What are the best perfumes for women? There are so many women's perfumes available but which ones are really worth it? I have been asked this question so many times.
- What perfume are you wearing?
- Is there a type of perfume for a particular occasion?
- What are the best perfumes for women?
To be perfectly honest, there is no right answer – except for the question on the perfume that I am wearing, which may or may not suit you.
Fragrances are so personal to us because of our relationship to the unique fragrance notes used to create a scent, some of which you may not be able to detect individually. But, when blended with others, a unique feeling or mood is created.
Perhaps it’s the smell of lilies from your grandma’s garden that makes you feel loved or the smell of roses used in your wedding bouquet that brings back wonderful memories.
What to Look for in Picking a Perfume
Fragrance notes refer to the special ingredients combined in perfumes to help create that sensual experience. When you find the right perfume – you know it. It takes you on an emotional ride which evokes memories, creates experiences and infuses our imagination with subtle power, hinting at a secret identity.
Most women have a signature scent, having found that perfect chemistry of how a scent smells on their skin – which in turn is dependent on her age, body chemistry, diet, stress levels and overall mood.
With changing trends however, some women treat fragrance as an accessory, changing perfume daily – or even more often – to suit her style, occasion and/or mood.
Finding the perfect mix is like looking for a needle in a haystack. They are the ones that breathe life back into your skin and endure your various activities throughout your busy day. The perfect balance of aromas will keep everyone asking what YOU are wearing.
If you’ve been reading about perfumes, you might have come across two commonly used terms: EDP and EDT. The term Eau de Parfum (EDP) or Eau de Toilette (EDT) simply refers to a perfume’s oil concentration (as a percentage of alcohol content).
- EDP (8-15% perfume oil) is generally more expensive than EDT and has a longer lasting fragrance smell.
- EDT (5-10% perfume oil) is generally a lighter fragrance suited for casual everyday use. It is usually cheaper than EDP and will last approximately 2-4 hours.
Note that EDP and EDT versions of the same perfume with the same name may use different concentration of notes, or different notes altogether!
The differing terms should not be used as a yardstick for quality, as some might argue.
Fragrances are personal to you, and will vary depending on your personality, mood, occasion etc.
Our Top 5 Perfumes for Women
To help you in your search for the best perfumes for women to suit you/your lady’s personality and/or occasion, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites for each fragrance family, with suggestions on where to wear each one.
Best Floral Perfumes for Women
Floral fragrances are usually a popular option. Sweet and romantic, these perfumes are the “good girls” of the fragrance aisle. Florals can either be single floral notes, or a bouquet of flowers to create a classic feminine appeal.
Floral notes range from delicate spring-like combinations like orange blossom and lilac to strong heady flowers like rose and gardenia. They can also be combined with citrus notes to make lighter fresher florals, or with spicy oriental notes to create a more regal scent.
Spritz on floral when you want to show off your sweet, feminine side – e.g first dates or meet-the-parents. It’s also appropriate for weddings, church, ballet, etc.
Best Oriental Perfumes for Women
Oriental fragrances evoke rich and spicy scents. They are seductive, sultry and mysterious – think candlelit moments of deep inspiration or carnal seduction.
These sensual blends usually feature a more mature scent such as musk or ambergris, which is often combined with warm notes such as amber, cinnamon, cloves, and resin.
Spritz on an oriental perfume when you want to be sexy and seduce – eg for a night out, a special date, drinks, and dancing.
Best Fresh Perfumes for Women
Fresh fragrances encompass a wide range of scents from citrus and fruity families to green, herbal and aqua families. Fresh fragrances are said to be clean, crisp, effervescent and energetic. They are best enjoyed as a daytime delight – the smell that wakes you up on a dewy summer morning.
Fresh fragrances please the nose with the bright and familiar notes of juicy fruits such as berry, apple, peach, mango, and/or herbs such as rosemary, mint and tarragon. These are often blended with florals to create a compelling aroma.
Spritz on a fresh perfume when you’re in a fun mood – eg a hot summer’s days, when on vacation, or merely a simple day out to the market or to meet your girlfriends for brunch. Fresh perfumes with hints of aqua are also favorites at the workplace.
Best Woody Perfumes for Women
Woody fragrances are considered to smell earthy – think dense forest. These fragrances are for the serious, confident and classic woman. Although they tend to smell more unisex than other fragrance families, they conjure an image of no-nonsense femininity.
Woody scents are built on base notes of bark and oakmoss and sometimes combined with patchouli and bergamot to create a more chypre scent.
Spritz on a woody perfume if you are going into an important board meeting, or for your next performance review.
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Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.
