The year is 2005. I'm getting ready to go to the mall with my friend (her mom is going to drop us off because neither of us is old enough to drive ourselves). We're listening to Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, and The Black Eyed Peas, as I decide which body mist to use. I have classics such as Victoria's Secret Love Spell, Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar, and a no-name bottle of blue raspberry-scented solution that I purchased at Claire's. I choose the latter and douse myself in a dripping cloud of it. Life is good.
Fast forward to the modern day—almost a full 20 years later!—and I'm a beauty editor who fondly reminisces about her first foray into fragrance. My perfume collection has indeed changed. Now, it's full of high-end and expensive glass bottles, but believe it or not, I still use body mists (albeit chic, grown-up ones).
I'm talking about Phlur's latest launches. The cool-girl fragrance brand recently released three body/hair mists, and I can't stop spritzing them. There's a sultry amber, a classic vanilla, and a bright citrus scent. Each one is better than the next, and even though they give me some serious nostalgia, they feel elevated and mature. Keep scrolling to see all three!
Notes: Saffron, jasmine absolute, amber
This is a true amber fragrance, and as such, it smells warm and sultry. It's not so simple that it's just amber though. There's some complexity to it thanks to a floral note of jasmine and creamy notes of vanilla and musk that round it out, giving it a grounding quality. To me, this is a seasonless scent. What I mean by that is that I'd wear it in every season or situation. It would smell just as appropriate in a wintery outing as it would on a hot summer date night.
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Notes: Sugar crystals, cashmere wood, vanilla
I love vanilla perfumes, as long as they're not too sweet or cloying, so I knew I'd probably love this one too. I was right. To me, it can only be described in one word: creamy. It has a round quality to it that makes it smell familiar and comforting without screaming "perfume." Once it's on the hair or skin, it's incredibly subtle. It reminds me a lot of my all-time favorite Phlur perfume, which is called Missing Person ($99), for that very reason.
The first day I wore it, I got no less than three compliments. Each one was, "You smell so good," and not, "What perfume are you wearing?" I think that pretty much says it all.
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Notes: Mango, jasmine, brown sugar
I love citrus perfumes when they're done well, and actually, my all-time favorite one is Phlur's Tangerine Boy ($99). It's bright, zesty, and spicy—one of those rare scents that marries citrus with sophistication. This one is no different, albeit a little more fruit-forward.
I love the splashy scent of the mango with the subtle floral scent of the jasmine. It's bright and invigorating, which is why I'm keeping this close at hand. I know I'm going to want to wear it all spring and summer long. The brand describes it as a "chic and sultry tropical escape," and I must say, I'm catching the same vibe.
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8 More Fragrances I Love
Here's my first Phlur love. Missing Person is a warm and spicy scent that smells like skin, but better. I'll keep it short and sweet, but if you want a more in-depth look at it, read my full review.
Another one of my Phlur favorites, this citrus scent is bright, juicy, and elevated. Notes of lemon, ginger, apple, sweet jasmine, rindy tangerine make it smell zesty and invigorating, while notes of amber and cool green moss ground it with some earthiness.
Some vanilla perfumes can be cloying or sugary-sweet. This one is none of those things. In fact, it's probably the best vanilla perfume I've ever had the pleasure of wearing. It smells soft, creamy, and slightly caramel-like (without the over-the-top sugary edge). I've only had it for a week, and I've worn it every day.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of designer perfumes, but this one is different. With notes of blackcurrant, jasmine grandiflorium, and bourbon vanilla, it smells warm and sophisticated. I always come back to it.
A Who What Wear editor–favorite, this fragrance captures the essence of salty skin with notes of ylang ylang, Tahitian tiare, and ambergris.
This fragrance is complex and enticing with notes of bergamot, lemon, violet, mimosa, suede, tobacco leaf, and amber.
This is one of three fragrances that Victoria Beckham Beauty debuted. True to the name (and the vibrant turquoise color), it smells like summer in a bottle. Notes include bergamot, cedrat, black pepper, and amber.
Dossier is a fragrance brand that takes inspiration from popular designer perfumes. This one, for example, is inspired by Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt ($155). Notes include fig, grapefruit, and, of course, sage and sea salt.
