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Finding your signature scent is no easy feat. It should be something that reflects your uniqueness and never fails to lift your spirits — and ideally, something you won’t get tired of wearing every day. As beauty editors, we’re inundated with all sorts of new launches and trending fragrances, but very few of them make the cut. There’s no worse feeling than finding a forgotten bottle of perfume at the back of your bathroom shelf, only to discover it’s gone.
So when we do land on that elusive scent that we enjoy enough to down every last drop—and happily go back for another bottle—is a pretty big deal. We don’t keep perfume around here: Ahead, we tapped our team to brainstorm the names of their favorite scents that never let them down.
Glossier You Eau de Parfum, $78
“I remember writing a Glossier You review when it first came out in 2017 — that’s how long I’ve loved this fragrance. I remember founder Emily Weiss describing it as smelling “like your boyfriend’s neck after wearing cologne for eight hours.” I’m not sure I fully agreed with her, but I’ve gone through several bottles since then, so she was definitely on to something. It’s warm but fresh, if that makes sense – a balance of woody and musky with florals and pepper. It’s shiny and sexy and best of all, it smells different on everyone. There’s been a lot of talk about skin scents lately, and that’s exactly what Glossier You is – a subtle eau de parfum that’s supposed to melt into your skin and enhance your natural scent – proving once again that Emily Weiss has been ahead of the game . I’m excited because they recently released one Glossier You Body Creamso I can wrap myself in the scent even more.” — Sarah Tan, beauty director
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Diptyque Orphéon Eau de Parfum, $230
“If I could go back in time and be a fly on the wall in just one decade, it would be the Roaring Twenties. All hedonistic and glamorous, I can just imagine the sharp weights and gilded interiors of jazz clubs. I often wonder what this new freedom will smell like, and I guess it’s pretty close Diptyque Orphéon. With vanilla-like tonka bean, rich jasmine and juniper berries (which give the gin its distinct flavor), it’s reminiscent of a Parisian cocktail bar – an extremely exclusive one – where everyone shares cigars and drinks gin martinis. But it’s never too much. The dryer is powdery and clean and I feel a sense of relief every time I catch a whiff on my clothes. I sprayed some on a dress last week and put it in the washing machine that night. Even though it has been washed, I can still smell it. Here’s the thing: I’m very funny about perfume. I smell something and love it, after a few weeks I can’t stand it. Not with this one. It’s the only perfume I’ve used to the last drop and I look forward to spritzing it on every morning — even if I’m not going anywhere.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, associate beauty director
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Elizabeth Arden White Tea Eau De Parfum, $44
“I’m practically addicted to the refreshing aroma of loose leaf tea — and no other brand has been more successful in bottling it at a decent price point than Elizabeth Arden. I love spritzing White Tea Eau De Parfum all over my body when I get out of the shower. It is one of the most well-balanced perfumes I have ever smelled and can be described as floral, fresh and gourmand at the same time.
“You get refreshing whiffs of white tea leaves and mate (a herbal tea popular in South America), but it never gets too grassy or earthy, thanks to the rose water and jasmine in the middle notes. I don’t like overly florals, but here tea leaves and white flowers harmonize to create a delicate and elegant fragrance. It’s rounded out with tonka and amber in the base, creating a warm leather-like musk that lingers. I always get asked the name of my perfume whenever I wear it. This complex and luxurious profile is right up there with some of my favorite designer tea fragrances such as BVLGARI Au Thé Vert, $115and Miller Harris Tea Tonic, $200but at a fraction of the price. If I were to describe myself as a perfume, it would be very much that.” — Venus Wong, senior author
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Givenchy L’Interdit Eau de Toilette, $105
“I know eau de toilette is meant to be less strong than eau de parfum, but Givenchy L’Interdit built differently. I wear this perfume every date night (in my experience, men absolutely love it) and whenever I want to feel a little sexy, regardless of whether a man is involved. I also reach for it when I need my perfume to last because oh my god does this last. So, for example, if I have a long day at the office followed by socializing at night, this may well be what I wear. And if you spray it on clothes, it will stay until you wash the item. I vividly remember leaving a guy’s apartment the morning after a date, putting my sweater back on and being hit by this scent as if I had dropped it there and then. Impressive and completely deviates from the general rules governing fragrance longevity. No notes.” — Tanyel Mustafa, senior writer
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Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum, $225
“Given the eye-watering price, it breaks my heart every day that this is the only fragrance I’ve liked enough to use the entire bottle, but it really is that good. I’ve never tasted another rose fragrance like this: a rich, sweet, fruity-floral concoction of rose, rhubarb, peony, lychee and vanilla that never feels too heady, powdery or saccharine. It’s hard to put into words but Delina this is exactly how I imagine Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette to smell: ultra-feminine, elegant and luxurious but also fun and playful. Now I’m waiting for my birthday and I hope one of my loved ones will treat me to another bottle.” — Esther Newman, contributing writer
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Armani Beauty My Way Eau de Parfum, $90
“I’m a very proactive person, so if good things happen while I’m wearing a certain perfume, you better believe I’m going to spray it down to the last drop. It was given to me by a close friend My way A few years ago, when I was struggling in a toxic workplace, to remind me that I could always forge my own path. There’s something about the sweet floral scent that instantly makes me feel more confident and confident. The blend of tuberose, vanilla and jasmine announces its presence without being overpowering, while bergamot and cedarwood add a little edge. Lasts forever even compared to more expensive perfumes I own. I can still smell it on my wrists at the end of the night. During this low point in my life, I put it on every morning to get up and finally worked up enough courage to quit work without a backup plan. Everything in my career has worked out since then and I can’t help but feel that I have that “good luck scent” to thank. I am down to the last drop of my bottle and am considering buying the new one refillable version when I run out.” — Venus Wong, senior author
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Jo Malone London Honeysuckle & Davana Cologne, $165
“This is an easy everyday choice for me. Lasts for a work day, has some show through but nothing offensive to sensitive noses and compliments me. It’s not too sweet nor too earthy and is perfectly balanced to my nose. To me, it’s sophisticated and I’ve grown up without feeling ‘old’. Finally, I feel put together when I wear it. It’s the last step before I’m ready to leave the house. I’ve gone through a few bottles of this over the years and I think it’s the best Jo Malone cologne ever.” — Tanyel Mustafa, senior writer
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Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum, $65
“That was my original scent — and I’ve never gotten over it. I see myself as a “girly girl” and prefer sweeter fragrances. Not syrupy sweet, though. more like floral, fresh, sweet “I just got out of a good shower”. The fresh and floral notes inside Idôle really talk to me The jasmine, rose and chypre accord are all so lovely together on my skin and just fun and flirty. Since then I have collected many parts. It has been my everyday perfume since high school and I will continue to be a patron of Lancôme Idôle for the rest of my life.” — Becca Sax, Affiliate Coordinator
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