Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Princess Diana are the penultimate '90s style icons. I know Who What Wear's fashion editors agree. They were both known for their understated yet elegant aesthetic—CBK for her cool, minimalist street style and Princess Diana for her casual, off-duty looks (oversized sweatshirts and bike shorts are a foolproof outfit formula I'll never stop using). To put it simply, they pioneered the "quiet luxury" trend long before that term existed.
Their beauty aesthetics were similar. Oftentimes fresh-faced and paired back, they weren't ones to participate in the era's bolder trends. I've always suspected that their fragrance preferences followed suit.
After doing some digging, it seems like CBK wore Egyptian musk oil and Princess Diana preferred floral-woodsy scents. Nonetheless, I'm convinced they'd both approve of one of 2025's trending fragrance categories—so-called "skin scents."
What Are Skin Scents?
Skin scents are subtle. They're not too floral, woody, or anything; they contain musky, lingering base notes that give them a warm and grounding quality. Since they effortlessly mingle with the natural scent of the skin, they make people say, "You smell so good," rather than, "What perfume are you wearing?"
Ines Guien is a fragrance expert and the VP of Operations at Dossier. "In general skin scents are lighter and fresher and project a 'your skin but better' vibe." Depending on the other notes in the formula, she says you can "take it any direction you want," whether that's something light and fresh or slightly stronger or spicier. "Both give you the 'second skin' effect in different ways."
In my opinion, skin scents are the epitome of "quiet luxury." They're not too strong or overpowering, yet they envelop the wearer in a warm, alluring scent. It's the reason I think CBK and Princess Diana would approve of them in 2025.
What is "Musk" and How Is it Incorporated Into Skin Scents?
Take a look at the top-trending skin scents, and I bet my bottom dollar that 'musk' or 'skin musk' is listed as a key fragrance note. Musks were traditionally derived from animal sources but have been reinvented through modern perfumery to offer ethical and sustainable alternatives," Guien says. For example, the musks used at Dossier are vegan and cruelty-free.
And whether it's listed as 'musk' or 'skin musk,' it all boils down to the same thing. "Today’s musks, often referred to as skin scents, provide a clean, soft, and intimate fragrance that mimics the natural scent of human skin," Guien says. "These compositions are designed to be subtle yet captivating, enhancing the wearer’s natural aroma without overpowering it."
Why are Skin Scents Trending Right Now?
CBK and Princess Diana aside, skin scents are one of 2025's trendiest fragrance categories. Guien says it's because they suit everyone. "Skin scents give you that 'my skin but better' scent that works for every outfit, occasion, or mood. They’re clean yet sensual with this seductive, almost magnetic pull. They’re the perfect everyday scent for day or night. Skin scents are also great for layering (layering is also another trend in fragrance right now) to create a 'unique to you' scent."
Shop the Best Skin Scents
Fragrance notes: Fresh musk, copaiba oil, salted praline
This is one of the dreamiest skin scents out there. It's warm and subtly sweet, thanks to Madagascar vanilla and "cozy close-to-the-skin musk." I love wearing this alone or layering it with other fragrances to give them a warm, grounding quality.
Fragrance notes: Tiger orchid, warm vanilla, golden amber
This is the latest perfume from Skylar. Like all the best skin scents are, it's warm, alluring, and comforting. The brand says it "feels like the softest silk on bare skin."
Fragrance notes: Cardamom, cinnamon, lily of the valley, clove, ylang-ylang, jasmine, white musk, amber woods, myrrh, caramel
Described by the brand as, "A hug that makes every inch of your skin feel warm and alive," Dossier's Free the Musk is also one of Guien's favorite fragrances. "It's warm with a subtle sweetness thanks to the blend of spices, fresh florals, and a lush base of subtly sweet white musks, amber woods, smoky myrrh, and caramel."
Fragrance notes: Aldehyde, rose centifolia, peony, violet, musks, sandalwood
Byredo's Blanch Eau de Parfum "explores the smell of texture and skin," whether that's "bodies slipping beneath fresh sheets" or "laundry baskets filled to the brim."
Fragrance notes: Skin musk, bergamot nectar, blonde wood
This is one of my all-time favorite fragrances. I don't say that lightly. As the brand puts it, "If nude were a perfume, this would be it." It's warm and spicy, yet soft and sheer. It mingles effortlessly with the scent of my skin and always gets me compliments. When I say I'm obsessed, I mean it.
Fragrance notes: Pink pepper, iris, musky ambrox
Glossier's You Eau de Parfum is one of the most iconic skin scents. Designed to "melt into the skin," It actually smells slightly different on everyone who wears it. Mostly, though, it smells "soft, warm, and familiar."
Fragrance notes: Bergamot essence, vetiver acetate
This is technically a fragrance enhancer, which means it can be added to any other fragrance for a certain je ne sais quoi, or quite literally, 'I don't know what.' However, I like wearing it on its own for a subtle scent.
Fragrance notes: Lily of the valley, iris, white musk
For a fresh, springy take on a skin scent, reach for Maison Margiela's Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Eau de Toilette. With fresh floral notes like lily of the valley and iris, it's designed to "evoke the feeling of waking up on clean linen sheets to the sunlight gently warming your skin."
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