Whenever we're asked for scent recommendations, the best Dior perfumes are often the first to spring to mind. After all, this French maison plays home to both modern and established icons, with refined and complex blends to suit almost every preference. These scents are famous for a reason (several, actually).
Founded in 1946, the fashion House of Dior made its first foray into the fragrance field with Miss Dior. A green, chypre scent, this scent was designed to "leave a trail of desire in a woman’s wake." Now, nearly 80 years on, many of the brand's hero scents rank among the best long-lasting perfumes – and indeed the best perfumes for women in general. But with such a collection of premium scents, from J'Adore to Addict and Dune, it can be hard to pinpoint just one to make your signature.
So to help narrow things down, in this guide we've reviewed 12 of the best Dior perfumes, spanning everything from iconic floral bouquets to perhaps more lesser-known vanilla blends. From Dior Addict, with its notes of jasmine and sandalwood, to cult-favourite Miss Dior, we've worn the brand's most iconic and luxe-smelling scents, and – in no particular order – these are our favourites, all tested and loved by us...
Best Dior perfumes deals
Before we dive into our full reviews of the 12 best Dior scents, some stellar deals can be found on a few of our favourites – including Miss Dior and Dior Addict...
The best Dior perfumes of all time, reviewd by a beauty editor
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £72 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Fruity floral | Key notes: Ylang ylang, damask rose and sambac jasmine
Dior J'Adore is an iconic fragrance that continues to be one of the brand's best-sellers and has been for over 20 years. An ode to Christian Dior's love for florals, the carnal blend, which launched back in 1999, celebrates different flowers from around the world, with ylang-ylang and Damascus rose from Turkey, Indian jasmine sambac, and jasmine grandiflorum from Grasse, AKA one of the fine fragrance capitals of the world.
Together, we find these blooms create a pillowy, soft scent that's both classy and modern. We love it for its timeless appeal, feminine allure and all-round wearability – like the crisp white shirt of the fragrance world.
Wear it if: You want to feel polished and put together
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart, Naomi Jamieson
RRP: £72 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Fresh floral | Key notes: Peony, lily-of-the-valley, apricot, rose, musk, sandalwood
The Miss Dior Eau de Parfum is another utterly timeless classic that we had to rank highly on this list of our best Dior perfumes of all time. It’s fresh and floral and, to us, always exudes femininity with its striking bouquet of delicate rose perfume, fresh lily-of-the-valley, powdery iris and apricot-tinged peony accord.
"Miss Dior is a scent that I would know anywhere," says digital beauty writer Naomi Jamieson. "It's bright and juicy, but also elegant, which is not often a word I would attribute to a fruity perfume. There's a timeless quality to it; despite opening with a burst of mandarin, it's still versatile and definitely not reserved for just spring or summer spritzing. I think we can thank the hints of delicate jasmine and amber for that, which linger on the skin beautifully, even after hours of wear."
Wear it if: You want a sophisticated-yet-feminine fruity floral fragrance
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £88 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Fruity floral | Key notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, freesia, pomegranate, white musk and woods
This fun, fruity and fresh fragrance is guaranteed to put a spring in your step with its zingy bergamot and grapefruit, delicate florals and woodsy notes. While the crisp fruits cut through the white florals – the lasting scent is a powdery one that smells sophisticated, not unlike the best lavender perfumes. The only downside? The longevity is weak compared to other Dior fragrances we've tried (and listed here), lasting a few hours at most. Mist onto hair and clothes too, for a longer-lasting scent.
Wear it if: You love more traditional floral fragrances.
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £104 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Amber vanilla | Key notes: Liquorice, almond, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, vanilla and tonka bean
If you like the original Hypnotic Poison Eau de Toilette then, trust us, you’ll love this Eau de Parfum iteration. Landing on our shelves in 2014, this has quickly become one of the brand’s best-sellers. Darker and more mysterious than the original.
Indeed, we found this more intense Eau de Parfum edition packs a punch with its intoxicating blend that contrasts white florals (think jasmine sambac and orange blossom) with sharp liquorice and creamy vanilla. It’s sweet yet sophisticated and, in our opinion, just gets better with every sniff.
Wear it if: You want a comforting-yet-striking fragrance with major shelfie appeal and impressive staying power
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £168 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Amber vanilla | Key notes: orange, pink pepper, lemon, rum, cacao, cardamon, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli
Searching for the best vanilla perfume? Turn your nose to this gourmand fragrance from Dior. Inspired by Christian Dior’s favourite pastry, this scent smells good enough to eat (in the best way possible). We find it creamy, comforting, and oh-so-moreish with its luxurious blend of Madagascan vanilla, rich cocoa and boozy rum.
While many vanilla fragrances fall into the sugary sweet camp, conjuring up the aroma of freshly baked cookies, we can tell you from spritzing experience that this vanilla perfume is far more refined and sophisticated.
Wear it if: You want something rich and woody that gets you lots of lots of “you smell amazing” compliments
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £99 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, jasmine, rose, vanilla, tonka bean, musk and sandalwood
If we had to sum up this fragrance in a snappy soundbite, we would call it a mood booster in fragrance form. Bright and breezy, the sunny scent combines zesty bergamot and mandarin with delicate florals and creamy sandalwood.
As it dries down on the skin, we then detect the soft scent of rose, which lingers long after spritzing. Ideal for everyday wear (and for anyone who adores florals), this is not a "look at me" fragrance – instead, it’s a delicate, sophisticated number that lingers quietly in the background.
Wear it if: You want a mid-afternoon mood booster.
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £104 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Key notes: mandarin leaf, orange blossom, jasmine sambac absolute, bourbon vanilla
We hate to resort to cliché but this really is a case of addictive by name, addictive by nature. The Dior Addict Eau de Parfum is an intoxicating, seductive scent that will have you coming back for more (or in our case, much more). Not for the faint-hearted, this fragrance demands to be noticed with its lingering blend of fresh mandarin leaf, floral jasmine sambac and creamy bourbon vanilla.
If you’re yet to smell this iconic Dior scent, we’d describe it as warm, comforting, and sweet with the stars of the show being vanilla, sandalwood and spice.
Wear it if: You want a bold, confident, comforting and nostalgic scent that will last all night long
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £50 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Floral | Key notes: orange blossom, jasmine grandiflorum and centifolia rose absolutes
As with the rest of Dior's J'adore iterations, we find that L'or radiates timelessness and luxury; its floral notes of orange blossom and centifolia rose enveloped us immediately after spritzing. But we also find there's a sunny and inviting warmth that played on the surface of our skin for a while afterwards.
The golden tint to the formula really hints at the fragrance within. It's classic but not heady, like some traditional florals, and really lingered in the air while we wore it for a long-lasting but delicate signature.
Wear it if: You love warm florals and want a summery scent that smells like flowery, sun-warmed skin
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £125 for 40ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Key notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, Damask rose, pink pepper, ambergris, guaiac wood, cedar and patchouli
An amber floral fragrance, this perfume is all about contrast and “the encounter between two extremes,” says Dior perfumer-creator François Demachy of thsi scent. “It is, in a way, the olfactory expression of Beauty and the Beast,” he continues.
Honeyed amber is warm, while Turkish rose is soft and velvety. Together, we find these starring notes smell sweet, musky, spicy yet fresh – making it a great year-round fragrance.
Wear it if: You're after velvety, smooth and sensual opulence perfect for evening wear
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £72 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Floral | Key notes: Neroli, jasmine sambac, magnolia, rose, honeysuckle
Dior's alcohol-free rendition of its iconic J'adore fragrance is the epitome of a crowd-pleaser, in our opinions. It's light – much lighter than the original – creamy and refreshing with a soft petal scent that combines delicate white florals (including neroli, jasmine sambac and magnolia) with refreshing green notes.
Not at all overpowering, we really noticed that this doesn't have the alcohol back-note you might be used to with other scents. Instead, you're hit with a floral freshness that lingers on the skin for around three to four hours before evolving into a clean skin scent.
Wear it if: You seek something elegant and sophisticated that conjures that fresh-out-the-shower feeling
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
RRP: £122 for 100ml | Olfactory family: Amber woody | Key notes: Brazilian rosewood, mandarin orange, bergamot, peony, lily, ylang-ylang, wallflower, jasmine, rose, amber, sandalwood, benzoin, oakmoss, vanilla, patchouli and musk
First launched back in 1991, Dune is a timeless classic that challenged the typical aquatic scents of the time. The brand wanted a marine fragrance unlike any other, free from the usual notes used to conjure up an oceanic scent (like melon and cucumber) – and we can see that they certainly achieved that.
Instead, the three perfumers behind this fragrance turned to zesty citruses, white florals and warm woods to create a "marine" number that, to me, smells like hot sand as opposed to ocean air. Completely unique, we'll admit that we found it hard to put Dune into words.
Wear it if: You want a warm, soothing, earthy summer scent that evokes hot desert sand with a hint of salty air
RRP: £125 for 40ml | Olfactory family: Woody floral | Key notes: sea salt, citruses, mineral notes, jasmine, coconut, pine tree, labdanum
It may sound cliché, but this perfume really is one of those "summer, bottled" kind of scents. Inspired by the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, this aquatic perfume calls upon sea salt and mineral notes to mimic the scent of warm, salty air.
As it developed on our skin, we started to notice a "suntan lotion" quality, which is easily down to jasmine and coconut. The dry down is green and a little herbaceous, an ode to the hotel's beautiful gardens. Overall, we would describe is as an elegant fragrance that's sunny yet chic.
Wear it if: You want a fragrance that'll transport you to a glamorous hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean
How we tested the best Dior perfumes
A selection of the best Dior perfumes tested for this buying guide, including Dior J'Adore, Miss Dior, Vanilla Diorama, Dune and Dior Addict, all displayed on a wooden shelf
Like with all our best perfumes for women guides, we sampled a selection of the best Dior perfumes first-hand. Some blends, like Miss Dior and J'Adore, were already long-standing favourites that we know intimately. But the rest we wore for an entire day each – often more simply because they smelt so good – to see how their notes fared and changed throughout the day. All of the following factors were taken into account during the testing process.
- Packaging design
- Olfactory family and key notes
- Which notes came through most and least noticeably
- How long the scent lasted on our skin
- How the fragrance developed in the hours after applying
- Price
We also took note of compliments received and the way each fragrance made us feel, to deduce which of the many chic scents made it on to the final "best" list. Of course, fragrance is subjective, so there's no one best for everyone but amongst our beauty team, the 12 above made the most impact on our noses and hearts.
What is the oldest Dior perfume?
If you want the oldest Dior perfumes to your collection, Miss Dior Original is the very first fragrance by Christian Dior that launched back in 1947, the year after the fashion house's inception. Described as an "avant-garden green chypre floral", this iconic fragrance is laced with sambac jasmine, patchouli and galbanum.
"I created this perfume to clothe every woman in exquisite femininity, as though each of my gowns were emerging, one by one, from the bottle,” says perfumer François Demachy of the fragrance.
Is Dior perfume worth the money?
It really depends on what you’re after. If you want to have a signature scent that’s carefully crafted with some of the finest ingredients from around the world then, yes, Dior perfume is worth the spend. (In fact, on today's market, it's worth noting that there are considerably more expensive perfumes out there that don't come with the recognisability of a fashion house.)
Each fragrance we’ve listed here are beautifully balanced and tell a story as they evolve on the skin. With Dior, you’re not just buying a fragrance, you’re also buying into the bigger picture: the Dior woman who’s elegant, chic and ever so sophisticated. These fragrances are designed to make you feel like the best, most sophisticated version of yourself.
Our expert panel
Emma Stoddart is a freelance beauty journalist who has worked for some of the UK’s top titles including NET-A-PORTER, Stylist and Grazia. Her experience covers both online and print, including producing editorial shoots with some of the industry’s biggest artists. Naturally during that time she's tested many fragrances from luxury fragrance houses to designer brands, including Dior. As such, she was the main tester for this guide.
Naomi is Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, where she covers everything from skincare to makeup but specialises in fragrance and nail trends – sharing her expertise on the latest beauty buys and must-have manicure styles. As well as showcasing her beauty knowledge, she reviews products and shares personal shopping recommendations. Fragrance is one of her specialties and, as such, she shared some of her Dior perfume testing insights for this guide.