The 19 Best Perfumes for Women

Scents and emotions are deeply connected with each other. The right perfume helps to boost confidence and enhances the mood. Moreover, it will help you to leave an unforgettable image of yourself that people will remember for a long time. It’s an inalienable part of your style and your personal mark. Even legendary Coco Chanel said: “No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.”

Bright Side would love to help you with choosing your ultimate fragrance, and here is a list of the timeless and top scents that will make people turn around after you walk by. At the end, we included a little bonus with some tips for choosing the right one.

The science behind perfumes and scent

Making perfumes is considered a work of art, just like music or painting. The composition is the mix of all the ingredients in a perfume, and the 3 stages of smell are called notes.

The top note is the first impression you gather from the initial smell of the perfume. When you put on your favorite perfume, as time goes on these so-called top note molecules evaporate since they are very small and light. That leads to the second stage, these are called middle notes, and they normally appear from 2 minutes to 1 hour after you apply the fragrance.

Last but not least, the base notes are the ones that stay the longest in our bodies and clothes. They are thick and heavy, sometimes, they can even last for a couple of days. You should know that a perfume won’t smell the same after some time in your body because of that evaporation process.

Another thing that can alter the smell of perfumes is how they interact with your skin. It can happen that you buy a perfume you really liked, but once you try it on your body, it doesn’t smell the same. That’s when we wish we paid more attention to our chemistry classes.

The Ph balance of your skin, your diet, your hormones, or the acidity of the fats in your body can interfere with the aroma of the perfume. Something you can do to prevent this is to apply it to your clothes, just be careful with delicate fabrics.

Now, here are our top 19 recommendations for you to try, we hope you like them.

1. Tom Ford Black Orchid

Scent: Base of black truffle, ylang-ylang and patchouli mixed with floral notes. You can feel the smell of sandalwood, orchid, bergamot, vanilla, jasmine, fruits, and spices.

Black Orchid has a strong and musky scent. The composition is rather complicated, which makes it a perfume that’s open from various angles to different women. Everyone can find something to their taste in its scent, and this is what makes it so desirable and loved.

2. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre

Scent: Base of white musk mixed with jasmine, peony, rose, and high notes of quince and grapefruit.

This perfume has a floral-sweet and fruity-fresh smell. It’s easy and not overwhelming, so it can be worn during the day, but it’s also very feminine and romantic which makes it perfect for an evening date. The fragrance turns into a pleasant trail that lasts a long time.

3. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium

Scent: Sweet with notes of vanilla and coffee mixed with orange blossom, jasmine, pear, and base notes of musk and patchouli.

Perfumers did an amazing job while creating this product. Its unique smell instantly became loved by women who like strong scents. It will be perfect for a night out or if you just want to add something different to your daily life. Just a tiny spritz and will last for a long time.

4. Lancôme La Vie Est Belle

Scent: Base of patchouli and Tonka bean mixed with scents of iris, jasmine, pear, and black currant.

This perfume is a mix of floral, sweet, and spicy scents. The perfumers worked wonders on it: it not only looks adorable, but its fragrance is long-lasting. It will stay all day long and make you feel fresh and happy.

5. Marc Jacobs Daisy

Scent: Base of musk, light wood, and vanilla with higher notes of violet leaf, grapefruit, and strawberry mixed with floral scents of gardenia and jasmine.

This fragrance, preserved in an adorable bottle, is the best you can get for hot summer days. The smell will cheer you up and make you feel playful, even when it’s gray outside. It will be suitable for those who like floral and fruity fragrances, and something feminine and fresh but not overpowering.

6. Victoria’s Secret Bombshell

Scent: Base of musk, wood, and oak moss with higher notes of passionfruit, citrus, and pineapple mixed with jasmine, red berries, Lilly of the valley, and peony.

Alluring, romantic, flirty, sexy, and passionate — it’s all in this fragrance. Its formula turns into a compelling smell that is loved by many women of all ages. It has the defined sweet smell of passionfruit, citrus, and flowers, though it’s not overpowering at all. It will follow you with a nice trail throughout your day and catch the attention of anyone around.

7. Aerin Lauder Hibiscus Palm

Scent: Base of coconut, vanilla and musk mixed with a strong floral scent of frangipani, white flowers, hibiscus, lotus, ylang-ylang and palm leaves.

You won’t miss your summer vacation after you get this scent. Any time you spritz it on you will feel like you are back on that tropical beach. Coconut, vanilla, and frangipani fragrances will light up your gray days, fill you with positive emotions, and put a smile on your face.

8. Miu Miu L’Eau Rosée

Scent: Base of sandalwood, vanilla, and white musk with upper notes of black currant leaves, citrus mixed with fruity scents of peach and pear, and floral scents of lily of the valley, rose, and peony.

This fresh and light scent is very sophisticated and just unforgettable. The smell of sandalwood and lily of the valley will instantly make you feel chic. The scent will be suitable for those who don’t like strong and heavy fragrances and would rather go for something easy and clean.

9. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Smells like: Base of musk and patchouli mixed with orchid, rose, jasmine, bergamot, Osmanthus, and green tea.

This fancy perfume has an incredible smell. The creators mixed floral scents together with woody notes and warm vanilla. Truly, a flower bomb! Its fragrance is addictive and seductive. We can ensure that the people around you won’t be indifferent to you when you wear this scent. It’s something you need if you want to feel truly special.

10. Byredo Gypsy Water

Smells like: Base of ambergris, vanilla, and sandalwood with higher notes of citrus, pepper, and juniper mixed with pine needles, frankincense, and iris root.

An extraordinary aroma for all the woody scent lovers. Smells of sandalwood, pine needles, and iris root will make you feel that you are in a fresh summer forest. It’s adventurous and long lasting, warm and soothing — everything you need to feel unique.

11. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

Smells like: Base of ambergris, musk, and white cedar mixed with bamboo, rose, and jasmine with higher notes of Sicilian lemon, apple, and bluebell.

If you are looking for something extra fresh, but have gotten tired of flower scents then Light Blue might be for you. It’s citrusy, with bamboo and apple — an interesting mixture that will make you stand out right away. This fragrance has the ability to charm the people around you.

12. Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet

Scent: Base of white musk with a soft floral scent of roses, peony, tangerine, and peach.

The name of this perfume speaks for itself — it’s springtime captured in a bottle. Women of all ages who prefer flower scents will like this fragrance. It’s very feminine and alluring at the same time and one of the most intimate scents that Dior has made. It’s the perfect accompaniment for any occasion in your life.

13. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Scent: Base of Tonka beans, patchouli, white musk, vanilla, and opopanax with floral accents of mimosa, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, and orange.

An abundance of ingredients makes a rather complicated aroma, but this is what makes it so unique. It starts with a sweet, almost unnoticeable smell and then turns into something warmer. At the end, it opens into something so appealing that you might want to smell it over and over again. This scent is perfect for women in their 20s and 30s.

14. Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey

Scent: Base of exotic tree species, white cedar, tuberose, and Osmanthus combined with melon and various floral scents like lotus, lily of the valley, peony, and rose water.

This perfume is a blend of irresistible floral fragrances and woody notes. It’s refreshing and soothing at the same time, which brings harmony to you and the people who surround you. The smell will last for 12 hours so there is no need to worry about refreshing it.

15. Gucci Bloom

Scent: Base of iris root, sandalwood, and vanilla mixed with tuberose, jasmine, honeysuckle, orange, and green notes.

Everything is wonderful in this product — starting from the amazing bottle design and finishing with an unforgettable scent. Its aroma is powerful but not suffocating, though some people might find that the perfume doesn’t last very long. It will be perfect for those who like fresh scents that are universal and suitable for any occasion and any time of day.

16. Chloé Eau De Parfum

Scent: Base of ambergris and cedar mixed with floral scents of rose, peony, white freesia, and the fruit fragrance of lychee.

This perfume is one of the top sellers in the beauty stores. A great mix of floral and fruity scents will present its wearer with confidence, individuality, and creativity. The fragrance is fresh, easy, and almost airy which makes it extra sensual, and feminine. This perfume will be a good purchase for all the romantic-at-heart girls.

17. Tiffany & Co Eau de Parfum

Scent: Base of musk and patchouli mixed with iris and fresh mandarin.

This simple fragrance shouldn’t be neglected. This perfume is one of the most recognizable products from Tiffany & Co, and it’s worth trying. It’s very fresh with citrus notes and a musky, powdery base. Inspired by Tiffany’s diamonds, it’s chic and romantic and will instantly give you a royal feeling as you spritz it on.

18. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Rose

Scent: Base of iris combined with rose, jasmine, peony, mandarin, and pear together with creamy vanilla, honeysuckle, and berries.

This is a super sweet fragrance for those who aren’t afraid of experimenting. It’s playful and flirty, perfect for those who like to spend their nights out. Even though the fragrance is sweet, the scent itself is moderate and won’t appear annoying or cause a headache. Instead, you might want to just spritz it on over and over again!

19. Guerlain Mon Guerlain for women

Scent: Base of vanilla, Australian sandalwood, and coumarin mixed with notes of lavender, jasmine, iris, and bergamot.

It’s soothing because of the lavender, dreamy because of the vanilla, and emotional because of the iris. This fragrance was inspired by women themselves. It’s a hymn and ode to a modern femininity. Refined, elusive, and coveted, this scent will be loved by sophisticated connoisseurs.

Bonus: How to choose the right fragrance just for you and how to apply it so it lasts.

It’s so easy to get lost in all the perfumes and fragrances that are available on the market right now. Here are some little tips for how to choose something suitable just for you.

Do some research. This step is optional, if you have the time or the energy to learn about the chemistry behind perfumes, you should do it. This can save you some time so that you don’t have to try hundreds of scents in order to find the best one for you.

If you’re not the type of woman that likes to do research before making a purchase, that’s ok. Try not to rush your decision and try all the samples in the store. After trying new perfumes, you might need to take a break and maybe come back another day to try others.

Strength. Perfume — will last 6-8 hours, or even longer. Eau de Parfum — will last 4-6 hours. Eau de Toilette — will last 2-4 hours.

Test it before buying. Before getting any new fragrance, you should do a few tests on your skin to see if it’s something you will want to wear for a long time. Try a bit of it on your wrist or any other part of your skin and wear it for a few hours. Remember that as time goes by, notes evaporate, and the smell can vary.

Our skin has unique hormones and pheromones that can change the fragrance and alter it a bit. If after a few hours you still like the smell, then buying it will be a good idea.

Next, we will share with you some tips so that you can enhance your favorite perfume’s durability:

• Take a bath, and then spritz on the fragrance. This can help so that the smell of the fragrance is cleaner since you won’t have any sweat or excess oil. Though you should dry your skin first, as you shouldn’t apply the perfume over wet skin.
• Spritz it on your pulse points, and don’t rub it in. You have probably seen women in your family apply their perfume on their wrists and then rub it in. When you rub the essence, it makes the molecules in the top notes evaporate faster from the heat, so It’s best to leave it to dry by itself.
• Wear different fragrances and layer them. If you are one of those people that likes to smell different from everybody else, this tip can also help you. You can buy a body moisturizing lotion or mix different perfumes that smell good together. The notes in both perfumes will mix, and then you’ll have more top, middle, and base notes.
• Take into account that perfumes have an expiration date. This might come as a surprise for you, but yes perfumes do expire. So it would probably be best if you keep its package — where you can find the expiration date for your fragrance. You can tell your perfume has expired by smelling it — if it smells different than it used to, it might be time to change it for a new one.
• Store it properly. If you leave your perfume in the sun or in a warm place, the molecules will evaporate faster. Don’t store it in the bathroom — it’s best to find a dry and cool place. You can also store it in its original package to protect it better.
• Spray a small amount of perfume on your hair. This tip comes with a catch since most perfumes come with alcohol as an ingredient. Alcohol can damage your hair, so before spraying your scent on your hair, check to see if the perfume is water-based.
• Last but not least, the best perfume is the one you like. You should wear the perfume you really like, not one that advertising is trying to sell you. The most important thing is that wearing it makes you feel great and confident.

Which fragrance would you like to try? Do you agree with our top 20 list? Maybe you already have a favorite perfume? Let’s share in the comment section!