Out of all the beauty products out there, perfume is perhaps the most powerful. After all, fragrance can act as a form of olfactive time travel, transporting you back to a moment in the past, or bringing forth fond memories through certain notes. We can also call upon a fragrance to establish our identity and express ourselves through a signature scent. There's something affirming about having a perfume you truly love that becomes a part of you; a scent that doesn't wear you—rather you wear the scent. It's a bonus if someone happens to compliment your perfume, and whether you choose to disclose what you wear when someone asks about your fragrance, that's up to you.
As beauty editors, we're not here to gatekeep. You'll often find us in our beauty cupboard spritzing the latest perfume launches, which means we've tested hundreds of scents between us. We've tried everything from the TikTok-viral perfumes that go on to become modern icons, to the fragrance classics from heritage perfume houses that continue to stand the test of time. But it takes a truly special perfume to make it into our personal permanent rotations.
Ahead, we've curated a list of the current favourites from each of our fragrance wardrobes, each captured in a portrait that showcases their unique personality and bestowed with a name that may resonate with you and how you want the world to see you. From The Minimalist scent that lingers close to the skin to The Extrovert perfume that walks into the room and commands attention, allow us to introduce you to our list of the chicest power perfumes that you'll want to claim as your signature scent.
Key Notes: White musks, mimosa, blonde woods accord, rice steam accord
Both clean and smooth as a blank sheet of paper, L’Eau Papier draws upon notes that reimagine themselves as you wear the scent. At times, the rice note lends a creamy, sweet quality. At other times, the blond wood takes centre stage, bringing to mind a French paper atelier filled with reams upon reams of grained artisanal paper. The touches of white musk and mimosa give it a skin-like quality that whispers rather than shouts. It’s the ultimate in chic, minimalist scenting. It's all we ever expect from Diptyque.
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Key Notes: Labdanum, amber, patchouli, vanilla, bergamot
A list of power perfumes would be incomplete without Chanel’s Le Lion. Imagined on Gabrielle Chanel’s astrological sign (a Leo, no less), it's a full-bodied roar of leathery labdanum, glowing amber and majestic patchouli, tamed with vanilla, lemon and bergamot for a sparkling finish. One spritz is enough to captivate an entire room, shrouding the wearer in a warm, animalistic radiance that's unlike any other fragrance out there. In a world of crowd-pleasing perfumes, this niche pioneer stands proudly and luxuriously—wallflowers need not apply.
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Black Saffron Key Notes: Juniper berries, pomelo, saffron, black violet, rose, leather, blonde woods, raspberry, vetiver
Mohave Ghost Key Notes: Ambrette, nesberry, magnolia, sandalwood, violet, cedarwood, musks, vetiver
Super Cedar Key Notes: Rose petals, Virginian cedarwood, Haitian vetiver, silk musk
Whether you’re on the go or just like to have options, Byredo’s La Sélection Boisée is a curated edit of the fragrance house's woody icons, housed in travel-sized vials to slip into your handbag. Feeling mysterious? Black Saffron’s raspberry and pomelo fruitiness is grounded with spice and leather notes, drying down into earthy vetiver. Mojave Ghost, with its musky ambrette, smooth sandalwood and bright amber radiates from the skin—a brilliant daytime scent that becomes one with you. Super Cedar, on the other hand, is a nostalgic take on cedarwood that is reminiscent of pencil shavings, complemented with Haitian vetiver and musk for a smooth finish. Anticipate compliments whenever you call upon one of these from your bag.
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Key Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nympheal, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix, musk
Upon spritzing in the Who What Wear UK office, we were captivated by Valaya. This is perhaps unsurprising, as Parfums De Marly has a way of making the wearer feel spellbound. Not only is the bottle a thing of beauty, but the juice inside is equally attention-grabbing. In the case of Valaya, it feels like wearing the most delicate and sensual of fabrics on your skin, bundled with white florals, white peach and orange flower, topped with bright, airy aldehydes that are akin to throwing open a window in the springtime. It melts into the skin before drying down to an addictive skin-like musk and seductive amber base, creating a cocooning effect. It’s both a head-turner and a compliment generator.
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Key Notes: Orange blossom, jasmine grandiflorum, centifolia rose, lily of the valley
A new interpretation on the classic Dior J’Adore, perfumer Francis Kurkdjian (the nose behind the iconic Baccarat Rouge 540) conjured the hypnotic florals from the original J’Adore fragrance and fine-tuned them into an elevated golden, solar result; it's like being bathed in liquid sunshine. Expect all the compliment-generating florals, such as orange blossom, creamy jasmine, lily of the valley and radiant rose, tempered with a glowing ambery dry-down and honeyed sweetness that is amplified by the warmth of the skin. It’s all the winter sunshine we could need.
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Key Notes: Angelica, vanilla, pink pepper, cedarwood
If it's possible to create theatre in a fragrance, then Guerlain deserves a standing ovation for Angélique Noire. Described as "half angel, half demon", the perfume practically guarantees to unlock your mysterious side. The green bitterness of angelica flower is a stark contrast to hypnotic vanilla, but in the case of these two fragrance personalities, they complement each other to dramatic effect, and it only gets better on the skin. It’s addictive; both woody and sweet to intriguing effect, and it somehow becomes at one with your skin, radiating warmth as the night goes on.
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Key Notes: Lavender, oak moss, tonka, bergamot, neroli
Forget everything you think you know about lavender. A far cry from the powdery dressing-table fragrances of years gone by, this modern interpretation is akin to a dainty and complex lavender cocktail you might sip in a bar after dark. Both clean and fresh, it breaks through traditional notions of herbaceous lavender and is instead muddled with a base of amber, musk and tonka that give it a warm, moody twist. Finished with neroli and bergamot, it’s smooth yet refreshing—hypnotic in the most unexpected of ways.
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Key Notes: Black cherry, midnight violet, tobacco leaf
This year marked the launch of Victoria Beckham’s inaugural fragrance collection, featuring three scents inspired by special moments throughout the star’s life. We all know that Beckham is one to set trends rather than follow them, and Suite 302 embodies that attitude through strong notes of earthy leather, spicy red peppercorn and woody tobacco leaves. These punchy notes are balanced out by sweet black cherry, soft violet and warm musk to give this fragrance an alluring, sensual edge that Beckham says perfectly encapsulates her memories of nights spent in Paris with David.
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Key Notes: Jasmine, saffron, amberwood, fir resin, cedar
Baccarat Rouge 540, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s now-iconic fragrance, will make you feel like your very own leading lady; a simple spray will have people running down the street to ask you what perfume you're wearing. Housed in the deep red and gold bottle is a smooth, creamy, almost chocolate-like scent that draws upon rich jasmine, saffron and amber. Totally intoxicating, this is not a fragrance to be missed.
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Key Notes: Oud wood, benzoin, incense, raspberry
Let Ombre Nomade by Louis Vuitton take you on a journey through the desert, with warm, spicy notes of oud wood and incense creating a strong sense of mystery after just one spritz. Trust us when we say that this leathery, spicy fragrance lingers on the skin all day long. It’s certainly not for the fainthearted, but if you’re looking for a bit of adventure, then this just might be the scent for you.
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Key Notes: Pomegranate, Casablanca lily, guaiacwood
Although Jo Malone is a timeless British fragrance brand, its unique portfolio of scents makes it perfect for the modern woman. Pomegranate Noir is perhaps one of the brand's most powerful offerings, opening with juicy notes of pomegranate before settling on the skin and leaving you enveloped in a warm, smokey hug. Spicy pink pepper, heady Casablanca lily and sensual guaiacwood add richness and depth to what otherwise could be mistaken for a fresh, fruity scent, making this an unforgettable choice.
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Key Notes: Clove, ambrette, carrot seed, iris, vetiver, vanilla, peach, musk
We might not know what heaven smells like, but we suspect that this fragrance from Frédéric Malle comes pretty close. Drawing upon warm spices such as clove, ambrette and carrot seed, this scent is brought to life by sparkling peach and fresh prunes. Notes of iris and vetiver give the fragrance a sophisticated edge, making it the kind of perfume that you'll keep coming back to time and again.
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Key Notes: Lemon, bergamot, mimosa, violet, suede, amber, tobacco leaf
This is one for those of you who like to make an impact. The cocktail of notes will bring a feeling of pure excitement as they settle on the skin, and every time you’re hit with a fresh wave of the scent, that initial sense of sparkling joy will return. Fresh, citrusy notes of lemon and bergamot are met with honey-like mimosa and warm amber, before drying down to leathery suede and earthy tobacco leaf to leave a lasting impression on anyone you meet.
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Key Notes: Myrrh essence, myrrh resinoid, absinthe essence, sandalwood, jasmine absolute, vanilla, black leather
Tom Ford’s Myrrhe Mystère is the sort of fragrance that should only come out at night. As the name suggests, notes of myrrh create a spicy, woody opening, but sweet vanilla, creamy sandalwood and warm musk give this perfume a seductive finish. Although it's most certainly an evening choice, there's no chance of this fragrance getting lost in the darkness—instead, it becomes even more addictive as the night goes on.
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Next Up: 14 Beauty Editors Share Their Most Complimented, Head-Turning Perfumes
