These are the 23 best perfumes of all time — from classic scents to niche fragrances

Best perfume for special occasions

Notes: May rose, jasmine florals, citrus

It’s been 100 years since its launch, but Chanel No.5 remains the world’s most famous perfume. This powdery floral is a masterful blend of over 80 ingredients, including ylang-ylang, Rose Centrifolia and 1,000 jasmine flowers in every 30 ml (yep, you read that right). It treads that delicate line between femininity and strength perfectly, with a layered and intoxicating blend that lingers on the skin for hours.

Chanel No.5 became forever immortalised in 1952 when Marilyn Monroe famously declared that she wore “five drops of Chanel No.5” - and nothing else - to bed. And with this famous quote, the fragrance has secured its place as one of the most famous scents in the world.

Best earthy perfume

Notes: King William pear, white freesia, patchouli

Jo Malone's fragrance portfolio is well known, and this particular scent is one of their bestsellers. Reportedly loved by it-girl Sofia Richie Grainge, this is a serene and sunny blend of juicy fruit and elegant flowers. Mellow William Pear combines with delicate freesia to give this popular fragrance its distinctive scent, while base notes of patchouli enhance its longevity, so you'll be smelling divine all day with this signature perfume.

"There’s something unexpected about the combination of key ingredients and it’s got that freshness and elegance we’re known for," says Celine Roux, Global Head of Fragrance at Jo Malone London. 

Best perfume for spring

Notes: Wild berries, white violet and jasmine

Daisy launched in 2007 with a summery, carefree advertising campaign that perfectly encapsulated the fresh and floral scent. Even the bottle has become iconic, with its playful daisy topper. 

Model Kaia Garber (Cindy Crawford's daughter) has been the face of the fragrance for the past six years. She's appeared in the fragrance's iconic TV adverts and campaigns - pictured in a field wearing a white dress under gorgeous blue skies - and has previously admitted to having worn Daisy since she was 12 or 13. She told Dazed in 2020, "When I put it on it brings me back to shooting in the incredible fields."

Best perfume for a night out

Notes: Pear accord and mandarin essence

With an ingredients list that includes black coffee, long-wearing patchouli and warming vanilla, this is one addictive floral gourmand fragrance. It was the most googled fragrance of 2020, and its popularity is yet to dwindle. 

"Black Opium for me is a shot of adrenaline, energy and addiction that a woman needs in her everyday life," says master perfumer Nathalie Lorson. "I’ve heard that Edie Campbell and Zoe Kravitz love Black Opium, of course, as well as Arina Sheldon and Jourdan Dunn."

Best perfume for soft everyday wear

Notes: Violet accord and cardamom

If you’re looking for a new signature scent that draws attention, this could be the one. Our Beauty Editor's favourite and one of the best perfumes of all time is peppered with leathery, smoky and musky notes, making the unisex scent incredibly long lasting, and helping it to secure a cult status. It launched in 2011 and has become so popular that the New York Times called it “the perfume you smell everywhere.”

This unique fragrance has a whole host of celebrity fans too, from Alexa Chung and Jodie Comer to Ryan Reynolds and Justin Bieber.

Best perfume for date night

Notes: Ylang-ylang, Damascus rose, jasmine

J’adore offers an deliciously scented slice of Dior luxury, from the gold-topped bottle and decadent floral-fruit fragrance to the glamorous advertising campaign featuring actress Charlize Theron, who has been the face of the perfume since its launch in 1999. 

The notes in this perfume create a sensuous fragrance that is both luxurious and memorable. Perfume critic Chandler Burr previously wrote about this scent in the New York Times, saying "It makes me think of a setting sun hitting a gold chain - gold has no scent, but if it did, it would smell like J’Adore."

Best perfume for a posh occasion

Notes: Patchouli and vetiver

Launched in 2001, this feminine, spicy scent is still one of the best-selling fragrances today. In fact, it's the top-selling fragrance at both John Lewis and The Fragrance Shop. Sweet citrus top notes, lingering patchouli, vanilla and white musk make an alluring combination that lasts really well on the skin. 

“This was the fragrance I wore on my wedding day in 2013,” says Beauty Editor, Stephanie Maylor. “It was the perfume I wore a decade earlier when I met my now-husband, and I still get compliments when I wear it today.”

Best perfume for a summer vacation

Notes: Cassis, blackcurrant and Sicilian bergamot

Launched in 2013, this scent has secured itself as a firm favourite among perfume lovers. The sweet floral fragrance opens with notes of vanilla and mandarin, and dries down to a lingering musky finish, making it one of the best perfumes of all time in our eyes.

Actress Cate Blanchett, who models the scent, previously told Harper's Bazaar that its "deep developing notes" are what draws her to it. "I love a scent that promises to contain experience yet to be had." 

Best feminine perfume

Notes: Blackcurrant and pear

With Julia Roberts fronting the advertising campaign, it’s no wonder this has become Lancôme’s best-selling feminine fragrance. It is pure, unadulterated happiness in a bottle, beaming with Jasmine Sambac, Orange Blossom and Patchouli.

It was launched in 2012 and is centred on the idea of natural and simple beauty, and inspired by taking pleasure in the simple things. It's so popular that there are several different versions of the signature scent, from the woody iris La Vie est Belle L'Extrait to Soleil Cristal, with top notes of mandarin.

Best perfume for winter

Notes: Mandarin orange and pear

Launched in 2011, Jimmy Choo’s perfume debut was an instant hit. It's warm and woody with notes of exotic tiger orchid, patchouli and sweet toffee. “When the first fragrance launches from such a desirable luxury brand it gives people the opportunity to have a piece of that designer world at a more accessible price,” says Sarah Binns, from the UK's leading distributor of fragrance and beauty brands, Kenneth Green Associates. 

“It’s gone on to stand the test of time due to the unique fruity and gourmand fragrance that has now become so many people’s signature scent,” she added.

Best for summer nights

Notes: Citruses, bergamot, lemon, cedar and mandarin orange

Created in 1925 and loved by icons Brigitte Bardot and Rita Hayworth, Shalimar is a warm and spicy fragrance, opening with refreshing bergamot. As it develops, you’ll detect notes of jasmine, rose, with a powdery vanilla and iris base. 

It may be nearing its 100th birthday, but Shalimar remains one of the most popular fragrances today, thanks to its timeless, sensual scent. It was voted the ‘best fragrance ever’ by Fragrantica readers - an online encyclopedia of fragrance and perfume-loving community.

Best statement perfume

Notes: Tea, osmanthus and bergamot

Transport your mind back to 2005 - James Blunt was top of the charts, Brad and Jen got divorced and everyone was wearing Viktor & Rolf’s amber floral fragrance. Cheryl Cole has reportedly been a fan, too. “The iconic Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb has always been a favourite with Debenhams.com customers,” says Kieran Braidford, Senior Beauty Buyer at Debenhams.com. “It's floral notes and diamond bottle are instantly recognisable and make it a popular choice.”

Best perfume for late summer and autumn

Notes: Bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries

One of the more niche scents on our list, we have become enamoured with the enigmatic fresh, woody complexities of Byredo Gypsy Water. Layered with juniper berries, pine needles, incense and sandalwood, this nomadic scent is an ode to Romani culture and smells absolutely magical. It may be unique but it’s achieved A-list status, with celebrity fans including Sienna Miller and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who told Marie Claire, “I love Byredo fragrances and I’ve been wearing Gypsy Water for a long time.”

Best classic perfume

Notes: Rose

You know a fragrance has reached superstar status when the bottle is immediately recognisable, and this corset-inspired bottle has spawned many iterations. Inspired by Jean Paul's childhood and his memories of his grandmother - Mémé Marie - he brought to life the Folies Bergère cabaret show he watched in Mémé Marie's home.

As for the fragrance itself, the combination of sweet orange blossom with ginger and vanilla has an enduring appeal and great longevity on the skin. 

Best oriental perfume

Notes: Citrus, jasmine and Mandarin orange

Thierry Muglar's Alien Eau de Parfum launched in 2005 and is still successful 18 years on. This a scent like no other, but it's not for the fainthearted  - some swear by the intense amber and jasmine notes, while others find it overwhelming.

Back in 2017, Harry Styles told Rolling Stone that the scent of Alien always reminds him of his first girlfriend: "I smell that perfume all the time. I’ll be in a lift or a reception and say to someone, ‘Alien, right?’ And sometimes they’re impressed and sometimes they’re a little creeped out." 

Best sensual perfume

Notes: Truffle, gardenia, blackcurrant, ylang-ylang, jasmine, bergamot, Mandarin orange and Amalfi lemon

Launched in 2006, this is the debut fragrance by designer Tom Ford, with top notes of black truffle jasmine and a hint of citrus. Although it begins with floral-spicy heart notes, it gradually mellows before finally settling on amber, vanilla and woodsy accords. 

"If you are buying fragrance for a strong independent woman, we love Tom Ford Black Orchid," says Rebecca Wilkin, The Perfume Shop PR & Events Manager. "It’s a confident, sexy and sensual perfume that smells as glamorous and mysterious as the fluted black bottle suggests."

Best unisex perfume

Notes: Lemon, orange, coriander, caraway and petitgrain

Personal perfume meets aromatherapy in this iconic splash-on citrus spritz, first launched in 1987. With a galvanizing blend of 14 essential oils (lemon, patchouli, ginseng, among others), it's designed to tone, firm and moisturise the skin. 

“Eau Dynamisante uses Aromaphytocare, which combines aromatherapy and phototherapy, to infuse fragrance with the botanical benefits of plants," explains Marie Schmid, from Clarins UK. "Phytotherapy allows for the natural plant extracts to provide skincare benefits, while aromatherapy treats conditions through the use of aromatic extracts of plants.”

Best perfume for intimate occasions

Notes: Bitter orange, fleshy raspberry and neroli

After the runaway success of the men’s edition ‘1 Million’ - which is considered to be one of the most popular men's fragrances in the world - Paco Rabanne launched a women’s version in 2010, which has firmly solidified its reputation as one of the best perfumes of all time. 

The gold diamond bottle gives a hint as to the luxurious, dazzling and decadent fragrance within, brimming with floral, woody accords of orange blossom, jasmine, amber and patchouli.

Over a decade after its release, Lady Million maintains a strong grip on the perfume market. 

Best luxury perfume

Notes: Melon, bergamot, tuberose, jasmine, musk

A pricey option that's worth the splurge if you can afford it, Carnal Flower was created by renowned nose Dominique Ropion. The master perfumer has worked on a number of scents on this list, so you know it's going to be a show-stopping scent.

Sweet and exotic tuberose shines through, followed by more sensuous undertones. The scent is a modern interpretation of the forbidden flower and has become a cult favourite - Mila Kunis is reportedly a fan.

Best cheap perfume for everyday use

Notes: Lemon, green notes, bergamot, pineapple, Mandarin orange, cardamom and papaya

No scent defined the ‘90s like CK One - a cool, clean and modern juice designed for both men and women, by the leaders in the minimal aesthetic, Calvin Klein.

Zesty top notes mellow into aromatic nutmeg, jasmine and rose at the heart, before finishing on a musk and amber drydown. Ahead of its time, this fragrance still holds the crown as one of the best perfumes of all time.

Best perfume for everyday 

Notes: Chamomile, clary sage, coriander, geranium, lemon verbena, rosewood, bergamot

It may be Clinique’s oldest perfume within their fragrance catalogue, but it is also their best performer - selling 14 bottles every hour! Launched in the seventies, Aromatics Elixir remains one of the best perfumes of all time. It's rich and intense with oakmoss, jasmine and patchouli.

And as a finalist in the 2023's Fragrance Foundation Award for the 'Fragrance Hall of Fame', you really can't go wring with this scent.

Best celebrity perfume

Notes: Lavender blossom, juicy pear, bergamot

Of the 13 perfumes Ariana Grande has released, Cloud is a firm favourite among fragrance fans. Released in 2018, this scent won fragrance of the year in 2019 and has enjoyed universal praise for its "uplifting and addictive" scent.

Top notes of jasmine, pear and bergamot pair with coconut, praline and vanilla orchid for a sweet but luxurious daytime scent - and the fun packaging is a bonus too.

Best budget perfume

Notes: Magnolia, pear, lotus

Pop icon Britney Spears made her foray into the world of fragrance in 2004 with Curious, which was the number one perfume in department stores that year. Almost two decades and 23 fragrances later, Britney’s collection is one of the most successful celebrity lines in the world of fragrance. 

According to Cosmetics Business, sales of the perfume jumped by 155% after Framing Britney Spears which focussed on Britney's conservatorship.