Beauty Editors Try To Keep These Niche Perfumes a Secret, But I'm an Oversharer

Key Notes: Juniper berries, jasmine, cedar, tonka bean.

Best for: Any and every occassion

Why We Love It: I recently posted a picture of my perfume stash on Instagram (controversial, I know), and I was stunned by the amount of editors that messaged me about Diptyque's Orphéon. It has captured the hearts of editors far and wide. I thought it was just me who loved and wore it, but at least 10 other editors messaged me in support. It's a subtle and smoky scent that fuses with skin in a way that suggest you just smell that great. Its growing popularity really hurts my soul (it is my favourite perfume of all time)—but I'm not sure I'm prepared to give it up. 

Key Notes: Sandalwood, white flowers, almonds, bergamot, sweet peach, musk.

Best for: An expensive-smelling finish

Why We Love It: "This is one of the most expensive-smelling perfumes I own. It's fresh, powdery and a little bit musky, with notes of white flowers, bergamot and sweet white peach. Whenever I spritz it, it feels like I am cocooning my skin in the most luxurious cotton bath robe," says Who What Wear UK's junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

Key Notes: Lavender, musk, vanilla, tonka bean, rose, jasmine.

Best for: Cosy, everyday wear

Why We Love It: One fellow beauty director, who shall remain unnamed, recently told me that this particular fragrance caused a lot of controversy in a well-known magazine office. One of her colleagues became known for her mysterious signature scent that had people asking after it all day long—but she never gave up her secret. That was until said beauty editor popped by her house one day and spotted Chanel Jersey on her bathroom sink. A soft, creamy floral that symbolises the wearable beauty of cotton jersey, it's needless to say it's very, very special.

Key Notes: Blackberry leaf, litchi, jasmine, cypriol oil, rose, ambroxan, musk, leather, cedar, tonka bean.

Best for: Evenings out

Why We Love It: Fellow beauty editor Madeleine Spencer labelled this unsung hero from Trish McEvoy as power in a bottle. With sparkling notes of lychee and blackcurrant alongside heady incense, leather and rose, she says it's the ultimate night-out fragrance.

Key Notes: Rose, clove, raspberry, blackcurrant, cinnamon, red berries, Turkish rose, patchouli, incense, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, incense, sandalwood, musk, benzoin, amber, cedar, ambergris, vanilla.

Best for: A long-lasting floral punch

Why We Love It: There once was a time when every fashion and beauty editor out there considered this perfume their signature scent due to longevity. Nowadays, it's proving less popular (purely because of its mammoth success). However, if you're asking me, those who stuck with it came out on top. It contains notes of rose, patchouli, sandalwood, cinnamon and musk, but you'd struggle to put your finger on a single one. Instead, it creates a spicy, smoke show of a bouquet that you want to drench yourself in head to toe.

Key Notes: Sparkling pink pepper, earthy iris, while ambrette, ambrox.

Best for: A subtle skin scent

Why We Love It: While Glossier You isn't a niche fragrance, per se, it is a solid beauty-editor favourite that can't be found in your standard beauty hall. Rosy, musky and fresh, it's what I like to call a skin 2.0 fragrance—like freshly showered skin but better.

Key Notes: Damask rose, saffron, vanilla, cypriol oil, labdanum, sandalwood, patchouli, cedar.

Best for: Sharing

Why We Love It: Penhaligon's is possibly one of the most-loved perfume brands amongst British beauty editors. Its age-old juices and traditional bottles really know how to get us excited. Cairo is strong, head-turning and woody in all of the right ways. I know several beauty editors that consider it a favourite.

Key Notes: Pear, hazelnut, olibanum, osmanthus, rose, saffron, jasmine sambac, sandalwood, vanilla, akigalawood, ambergris, labdanum.

Best for: Countless compliments

Why We Love It: I'm calling it: Amouage Guidance is set to be the biggest niche fragrance of the decade. In recent months, I have smelled it on the necks of every beauty and fashion editor I seriously respect. Yes, it's pricey, but the scent puts every penny of its expense to work. It starts off juicy and fruity with a bite of mouthwatering pear, but that quenching top is entirely enveloped in the most luxurious and intriguing cloak of cream you have ever encountered. Hazelnut, vanilla, rose, saffron and frankincense attack the nose from all angles—it is creamy and inviting, punchy and demanding, spicy and sweet and smoky and intense all at once. If you get the opportunity to smell this just do it and thank me later.

Key Notes: Watery notes, ambrette, French rose, Bulgarian rose, musk, woody notes, amber

Best for: A lightweight rose

Why We Love It: I have waxed lyrical about Aerin perfumes for many years, and frankly there isn't a single scent in the line up that I wouldn't recommend purchasing. This one in particular, however, stands out from the rest. Most fragrance-loving beauty editors have it on their shelves thanks to its freshly-picked-rose-petal aroma.

Key Notes: Neroli, bergamot, ambrette. iris, orange blossom, musk, sandalwood, cedar.

Best for: Rich gourmand vibes

Why We Love It: If you don't like typical gourmand scents but like your perfumes to have a warm edge to them, this perfume will tick all of your boxes. It's reminiscent of a French boulangerie but has a depth to it that makes it perfect for evenings. Every beauty editor I know that has tried it absolutely loves it.

Key Notes: Juniper Berries, nutmeg, coriander, vanilla, musk, amberwood and caramel.

Best for: Creamy, moreish warmth

Why We Love It: "Fans of Baccarat Rouge 540, rejoice. This perfume from Maison Francis Kurkdjian has the same creamy sweetness, but it comes without the risk of smelling like everybody else. Vanilla makes it a distinctly gourmand scent, but woody and earthy notes make it noticeably different," says Who What Wear UK Beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden.

Key Notes: Tuberose, cinnamon, osmanthus, musk, vanilla.

Best for: Underrated excellence

Why We Love It: I've been a fan of Maison Crivelli perfumes for years, and in recent months it seems to be the perfume house everyone is talking about. It seems like everybody who is anybody counts a Maison Crivelli scent as a signature. In fact, I recently discovered that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and I share the same favourite in Tubereuse Astrale. The sweet, creamy scent smells unlike anything else out there—like syrupy tuberose petals poured onto a bed of warm leather. It oozes money.

Key Notes: Jasmine absolute, cotton flower, white musk.

Best for: Clean-smelling freshness

Why We Love It: Remember The Body Shop White Musk from your teenage years? Well, now imagine it got reinvented for adults by one of the most forward-thinking perfume houses out there. Musc Invisible by Juliette Has A Gun should be on every perfume-lover's shelf.

Key Notes: Cinnamon, coriander, bergamot, Siam benzoin, patchouli, Moroccan rose. amber, incense, vanilla, labdanum.

Best for: A warming, spicy finish

Why We Love It: If you're looking for a perfume that stands out from the rest, Sana Jardin is a great brand to start with. Not only are the fragrances made ethically and sustainably, but they are also beautifully strong and different. Tiger By Her Side is deeply spicy, warm and exotic thanks to vanilla, patchouli and bergamot. I see this one on the shelves of every cool influencer and editor I know.

Notes: White rose, lemon leaf, pink pepper, rose oil, geranium, petitgrain, honey, amber, cedarwood, peppered citrus fruits.

Best for: A spring-like, delicate scent

Why We Love It: Jo Malone CBE makes perfumes like nobody else, and White Rose & Lemon Leaves delivers a fresh crispness that we beauty editors crave. This is an everyday scent that won't leave you smelling like everybody else you walk past.

Key Notes: Pear, apple, citrus, ambrette, amyl salicylate, moss, jasmine, Iso E Super, cetalox, ambrettolide, helvetolide.

Best for: Those who want to smell really, really cool

Why We Love It: I've told you once, but I'll tell you again—if you're bored of Santal 33, AnOther 13 is the Le Labo perfume to be spotted with. Truthfully, I don't know a single beauty editor who still wears Santal 33, but everyone has something great to say about this earthy, zingy delight.

Key Notes: Goa sandalwood, cedar, amber.

Best for: Nonchalant, wearable woodiness

Why We Love It: As a beauty director, I have spent a lot of time looking after other editor's desks while they are on holiday, and this stuff is almost always stationed next to their desktops. In fact, I have a bottle on my desk at all times too. It's woody and jungle-like thanks to earthy notes of sandalwood and cypress.

Key Notes: Sea salt, minerals, citrus, jasmine, mastic, coconut, pine tree, labdanum.

Best for: Luxurious holidays

Why We Love It: If you struggle to close your eyes and let your imagination whisk you off to the French riviera when you're feeling stressed, this perfume might help. It's balmy, salty and embodies all of the hedonistic bliss of holidaying in the South of France—and that's exactly why beauty editors love it so much. Is there anything chicer than a summer scent inspired by Hotel du Cap? I think not.

Key Notes: Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon essence, mandarin, orange, grapefruit infusions, rosemary, jasmine, lily of the valley, clove, patchouli.

Best for: Stealing from your partner

Why We Love It: This fragrance, along with Orphéon, is what I deem to be the most exquisite and wonderful in the entire world. I first bought it as I wanted something different (but not too different) to the brand's iconic citrusy Colonia. This stuff has a deep, soapy base to it that is nothing short of intoxicating. I have worn it for years and years and have been forever reluctant to share. In recent years, I also discovered that fragrance expert Alice du Parcq shares a similar love for this stuff, and we bonded over it instantly. While I remain pleased it is getting the love it deserves, I can't help but feel a bit miffed that it isn't all mine.

Key Notes: Coconut, hibiscus, bergamot, patchouli, tuberose, osmanthus, musk, cacao pod, ambrette, cashmeran.

Best for: A sweet, powdery scent

Why We Love It: Virtually every beauty editor I know is head over heels for Byredo Velvet Haze, and I can totally see why. While we all openly praise the likes of Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost and Blanche, Velvet Haze is the one we keep to ourselves. Coconut water makes it creamy and sweet, while patchouli, musk and cacao make it deeply refreshing.

Key Notes: Orange blossom, white flowers, jasmine, tuberose, white rose, floral musk, hibiscus, cumin.

Best for: Creamy citrus lovers

Why We Love It: Serge Lutens is one of those fragrance brands that beauty editors will never tire of. It's luxe and is hard to locate if you're not regularly darting in and out of London's high-end department stores. Everything the brand creates is liquid gold. This fresh (but punchy) orange flower fragrance, however, is the crème de la crème. 

Key Notes: Mastic, orange blossom, Bulgarian rose, ginger, jasmine sambac, sandalwood.

Best for: A hit of calm

Why We Love It: You might not be familiar with this one, but you should be. Beauty editor at Fabulous, Tara Ledden, told me that she first spotted this perfume while on holiday in Barbados. She didn't buy it at the time but spent the next six months tracking it down (the lengths we'll go to). A hearty concoction of sweet and dry cedar, and made specially with ingredients that work in synergy with pregnancy and nursing without disrupting the body's sensitivity during this time—it is absolutely exquisite.

Key Notes: Haitian vetiver, pink pepper, musk.

Best for: A sandy, earthy sort of warmth

Why We Love It: This entire Estée Lauder fragrance collection is a work of art, with each fragrance being blended and created by a different world-famous perfumer. Blushing Sands, however, has proved one of the most loved in the beauty editor circuit. An earthy, woody scent with vetiver and pink pepper, it embodies the heady heat and freedom of the desert in just one spritz.