Credit: Courtesy of Stylist Loves and brands
5 min read
Looking for your next signature scent? From old-but-gold classics to exciting new breakthroughs, these perfumes always attract compliments when our beauty writers wear them.
“You smell amazing” has got to be up there as one of the best compliments you can get. There’s really no better feeling than being stopped in your tracks and questioned about the scent you’re wearing.
The best perfume can pull any outfit together and instil inner confidence within you as you strut out the door. Many, many fragrances land on the Stylist beauty desk, and our team has rounded up its favourites, from cult classics to coveted newbies.
Whether you have an established signature scent or are curating a scented wardrobe to switch up each day, these are the perfumes that are sure to get heads turning.
Darcy Brown, Stylist’s freelance beauty writer’s favourite perfumes
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
“I’ve reached for this perfume on so many memorable occasions, as I can rely on just a few spritzes to last all night long. It strikes the perfect balance between making an impression and being overpowering. The spicy notes of cardamom gain a beautiful warmth from a leathery musk. It’s super sophisticated and seriously addictive.”
Shop Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum at Liberty, £168 for 50ml
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist
“This scent comes everywhere with me; I pop it in my bag and use it to refresh my hair and body throughout the day. It offers a delicious blend of all my favourite things: vanilla, lychee essence and a hint of salty ocean air. Every time I give my hair a swish, the scent reawakens, creating a mini mindfulness moment that transports me straight to the beach and totally lifts my mood. It’s summer in a bottle, and I am obsessed.”
Shop Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist at Cult Beauty. £22 for 90ml
DS & Durga I Don't Know What Eau de Parfum
“Ever heard of a fragrance enhancer? Neither had I until I came across this impressive scent. In true French style, it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to your entire persona. It can be worn on its own or trusted alongside your favourite fragrance to pick up its best notes and make it go the extra mile. It is a subtle scent that smells like you, but better.”
Shop DS & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum at Liberty, £155.00 for 50ml
Jo Malone London English Pear and Sweet Pea
“Though it’s only just launched, this scent has already become my most complimented perfume. But coming from Jo Malone, would you expect any less? The brand pairs its renowned English pear with flirty sweet pea to offer a delicately feminine floral that packs a serious punch and is bound to get noticed.”
Shop Jo Malone London English Pear and Sweet Pea at Lookfantastic, £118.00 for 100ml
Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum
“Pistachio has been recognised as the top fragrance note of 2023, and this perfume offers a fresh, sweet variation. Make-up icon Huda Kattan’s sister, Mona, blurred the lines between make-up and scent when she launched her fragrance brand, Kayali, so it’s no surprise I pair this scent with a glam make-up look. It never fails to gain compliments whenever I enter a social circle.”
Shop Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum at Boots, £79 for 50ml,
Hanna Ibraheem, Stylist’s beauty director’s favourite perfumes
Glossier You Eau de Parfum
“Considering its tagline is ‘you smell good’, this fragrance is made to be the ultimate crowd pleaser. It has a spicy top note that settles into a warm, woody and sweet scent. Switching up the usual base, heart and top notes, Glossier formulated this scent using more traditional base notes than usual for a fragrance that lasts longer. You may notice it waft into a room before the person who’s wearing it enters, and when you do, you’ll want it for yourself.”
Dior Oud Ispahan Eau de Parfum
“Everybody has a scent that they pull out for ‘special occassions’, and this is one of mine. As a lover of oud, it uses the scent in a way that isn’t heavy. Instead, the woody and spicy notes are mixed with Damascus rose to infuse a refreshing hint of florals, making it powerful but not offensive. It’s unlike any other fragrance I’ve ever smelled.”
Diptyque Fleur de Peau
“Ever since coming across this perfume five years ago, it is still my absolute favourite. It has a musky and powdery finish that has a subtle hint of florals for an overall scent that’s fresh, crisp and, to me, really soothing. Any time I wear it, I get compliments – in fact, three different people asked me what scent I was wearing over the course of a wedding reception and one of them bought it there and then. It’s gorgeous.”
Shop Diptyque Fleur de Peau at Liberty London, £148 for 75ml
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
“Originally created as a limited edition fragrance, Baccarat Rouge 540 quickly earned cult status after going viral on social media – #BaccaratRouge540 currently sits at 467 million views on TikTok alone, and Rihanna is rumoured to be a fan. Despite being everywhere, I still struggle to put it down. Notes of jasmine, saffron amberwood and cedar make it a gourmand scent – woody but not too heavy, sweet without being sickly and, quite honestly, it’s just a really sexy scent.”
Shop Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum at Harrods, £235 for 70ml
Penhaligon's Cairo Eau de Parfum
“If you like woody fragrances, you need to try this. Another scent that utilises Damascan rose, it also contains notes of vanilla, saffron sandalwood, patchouli and cedar for a finish that’s both comforting and soft. Its smell gives me the same feeling as a warm summer’s night during sunset, and it lasts ages.”
Shop Penhaligon’s Cairo Eau de Parfum at Sephora, £195 for 100ml
Images: Stylist Loves; courtesy of brands
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