Out of all the beauty categories this year, perfume and fragrance has been my favorite. I tried quite a few new brands this year with discovery sets and some of your recommendations and found some new loves.
Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, I’m rounding up my Top Favorites starting with perfume by scent category.
Citrus Scents
Celine Parade
Citrus perfumes are my favorite, and this is the category I usually gravitate towards. Celine Parade remains a favorite. I think it’s one you can wear year-round but the citrus notes definitely give it a fresher vibe for spring to summer.
NOTES: Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver, Musk, Oak Moss
Chanel Paris-Biarritz
The Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel is still my favorite line in the Chanel fragrance lineup. I love the fresh feel they have. Paris-Biarritz remains my most-worn from them.
NOTES: Sicilian mandarin and lily of the valley accord
Fresh & Clean
Cologne Celeste – Celine
I love fresh and clean scents but ones that aren’t too soapy-clean. Celine Cologne Celeste is a clean citrus and this is in a different format than their eau de parfums. The bottles for this line are in a larger and taller bottle format for an Eau de Cologne, Perfumed Body and Hair Oil and Bath Milk. I bought the body oil and cologne and love both. They both have a very clean vibe, almost like a fresh body wash, but it’s not too soapy.
NOTES: Angelica, sweet lemon essence, petitgrain, neroli accord, ambrette butter and orris butter
L’Eau Sezane
Sezane L’Eau Sezane was a scent I bought blind just in the last week. This scent was spritzed all over the box for one of my orders and I fell in love with it instantly! I thought about it for several weeks but couldn’t get the scent out of my head. It’s very fresh, clean with an almost green feel to it. Lasting power isn’t the best with this one but I still think it’s worth checking out and it’s one I don’t mind reapplying throughout the day.
Top notes: Essence of Italian Mandarin, Essence of Italian Lemon, Essence of Petit grain Bigarade
Middle notes: Neroli, Water Jasmine, Peony
Base notes: White Musk
Soft Skin Scents and Musks
I love the idea of a skin-like musk scent, but musks can be tricky for me. Some pull too powdery and it doesn’t wear well on my skin, so the ones I lean towards have a warmer vibe.
Phlur Missing Person
Phlur Missing Person remains at the top of my list for Phlur. I think it’s going to either be hit or miss for you depending on how it works with your body chemistry but I think it’s one of the best skin-like musk scents I’ve tried. Sephora has their Fragrance for All Event now thru 12/24 so if you’ve had your eye on any perfumes at Sephora you can save 20% off full-size perfumes with code FRAGRANCE20.
NOTES: Top: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Sheer Jasmine
Heart: Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Blossom, Orange Flower
Base: Sandalwood Australia Oil, Blonde Wood, White Musk
Guerlain Musc Outreblanc
Guerlain Musc Outreblanc Eau de Parfum is one of the prettiest clean smelling musks I’ve tried. It does have a powdery feel but isn’t too powdery to me. Lasting power is exceptionally good with the L’Art and La Matiere line. I really love that you can customize and personalize the bottles when you order directly from Guerlain. You can change the plate on the cap, ribbon color, seal and also have it engraved. This has been on my wishlist for several years now and I’m THRILLED to finally own a full size.
NOTES: Orange blossom absolut, Bulgarian Rose, musk, ambrette, iris Pallida butter.
Parfums de Marly Valaya
Parfums de Marly has been pure love this year. My favorite has been Valaya. It’s very potent and has a mix of bergamot, vetiver and mandarin mixed in with the musk. I bought this in both the full-size and travel-size and I love the mini to carry with me or travel with.
NOTES: Bergamot, Mandarin, White Peach, Orange Flower, Nympheal, Vetiver, Akigalawood, Ambrofix, Musk
Glossier You Doux
Glossier added two new scents this year and I decided to pick up Glossier You Doux. I only just recently picked it up but it’s very unique and it’s easily become a favorite for winter. It has a cozy creamy skin like vibe to it. It’s earthy and skin like. The notes list violet which I’m usually not a fan of but it sweetens this scent in a really beautiful way and somehow gives it a fresh vibe. Travel 8 ml size is available at Glossier if you want to try it out first. For the full size you can save 20% off at Sephora now thru 12/24 with their Fragrance For All Event with code FRAGRANCE20.
NOTES: Sweet Violet, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Myrrh and Ambrox
Fruity Floral
Creed Spring Flower
In looking at the scents I wear I realized I don’t have a lot of fruity florals that I love. Creed Spring Flower is the one exception and their revamp is 10/10 pure heaven. It’s floral but also fruity with exceptionally long lasting power on me. It’s bright and youthful. A travel size is available in this beautiful 5-Piece Women’s Set.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Green Notes, Lemon
Heart Notes: Apricot, Jasmine, Peach and White Flowers
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Cedarwood and Musk
Vanilla
Celine and Phlur
I’m not a huge fan of most vanilla perfumes. They usually pull a little too strong, gourmand or bitter on my skin and in hot humid weather it doesn’t usually wear well on me. There are a few exceptions that I really loved this year. I used up a few travel sizes in their entirety before deciding to splurge on the full size bottles.
Phlur Vanilla Skin is a solid win for me. I love it in both the perfume and hair and body mist versions. It’s cozy and sweet without being too sweet. I love the mix of sandalwood in it to help give it that cozy gourmand vibe.
Top: Pink Pepper, Pink Apple, Sugar Crystals
Heart: Lily, Jasmine Petals, Cashmere Wood
Base: Benzoin, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Agarwood
I think Celine makes excellent vanilla scents. Black Tie is the one of the best vanillas that’s sweet and slightly smoky. It’s rich and dense without being too heavy. Lasting power is very strong.
NOTES: White orris butter, cedar, tree moss, vanilla and musk
They added a new one this year called ZouZou. I bought this in a travel size to try and while I really like it, I think Black Tie is a better one. ZouZou pulls more powdery.
NOTES: Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Patchouli, Labdanum, Vanilline and Musk
Unique Stand Outs
Creed Virgin Island Water
Last two mentions are for Creed. Virgin Island Water remains the best summer time vacation scent with the coconut and fruity vibe. It’s a classic and 100% worth the splurge.
NOTES: Lime, Bergamot, Tropical Fruits, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Jasmine, White Flowers, Tonka Bean and White Musk
Aventus for Her
Aventus for Her is another unique find and one I feel is more dressy and sophisticated. It’s crisp and floral and fruity all at the same time. I don’t think there is anything else quite like it. There are some woody notes to it which adds a very unique twist.
NOTES: Green Apple, Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Lemon, Rose, Lilac, Ylang-Ylang, Blackcurrant, Pineapple, Peach, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Musk and Ambroxan
I had quite a few other loves this year but these are my top favorites. I can’t wait to see what will launch this upcoming year. Please share your favorites with me! I love hearing about your signature scents.
