The best Scents for him and her
Best Perfume For Women You Will Love [2021]
Every women deserves to smell good. It is not just about being more attractive, or appealing to others, smelling good is much more than that. For most of us, a great fragrance is an extension of our character.
Fragrances are a delicate, important topic and finding the right one can drastically improve your life! Heck, who knows? You might even find the right partner or get the job of your dreams because you chose the right scent.
If you are looking for the best perfumes for any occasion, then you have found the right place. After hours upon hours of research and hundreds of tests, we have compiled this list of the best perfumes for women for you.
These fragrances don’t just smell good. They smell amazing. And they will get you tons of compliments just like the colognes us women love on men.
The Best Women’s Perfumes
These perfumes have all stood the test time. They are already timeless classics that you will absolutely fall in love with as well. Here are the best perfumes for women!
Best Perfume For Women Overall
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium
We have found Black Opium from Yves Saint Laurent to be the best overall perfume for women.
This scent just oozes sexyness. Black Opium is a very alluring fragrance that is a real head turner. It gets bonus points for its versatility as it can be worn day and night.
Floral notes like vanilla and jasmine combined with sensual notes like coffee and cedar make it a really sexy perfume, that is optimal for a night out due to its immense strength. Just a little of this will last you the whole night.
You can learn more details about this scent in our Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium review.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Pink pepper, Orange blossom
Heart Notes Coffee, Jasmine
Base Notes Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar
RATING:
Best Floral Perfume
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
Flowerbomb from Viktor & Rolf is one of the best flowery perfumes for women.
With Flowerbomb the name really says it all. This is a flowery explosion which is made from really pleasant notes like bergamot, green tea, jasmine, rose and orchid.
The versatility of this fresh scent makes it the perfect perfume for any season and any occasion. Wherever you go, Flowerbomb will always get tons of love and compliments. Learn more about this scent in our review of Flowerbomb.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Bergamot, Green tea
Heart Notes Jasmine, Orchid, Freesia
Basenotes Centiflora Rose, Patchouli
RATING:
Best Luxury Perfume
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre EDP
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre is another scent that lives up to its name. This extremely sweet and tender perfume wows us with its floral, fresh scent-dna, and receives limitless compliments.
Everybody who smells this amazing women’s perfume falls in love immediately and can’t stop smelling this masterpiece.
The 2019 updated Eau de Parfum version of this fragrance is even more sensual and has better performance, without losing any of the fresh, tender character, that makes the original so good.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Grapefruit, Quince
Heart Notes Jasmine, Rose
Base Notes White musk
RATING:
Best Fresh Scent For Women
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense is one of the best fresh perfumes for women.
The mix of citrusy notes, apple and the slight touch of light floral notes makes Light Blue Eau Intense a super feminine, clean and refreshing scent that is perfect for the spring and summer months.
You can’t go wrong with Light Blue Eau Intense if you are looking for a crisp, light fragrance that gets heaps of compliments. You can absolutely rock this every day! You can learn more about this awesome fresh scent in our Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense review.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Lemon, Granny Smith Apple
Heart Notes Marigold, Jasmine
Base Notes Amber wood, Musk
RATING:
Best Perfume For Young Women
Marc Jacobs Daisy
Everybody loves Marc Jacobs Daisy. For years now it has been a staple among women of all ages.
This is a very fresh scent that spreads youthful and feminine energy. It is very pleasant, light and refreshing.
Marc Jacobs Daisy is the perfect scent for everyone who wants to get startet in the women’s perfume world and performes best during spring and summer.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Red grapefruit, Violet leaf, Wild strawberry
Heart Notes Gardenia, Jasmine, Violet
Base Notes Blond woods, Musk, Vanilla
RATING:
Best Clubbing Perfume
Carolina Herrera Good Girl
Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl immediately strikes with this awesome bottle design in the form of a high heel.
It smells like a mix of the sweetness from Viva La Juicy and the freshness from Light Blue. We think this is a wonderful smelling women’s perfume, that will get you tons of compliments.
No joke – Good Girl is a compliment monster. Especially during a night out this scent will get you reactions. And best of all, it is super long-lasting making it the perfect party perfume. Check out our Good Girl review for more.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Bergamot, Lemon
Heart Notes Tuberose, Bulgarian rose, Jasmine sambac, Orange blossom, Praliné, Cinnamon
Base Notes Roasted tonka bean, Cocoa, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Cashmere, Patchouli, Amber notes, Musk
RATING:
Most Feminine Perfume
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle
Life is beautiful – that’s the message behind Lancôme’s La vie est Belle and it does its job great. This is a really wonderful scent, that blows us away with its floral-fresh, feminine aura.
La vie est Belle is a very modern smelling perfume, that reminds you of all the beautiful and good things in life. When you wear this scent, you will instantly get into a good mood and you’ll be showered with compliments.
For years now it has consistently been at the top of multiple top-ten lists and we can absolutely agree that La vie est Belle ist one of the best perfumes for women that shines with its brilliant performance and sillage. This perfume is perfect for both and night and makes a great signature scent. Want to know more about this awesome floral? Check out our La vie best Belle review.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Pear, Blackcurrant
Heart Notes Iris, Jasmine, Orange blossom
Base Notes Patchouli, Praliné, Tonka bean, Vanilla
RATING:
Most Seductive Perfume For Women
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gold Couture
Viva La Juicy Gold Couture is just a super feminine, and super sexy perfume for women.
This one just screams seduction. It smells really tasty, seductive and absolutely sweet. Especially the caramel and vanilla notes stand out and give it its tasty, soft, creamy character.
Viva La Juicy Gold Couture is the perfect perfume for any women that looks for a seductive scent, that makes men lose their minds. We recommend you wear this during winter to get the most out of it.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Wild berries
Heart Notes Honeysuckle, Jasmine
Base Notes Sandalwood, Amber, Caramel, Vanilla
RATING:
Best Every Day Perfume
Tiffany & Co. Intense
Tiffany Intense from Tiffany & Co. is a floral, powdery perfume that scores points with its gorgeous scent-dna.
The bottle with its diamond shape is really eye-catching and reminds you of the diamonds that Tiffany & Co. is usually known for.
Tiffany Intense is just an overall gorgeous scent. Everything about this one is gorgeous. Especially the iris note that gives it the powdery signature vibe makes this one of the most gorgeous perfumes for women.
You will get the most out of this during daytime and the colder season.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Mandarin leaf, Pink pepper
Heart Notes Iris
Base Notes Amber, Benzoin
RATING:
Best Affordable Perfume
Britney Spears Fantasy Spray EDP
Celebrity scents always kinda leave a bad taste in your mouth. Most of the fragrance-community doesn’t really care about celebrity perfumes and immediately dismiss them as average. For the most part, they are right.
Not so with Britney Spears Fantasy. Britney Spears signature scent smells wonderful and exceeds all expectations.
This is a very youthful, feminin smelling scent. It mainly contains sweet notes like chocolate, cupcake and even kiwi and that is exactly how it smells like. A very creamy explosion of sweetness that lasts forever. We know it isn’t very prestigious, and it is dirt cheap, but gives this one a try. It is the best cheap perfume you can buy. We go more in-depth on this scent in our Britney Spears Fantasy review.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Kiwi, Lychee, Quince
Heart Notes Jasmine, Sharry baby orchid, Cupcake
Base Notes Woods, Orris root, Musk
RATING:
Best Exotic Scent
Dior Hypnotic Poison
Hypnotic Poison is a very exotic, oriental smelling perfume and like the name says, it hypnotizes you from the first smell.
This sweet-oriental scent from Dior has been around for more than 20 years already, and thanks to its outstanding longevity and iconic scent-dna, it became a real classic.
When you spray Hypnotic Poison you immediately notice the vanilla and almond notes. It’s a very seductive scent combination and works almost like an aphrodisiac. It’s also really strong and intense, with great sillage which gets it noticed. This list of the best perfumes for women wouldn’t be complete without iconic classics like Dior Hypnotic Poison that are still widely being used today.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Apricot, Coconut, Plum, Pimento
Heart Notes Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Rose, Rosewood, Tuberose
Base Notes Almond, Sandalwood, Vanilla
RATING:
Best Fruity Perfume
Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris
Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris is a sensual, fruity perfume for women.
This perfume really is the perfect blend of sweet notes. Raspberry, Strawberry, Orange – what else can you expect from these notes but a sensual, sweet perfume sensation.
Mon Paris is a very light fragrance that can be worn every day.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Raspberry, Strawberry, Calabrian bergamot
Heart Notes Datura, Peony, Chinese jasmine, Jasmine sambac absolute
Base Notes White musk, Indonesian patchouli, Guatemala patchouli, Ambrox
RATING:
Sexiest Perfume
Tom Ford Black Orchid
Tom Ford Black Orchid is the right perfume for all you women looking for a strong, sensual scent.
Black Orchid definitely isn’t for every woman. It is very unique and upper-class smelling and you have to fit the type but if you do, this one is gold, it literally smells like sex in a bottle.
It is really alluring and mysterious, mainly smelling like vanilla and chocolate. The warmth makes it the perfect scent for winter. Black Orchid also has really great longevity and sillage. Just a few spritz and you are good to go for the whole night.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Black truffle, Bergamot, Blackcurrant, Ylang-ylang
Heart Notes Black orchid, Lotus wood, Floral notes, Fruity notes
Base Notes Balsam, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver, Frankincense
RATING:
Best Evening Scent
Dior J’Adore Absolu
The original Dior J’Adore was already a phenomenal perfume but J’Adore Absolu gets even better.
With this perfume you are mainly getting a warm, floral scent that shines with its above-average longevity and the typical Dior quality we know and love.
J’Adore Absolu just fits every tune. Doesn’t matter if it is the office, a walk in the park or partying in the club, J’Adore Absolu is one of the best women’s fragrances that has earned his spot in this list.
It is a little bit on the expensive side though. We recommend buying the largest bottle to get the best deal. Just a tiny little bit of this will do, and one bottle of this amazing perfume will last you forever.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Ylang-ylang
Heart Notes Jasmine, Rose, Tuberose
Base Notes Fruits, Woods, Musk
RATING:
Best Perfume For Mature Women
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Coco Mademoiselle is one of Chanel’s best sellers and it definitely deserves this spot.
This spicy, citrusy scent seems very elegant, upper class. It is very sexy and instantly makes just about anyone more attractive and mature. A massive bonus is its strong longevity and amazing sillage. Spray on your clothes and you’ll probably never get rid of it.
Coco Mademoiselle is the best perfume for women who are looking for a more mature scent that has a very erotic aura.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange, Orange blossom
Heart Notes Jasmine, Mimosa, Rose, Ylang-ylang
Base Notes Opoponax, Patchouli, Tonka bean, Vanilla, Vetiver, White musk
RATING:
Most Complimented Perfume
Giorgio Armani Si Passione
Si Passione is one of the newest women’s perfumes from the house of Giorgio Armani.
This fruity-floral scent might not be the most extravagant, or the most special scent out there, but it gets the job done and it gets it done extremely well.
Giorgio Armani Si Passione gets bombarded with compliments. Men love this perfume.
Si Passione is the best perfume for women who are looking for an intense fruity-floral scent that people love!
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Pink pepper, Pear, Blackcurrant
Heart Notes Rose, Jasmine absolute, Heliotrope
Base Notes Vanilla, Cedarwood, Orcanox
RATING:
Longest Lasting Perfume
Thierry Mugler Alien
Thierry Mugler’s classic Alien is another one of those scents where the name just fits perfectly.
Alien is mysterious, sensual and really sexy.
When spraying on Alien, you are taken over by the sensual jasmine note which perfectly harmonizes with the other fragrance notes.
Mugler Alien is the perfect perfume for women who are looking for a mysterious and sensual scent with lots of sex appeal.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Sambac Jasmine
Heart Notes Cashmere Wood
Base Notes White Amber
RATING:
Beste Elegant Perfume
Gucci Bloom
Gucci is hyped everywhere right now and it is no different with their newest women’s perfume Gucci Bloom.
This floral smells flamboyant and luxurious. It is rich in flowery notes and just blends perfectly. A huge bonus is the gorgeous packaging it comes in.
Gucci Bloom is the right fragrance for everybody that is looking for a light, feminine perfume that you can wear all year.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Orange, Green notes
Heart Notes Tuberose, Jasmine, Honeysuckle
Base Notes Iris, Sandalwood, Vanille
RATING:
Best Sweet Scent
Lancôme Tresor
Lancôme Tresor is a real classic when it comes to women’s perfumes.
After its release almost 30 years ago, Lancôme Tresor was the star of the 90s and was worn by almost every women out there. To this day this scent shines with its floral-sweet dna and is one of the best fragrances for women out there.
The bottle reminds you of a beautiful crystal and just looks absolutely gorgeous. It will be a real eye-catcher on your dressing table.
The scent itself smells rather simple and classic which is exactly what makes it so good. It is very elegant and pleasant to everyone. Definitely one of the best scents for everybody that is looking for an attractive perfume.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Rose leaf, Apricot blossom, Peach blossom
Heart Notes Lily-of-the-valley, Vanilla, Heliotrope, Iris
Base Notes Sandalwood, Musk
RATING:
Beste Perfume For Strong Women
Marc Jacob Decadence
Marc Jacobs Decadence is a scent that you will remember.
This is a very strong and wild perfume. It definitely gets noticed and thus it might not be the right perfume for the quiet and shy girls.
Decadence by Marc Jacobs is the best perfume for strong and mature women, that know what they want.
FRAGRANCE NOTES:
Top Notes Italian plum, Saffron, Iris
Heart Notes Bulgarian rose, Jasmine sambac, Orris root
Base Notes Liquid amber, Vetiver, Papyrus wood
RATING:
Eau de Parfum vs Eau de Cologne - Which Type of Scent Lasts the Longest?
When buying a new perfume, most women are overwhelmed by all the different types of scents. Women’s fragrances generally come in different concentrations. Each have a different strength and a unique name. Here is what they mean:
- Eau Fraiche which has a concentration of 1 to 3% and usually lasts for up to 3 hours
- Eau de Cologne which has a concentration of 2 to 4% and usually lasts for around to 4 hours
- Eau de Toilette which has a concentration of 5 to 15% and lasts for around 6 hours
- Eau de Parfum which has a concentration of 15 to 20% and lasts for 6 to 8 hours
- Parfum Extrait which has the highest concentration of up to 40% and lasts 8+ hours
After years of experience with all kinds of perfumes, we can say that you should take these guidelines with a grain of salt. We’ve smelled Eau de Toilletes that lasted for more than 12 hours and Eau de Parfums that lasted less than 6. In our individual perfume reviews for women we talk about the longevity of each scent.
Fragrance Notes Explained
In your search for a new perfume you probably often read about notes.
Each fragrance has a three-part life cycle consisting of top notes, heart notes and base notes. It is like a pyramid, slowly evaporating from top to bottom. Every part has its own unique blend of notes that in total make up the scent of the fragrance.
Top Notes – These are the very first scents you can immediately smell. They are often lighter notes and are only really prominent for the first half hour and then linger in the back.
Heart Notes – These make up the core of a fragrance and are often most noticeable. They kick in after the top notes and build off each other. Together they create a pleasant blend that
Base Notes – These are the foundation of the perfume and the last to appear often only after a couple of hours. They tend to be more bold and last for the longest on your skin.
The Best Perfume for the Right Occasion
Most perfume experts agree that the most important factor is choosing the right perfume for the right occasion.
Just like you wouldn’t wear a summer dress during winter, you shouldn’t wear a summer perfume during winter either.
The hot spring and summer days are perfect for light, fresh scents that accentuate the summer vibe. On the other hand, warm and heavier scents are perfect for winter.
Finding The Right Fragrance For Women
In total there are 4 different scent types that can be applied to women’s perfumes.
All of these scent types have their own individual strengths and finding the right type for you comes down to your character, style and the occasion.
Fragrance expert Michael Edwards has created the fragrance wheel where you can easily gauge and see the 4 main scent types floral, oriental, fresh and woody.
Floral Perfumes For Women
Floral perfumes are probably the most popular scent type for women.
They are often very feminine, light, fresh, and sweet. Floral scents are perfect for every season and work great for daily use.
Floral fragrance notes that are often used are jasmine, lavender, rose and iris, lilies.
Examples of great floral fragrances that you can both find in this list of best women’s perfumes are Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and Lâncome La vie est Belle.
Oriental Perfumes For Women
Oriental scents are heavier and thus often a lot stronger than their floral counterparts. That means they also tend to have better longevity and sillage and are a great pick for nighttime wear and during the colder season.
Perfumes of this type are often more exotic, intense and have more warmth. They ooze a mysterious and sensual vibe.
Fresh Perfumes For Women
Fresh perfumes are light, clean, crisp and perfect for hot days and as your daily-driver.
Fresh perfumes can be either citrusy based, very sporty scents or just plain clean scents. The latter gives you this fresh-outta-the-shower type of scent that everybody loves.
Examples of fresh perfumes for women are Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense and Tiffany Eau Intense.
Woody Perfumes For Women
Last but not least we have the woody scent type. Woody perfumes definitely don’t fit every women but when they do then you will find a marvellous scent experience consisting out of a multitude of aromas and something very pleasant, natural.
Where To Apply Perfume For The Best Longevity?
Perfumes should generally be applied to the body’s heat areas. This is where the blood circulates the most and warmth can pulsate. The pulsating heat will push and spread the scent making it a lot more noticeable.
The best areas to apply perfume are:
- ear lobes
- cleavage
- wrists
- inside your elbow
- the back of your knee
- hair
- neck
How To Start Wearing Fragrances Correctly?
We all know this one person that always wears way too much perfume. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you get started wearing fragrances correctly and avoid some of the most common mistakes:
- Start slowly – when first getting a new perfume, start off slowly to get to know the real strength of the scent
- Apply to the right spots – Always apply the fragrance to the heat areas mentioned above
- Leave it alone – It’s a great myth that you should always rub the fragrance with your wrists after applying to strengthen the scent. This actually kills the notes and worsens the performance
- Apply to slightly wet skin – Spraying your fragrance on slightly wet skin such as right after a shower when you just towelled off will boost the scents longevity
- Moisturize Your Skin – Dry skin kills a perfume’s longevity more than anything. Always moisturize and if you do, use an odourless moisturizer.
- Variety is the spice of life – Mixing up scents and finding different perfumes for different seasons and occasions will make sure that you always smell your best and prevent you from getting bored of your favorite perfumes
What Is The Difference Between Niche & Designer Perfumes?
You might have heard the terms niche and designer perfumes. Here is what they mean:
Designer perfumes – These are popular scents from big brands like Dior, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Lâncome, Carolina Herrera etc. You can find these easily in most stores. They are mass-produced with the goal to be as mass-appealing as possible. Designer fragrances usually sell anywhere from $20 to $150.
Niche perfumes – These are scents created from the highest-quality, most prestigious ingredients by the best perfumers in the industry. These star perfumers create incredible and unique scent combinations. They won’t have the same mass-appeal as their designer counterparts and tend to be more unique. Niche fragrances can cost multiple hundreds of dollars.
How To Select and Buy Perfume For Women
Buying perfume can be a little overwhelming at times so here are our best tips to help you choosing the right scent for you:
- Take your time – Do not rush the perfume buying process. Selecting the right scent will take some time and patience. Scents develop with time so make sure to fully experience the dry-down and all of the fragrance notes. Do not just base a scent because of their top notes.
- Use test strips first – If you spray all options on your skin immediately, you soon won’t have a spot left and you’ll have trouble to distinguish the different scents. Use this to narrow down on 4 perfumes you want to test on your skin.
- Use these 4 spots to test your perfume – When testing perfume on your skin, you go for a max of 4 different scents before it gets harder to keep track. Spray one on each of your wrists and one on each inner elbow. Don’t forget to keep track of which fragrance you sprayed where.
- Give your nose a break – You might have experienced trying out multiple perfumes only to find out you can’t smell anything anymore. You need to give your nose a break with strong scents like coffee beans or tea which is often provided in the store.
- Be open for something new – You might go in to buy a fragrance because you like the scent type or because of a popular recommendation. We suggest you keep an open mind and try out multiple different scent types. You never know what you’ll end up liking.
- Rock your new perfume to the fullest – If you find a scent that you like, it’s time to go out and wear it and fully experience it. The joy in perfumes is to actually wear them, enjoy smelling great and get great reactions from others. Don’t save your new fragrance. Go out and rock it!