fragrance that’s floral and woody with a bit of added complexity. The rose note is definitely the most identifiable, but we like that it’s balanced out by patchouli, and sandalwood to ensure it’s not too heady. Note that it is quite potent and can border on overpowering, though given that it’s pricey, we appreciate that just one spray goes a long way. It’s a timeless fragrance that we think is ideal for mature women, though it’s suitable for anyone who enjoys classic, rose-forward scents.

We were impressed by how well it performed across our tests. We had no issue with staining, oily residue, or fading, so if you’re a fan of the scent, you’ll be pleased with your purchase.