25 Of The Best Perfumes For Women, From Classic Fragrances To New Scents

With so many fragrances on the market, finding the perfect women’s perfume can feel overwhelming. From timeless icons by Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dior to the distinctive allure of niche houses like Frédéric Malle, Ffern and Parfums de Marly, there’s a scent for every mood and moment.

Vogue’s best women’s perfumes at a glance:

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Prada Paradoxe Intense Eau de Parfum

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Whether you’re drawn to the classics or craving something more unconventional, the right fragrance is deeply personal. Consider mood, occasion, longevity and even the bottle design – because the best perfume doesn’t just smell incredible, it feels like an extension of you.

So, how do you choose? Beyond the practical questions – will it wear well at the office? Does it last long on the skin? The best perfumes for women are the ones that feel personal. They don’t just smell beautiful, either; they resonate. They transport you, recalling memories of people, places, and moments with uncanny precision. And there’s a reason for that – it’s not just magic, it’s science.

“A smell is interpreted when an odour passes into the brain’s olfactory bulb, via the upper part of the nose,” explains perfumer Frederic Malle. “That information then goes to an area where emotions are processed, after which it is carried to the part of the brain where memory forms.” Here, Vogue enlists experts to answer all your perfume questions, plus shares a definitive guide to the icons and newcomers worth having in your fragrance collection.

Read more: The 22 Best Eye Creams For Bright Eyes All Year Round

The best perfumes in 2025

Byredo Rodeo

• Fragrance Family: Leather
• Key Notes: Suede, Violet, Leather, Vetiver and Black Amber
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Drawing on the recent trend for all things cowboy, this Byredo number is soft, smoky and a little bit edgy, but super wearable at the same time. Designed to evoke the “crackling sound of an old saddle”, you don’t have to be a horse fanatic to fall in love with this one.

Dries Van Noten Havana Gold Eau De Parfum

Dries Van Noten

Havana Gold Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Amber Oriental
• Key Notes: Mandarin, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Roasted Tonka Bean and Leather Accord
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Recently launched, this new Dries Van Noten scent conjures the smoky sensuality of a bar in Havana. With liquorice and tobacco absolute and an amber-tinted glass bottle (and aged brass base) it is as intoxicating as they come, smelling especially good on hot evenings out.

Maison Margiela Replica Never Ending Summer Eau de Toilette

Maison Margiela

Never Ending Summer Eau de Toilette

• Fragrance Family: Citrus Gourmand
• Key Notes: Bitter Orange, Cardamom, Vetiver, Cedarwood, Early Grey Tea and Nutmeg
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Consider this sparkling scent your quick ticket to summers spent on the Amalfi Coast. Think Aperols at sunset, lemon trees and slow afternoons spent lying in the sun – it’s the perfect sunshine scent, rain or shine.

DS & Durga Crush Balls

• Fragrance Family: Aromatic Green
• Key Notes: Rosemary, Green Grass, White Cotton, Hedge Flowers
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Wimbledon may be over for the year, but you can still get your fix with this rather nice scent. An olfactive love letter to the tennis court (which also smells rather like freshly cut grass), it’s incredibly energising and a unique juice that is playful and evocative.

Acne Studios Par Frederic Malle Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Fresh
• Key Notes: Aldehydes, Orange Blossom, Rose, Peach and Sandalwood
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Made for sweaty summer days when you’re keen to smell clean, this modish new launch from Acne Studios is not to be missed. Its sparkling aldehydes lend the kind of scent that keeps you sniffing freshly laundered linen, but without being excessively soapy. A typically artful composition from Frederic Malle, those fresh notes shape-shift throughout the day, drying down to reveal featherlight florals and sophisticated, musky sandalwood.
• Vogue review: “Looking for a new summer spritz? This is it: fresh, long-lasting, and guaranteed to draw compliments. Acne Studios transforms classic florals into something effortlessly cool. Trust me — it’s worth adding to your daily rotation.” – Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer

Perfumer H Dandelion

• Fragrance Family: Green, Fresh
• Key Notes: Citrus, Lavender, Orange Flower
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: “I love scents that evoke the great outdoors – especially since I live in the city – and Perfumer H’s Dandelion Eau de Parfum fits the bill. A delicious scent, notes of Sicilian lemon, Tunisian orange flower and French lavender make for a fresh and vibrant juice,” says contributing beauty writer Hannah Coates. Besides its rich green accord, this scent brings the outdoors in in more ways than one. The room spray edition is a must-have for fresh-smelling interiors, and handblown to plant stem proportions, the 100ml green-glassed bottle is a piece of decor in and of itself – a perfume biophiles will love.

Prada Paradoxe Intense Eau de Parfum

Prada

Paradoxe Intense Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Floral Amber
• Key Notes: Pear, Neroli Bud, Bergamot, White Musk and Bourbon Vanilla
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Not only does this scent last a long time on the skin, but it’s also a great crowd pleaser – most people who smell it, love it. The perfect gift, it’s wearable for every occasion, balancing creamy vanilla with amber and musks.
• Vogue review: “I didn’t think Prada Paradoxe could get any better, but the Intense version proves otherwise. It builds on the original’s sensual floral-amber base with a fresher green twist, thanks to moss and Ambrofix. Just one light mist lasts all day. Plus, the sleek, refillable triangle bottle is as chic as it is sustainable.”— Tracy Achonwa, contributing beauty writer

Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif

• Fragrance Family: Fruity
• Key Notes: Turkish Rose, Lychee, Grapefruit and Vetiver
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: There’s a reason this fragrance is all over your “for you” feed, and it’s not just because the bottle is picturesque in pink. Yes, it sits pretty on your dresser, but the scent itself is sensationally elegant. Crisp and fruity with a twist that comes from the subtle addition of vetiver, it blends traditional notes into an intriguing and long-lasting accord.
• Vogue review: “Prepare to be told that you smell expensive – and to be badgered for your scent.” – Tracy Achonwa, contributing beauty writer

Liberty LBTY Tudor Eau de Parfum

Liberty

LBTY Fragrance – Tudor Eau De Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Spicy/Wood
• Key Notes: Ginger, Juniper, Nutmeg, Chamomile, Sandalwood, Iris, Amber
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Inspired by Liberty’s iconic Tudor facade and rich archive of tapestries, Pierre Negrin (the perfumer behind Tom Ford’s Black Orchid) has worked his magic to concoct Tudor: an indulgent, woodsy scent. Warming nutmeg anchors refreshing notes of ginger and juniper berry in this resinous spritz, which lingers on the skin and wins endless compliments from every passerby. We’re in love.
• Vogue review: If you’ve stepped into Liberty London, you’ll know the scent – smoky wood, rainy city air and notes of beauty hall wafting through. This fragrance captures it perfectly: sandalwood, iris and amber mingle with juniper, ginger and nutmeg. To smell it is to smell a slice of history – and it is divine. — Jessica Diner, European beauty and wellness director

Maison Francis Kurkdijan 724 Elixir

• Fragrance Family: Citrus, Fresh
• Key Notes: Aldehydes, Italian Bergamot, White Sandalwood
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s 724 is crafted from the finest sandalwood and peak-harvest citrus and florals, creating a fresh, long-lasting scent. In this travel-size elixir, it glides onto pulse points, lasts for hours and layers beautifully — an essential for any handbag.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musc Noir Eau De Parfum

Narciso Rodriguez

For Her Musc Noir Eau De Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Chypre Musc
• Key Notes: Plum, Musk, Heliotrope and Suede
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Inspired by the original For Her fragrance, Musc Noir by Narciso Rodriguez reinterprets its core, building on the iconic fragrance’s darkest and most intense facets. Paying homage to the duality of all women, the scent features notes of juicy plum followed by heliotrope flower and sensual leather suede accord.

Glossier You Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Floral Woody Musk
• Key Notes: Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Thyme, Galbanum, Artemisia, Vetiver, Juniper Berries and Black Pepper.
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: There is truly nothing like Glossier’s You. When on skin, the fragrance, formulated as a skin-smell enhancer, warms up, creating a different scent on everyone who wears it. The bottle, created with a real thumbprint indent, works as a reminder that this fragrance is, in fact, made just for You. Expect spicy notes of black pepper, floral iris, as well as woody notes from the ambrette seeds.

Floral Street Sweet Almond Blossom

• Fragrance Family: Floral Gourmand
• Key Notes: Pomelo, Apple Blossom, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Mandarin Orange, Heliotrope and Matcha Green Tea.
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: The woman-founded, independent perfumery Floral Street creates fragrances with the utmost integrity and heart. Sweet Almond Blossom, crafted by master perfumer Jerome Epinette and inspired by Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom painting (Floral Street currently has a collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum), Sweet Almond Blossom is a sustainably sourced celebration of creamy vanilla, nutty tonka bean and crisp green matcha tea. In founder Michelle Feeney’s very own words, “This fragrance is for when you’re feeling ethereal, enchanting, sensuous and hypnotic. It really is a day-dreamer’s fantasy.”

Whind Néroli Bronzé Eau de Parfum

Whind

Néroli Bronzé Fragrance

• Fragrance Family: Amber Floral
• Key Notes: Orange Peel, Grapefruit, Cardamom, Neroli, Lavender, Orange Blossom, Blonde Woods, Musk and Crystal Amber
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Inspired by the kiss of golden hours in Marrakech, this tantalising fragrance is a tribute to the pleasure and joy the city brings. Soft brown sugar, lashing of fresh pomello and spiced cardamom – think bronzed skin under the rich Moroccan sun. Layer with other fragrances in the collection.

Loewe Solo Ella Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Fresh Fruity Floral
• Key Notes: Green Apple, Pear, Orange Blossom, Amber and Musk
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Warm and fresh, this flirty Loewe scent is playful and cool, making it perfect for everyday. “It is a refreshing scent that reaps compliments every time I wear it. I don’t tend to gravitate towards florals, but Loewe’s take is distinctly different: inspired by “state of grace and equilibrium” and “the balance of oppositional accords” it boasts depth and strength that ensures it lasts all day and night (and the next day) after. — Alice Cary, shopping writer

The best women’s perfumes: The Classics

There’s a reason some perfumes for women are bestsellers year in, year out. From Chanel No 5 to Miss Dior and every time-tested spritz in between, below are the safe picks you’re bound to love – and that make exceptional gifts.

Miss Dior Eau De Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Amber Floral
• Key Notes: Iris, Peony, Apricot, Rose, Peach, Vanilla, Musk, Tonka Bean, Benzoin and Sandalwood
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: With fresh notes of peony and iris blended with creamy musks, vanilla, and a hint of tonka bean, the Miss Dior Eau de Parfum is soft, sensual and the ultimate fan favourite. Finished with a ribbon flourish, it’s also the perfume gift that practically wraps itself – what’s not to love?

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia

Jo Malone

English Pear & Freesia Cologne

• Fragrance Family: Fruity, Floral Woody
• Key Notes: King William Pear, Freesia Flower, Patchouli
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: There’s nothing quite like coming home to a Jo Malone gift box on your birthday, anniversary, or Christmas Day. Packaged with care, this bottle is a bestseller in its body mist, room spray and cologne forms, because it does what many other fragrances don’t: it keeps things simple. An uncomplicated formula of just three notes, its juicy pear, fresh freesias and long-lasting patchouli make it an easy choice for everyday wear. Add to cart for a crowd-pleasing spritz that’s hard to go wrong with.

Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Floral, Citrus
• Key Notes: Rose, Aldehyde, Jasmine and Vanilla
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Elegant and timeless, Chanel’s crystal-capped bottle has earned its spot in endless shelfies and among the best women’s fragrances of all time. Reports that the house sells almost 10 million bottles worldwide every year only add to its iconic allure – it’s shown no signs of falling out of fashion since its launch over 100 years ago. A luxurious blend of clean aldehydes and florals, sprinkled with powders like those found in its chic compacts, it’s no wonder generations of women are drawn to this spritz time and time again.

Tom Ford Vanille Fatale Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Warm Woody
• Key Notes: Mahogany Wood, Roasted Barley Orpur, Vanilla Resinoid
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: While Tom Ford’s entire range of perfumes is sought-after, his vanilla-based EDPs are some of the most popular. Vanille Fatale, for example, balances woody notes with ambery tones and a vanilla base for a bold and sensual result. If vanilla scents aren’t your thing, there are plenty of others worth perusing in his legendary lineup – see the zesty Neroli Portofino or smash hit Electric Cherry for signature scent inspo.

Read more: These Are The Best Tom Ford Perfumes I Have Tried

Dior J’adore L’Or Perfume Essence

Dior

J’adore L’Or Perfume Essence

• Fragrance Family: Floral
• Key Notes: Orange Blossom, Jasmine Grandiflorum and Centifolia Rose
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: We all remember that iconic Noughties Dior advert: Charlize Theron strutting through a mansion wearing gold, alluding to the sculptural J’Adore Dior perfume bottle. Last year, the French maison tasked Francis Kurkdjian with modernising the scent for a new generation, resulting in a fragrance that celebrates the floral notes of its predecessor with orange blossom, jasmine grandiflorum and centifolia rose.

Phlur Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum

Phlur

Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Gourmand
• Key Notes: Vanilla, pink pepper, sandalwood
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Smooth, skin-like scents are what Phlur does so well, and this sweet and creamy EDP is no exception. Combining vanilla and a blend of warming spices, there’s also pink pepper and sugar for a note of soft heat. Sandalwood provides a musky backdrop that helps this perfume linger for longer.

Diptyque Bois Corsé Eau de Parfum

Diptyque

Bois Corsé Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Woody
• Key Notes: Black coffee, sandalwood, tonka bean
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: In the Les Essences collection, scents are reimagined for fragrance-less elements; in this case, it’s tree bark that gets the treatment. An earthy, resinous and full-bodied scent, it takes notes of black coffee absolute, sandalwood and tonka bean to conjure up the outer layers of a tree. The effect is deep, intense and calming all at once.

Hermès Barénia Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Woody
• Key Notes: Butterfly lily, miracle berry, oak, patchouli
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: The latest fragrance from Christine Nagel, this chypre has all the facets you would hope for: soft, skin-like sensuality, delicacy and femininity from butterfly lily, but with a dry down that’s enveloping and earthy, thanks to oakwood and smoky patchouli. The perfect perfume for a decadent evening out.

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle L’Elixir Eau de Parfum

Lancôme

La Vie Est Belle L’Elixir Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Floral
• Key Notes: Raspberry, violet, cocoa butter
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: A sweeter, velvety take on the original classic, this iteration of the bestselling fragrance combines juicy raspberry with powdery, sensual violet and creamy cocoa butter. The result is a cocooning perfume that can be worn day to night, whatever the occasion.

Byredo Bal D’Afrique Eau de Parfum

BYREDO

Bal D’Afrique Eau de Parfum

• Fragrance Family: Floral Woody Oriental
• Key Notes: African Marigold, Bergamot, Cyclamen, Cedarwood and Vetiver
• Why this is a Vogue top pick: Inspired by Africa, this floral scent has long been my go-to for everyday and evening,” writes contributing beauty writer, Hannah Coates. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it. With notes of African marigold, bergamot, Moroccan cedarwood and violet, it’s a fresh – but not overpowering – scent unlike any I’ve tried before. It lasts most of the day, but I like to do another spritz around lunch for better staying power.”

FAQs

What is the difference between eau de cologne, toilette and perfume?

Traditionally, Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum increase in fragrance oil concentration – from around two per cent up to 20 per cent or more for Parfum. But there’s no official standard, so brands can label them however they choose. For instance, Jo Malone’s “Colognes” actually contain much more fragrance oil than typical colognes – closer to Eau de Toilette or Eau de Parfum levels. They use the term “Cologne” to reflect the light, layered style of their scents.

No matter the concentration, ingredients like woods, amber and musk naturally last longer because they’re heavier molecules. Notes such as myrrh, oud and leather will stick around much longer on the skin than lighter, more fleeting citrus or herbal notes.

What makes a perfume popular?

Cult fragrances don’t just reflect their time – they help shape it. From the bright aldehydes of the post-war ’40s to the earthy patchouli of the eco-conscious ’70s and the bold, power-scented ’80s, each decade has left a mark. The ’90s embraced minimalism, followed by a flood of celebrity scents in the 2000s. In response, niche perfumery rose – led by brands like Jo Malone London, known for their elegant, ingredient-focused formulas.

How do I choose a perfume?

Finding a fragrance is a highly personal pursuit and there are a few things to consider. Are you someone who likes to announce your presence in a room with a lingering signature scent? Or, are you spritzing with a more intimate interaction in mind? Another thing to think about is the notes you prefer. If you know you like your fragrances light and fresh, seek out citrus notes like bergamot or mandarin. If you like them sweet, try notes of vanilla or almond. If you prefer notes that are a little deeper, try sandalwood or oud.

How to make perfume last longer

To preserve the notes and longevity of your perfume, “it is best to store fragrance away from direct light and heat sources as these accelerate oxidation, so away from windows is preferable,” says South. “A fragrance found on the Mary Celestia shipwreck had survived intact and, due to the cool, constant temperature of the sunless ocean floor, the fragrance was unchanged after 150 years. Whilst under sea storage may be a drastic solution, with limited edition fragrances that cannot be replaced, I do prefer to keep these in a cool, dark cupboard.”

To help perfumes last all day? Start with a moisturised base, as this helps the perfume stick to the skin. You can use a perfumed oil first to enhance the longevity of your scent, as well as add a layer of dimension if you opt for one with a different scent profile to your chosen spritz. Be sure to spray on the pulse points, nape, behind the knees and even on the ankles for an all-encompassing aroma, and on items like scarves for a scent that projects as you move. And if you’re spraying on your wrists, note that some experts recommend avoiding rubbing them together immediately following, as this can degrade the more volatile top notes of a scent much quicker.

Meet the experts:

• Emma South is a Fragrance and Lifestyle expert at Jo Malone London.
• Frederic Malle is an esteemed nose and the founder of luxury French fragrance house Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle