Deep Reviews: The Chicest Orange Blossom Perfumes, Ranked by Editors

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If there's one thing to know about the Who What Wear UK team, it's that we're total fragrance enthusiasts. On any day in the office, you'll find us spritzing new perfumes that land on our beauty desk, searching for more affordable alternatives to our favourite designer fragrances and working out exactly which perfumes celebrities wear. And don't even get us started on our impressive personal fragrance collections. We love perfume, and there's no gatekeeping here—we want to share our favourite fragrances with you too.

With summer (finally) on the horizon, we're looking to switch up our scents for a summer perfume. And orange blossom perfumes have taken our fancy of late. Orange blossom (or fleur d'oranger, as it is sometimes referred to) is a white floral with fresh and sweet undertones, sometimes with an animalic muskiness that smells sensual and skin-like. But not all orange blossom perfumes are created equal. You might find the actual orange blossom nestled amongst other floral notes in lightweight, springtime scents (such as Parfums De Marly's Valaya) or as the main character in perfumes that dial the note right up such as Serge Lutens Fleur d'Oranger (fun fact: Kate Moss wore this scent on her wedding day). Other fragrances, such as Love, Don't Be Shy by Kilian Paris (which reportedly makes Rihanna smell so good) blend orange blossom with gourmand, good-enough-to-eat notes such as marshmallow and vanilla.

So, if you're looking for the best orange blossom perfume for you, you've come to the right place. I rallied the Who What Wear UK team to put the best orange blossom perfumes to the test over the past month. Ahead, you'll find their honest reviews of the perfumes, including which got us the most compliments and the ones you don't want to blind buy online. Scroll ahead for our favourites.

The Best Orange Blossom Perfumes, Rated by Editors

1. Parfums De Marly Valaya

Key Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nympheal, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix, musk.

Pros: Impressive sillage, floral scent, long-wearing, received lots of compliments wearing it.

Cons: The most expensive of the bunch.

Rating: 9/10

As a lover of Parfums De Marly (Delina and Althair are two of my current favourites) I was excited to get my hands on Valaya, the fragrance house’s take on orange blossom. Upon first spritz it made me feel as though I was bundled in the fluffiest white robe at a luxury country hotel after an "everything shower", before opening the window to let in a cool breeze on the first sunny day of spring. It smells like the most expensive bar of soap coupled with skin-like musk and white florals—including orange blossom, fruity white peach and mandarin. In short, it's what I think heaven would smell like. The dry-down has ambery ambrofix and woodsy akigalawood with a musk base, but it's very subtle.

After spraying it in the office, our copy editor Georgia Seago immediately asked me what the scent was. A couple of days later, a random colleague in our open-plan office stopped me to say how much she liked my perfume. "It’s really soft and delicate," she said. Bearing in mind that this was around 3 p.m., the fragrance was clearly doing its thing long after I applied it at 7 a.m.—even though it wasn't present to my nose at that moment. Unlike some floral scents that have disappointing staying power, this still had sillage (a French word that means the scent trail that a perfume leaves behind as it evaporates) even later into the day despite containing notes that are often fleeting in other perfumes.

Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve received compliments when wearing it. The subtle musky and woody notes develop later in the day, but I can still smell the floral and fruity notes when they do. However, I find that it definitely lasts longer when sprayed on my clothes than my skin. If I were going out in the evening, I’d like to do a quick top-up to refresh the scent. Of course, this one is on the premium end of the scale at £245 for 75ml. That being said, if you want to invest in a luxury perfume that actually lasts well throughout the day and you have the cash to splash, go for it. You can also try a discovery set from the brand which allows you to try the most popular scents, including Valaya. I'm going to be picking it up for my next holiday.

Shop Parfums De Marly Valaya:

2. Kilian Paris Love, Don't Be Shy

Key Notes: Neroli, orange blossom, marshmallow, vanilla, honeysuckle, rose, amber.

Pros: Impressive sillage, gourmand scent, a good evening perfume choice, received lots of compliments wearing it.

Cons: More expensive than others.

Rating: 8/10

I was so excited to get my hands on this fragrance, as rumour has it, it's one of Rihanna's favourite perfumes. After reading about the notes online, I knew it would be a winner. The scent features sweet marshmallow, fresh orange blossom and citrusy neroli, and it's inspired by feelings of first love. Those themes of excitement and innocence definitely come through thanks to the sugary, fruity base, whilst warm amber adds a hint of sensuality, making this scent so much more sophisticated than I expected.

On first impression, I was quite surprised by just how sweet it was. I love a gourmand scent so this wasn't an issue for me, but if you're not a fan of sugary perfumes then this might not be the fragrance for you. Once it settles on the skin you get those hints of amber, making it a perfect evening option. Because of the lighter notes, I wasn't sure how well this perfume would last throughout the day. Although I couldn't smell it on myself, I have never received so many compliments on a scent, which proves that this really does linger on the skin. That being said, I did feel the need to top it up before heading out in the evening.

Overall, if you're looking for a sweeter date-night scent for the spring and summer months, I couldn't recommend this enough. The bottle is a work of art and the fragrance is truly captivating. It's worth noting that this perfume doesn't come cheap though—it will set you back £220 for a 50ml bottle. But you don't need to use a lot to make an impact, so it will definitely last you a while. If it's good enough for Rihanna, then it's good enough for me…

Shop Kilian Paris Love, Don't Be Shy:

3. Diptyque Eau Des Sens

Notes: Orange blossom, bitter orange, juniper berries, angelica, patchouli.

Pros: Long-lasting scent, layered notes, good sillage, chic bottle.

Cons: Gave me a mild migraine, but hasn't had the same effect on others.

Rating: 7/10

Diptyque's Eau Des Sens truly captured my senses with its unique blend of citrus, floral and woody notes. From the moment I spritzed it on, the burst of bitter orange and zesty lemon gave me the jolt of energy I needed having spent the past few hours staring at a screen. As the scent evolves, hints of spicy pepper and warm, resinous woods emerge, adding depth and complexity that keep me coming back for more and which set it apart from other orange fragrances I've smelt. This feels like a very grown-up interpretation in comparison.

I've read countless reviews praising Eau des Sens for its elegant composition and long-lasting wear, and I have to agree. Unlike other floral- and fruit-blend scents in my collection, I found it seamlessly transitioned from day to night thanks to its delicate undertone of warmth. It's a fragrance suitable for any season, with a moderate sillage that never overwhelms. That said, it would be remiss of me not to mention an unexpected side-effect I had from wearing it for prolonged periods.

It took me a while to realise that this perfume was the cause, but after a couple of wears, I started to develop a sore head. This, however, shouldn't deter you—I asked a friend to try it to see if she experienced the same thing, and she didn't. In fact, she said this might just be her new favourite perfume! Fragrance reactions vary from person to person, so it's crucial to consider individual sensitivities before committing to a scent (and if you do tend to suffer from perfume-induced migraines, you might want to check out these options). I usually invest in a sample before committing to a full bottle or seek out the perfume in-store first and liberally spritz myself with it. I'd recommend you do the same when trying any perfume—not just this one—in case it gives you an unwanted reaction. Having chatted with Eleanor on the subject, she told me she gets headaches from a perfume I wear all the time without issue—further proof that every fragrance is completely subjective.

Overall, Diptyque's Eau Des Sens offers a sensory journey that delights the majority of its wearers, showcasing the brand's dedication to craftspersonship and innovation in perfumery. If you're like me and drawn to fresh, citrus-forward scents with a touch of sophistication, Eau Des Sens is definitely worth exploring. I've given it a 7/10 for this reason. My friend? She said 9.

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4. YSL Libre

Key Notes: Mandarin, petitgrain, lavender, blackcurrant accord, jasmine sambac absolute, jasmine grandiflorum, orange flower absolute, Madagascar vanilla, cedarwood, ambergris, musk.

Pros: Long-lasting, a little goes a long way, more affordable than others.

Cons: Orange blossom note can be strong for some.

Rating: 8/10

I’m going to be totally honest: for the past 14 years of my life, I’ve worn one scent and not once deviated from it. I wore Chanel Coco Mademoiselle for so long that my friends would smell it in the street and think of me. Saying that, I’ve been on a fragrance journey this year, experimenting with different scents and notes, which has been both challenging and exciting! As soon as I spritzed YSL’s Libre onto my wrist, I knew I'd found something good. It has a luxurious, grown-up essence, springing to life with notes of orange blossom, lavender and vanilla and creating a delicious summer smell. I asked my boyfriend what he thought (he always has something to say about my perfumes), and he was positively enthralled by the scent, saying that it reminds him of being on holiday, transported far away with the smells of suncream and hot weather.

As the perfume subsides it transforms into a subtle vanilla-musky smell. You only need to spray it once on the neck and each wrist as it's quite strong when you first apply it, but it has great staying power, which meant I didn’t feel the need to reapply at lunchtime or throughout the day. If I had dinner plans, I would reapply again for an extra spruce, but that's down to personal preference. The scent will be subtle if you’ve been wearing it all day but I feel naked without having that top-up. I think it is good value for money as the bottle will last a long time if you aren’t frequently topping up, and if you were working it out by compliments-per-wear, it's definitely worth it! However, if you aren’t a massive fan of orange blossom I would avoid it, as this note is strong.

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5. Le Labo Fleur D'Oranger 27

Key Notes: Orange blossom, bergamot, petitgrain, lemon, musk.

Pros: A little goes a long way; citrusy, springtime scent.

Cons: More expensive than most.

Rating: 7/10

I love to play with new scents depending on the season, and with the recent move into spring, I was very excited to look to a more floral scent to mirror the brighter weather. Upon first spritz of Le Labo’s Fleur D’Oranger 27, there’s a floral burst from the orange blossom blended with bergamot notes, quickly underpinned with a sharp lemon edge. Then, the musk grounds the scent as petitgrain deepens it. The overall floral arrangement easily transported me to a wildflower field on a warm summer's day.

The scent is strong so I would avoid overapplying, and I found only a spritz or two was needed. Though powerful at first, it does settle into itself after a few minutes and I would catch a waft of it as I moved around throughout the day. Throughout the wear, the musky undertones become more subtle but they're still prevalent to balance the floral notes that come to the fore, whilst the citrus edge cuts through to ensure the orange blossom isn’t too overpowering. It does need a top-up if you’re planning to be out from the morning to the evening, but I find that with all the perfumes I wear. At £168 for 50ml, it's definitely a more premium fragrance, but if an investment perfume is what you’re after, I'd say this is good value for money.

Shop Le Labo Fleur D'Oranger 27:

6. Serge Lutens Fleurs d'Oranger

Key Notes: Orange blossom, jasmine of Egypt, white rose.

Pros: Premium-grade raw materials, long-lasting, high projection.

Cons: Can be divisive and smell different on everyone, so smelling before buying is advised.

Rating: 6/10

Fleurs d’Oranger is undoubtedly the truest orange blossom scent of all the ones we tried. It only has three notes: orange blossom, jasmine of Egypt and white rose. See what I mean? And for this reason, you’re either going to love it or hate it. Unfortunately, I’m in the latter camp. It’s not for me, but that’s absolutely fine and says nothing about the fragrance’s quality or composition—I can appreciate that it’s a beautiful blend, but just not one I’d wear. Orange blossom is a strong note on its own, and I think its complexity means that softer facets can be brought out depending on the notes that accompany it, but blended with pure jasmine and pungent rose, you get an incredibly bold and intense floral perfume with a capital F.

It’s inspired by Serge Lutens' time in Morocco in the late '60s, which makes total sense; this is a heady, intoxicating floral that doesn’t quit. Speaking of which, this scent lingers for ages. I tend to find that perfumes generally don’t last on my skin for some reason, but there was no getting rid of this once I spritzed. It does calm down once it settles on the skin—the jasmine and rose become softer and the orange blossom more delicate—but I’d like it to devlop into something creamier and more honeyed. A 100ml bottle costs £182, and whilst I’d personally never spend that much on perfume, if you’re a lover of strong white florals it would be money well spent. A bottle would last you ages too, because this definitely doesn’t need to be over-sprayed.