As pleasing as the right outfit can be to the eye, the right scent can provide a multi-sensory experience that ties everything up in a neat little bow.
Whether you have a signature scent or like to experiment, there are some amazing fragrances that have been released lately, and we want to help you find the perfect one. Keep reading to find the best perfumes for women of the year, based on the most popular and best-selling products.
Best Perfumes for Women
Libre by Yves Saint Laurent
Even if your 9 to 5 means you can’t be free all day, you can at least feel free with Libre.
It is definitely on the more feminine side with lavender as a primary scent, but moroccan orange and vanilla add a certain warmth and brightness that keeps it youthful. There’s a nice balance here that makes it invigorating to wear, but not too strong for everyday use.
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf
If there’s any gift you might like to get for a special occasion, an “explosive floral bouquet” probably fits the bill. According to Viktor & Rolf, you can get it in a bottle.
Roses, jasmine, orchids, osmanthus, and freesia all wrapped in vanilla give you one of the sweetest scents on the market. If you’ve got a favorite flower, it’s probably in here somewhere. It does dry down to something a bit more sultry and warm, but it’s a sweet scent on top.
Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel
If you want something bright that’s not too sweet or musky, this one walks the line perfectly. Turkish roses and oranges lend themselves to a nice feminine sensuality.
Plus, there’s just enough patchouli to cut through it a little bit, but nothing too overwhelming. It’s a beautiful and instantly recognizable scent that will give you tons of compliments.
Toy 2 by Moschino
You know the smell of sweet and sour candy, the kind that makes you pucker a little bit but tastes so good? Moschino has basically turned it into a perfume, cute little bear shape included.
Granny Smith apples and oranges provide a tart and sour punch with just a little bit of amber to balance things out.
Perfect by Marc Jacobs
Usually when you see something with notes like orange and vanilla, things go in a more sensual direction, but that’s not everyone’s vibe.
For something a little more soothing than sexy, Perfect is, dare we say it? Perfect! There’s some citrus, but it’s mellowed out with almond milk and cashmere. Nice and calming but it doesn’t smell like pure linen.
Cloud by Ariana Grande
Musk can be perfect for a certain sex appeal but maybe it comes off as too masculine for you, even if it’s only a hint in an otherwise feminine floral perfume. Somehow Ariana Grande has managed to provide a sensual musk that still smells feminine.
Vanilla and creme de coconut do most of the work, resulting in a scent that is sweet, warm, and somehow a little bit creamy. Think marshmallows and vanilla cotton candy with a little jasmine. It’s a cleaner musk that isn’t too heady.
Eau De Parfum by Jimmy Choo
This luxurious fragrance is the epitome of glamour and femininity. The top notes are sweet orange and pear nectar, while exotic tiger orchid and caramel make this scent perfectly sweet and sexy.
Exude confidence with just one spritz of this rich and sophisticated perfume.
Chance Eau Tendre by Chanel
Because of the style we associate with Chanel, a lot of their products can feel a bit intimidating, especially if you’re part of the younger crowd. If you want a little baby step into designer fragrances, this is it.
It has some of the woody and musky notes that you might expect from Chanel, but the grapefruit and citron makes it a little more approachable. Plus, the light eau de toilette formulation means it’s not so strong. If Coco Mademoiselle is too much for you, Chance Eau Tendre might be your thing.
Twilly by Hermès
Have you ever tasted something so good that you wanted to bottle up the scent of it cooking? Twilly is essentially that.
It’s not the fruit and musk that’s so popular this season, but rather a powdered floral with some spice. Think roses, but with ginger and sandalwood instead of orange and vanilla.
Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent calls this the first coffee floral fragrance. We don’t know if it’s the first, but it’s definitely one of the best.
The coffee scent wakes you up, clean white flowers keep it fresh, and vanilla smooths it all out. There is a little sweetness, but it’s more like a high quality dark roast than a sacrine vanilla latte.
Donna Born In Roma by Valentino
Think of this one like the cool older sister to Flowerbomb. The black currant notes are there, but it’s more woody than fruity, with some pepperiness and aged bourbon.
Bright Crystal by Versace
Most of the floral scents on the market right now are pretty warm, but warmer weather sometimes calls for cooler scents. Lotus and magnolia are certainly floral, but there’s more water than spice.
Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
Sometimes flowery and fruity scents can be overpowering, but this fragrance from Dolce & Gabbana gives a light and clean scent that isn’t drowning in musk.
With notes of lemon, green apple, and jasmine, you’ll feel as though you’ve been swept on a tropical vacation with just one spritz. Dolce & Gabbana call it “the aura of Mediterranean beauty.”
Candy by Prada
If Toy 2 is sour candy, then Candy is an old-fashioned caramel. It’s super sweet with caramel, coconut, and vanilla, with the slightest tinge of spice. It’s probably the closest you’ll get to satisfying your sweet tooth without actually eating anything.
REPLICA by the Fireplace by Maison Margiela
This best-selling fragrance by Maison Margiela will transport you exactly where the name suggests: cuddling up by the fireplace on a cold winter night.
Notes of clove oil, chestnut, and vanilla give way to a warm and spicy scent that amounts to coziness in a bottle. If you want a scent full of warmth and comfort with a hint of sweetness, this perfume is for you.
Good Girl by Carolina Herrera
Ironic name for this one, but a great scent. Good Girl isn’t sweet, but sexy. It’s pure spice, amber, and wood with a mood that the bottle perfectly represents.
Princess by Vera Wang
Not only is this perfume aesthetically pleasing, it’s also playful, whimsical, and timeless.
With a blend of vanilla, water lily, apple, and amber, this fragrance is sure to lift your spirits and help you channel your inner royalty.
Her by Burberry
There’s no doubt that the Burberry check is iconic on its own, but as of 2018 there’s a scent that evokes the preppy spirit of the house in much the same way.
The first thing you’re going to smell is fruit, particularly raspberries, sour cherries, and strawberries. There’s a little bit of woodiness in the base notes, but it’s the more powdery scent that puts this one into preppy Burberry territory.
I Want Choo by Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo has his own take on fruity scents, going for sweet over sour. Peaches add some sweetness to mandarin oranges, and lilies and vanilla give it a spring like femininity that’s the perfect pick-me-up.
There’s some amber in the base notes as well, so it’s not quite like wearing a fruit market on your skin, but it’s definitely evocative of a warm spring day.
J’adore by Dior
If I Want Choo wasn’t quite enough for your spring scent, this one will definitely fill in those gaps. It has some similarities in the fruits and florals, with peaches and vanilla being present in both, but Dior adds even more floral notes with freesia, lily of the valley, and magnolias.
The fruit notes also take on a cooler and sweeter tone, mostly composed of more watery summer fruits like melon and pear.
Bloom by Gucci
Bloom isn’t one of the most complex scents out there, but it’s certainly for someone who knows what they want: jasmine, tuberose, and rangoon creeper.
It’s a white floral that smells a bit like honeysuckle and gardenia on steroids with a little powder.
Irresistible by Givenchy
Roses and irises can be a tricky thing in perfume together. Roses are one of the most ultra-feminine flowers, but in the wrong concentration they can come off as too heavy and antiquated.
Givenchy’s Irresistible does certainly give off a more old-fashioned scent, but don’t be discouraged if you’re a little bit younger. Pear lightens the scent while musk gives it a sensuality that keeps it firmly in the modern-day. It’s a nice balance of the old and the new.
Wonderlust by Michael Kors
Warm can mean a lot of things when it comes to scents. Typically in perfume, it means spicy, sexy, and alluring. Michael Kors decided to take Wonderlust in a less lustful direction and focus instead on cozy comfort.
You get plenty of notes like cinnamon and ginger, but it’s mixed beautifully with almonds, milk, and sandalwood. The result is something that is warm in a different way than usual. If Carolina Herrera’s good girl wears high heels and leather, then Michael Kors’ girl wears cashmere and denim.
Voce Viva by Valentino
Last but certainly not least is this citrus dominant fragrance by Valentino. It’s a little bit younger than Donna Born In Roma, with way more orange and bergamot.
There’s a little bit of ginger and vanilla in there too, but it’s better described as bright than warm. It’s the perfect summer fragrance.
Bottom Line
And there you have it: a list of the most popular and well reviewed fragrances of recent years. Pick up one of these perfumes if you’re looking for something new, trying to find your signature scent, or just want to add a few fragrances to your collection.
The scent profiles here are also a great place to start, but keep in mind that perfume smells different throughout the day. It’s always a good idea to try before you buy!
