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Images courtesy of Dior/Nordstrom/Chanel/Ulta Best Fashion-Inspired Perfume
Loewe 001 Woman Perfume
Best Fashion-Inspired Perfume
Loewe 001 Woman Perfume
Credit: Bergdorf GoodmanFeaturing notes of jasmine, linen and musk, this timeless, Spanish-made perfume from Loewe is designed to combine with the brand's 001 Man Eau de Parfum for a signature fragrance blend.
Best Luxury Perfume
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Best Luxury Perfume
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Credit: NordstromCreated as a collaboration between the perfumer and Baccarat to celebrate the crystal manufacturer’s 250th birthday, this popular scent is, frankly, a masterpiece. A combination of woody notes, amber, jasmine and other florals, it's sophisticated and never overpowering.
Best Vanilla Perfume
Heretic Dirty Vanilla Eau de Parfum
Best Vanilla Perfume
Heretic Dirty Vanilla Eau de Parfum
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Best Fruity Perfume
Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Best Fruity Perfume
Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Credit: DiorDior perfumes are so iconic, they even inspired a documentary. This modern classic truly has a bit of everything: juicy blood orange and mandarin, fresh lily of the valley, and earthy patchouli.
Most Robust Floral Perfume
Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her
Most Robust Floral Perfume
Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her
Credit: GucciRangoon creeper, tuberose, and jasmine combine to create this robust and top-rated Gucci floral fragrance, which over 1,300 Sephora customers are raving about.
Best Value Perfume
Glossier Glossier You
Best Value Perfume
Glossier Glossier You
Credit: GlossierNamed You as a nod to the fragrance’s ability to smell different on each wearer, this blend of floral iris, spicy pink pepper, and warm ambrette seeds became an instant hit for Glossier, and remains the brand’s one and only fragrance.
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Most Enduring Perfume
Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum Spray
Most Enduring Perfume
Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum Spray
Credit: ChanelCelebrating its 100th birthday in 2021, Chanel No. 5 is perhaps the most famous fragrance of all time. Heavy with may rose and jasmine, it was the first perfume to be layered with aldehydes, a now-commonplace practice that lends the fragrance an airy quality. Game changing then, iconic now.
Best Celebrity Perfume
Fenty Beauty Fenty Eau de Parfum
Best Celebrity Perfume
Fenty Beauty Fenty Eau de Parfum
Credit: Fenty BeautyRihanna has been name-checked as the best-smelling celeb by just about everyone on the planet, so it was only natural that she create her own signature scent. It instantly sold out, but if you’re lucky enough to snag a bottle of this elevated blend of magnolia, musk, tangerine, blueberry, Bulgarian rose absolute, geranium, and patchouli, know that it’s worth all the hype.
Best Viral Perfume
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
Best Viral Perfume
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
Credit: NordstromThis sexy fragrance became one of the biggest perfume crazes of the last decade, and for good reason: It’s musky, spicy, and a bit smoky (but not overwhelmingly so), and the genderless quality makes it ideal for sharing.
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Best Gourmand Perfume
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Spray
Best Gourmand Perfume
Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Spray
Credit: UltaRich coffee and vanilla create a sweet and warm base, while a floral heart lightens things up. It's excellent during cooler months, but can be worn year-round if you please.
Best Mildly Sweet Perfume
Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum Spray
Best Mildly Sweet Perfume
Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum Spray
Credit: UltaChance was introduced in 2002, and it’s been in heavy rotation ever since. Thank the floral base of iris and jasmine, which is rounded out by sweet vanilla and white musk—plus, pink pepper adds an unexpected touch of spice.
Most Popular Perfume
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
Most Popular Perfume
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
Credit: NordstromAs the name suggests, this top-rated fragrance from Viktor & Rolf —which over 10,000 Nordstrom customers love—is a cult favorite thanks to its floral notes of jasmine and rose, plus scents of warm vanilla and patchouli for added depth.
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Best Unisex Perfume
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
Best Unisex Perfume
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
Credit: NordstromYou don’t have to live by the beach to appreciate this surf-inspired scent (and one of Jo Malone’s best sellers). With notes of sea salt, sage, and ambrette seeds, it’s simple, sophisticated, and genderless.
Best Every Day Perfume
kai Eau de Parfum
Best Every Day Perfume
kai Eau de Parfum
Credit: NordstromKai has earned a devoted following over the years for its clean, tropical, gardenia-based fragrance. For rose lovers, there’s also a spin-off scent, called (you guessed it), kai rose.
Most Sensual Perfume
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum
Most Sensual Perfume
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum
Credit: NordstromLike all things Tom Ford, this scent is undeniably sexy and glamorous. The namesake black orchid is surrounded by ylang-ylang and citrus, black plum, patchouli, and vanilla. It’s deep, dark, and elegant, especially for evening.
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Best Soft Floral Perfume
Chloé Eau de Parfum Spray
Best Soft Floral Perfume
Chloé Eau de Parfum Spray
Credit: UltaA bouquet of florals—rose, lily of the valley, freesia, magnolia—give way to amber and cedarwood, which lend a sensual, warm air to the overall light scent. Plus, this one is loved equally for the bottle (topped with a hand-tied ribbon) and for what’s inside.
Best Clean Perfume
Henry Rose Jake's House
Best Clean Perfume
Henry Rose Jake's House
Credit: Credo BeautyBest Fragrance for Beginners
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
Best Fragrance for Beginners
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
Credit: UltaThe daisy-adorned bottle became an instant sensation, but what’s inside is pretty fabulous as well. With notes of strawberry, sandalwood, and jasmine, Daisy is a light floral that’s become a rite of passage for teens (and teens at heart).
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Best Transitional Perfume
Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Fragrance
Best Transitional Perfume
Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Fragrance
Credit: NordstromIf you’re looking for a sweet, strong floral scent, you may have found it in the Mediterranean-inspired Sì. It starts out fruity with top notes of black currant nectar, followed by a freesia and Rose of Mai heart, finishing with a musky, vanilla-tinged base.
Best Fresh Perfume
Bond No. 9 New York Scent of Peace Eau de Parfum
Best Fresh Perfume
Bond No. 9 New York Scent of Peace Eau de Parfum
Credit: Bond No.9Bond No. 9’s luxe fragrances are inspired by New York City, though according to the brand, this lavender bottle is named for, “the greatest neighborhood of them all—peace.” Light and fresh, the mix of fresh grapefruit, lily of the valley, and black currant, is just lovely.
Lindy Segal is a beauty writer and editor. In addition to regularly contributing to BAZAAR.COM, she also writes for Glamour, People, WhoWhatWear, and Fashionista, among other publications. She lives in New York City with her Chihuahua mix, Barney.
Associate Beauty Commerce Editor
Tiffany Dodson is currently the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she specializes in trend forecasting, building relationships with major and emerging brands, and crafting shopping stories—from holiday gift guides to product road tests. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in outlets like SELF, Bustle, and Teen Vogue, and she's been quoted as a commerce and beauty expert in publications and platforms like The Business of Fashion and NPR’s Life Kit podcast.
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