Finding a classic perfume that reflects your personality, smells uniquely interesting to you and evokes the right mood isn’t necessarily easy to find. But, when you do, few beauty products become as essential as your signature scent.
From a study of over 700 NewBeauty readers, we narrowed down respondents’ top five perfume brands, and the specific scents from those brands they love most*. Even if you’re loyal to a fragrance until the last spritz, don’t be surprised if one piques your interest. From honored classics to more recent favorites, there’s something here for everyone.
5. Tie: Baccarat Rouge 540 and Dior
Rounding out the top five is a tie between Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s Baccarat Rouge 540 ($645) and Dior.
Rouge 540 combines notes of wood, saffron, jasmine, and amber to create an unrivaled aroma. Body chemistry plays a big role in how the buzzy Rogue 540 wears, so it’s not surprising that Debbie B. described it as “soft and clean,” while Camille G. called it “deep” and “woodsy” and Eleonora L. noted a “strong flower scent.”
Dior boasts several modern classics among their fragrances, but the two our readers cited most were floral favorites. Miss Dior ($160) has fresh notes of lily of the valley, spicy peony, and powdery iris that respondent Olivia J. called “sweet.” J’adore ($160) combines the floral notes of ylang-ylang with the warmth of damasus rose and jasmine. Susan H. described it as “fresh.”
4. Gucci
NewBeauty readers ranked Gucci at number four thanks in part to the top-rated and classically floral Gucci Bloom ($133). Gucci “envisioned the scent as a thriving garden filled with a diversity of flowers.” Notes of natural tuberose, jasmine and rangoon creeper create a rich, sweet yet sultry scent. Allison C. says Bloom is “floral, classy and unique.” Kimberly D. called it “elegant” and “edgy” and smelled the hints of gardenia.
3. Byredo
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kate Bosworth are loyal to the chic Stockholm fragrance house and so are NewBeauty readers. The two Byredo fragrances mentioned most were woody and sweet Gypsy Water ($290) and the fresh and musky Mojave Ghost ($290). Cynthia B. praised Mojave Ghost as “exquisite.” Christy B. said it’s “woodsy” and “sweet.” Gypsy Water fan Annisa K. described the scent as “clean” and “good for everyday wear.”
2. Jo Malone London
Another bonafide celebrity favorite, Jo Malone London lands at number two among NewBeauty readers. Count Sofia Richie Grainge and Meghan Markle as two famous Jo Malone devotees. Among respondents, more variety of Jo Malone fragrances were found. Richie Grainge’s “favorite, favorite” and “beachy and chill” Wood Sage and Sea Salt ($165) was mentioned most. Followed closely are the fruity and floral Orange Blossom ($165), English Pear and Freesia ($165) and Wild Bluebell ($165). The one word used most to describe all four scents was “light.”
1. Chanel
NewBeauty readers’ go-to fragrance brand is Chanel, home of the perfume that has become synonymous with perfume itself, N°5 ($165). N°5 is the undeniable classic, but our readers also called out several other legendary Chanel offerings as their must-haves. Nicole E. said what draws them to Chance ($165) is the “clean, subtle” scent. Mitzi M. called Allure ($165) “spicy, sweet, and classy with awesome longevity.” Laurie A. loves Coco Mademoiselle ($165) for being “subtle and fresh” with a “lasting scent that evolves throughout the day.”
*Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2024
