27 Best Perfumes and Fragrances for Women (Tested & Reviewed 2024)

These are the most iconic, best-selling fragrances that you need to try ASAP.

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

If a new perfume launches, I absolutely have to smell it. I'm fragrance obsessed, okay? I don't care if it's a trendy vanilla perfume or a classic floral-scented fragrance; if it's an expensive scent at Sephora or a cheap perfume at Target—I will smell it, and if it's good, I will add it to my ever-growing collection of 150+ perfumes. Sue me! Let a girl have hobbies!

Because of my perfume obsession and extensive collection of scents, I'm a seasoned expert when it comes to narrowing down the absolute best perfumes for women, men, grandmas, little brothers, BFFs, and beyond. Hence this curated list of the best fragrances of all time, including pros and cons for each, reviews, and some notes on why I, personally, love them so damn much.

Now keep scrolling to find your new favorite perfume, along with tips on how to choose the right fragrance for yourself. Yep, I want to make this as easy as possible for ya.

I keep a bottle of this at my desk to spritz on before ~very important~ business meetings, and I kid you not, every time I spray it, my coworkers flock to me to ask what smells so damn good. My bottle even went missing recently after associate editor Annabel Iwegbue sniffed it (loljk, I gave it to her, because I'm soooo nice).

"I always knew that a sophisticated heiress laid dormant within me, but Atomic Rose's deep bergamot and vanilla formula—which strikes the perfect balance between a feminine and masculine scent—pulled that identity to the forefront," Iwegbue says. "A compliment from my roommate about how I left a wealthy-smelling air in the kitchen confirmed that this Initio fragrance will henceforth be my scent of choice when on days that I want to make a statement."

Glowing customer review: "I own and love quite a few Initio fragrances, but this by far, for me, has to be the standout. It's a rich, luxurious rose fragrance that's warm and not too sweet. I can see this easily being worn by a man or a woman; in fact, I love when a man wears this fragrance. It's strong without being overbearing."

When I want to cosplay as someone who has their life together, I douse myself in this extremely chic Dior perfume. It's loaded with florals, but it still has a creamy quality that takes away any of the heady powdery-ness (the perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian, told me it's from the orange blossom, which gives it a vanilla/almond scent). I have two bottles—one at my desk and one at home—and both have dents, since I wear it so much.

Glowing customer review: "I fell absolutely in love with this perfume. it has such an amazing smell very floral and a mature scent. it looks so luxurious and pretty pricey."

Lots of you are obsessed with this perfume, according to our 2024 Readers' Choice Awards survey. It took home the gold for best everyday perfume, because y'all are so into how light and fresh it smells. I, personally, was stoked with how well-loved it is, since it's also one of my top favorite perfumes of all time.

Dare I say, it's the lightest, freshest, most pleasant perfume in my collection. Truly, no one smells this and finds it too heavy or intense; it even has an ice note, which just makes this perfume smell like it's been chilled to me. But the magic is in the mix of lotus, musk, and yuzu that completely turn a traditional fruity floral into an aquatic, watery fresh scent.

FYI: The peony note gives this perfume a soapy quality, which some people don't love, but (!) because the rest of the scent is so well-rounded with warm amber and tart pomegranate, it smells way more bougie and chic than a bar soap, IMO. Instead, this just gives it a clean, inviting profile.

Glowing customer review: "This one will always be my all time signature scent. This one tops most perfumes out there and is underrated. Smells super unique and the scent will stay on for the day."

If Tom Ford is doing vanilla sex, there's no way it's boring. I fell in love with this perfume earlier this year (leading to its 2024 Holy Grail Award win). “This creamy fragrance is unmistakably vanilla but also has a touch of sandalwood in the base for a smooth, warm scent," I wrote (lol, it me) when I first reviewed it back then. And the sentiment still stands, as this is one of my favorite vanilla perfumes, especially for layering. Three different variations of vanilla notes, plus bitter almond and sandalwood, make for a ~flirty~ but toned-down scent that gets sweeter the longer it sits on my skin.

Glowing customer review: “Sensual and sexy scentI love the sensual vanilla scent of the perfume. I receive so many compliments when I wear it. The scent makes me feel calm and sexy."

Whether you take your coffee black or with a little shot of somethin’ somethin,’ you’ll love this spicy perfume from YSL. Developed around notes of coffee, absinthe, and orange blossom, this long-lasting fragrance is the perfect kind of indulgent and seductive for your Saturday night out.

FYI: This one also raked in a 2024 Cosmo Readers' Choice Award for best nighttime perfume. A reader loves how "sweet, classic, and sexy" it is, while another noted it's "such an iconic scent." Hard agree.

Glowing customer review: “Great for cooler weather, smells a bit decadent and definitely delicious. I love the notes of vanilla and coffee, and feel it is a sexy and mood lifting scent. Great for date night, or just WFH.”

I get it: Celebrity perfumes are usually a snooze. But Victoria Beckham's line is comparable to all of the $$$ luxury perfumes on this list. I've been obsessed with Portofino ’97 since it came out, and it's truly the best beachy, summertime perfume. The notes are so rich (I mean, Egyptian jasmine, Turkish rose, and Madagascar vanilla—come on) and offer up a much spicier and chic take on the usual sunscreen-y scent.

Glowing customer review: "I love the sweet, floral scent of this perfume. Long wearing and sure to get someone's attention!"

Sol de Janeiro's famed Cheirosa '62 "perfectly encapsulates the essence of joyful, summer days," says beauty writer Mary Honkus. "It smells warm, nostalgic, and familiar, and though it features just three key sweet notes—pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla—it manages to leave a big impact on the skin without veering into headache-causing territory."

We're both actually biggest fans of this mist, because it's light and airy for summer, but lasts shockingly long. "I can still catch a faint whiff of this hours after I spritz it on," says Honkus. If you're a perfume purist though, of course, you can pick up the Chierosa '62 perfume.

Glowing customer review: "If you're searching for a body spray that embodies the essence of a Brazilian beach getaway, look no further than Sol de Janeiro '62 Body Spray! The fragrance is a perfect fusion of pistachio, almond, vanilla, and salted caramel, creating a sweet and indulgent aroma that's impossible to resist. It's like summer in a bottle, lifting my spirits and transporting me to a state of pure bliss with just a few spritzes."

Hate florals? Hate musk? Hate anything other than the sweet, cozy scent of vanilla? Hi, same. As someone whose signature body lotion scent has been vanilla anything since middle school, I absolutely love this ~grown-up~ version from Kayali (and so does Cosmo contributor Iman Balagam, who called it "perfect for those who crave a vanilla scent that has a lil more sophistication and depth"). The mix of woody notes paired with ultra-sweet vanilla and brown sugar is legit the perfect combo for a spicy, warm, cozy scent.

Glowing customer review: “This is a decadent spiced vanilla dessert in a bottle,” one reviewer notes. “It’s perfect for winter wear when you’re craving something cozy, like being wrapped up in a warm, vanilla scented blanket while eating creme brûlée.”

You've probably seen this (very) expensive perfume on TikTok, as people are legit obsessed with sweet, jasmine perfume (ahem, we're talking millions of views). Prior to an onslaught of Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes, it smelled like nothing else on the market, with a mix of fresh jasmine, salty ambergris, warm cedarwood, and spicy saffron that forms a stunning yet light scent.

FWIW, even Kacey Musgraves told Cosmo she's a fan. "It’s rich and genderless and not too sweet, and it develops differently on everyone," she says. "Plus, the iconic bottle is gorgeous."

Glowing customer review: "This is a very interesting perfume! There is an airy and crystalline quality to this and never feels heavy which many vanilla-based perfumes tend to do. It’s an ethereal vanilla with hints of citrus in the opening and florals that have just bloomed but it’s a cool spring day so they aren’t always apparent. One spritz to the wrist lasted until the next day."

“If you’re in a Folklore or Evermore era, this should be your scent," wrote deputy editor Alexandra Whittaker when she tested this for Cosmo's Holy Grail Awards. "The warm earthy notes are strong but don’t tip overtly ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine,’ and one spritz has real lasting power.”

Glowing customer review: "If you like a strong woody and musky fragrance then this is the one for you. There are many different elements to this fragrance but you can definitely smell the fig notes as well as the jasmine upon first smell. This is definitely a warmer fragrance but I love to wear it during the colder months, it reminds me of being in a warm and cozy cabin. The scent is very strong and long lasting- I typically only use one to two sprays and I can still smell it at the end of the day."

I've done the extremely grueling work of testing and reviewing every single Byredo perfume—and Rouge Chaotique quickly rose to my favorites (so much so, we gave it a Holy Grail Award). It's a dreamy night-out scent, with patchouli for a spicy kick, as well as rich plum and sweet praline. it's an extrait, meaning it uses a whole lotta perfume oil to give it major staying power and sillage. I spray this on before going out, and I still smell it the next morning (wild, considering I've probably been in a sweaty bar, followed by an even sweatier subway ride).

Glowing customer review: "This is a one of a kind fragrance and it has so many layers to it. I typically don’t like sweet fragrances but this one is sophisticated. Worth the price tag."

Testers literally say this perfume smells like "home," or like hugging a loved one. Why? Well, because it smells like a human and not a perfume, IMO. It's very subtle and light, with notes like musk, sandalwood, and jasmine—all of which just blend together in a dreamy, skin-like way. I actually love wearing this perfume to sleep (along with the body lotion and hand cream) because the scent is so comforting.

Cosmo review: "When I want something that smells *sexy* but not overly strong (especially during the day), I dab on Phlur Missing Person. I’m not typically a fan of musky scents, but there’s something about this one that’s so subtle and interesting. It settles nicely into your skin in an ‘I naturally smell this good’ sort of way, even on a hot, sweaty summer day. Hours after application, people will still be telling you that you smell amazing, and it lingers on whatever you wore for days." — Sarah Maberry, commerce writer

If you wanna smell like pure sunshine and light, pls pick up this citrus perfume from Liis, which made its way into our Cosmo Holy Grail Awards of 2024. It's bright and fruity done in a sophisticated, smooth way. To me, it's like biting into the first grapefruit on a tropical island getaway, when your skin is still salty from a dip in the ocean.

Cosmo review: “If you want to smell fresh and clean like a delicate flower, this fragrance is it. It lasted longer on my clothes than it did on my skin, but I still felt it faintly at the end of the day. It’s perfect for both day and night but light enough to wear on a chill day with no plans.” — Veronica Lopez, sex and relationships editor

“I’d like to reframe the narrative that sweet perfumes aren’t sophisticated and sexy as hell, thank ya very much," says associate shopping editor Daisy Maldonado. "If you need proof, try out this fragrance from Kilian Paris that’s so deliciously rich while also making you feel like you walked straight out of the most luxe candy factory—Timothee Chalamet’s Willy Wonka factory, to be exact."

Love, Don't Be Shy by Kilian (famously worn by Rihanna before she created her own perfume, Fenty by Fenty Beauty) combines sugar, vanilla, and caramel in a way that smells like decadent, creamy marshmallows to me. But it's also layered with orange blossom for a hint of citrus and pink pepper for some spice. It's basically guaranteed to make you smell delectable. "It reminds me of carnival cotton-candy dreams mixed with a fruity twist while still feeling wealthy AF," Maldonado says.

Glowing customer review: "This is such a pleasant winter scent. If you wanna smell like marshmallows all day, this is the way to do it."

If the idea of smelling like a literal cupcake sounds good to you, try Goddess. But it's not just any cupcake—this is a spensy, French-bakery cupcake worthy of a line out the door. This vanilla perfume is loaded with a variety of vanilla notes (like plain ole' vanilla, vanilla caviar, and vanilla absolute), but it leans toward sophisticated, chic territory with a mix of lavender, cacao, and ginger. Together, it creates a grown-up gourmand that smells truly decadent and delicious.

Glowing customer review: "Delicious, adult vanilla. I usually go for clean scents but this one doesn’t give me a headache. This one feels flirty without being too sweet, perfect for date night."

When I heard Zayn Malik was a big fan of Noyz, I immediately tested every single of their scents. Ever since, I've worn Sh**ty Day at least once a week (high praise for a girl with 150+ perfumes to choose from). It's unlike any perfume in my collection. With a mix of freshness from cucumber, eucalyptus, coconut water, and fig, plus hella salt and warmth from cedarwood and amber. It's light and airy, but still has some zest.

Glowing customer review: “This aromatic amber vanilla scent is GOOD! Given the notes I didn't think I would enjoy this scent as much as I do! My husband and myself can't get enough of this one.”

The entire Le Monde Gourmand perfume line is impressive, as it is. But factoring in that it's the cheapest perfume on this list that I've tested and just so happened to fall in love with, I'm floored. All of the scents are hella sweet (gourmand is in the name, after all), so expect delectable, edible notes in them all. Like this one, a creamy vanilla (hence the name) with sticky brown sugar, plus juicy apricot to round it out.

Glowing customer review: “I love this perfume so much! My friend had it, and I wanted to try it because she always smells good, and it did not disappoint! It smells warm and fresh, and I keep getting complimented on how good I smell!”

Smelling salty might not sound as appealing as, say, having the aroma of vanilla or cherry. But when it's in this perfume from Ellis Brooklyn, it lends the vibe of sipping a crisp glass of wine seaside on a windy day. The perfume is grounded by ambergris, a salty, musky note (fair warning: don't google what it is because it will gross you out, but know it's vegan and synthetic in this formula). But it's also got tropical and bright tiare flower and violet, taking it to a fresh, beachy place that doesn't smell overly sweet or fruity.

Glowing customer review: "I love this scent. Fresh, clean and lasts pretty well. It definitely smells beachy but not in a sunscreen way."

Walk in a room wearing Delina and someone is def going to smell ya, because the sillage (or the scent trail the perfume leaves behind) is strong AF. When I have a big event for work and want to make a good impression, I always spritz a lil bit of Delina on my wrists and behind my ears. The powdery, musky, scent—spiked with rose—makes me feel powerful and strong.

Glowing customer review: "I’m a flight attendant, and I get complimented on this perfume at least 3-4 times a day. It’s soft and clean. One of the nicest perfumes you can own."

“This is the ultimate It Girl scent," wrote senior social media editor Maddie Hiatt in our Holy Grail Awards (yup, this one was a winner). "It is sweet and light but actually stays on your skin all day long," she says. "If you’re looking for a floral perfume that leans more pretty and fresh than nose-crinkling garden vibes, this is for you." And she (and I, if you care) loves the bottle for how chic and minimal it is. "It'll elevate any bathroom counter in a matter of seconds," she adds.

Glowing customer review: "Perfect everyday perfume. It’s clean and flowery but not overbearing. One spritz can really last all day and I got so many compliments while wearing."

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.

I've Never Seen This Celeb Perfume So Discounted

‘Cosmo’ HQ Reviewed the 2 New Glossier Perfumes

Behold: The One Perfume You Need This Fall

18 Best Fall Perfumes in 2024 (Tested & Reviewed)

Taylor Swift *Finally* Revealed Her Fave Perfume

Rose Perfumes That Don't Smell Like Your Grandma

Found: Your New Fave Long-Lasting Perfume

The Tea on Dossier's Perfume Dupes

Psst: Hair Perfume Is My Ultimate Beauty Hack

These Summer Perfumes Smell Amaze in Hot Weather

I Tested 60 Vanilla Perfumes—These Are the Best

I Wear These Perfumes When I Wanna Smell *Sexy*