Fragrance is our forte - these are the 21 best perfumes for women, spanning florals to chic musks

By combining our extensive fragrance knowledge (and collections), we've rounded up the best scents for women - with picks for every preference.

A selection of the best perfumes for women named in this guide, including Chanel Mademoiselle, Jo Malone's Lime Basil & Mandarin, Byredo Blanche, Diptyque Orphéon, Dior Miss Dior, Frederic Malle Portrait of A Lady and Le Labo Santal 33/ all pictured on a pink watercolour paint-style template
(Image credit: Chanel/Jo Malone/ Byredo/ Diptyque/ Frederic Malle/ Dior/ Le Lebo)

From iconic French blends to more niche signatures, the best perfumes for women are classed as such for their quality formulations, longevity and reputation. These are the 21 scents we think are particularly deserving of the word.

Fragrance is perhaps the most subjective area of the beauty world and, in our opinion, one of the most transformative. There's truly nothing like finding a blend, be it a best long-lasting perfume or floral fragrance, that smells distinctly you or keeps tempting you back for second and third sniffs. Perfume holds the power to evoke memories and emotions - hence, many people have day and evening signatures. Thus, finding 'The One' is a worthy investment, but it's the finding that can pose a problem. With the sheer array of so-called 'best' perfumes, knowing where to start, especially when buying online, is no easy feat.

Thankfully, our beauty team is seasoned in their pursuit of chic and timeless scents, and they have 21 that they'd like to share with you. Spanning everything from iconic blends to niche, under-the-radar options, you're sure to find a fragrance that ticks all your boxes.

The best perfumes for women, as chosen by our experts

Whether you're a lover of the best Dior perfumes or are perhaps tempted by a Jo Malone or Le Labo number but are unsure which of their hero scents to choose, we've rounded up (in no particular order) the best in our eyes. All of which are well-worn editions in our own collections - so you really know we love them.

How to choose the best perfumes for women

A selection of the best perfumes included in this guide - from left to right, Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace, Byredo Blanche, Le Labo Santal 33, Diptyque Orpheon, Penhaligon's Elisabethan Rose, Dior Miss Dior and YSL Libre, all pictured on a wooden shelf in front of a pink wall.

A selection of the best perfumes included in this guide - from left to right, Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace, Byredo Blanche, Le Labo Santal 33, Diptyque Orpheon, Penhaligon's Elisabethan Rose, Dior Miss Dior and YSL Libre, all pictured on a wooden shelf in front of a pink wall.

(Image credit: Future / Naomi Jamieson)

With so many fragrances out there, it's not always easy to learn how to choose a perfume. We've divided our list into five perfume styles to help you choose.

  • Floral: Feminine with an ingredients list packed full of blooms. Great for fans of iconic floral perfumes like Givenchy L'Interdit and Marc Jacobs Daisy.
  • Fresh: Citrussy, clean-smelling or with sparkly ‘aldehydic’ notes, these perfumes will suit lovers of Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche and cult-fave Bobbi Brown Beach.
  • Fruity: Juicy and tasty, fruit-forward scents. If you or whoever you're buying for likes Jo Malone London Blackberry & Bay or Prada Candy, they're probably a fruity perfume fan.
  • Unisex: Technically, every perfume is unisex. But spicy or clean notes and gender-neutral packaging define this style. Classics include Le Labo Santal and CK One.
  • Spicy: Heady and warming with woods and patchouli. The best oud perfumes come under this category and wearers of YSL Black Opium or Chanel Coco are likely to fall in love with a spicy perfume.

Our beauty team's favourite perfumes

As mentioned, perfume is very subjective. Someone else's 'best' scent might not be yours and vice versa. That said, if you're stuck on which of the many chic and iconic blends to go for, reading a raving review (or four) on some of said perfumes never hurts.

Thus, our team of editors and writers have also shared their current favourite fragrances, some of which feature above and some don't but are just as deserving of praise and investment...

Fiona's chic long-lasting favourite

Aleesha's fresh & lightweight signature

Naomi's go-to floral musk

Sennen's springtime favourite

Stephanie Maylor
Beauty Editor

Stephanie Maylor is a Beauty Editor working across five national magazine titles, with almost 20 years' experience in the industry. She has written for many brands, including woman&home, Grazia, Now, More!, Fabulous, NW, Woman, Woman's Own, Woman's Weekly, Essentials, Best, Chat, and OK! online. 

In 2010 she launched her own beauty blog, which was shortlisted for Best Beauty Blog in the 2011 and 2012 Johnson & Johnson Beauty Journalism Awards. She has interviewed many high profile industry experts and celebrities including Alesha Dixon, Twiggy and Christina Hendricks. 

With contributions from