Scent is the detail most people notice about you before they remember your outfit. How many times has someone walked past and left a trail of something so good you wanted to turn around and ask, “Wait — what are you wearing?”
I’ve been testing perfumes for years now, both professionally and on my own vanity. Some become daily drivers; some earn a spot only on special occasions. These seven are the ones I keep coming back to, regardless of season or mood.
How I Shop for Fragrances Online
Know your fragrance families. Floral, fresh, woody, amber — figuring out which one you gravitate toward naturally cuts down the noise when browsing online.
Understand how notes work. Top notes hit first. Middle notes unfold 10 to 15 minutes after you spritz. Base notes are what linger and keep the scent going throughout the day.
Audit your current collection. Look at what you already own and ask yourself: what’s missing? You might want one from each family, or you might be happily loyal to amber scents alone.
The Seven
Mojave Ghost — Byredo
If woody, romantic scents laced with sandalwood are your thing, this one will win you over. It’s my daily go-to in spring and summer.
Top: ambrette, Jamaican nesberry
Middle: violet, sandalwood, magnolia
Base: chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
The ghost flower this perfume is named after thrives in the unrelenting heat of the Mojave desert — and the scent feels just as rare. Note: Byredo is not cruelty-free or vegan.
Baccarat Rouge 540 — Maison Francis Kurkdjian
You’ve heard of it. It’s a cult favorite, and honestly, it lives up to the hype. I use this one sparingly because it’s an investment piece, mostly reaching for it in fall and winter when I want something warmer with a layer of spice.
Top: saffron
Middle: cedarwood, jasmine
Base: ambergris
A floral, woody breeze coated with amber — that’s how I’d describe it. Quick heads-up: Sephora doesn’t carry BR540. You’ll find it at Nordstrom, and they offer a travel-size bottle if you want to test-drive it before committing.
Rose of No Man’s Land — Byredo
Another Byredo that I wear year-round. It smells genuinely fresh — not the kind of “fresh” that disappears after two sprays.
Top: pink pepper, Turkish rose petals
Middle: raspberry blossom, Turkish rose absolute
Base: papyrus, white amber
The white amber and pink pepper bring sensuality, while the rose notes feel like a garden on a warm day. Every Byredo scent I’ve tried feels distinct from the last.
Rose 31 — Le Labo
You expected Santal 33 here, right? I love it too — but Rose 31 is the one I reach for more often. (And yes, Le Labo is cruelty-free, though not fully vegan.)
Top: rose absolute, cumin
Middle: vetiver, cedar
Base: amber, cistus, musks
Rose 31 layers rose with notes you wouldn’t expect side by side — cumin, agarwood, olibanium, guaiacwood. It’s complicated and attention-grabbing in the best way. Le Labo scents are proudly unisex, so don’t hesitate if a fragrance reads “masculine” on paper.
Oud & Bergamot — Jo Malone
I’ve had this bottle for years. It’s one of my OG perfumes, and the smoky mystery of oud wood keeps it as a firm fall-and-winter favorite.
Top: bergamot
Middle: cedarwood
Base: oud
Bergamot opens bright, then ced arwood and oud bring in that dark, recognizable finish. If you want a signature scent people remember, this could be it.
Replica Jazz Club — Maison Margiela
This is classified as a cologne, but don’t let that fool you — it’s absolutely not just for men. I don’t reach for it constantly, but on nights when I do, it makes a statement.
Top: pink pepper, primofiore lemon, neroli oil
Middle: rum absolute, clary sage oil, java vetiver oil
Base: tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean, styrax resin
Think a dark cocktail bar with worn-in leather stools, cigars in the air, and a date night that feels effortlessly sexy.
Santal 33 — Le Labo
This wouldn’t be a complete perfume list without it. I prefer Rose 31, but Santal 33 still earns its place. Nearly every woman I know can identify this scent from across a room.
Top: violet accord, cardamom
Middle: iris, ambrox
Base: cedarwood, leather, sandalwood
Rich and woody, yet feminine. A cult favorite for a reason.
A Quick Note on Perfume Expiration
Do perfumes expire? Yes — though the timeline spans anywhere from 1 to 10 years. Check the PAO label (Period After Opening) on each box; it starts with “M” for months and tells you how long the fragrance will last once opened.
Pro tip: Take a Sharpie and write the month and year you opened each bottle on the bottom. It sounds small, but your future self will thank you.
A note from the studio: I bought my first Baccarat Rouge 540 because every influencer said it was life-changing. Spoiler: mine still sits on a high shelf next to three Byredo bottles I actually wear daily. Trust your nose, not the buzz.
Tested on my vanity, not on my ego.
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