Recently, the fragrance note to watch was undoubtedly vanilla. We saw vanilla emerge in scents as we’d never seen it before—think smoky and sultry (à la Byredo’s Vanille Antique) or reminiscent of freshly blended frosting (à la Ellis Brooklyn’s Vanilla Milk). This year, however, a new fragrance trend is finding its footing, and just like the trend before, it’s still good enough to eat.
The fragrance trend du jour is juicy fruit. From cherries to grapes (and even more unexpected fruits like tangerines), this year’s best perfumes are freshly squeezed. Not only that, but they’re reimagined takes on already-familiar fruits.
This is interesting because, for a long time, fruity fragrances had a bad rap. They were considered to be almost childish. As such, they were mostly reserved for teenagers who spritzed on gobs of body spray—not adults wanting to smell sophisticated. These days, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Fruity notes are mixed in alluring floral notes and grounding musk, amber, and earthy accords. The result? Perfumes that are both playful and polished. Ahead, see the hottest, juiciest perfumes to spritz right now.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Fruit Perfume: Tom Ford Electric Cherry ($255)
- Best Tangerine Perfume: Phlur Tangerine Boy ($99)
- Best Grape Perfume: Maison Margiela Replica on a Date ($85)
- Best Fig Perfume: Phlur Father Figure ($99)
- Best Mango Perfume: Paco Rabanne Fame ($120)
- Best Peach Perfume: Tom Ford Bitter Peach ($250)
- Best Blackberry Perfume: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne ($86)
- Best Grapefruit Perfume: Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose ($144)
- Best Yuzu Perfume: Versace Bright Crystal ($92)
- Best Lemon Perfume: Maison Margiela Replica Under the Lemon Trees ($85)
- Best Mandarin Perfume: Byredo Sundazed ($225)
- Best Lychee Perfume: Kayali Eden Sparkling Lychee 39 ($138)
- Best Pear Perfume: Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum ($74)
- Best Strawberry Perfume: Phlur Strawberry Letter ($99)
Best Overall: Tom Ford Electric Cherry
Key Notes: Morello cherry, jasmine, musk
This airy fragrance is light and invigorating—like the first crisp spring day. It feels like an easy way for anyone to try a fruit scent that won't overpower you.
Available sizes: 1 oz, 1.7 oz
Best Tangerine: Phlur Tangerine Boy
Key Notes: Tangerine, lemon, amber
Somehow, Phlur managed to bottle the exact scent that hits the air when you first begin to peel a tangerine. It's the most captivating citrus scent out there right now.
Available sizes: 0.32 oz, 1.7 oz
Best Grape: Maison Margiela Replica on a Date
Key Notes: Black currant liquor accord, Isparta rose petal, patchouli
This effervescent, grape-forward fragrance is like drinking wine at a vineyard on a sticky summer day with someone you really, really like.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 1 oz, 3.4 oz
Best Fig: Phlur Father Figure
Key Notes: Fig, jasmine dew, sandalwood
Every time I've worn this perfume, I've gotten compliments on how good I smell. The combination of fig, jasmine dew, and sandalwood is such a perfect skin scent that melds beautifully with anyone's body chemistry for the ultimate cool-girl scent.
Available sizes: 0.32 oz, 1.7 oz
Best Mango: Paco Rabanne Fame
Key Notes: Mango, jasmine, vanilla
Mango in a perfume is tough to do right. That is unless Paco Rabanne is doing it. This ultra-juicy scent is warm and alluring and has tons of longevity.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 1.7 oz, 2.7 oz
Best Peach: Tom Ford Bitter Peach
Key Notes: Peach, blood orange, and patchouli
Tom Ford's Bitter Peach perfume smells so good you'll want to drench yourself in it. It basically smells like a peach that was freshly plucked from the tree.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 1 oz, 1.7 oz
Best Blackberry: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne
Key Notes: Blackberry, bay leaves, cedarwood
With unexpected notes like bay leaves, this perfume transports you to picking wild blackberries.
Available sizes: 1 oz, 3.4 oz
Best Grapefruit: Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
Key Notes: Grapefruit, rose
Refreshing grapefruit makes this fragrance refreshing and bubbly. Rose helps round it out.
Available sizes: 3.30 oz
Best Yuzu: Versace Bright Crystal
Key Notes: Yuzu, pomegranate, peony, lotus flower, magnolia, vegetal amber, acajou, musk
Yuzu isn't often used in perfumes, but one whiff of this will convince you it's high time the fizzy citrus fruit was added to more scents.
Available sizes: 0.3 oz, 1.7 oz, 3 oz, 6.7 oz
Best Lemon: Maison Margiela Replica Under the Lemon Trees
Key Notes: Citrus, kalamansi accord, coriander, musk
Take this one on the go with you. It's like falling asleep under a lemon tree in the summertime.
Available sizes: 1 oz, 3.4 oz
Best Mandarin: Byredo Sundazed
Key Notes: Mandarin, lemon, neroli, jasmine sambac, musk, cotton candy
This is the perfect summer day lounging in Central Park in a bottle. Byredo's Sundazed starts with citrus scents like mandarin and lemon and is layered with neroli, jasmine sambac, and musk. And for a sweet infusion, cotton candy is also added to the base.
Available sizes: 1.7 oz
Best Lychee: Kayali Eden Sparkling Lychee 39
Key Notes: Sparkling lychee, blackcurrant, candied violet, rose Damascena, sugared amber, vanilla absolute
With fruit-forward lychee and blackcurrant, this fragrance starts off smelling like a fizzy, fruity cocktail. Floral and candy notes round it out, adding to the sweetness.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 0.34 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
Best Pear: Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum
Key Notes: Pear, sweet Italian orange, tiger orchid, Indonesian patchouli, and caramel
This bold and sensual fragrance is for someone who wants to stand out. It's sweet with just the right amount of spice.
Available sizes: 1.3 oz, 2 oz, 3.3 oz
Best Strawberry: Phlur Strawberry Letter
Key Notes: Cassis leaves, strawberry gariguette, plum nectar, wild lily, red poppy, apple blossom, earthy woods, tonka beans, sugared amber
This perfume is inspired by fresh, ripe, and pulpy strawberries in the height of the summer season. Don't think it's simple or too on-the-nose, though. Airy florals and earthy accords add depth and complexity to it.
Available Sizes: 0.26 oz, 1.7 oz
Six More Fruit Fragrances We Love
Key Notes: Dark cherry, saffron, osmanthus, smoked wood accord
Electric Cherry's sultry counterpart is heavy on wood and spices. It's the fragrance equivalent of trying to tie a cherry stem with your tongue at a cigar bar.
Available sizes: 1 oz, 1.7 oz
Key Notes: Black currant, peach nectar, white musk
Leave it to Clean Reserve to create a scent called Sparkling Sugar that isn't cloying. This subtly sweet fragrance is layerable, light, and fresh.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 3.4 oz
Key Notes: Lemon, ginger, rose, musk
Burberry Her is an iconic fragrance that's a favorite for nearly every Londoner because of how sophisticated it smells with notes of lemon and ginger—like afternoon tea.
Available sizes: 1 oz, 1.6 oz
Key Notes: Red berries, white datura flower, white musk
What would you give if you could bottle Paris's energy? This perfume is an encapsulation of the city's heady romance. It's our favorite French girl-inspired pick.
Available sizes: 0.33 oz, 1.01 oz, 1.6 oz, 3 oz, 5 oz
Key Notes: Pear nectar, musky ambrette, woods
This is the ideal summertime scent. Pear nectar makes it smell alluringly sweet.
Available sizes: 0.34 oz, 3.4 oz
Key Notes: Fig, jasmine, vanilla
Inspired by a sun-soaked vacation, Ellis Brooklyn's take on fruit is unique and juicy. Fresh fig takes center stage here, lending this scent richness and sweetness.
Available sizes: 0.3 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
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