After Careful Review, These Are the Best Perfumes for Women of 2024

I can’t even begin to explain to you how difficult it has been to determine the best perfumes for women of 2024. I can attest that with hundreds of fragrances on the market, discovering the best is a process of elimination, and the line between good and great almost undetectable. To create this list for you, we considered a few things: a scent’s ability to tell a story through its notes, the craftsmanship that goes into it, and the emotions (and reactions!) it evokes. Some extraordinary blends that stand out above the rest are from the legacy labels you’d expect—long-held classics coveted since their debut nearly a century ago, while others are from contemporary newcomers offering a modern take on the fragrance landscape. Ahead, Vogue’s guide to the best perfumes for women, plus, how to choose the right one for you.

Vogue’s Favorite Perfumes for Women:

• Best Classic: Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum, $172
• Best Floral Fragrance: Dior J’Adore, $172
• Best Rose Fragrance: Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady, $290
• Best Warm & Spicy: Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club, $144
• Best Skin-Enhancing: Glossier You, $78
• Best Feminine Fougère: Yves Saint Laurent Libre, $135
• Best Jungle-Inspired: Costa Brazil Aroma, $198
• Best Sweet Floral: Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Cologne, $165

In This Story

• How to Choose a Perfume
• What's the difference between eau de toilette vs eau de parfum?

Best Classic: Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum

• Why We Love It: It’s hard to think of fragrance’s most significant moments without recalling the shockwaves Chanel No. 5 sent through the world of perfumery when it was introduced in 1921. A year prior, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was introduced to Russian-born French perfumer Ernest Beaux in Cannes. He shared a series of his favorite creations, the fifth of which Chanel selected. Initially an ultra-exclusive Christmas gift reserved for 100 of Chanel’s best clients, the scent would go on to become the most famous fragrance in the world. Beaux’s blend of rose, jasmine, and synthetic aldehydes, an ingredient No. 5 would popularize, remains iconic 100 years later. Chanel introduced its factory collection to mark the milestone anniversary, a bevy of No. 5 scented products that includes limited-editions of body lotion, oil, bath tablets, and even a water bottle.
• Notes: Rose, jasmine, neroli, synthetic aldehydes, sandalwood
• This Smells Like: A classic floral.

Best Warm & Spicy: Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

• Why We Love It: Maison Margiela’s Replica fragrance line is all about bottling a mood. Each fragrance tackles the vibe of a specific period with the intent of transporting the wearer to that moment in time. Jazz Club is a trip back to the Harlem Renaissance and the ambiance of a speakeasy where patrons sip cocktails and smoke cigars while listening to the genre’s greats perform. The scene is set with notes of tobacco leaf, pink pepper, and rum absolute, which play together beautifully to create a warm, spicy scent with a sense of mystery.
• Notes: Tobacco leaf, pink pepper, rum absolute, vanilla beans
• This Smells Like: A spicy ambiance.

Best Floral Fragrance: Dior J’Adore

• Why We Love It: “Gold is cold, diamonds are dead, a limousine is a car, don’t pretend, feel what’s real,” proclaims Charlize Theron in her now infamous Dior J’adore commercial. An acclaimed promotion for a well-loved scent, dreamt up in 1999 by the French house to evoke the modern woman—delicate, opulent, and sensual. As flowers are at the heart of Dior, it was only natural a vast blend of florals serve as a base for the scent. Master perfumer Calice Becker opposes the Damascus rose, the key ingredient, with ylang-ylang essence, and Grasse jasmin grandiflorum for a fresh, feminine scent proven to stand the test of time.
• Notes: Damascus rose, ylang-ylang essence, Grasse jasmin grandiflorum
• This Smells Like: A lush rose.

Best Skin-Enhancing: Glossier You

• Why We Love It: I never understood the appeal of the skin-enhancing scent before testing Glossier You years ago at the brand’s New York flagship. It has a soft, warmness to it on its own, like a comforting hug or your favorite blanket, but offers a bit of individuality with spicy pink pepper. The thing though, is that it really does wear differently on everyone, once in contact with pulse points. On me, it reads fresher, where on some friends, it brings out a richness. And because its designed to enhance one’s pheromones, it tends to layer well with other fragrances.
• Notes: Pink pepper, ambrox, iris, ambrette seeds
• This Smells Like: Your skin but better.

Best Rose Perfume: Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady

• Why We Love It: There are infinite interpretations of the rose, and in Frédéric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady, that versatility comes to the fore. The note can register as sweet or spicy, sultry or sophisticated, depending on its utilization. The perfumers behind Malle’s range have showcased that quality via hits like Ralf Schwieger’s coquettish Lipstick Rose and Jean-Claude Ellena’s vetiver-laced cocktail Rose & Cuir. Still, Dominique Ropion’s Portrait of a Lady takes the flower in a bold direction. Turkish rose compliments earthy elements like patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense, and a splash of blackcurrant and raspberry for zest. Isabel Archer, the heroine of the Henry James novel the scent draws its name from, was a passionate free spirit, and it’s easy to imagine her spraying on a bit of Malle before an evening out in the eternal city.
• Notes: Turkish rose, patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense, blackcurrant, raspberry
• This Smells Like: A bold rose.

Best Sweet Floral: Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Cologne

• Why We Love It: There’s no denying the ubiquitous allure to Jo Malone London blends—with a handful of perfumes across six fragrance families, there’s certainly an aroma for everyone. Of the most sought-after fragrances for women, the British label delivers Peony & Blush Suede. Though the name might conjure powdery elixirs popular decades ago, this perfume is invigoratingly sweet—and dare we say flirty? All in all, crafted to embody the essence of charm.
• Notes: Red apple, peony, suede, jasmine, rose, gillyflower
• This Smells Like: A flirty floral.

Best Sun-Kissed Citrus: Tom Ford Soleil Brûlant

• Why We Love It: Tom Ford isn’t a fashion label; it’s a lifestyle. The designer has cultivated an aesthetic so recognizable that the moment you hear his name and the word beach, thoughts of perfectly tanned models in sunglasses fill your head. Ford has released multiple Soleil fragrances, but the latest, Soleil Brûlant, is the most lavish. Everything from the metallic bottle that looks like a gold brick to the indulgent use of amber, incense, and black honey says luxury. Extravagant as it is, Soleil Brûlant isn’t brash. The addition of lighter notes like pink pepper and mandarin helps it maintain a subtle sexiness.
• Notes: Amber, incense, black honey, pink pepper, mandarin
• This Smells Like: A sun-kissed citrus.

Best Fruity Floral: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme

• Why We Love It: The transportive qualities of Amyris Femme are evident at first sniff. It’s rare for a fragrance to trend on TikTok, but last summer, a rave review of the scent went viral. Of course, you don’t have to be a member of Generation Z to appreciate Kurkdjian’s creation; its bright, effervescent beauty should be evident to all. Francis Kurkdjian’s dreamy floral mixes Jamaican amyris—a flowering plant with a rich citrus scent—and Florentine iris to create a voyage for the senses. Pear, sweet pea, and lemon blossom also comprise this blend.
• Notes: Jamaican amyris, Florentine iris, pear, sweet pea, lemon blossom
• This Smells Like: A fruity floral.

Best Feminine Fougère: Yves Saint Laurent Libre

• Why We Love It: YSL Libre is one of those scents that have timeless appeal, meaning it serves as a thoughtful addition to any fragrance collection. It’s no surprise the scent quickly became a hit. Originally launched in 2019, Libre was perfected by master perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm, who sought to put a modern, feminine twist on the fougère fragrance family. This feat was achieved by contrasting lavender sourced from France with notes of orange blossom and musk accord to reveal a perfume for those who prefer the unexpected.
• Notes: Lavender, orange blossom, musk
• This Smells Like: A warm lavender.

Best Vanilla Spice: Diptyque Eau Duelle

• Why We Love It: When post people think of a vanilla fragrance, they immediately assume a gourmand. But Diptyque's Eau Duelle, instead, leans into a smoky, spiciness—pairing Madagascar-derived Bourbon vanilla with calamus, cypriol, and pink pepper. It’s an alluring, cozy kind of perfume that like a warm latte, is both sweet and spicy; it gets better the longer you wear it.
• Notes: Vanilla, pink peppercorn, cypriol, calamus
• This Smells Like: A spicy vanilla.

Best Springtime Scent: Byredo La Tulipe

• Why We Love It: Byredo’s innovative approach to fragrance means that even its most crowd-pleasing floral is a break from the norm. La Tulipe’s notes of cyclamen, freesia, rhubarb, and (of course) tulips are fresh and inviting, but its dry down of woods and vetiver takes things into darker territory. Sweet with a hint of edge on spritz, it transports you to the Bollenstreek during tulip season, surrounded by flowers just as they start to bloom.
• Notes: Cyclamen, freesia, rhubarb, tulips, blonde woods, vetiver
• This Smells Like: An edgy floral.

The Gods’ Ambrosia: Parfums de Marly Safanad

• Why We Love It: Admit it: You already have that bottle of Delina on your vanity. Parfums de Marly’s peony- and lychee-infused bestseller has been spotted everywhere of late (you can’t scroll through Instagram without spotting its pastel bottle in the background of a beauty post), and its sister scents are equally appealing. Safanad, their elegant orange blossom and pear fragrance crafted by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin is a sophisticated and feminine fruity-floral. Safanad’s lush scent is reminiscent of nectar, and it has the golden juice to match—meaning it’s only a matter of time before Instagram becomes obsessed with it.
• Notes: Orange blossom, pear, pettigrain essence, ylang-ylang, jasmin sambac absolute, amber, sandalwood, vanilla
• This Smells Like: A feminine, fruity floral.

Best Light & Fresh: Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria

• Why We Love It: When it comes to zesty, citrus scents, Acqua di Parma is the expert. Since 1916 it has been perfecting its signature style by introducing new variations of its sparkling, lightweight colognes. In that way, Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria is a carefully (and luxuriously) executed take on a familiar concept. Bergamot is a popular ingredient in perfumery, but here they’ve utilized its most potent version using “spugnatura,” an artisan technique that uses sea sponges to extract the fruit’s oil without contamination from the peel. Developed in 1700, the handcraft is now exclusively produced by a single family-run orchard. Preserving the tradition of spugnatura allows AdP to deliver a brighter, bolder take on the note and a scent steeped in history.
• Notes: Bergamot, citron, cedarwood, red ginger, vetiver, benzoin, musk
• This Smells Like: A Zesty Citrus.

Best Leather Fragrance: Guerlain Cuir Béluga

• Why We Love It: Several Guerlain scents deserve “best of” status. The house that launched Shalimar, Mitsouko, Jicky, and La Petite Robe Noire knows how to make a hit. Still, the brand also has its share of underrated gems. Amongst niche fragrance enthusiasts, Cuir Béluga from the brand’s L’Art & La Matière collection is a cult-favorite. Focused on leather, mixed with powdery notes and vanilla, it’s smooth, enveloping, and luxurious as the caviar it shares a name with.
• Notes: Vanilla, amber, heliotrope, white suede, patchouli, everlasting flower, aldehydes, mandarin orange
• This Smells Like: A suede leather.

Best Date Night Aroma: Kilian Forbidden Games

• Why We Love It: Forbidden Games by Kilian defies categorization. It offers a true fragrance journey; it keeps you guessing till the very end. The fragrance is almost a gourmand; its like opening a delectable peach aroma drizzled with honey then dusted with cinnamon. Things could have ended there, but as time passes, osmanthus and tuberose reveal themselves, pushing the things into floral territory. A few hours later and the smoky, resinous sensuality of opoponax emerges to finish things off. Perhaps its complexity makes it perfect for date night.
• Notes: Orange blossom, osmanthus, tuberose, geranium bourbon, jasmine, vanilla, honey
• This Smells Like: A fruit-turned-floral.

Best Fruity Rose: Creed Aventus for Her

• Why We Love It: There is nothing quite like Aventus, the pineapple and bergamot-heavy chypre Creed launched in 2010. An instant hit, the fragrance went viral in online perfume communities, and though it was initially conceived as a men’s scent, Aventus had crossover appeal. Eventually, Creed decided to create a female counterpart, one that retained the freshness of the original but amped up the florals. In For Her, the fruity brightness that made Aventus so appealing is there, but instead of ananas slices, you get green apples and berries alongside Bulgarian roses, cassis, and ylang-ylang. Inspired by women who wield power, it projects confidence from the very first spritz.
• Notes: Green apple, bergamot, pink pepper, lemon, rose, lilac, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant, pineapple, peach, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, musk, ambroxan
• This Smells Like: A fruity floral.

Best Jungle-Inspired: Costa Brazil Aroma

• Why We Love It: Sarah Brown, executive director at Violet Lab, describes how Violet Grey’s bestselling fragrances are classics in the making. Of the scents offering modern approaches to perfumes is Costa Brazil’s Aroma, which Brown previously dubbed “the new cult blockbuster—sticky, sweet, sexy, spicy, jungle vibes.” Inspired by the Amazonian rainforest at dawn, this boasts a sensually exotic smell similar to the natural resin found in the Brazilian jungle. Aroma utilizes top notes of white jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, and grapefruit zest with opposite notes of bourbuon, vetiver, musk, and patchouli to craft a parfum Vogue editors can’t get enough of.
• Notes: White jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, grapefruit zest, bourbon, vetiver, musk, patchouli
• This Smells Like: An earthy zest.

Best Western Spice: Le Labo Santal 33

• Why We Love It: The American West serves as inspiration for Le Labo’s Santal 33. Seeking to embody the ambiance of desert wind, fire-lit indigo-blue skies, this looks to put the feeling of freedom in a bottle. To create this fantasy, Le Labo roots Santal 33 in iris and ambrox, introduced by top notes of violet accord and cardamom. At the base, however, are cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood for hints of Western spice.
• Notes: Cardamom, iris, violet, sandalwood, cedarwood, smoky wood alloy, leather accord
• This Smells Like: A spicy, woody leather.

Best Mood-Boosting Fragrance: The Vyrao Free 00

• Why We Love It: Yasmin Sewell’s Vyrao puts wellness and energetic medicine at the heart of its fragrances, inspired by the remedial and transformative powers of aromatherapy. That said, each full-size perfume contains a Herkimer diamond crystal energized by healer Louisa Mita to bolster positivity and overall improved health for the wearer. Of the label’s natural perfumes, Free 00 is arguably the most lively, smelling fresh, soothing, and citrus-forward through notes of Sicilian lemon, mandarin, and orange flower opposite Egyptian jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, and waterlily.
• Notes: Sicilian lemon, mandarin, orange flower, Egyptian jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, waterlily
• This Smells Like: A fresh citrus.

Best Flirty Fragrance: Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb

• Why We Love It: As the name suggests, Viktor&Rolf’s eau de parfum looks to pair two opposites: a flower and a bomb. It is alluringly delicate, yet powerful, with Emily Ratajkowski now serving as the face of the beloved fragrance.
• Notes: Often described as explosive, Flowerbomb isn’t your typical floral fragrance. Here, freesia and rose accord are accentuated by jasmine, orange blossom, and patchouli oil for a fresh, yet flirty take on modern femininity.
• This Smells Like: A sensual rose.

Best Fruity Bourbon: Valentino Voce Viva Intensa

• Why We Love It: Lady Gaga serves as muse and campaign star for Voce Viva, Valentino’s spirited floral, and it’s easy to see the connection between the pop goddess and perfume. Though she’s a boundary-pushing performer, Gaga appreciates tradition much like Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. In Voce Viva, that contrast between modern artistry and old-school glamour is front and center. It doesn’t get more classic than notes like orange blossom and jasmine absolute, but they’re given a boost by the addition of boozy bourbon vanilla and herbaceous moss. This unexpected combination makes for a compelling experience, amplified in the new Intensa version of the scent, which increases the potency and turns up the volume.
• Notes:
• This Smells Like: A warm floral.

Best Intense Iris: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Iris Absolu Eau De Parfum

• Why We Love It: Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle Iris Absolu is one of those scents that will have people stop you in your tracks to ask what you're wearing (or, at least that's what happens to me). It’s intense in the sense that it contains a high concentration of iris (more than Lancôme's original La Vie Est Belle)—so it packs a punch with just one spray. You’ll likely catch soft, powdery iris notes opposing sweet florals like fig and blackcurrant. These aromas are grounded by a jasmine patchouli base that lingers on the skin and will smell delicious for hours following.
• Notes: Iris pallida, jasmine sambac, patchouli essence, fig, black currant
• This Smells Like: A yummy floral.

Best Romantic Rose: Initio Parfums Privé Psychedelic Love

• Why We Love It: There is love, and then there is euphoric infatuation, the kind of intense, over-the-top connection that makes for bodice-ripping novels and steamy soap operas. Initio Parfums Privé’s Psychedelic Love is about the latter, and it explores the concept in a novel way. According to studies, Hedione HC, a molecule used in perfumery with a scent similar to magnolia, activates human pheromones. The note is one of the core elements of Psychedelic Love, and it pairs beautifully with the rose, heliotrope, and myrrh that round the fragrance out. Will it bring wearers one step closer to finding true romance? Possibly, but even if it doesn’t, they’re sure to smell great.
• Notes: Bergamot, rose, myrrh, vanilla, patchouli, heliotrope, hedione
• This Smells Like: A woody floral.

Best Violet Fragrance: Marc Jacobs Daisy

• Why We Love It: Composed to embody the joyful charm of adolescence, Marc Jacobs’s Daisy is a vibrant eau de toilette perfect for spring. Crafted by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, Daisy became an irresistable hit when it launched in 2007. So much so that several twists on the classic have followed years later. Think: Daisy Love, Daisy Ever So Fresh, and Daisy Dream. Daisy’s energizing elixir delivers fruity top notes of violets and wild strawberries, accented by a floral notes of white violet and jasmine, then rounded out by a musk and vanilla base.
• Notes: Violet, strawberry, white violet, jasmine, musk, vanilla
• This Smells Like: A fruity floral.

As someone who has made all the rookie mistakes when buying perfume—shopping after hours, buying without trying, getting drawn in by a pretty bottle without considering the juice—I’ve lost considerable amounts of time searching in vain. Fragrance is subjective; there are plenty of perfectly lovely, completely inoffensive releases that fail to excite me and much-lauded classics that should stay in the past. What interests me are the scents that diverge from the norm and feel singular in their intent. They don’t need to be esoteric niche creations or designer exclusives that break the bank; they just have to be original.

In choosing a women’s perfume, it’s helpful to have an idea of what fragrance profiles you enjoy. Do you gravitate towards floral notes or prefer rich musky aromas? Are you interested in something long-lasting signature scent, or would you consider layering a few fragrances to smell like “you?” In any case, the moment’s five-star, top-tier standouts are perfumes that go beyond basic.

There are timeless aromas that speak for themselves, like Chanel No. 5 or reinterpretations of classic florals like Frédéric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady—two best-selling perfumes that never go out of style. Many of which, like Dior J’adore or Marc Jacobs Daisy are so popular they've been reimagined several times over the years. On the other hand, there are even recent additions to the marketplace that are changing the way we think about fragrance, like Yasmin Sewell’s Vyrao or Michelle Pfeiffer’s Henry Rose, which maintains a clean, transparent approach—free of less-than-desirable ingredients. My favorites you ask? Baccarat Rouge 540 is a no-brainer, cozy yet sensual scent perfect for a night out. During the day, Jo Malone’s Peony & Blush Suede provides a much-needed pick-me-up.

All these and more, below. Read on to learn about the best perfumes for women that are elevated and special—and at the end of the day, that’s what everyone is searching for.

Those just starting their fragrance journeys might wonder what’s the difference between eau de toilette and eau de parfum? The latter “generally contains between 15% and 20% of fragrance oil,” according to Linda Levy, founder of The Fragrance Foundation. She continues that these scents last around four to five hours.

“The term eau de toilette came from the French term—faire sa toilette—which means getting ready,” explains Levy, noting that these are for a quick burst of scent, lasting between two to three hours. According to her, eau de toilettes “are a much lighter than eau de parfums and have a fragrance concentration between 5% and 15%.”