Take a trip into any beauty store – and you’ll see shelves heaving with myriad fragrance options. From sweet and saccharine to spicy, musky and oud-based, the options available are plentiful.
While that’s undoubtedly true, some perfumes stand apart from the rest, loved by millions of perfume connoisseurs worldwide and consistently remain bestsellers as a result. Below, our edit of some of the bestselling fragrances we love and think well and truly deserve their place in the perfume hall of fame.
Vogue’s pick of the bestselling fragrances at a glance:
Best citrus fragrance: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: An icon for a reason, this refreshingly zingy cologne is the perfect blend of zesty citrus notes and peppery, herbaceous green notes. A perfect everyday fragrance for men and women, this has plenty of staying power despite being a cologne and unfolds on skin with a surprising – but welcome – softness.
- Fragrance notes: Lime, basil, mandarin
- Size: 100ml
Best fragrance for him: Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A bold, sensuous fragrance that combines contrasting notes of juicy fruit and heady florals to create something that’s as captivating as it is memorable. While the top and heart notes provide lightness and brightness, the base notes of musk, moss and ambergris keep things sexy, earthy and nicely grounded.
- Fragrance notes: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, calville blanc apples, pineapple, juniper berries, birch, patchouli, jasmine blossom, roses, musk, oak moss, ambergris, vanilla
- Size: 50ml
Best amber fragrance: Byredo Bal D’Afrique
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Inspired by the clash of dance, art and music, this vibrant woody fragrance is a masterclass in contrasts; rich, addictive and deep with notes like cedar, vetiver, and warm black amber, but light and bright too, thanks to bergamot, lemon, and blackcurrant. Bold, fresh and one that only gets better the longer you wear it.
- Fragrance notes: Bergamot, lemon, blackcurrant, praline, musks, violet, cedar, vetiver, black amber
- Size: 100ml
Best feminine fragrance: Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’re looking for a true white floral fragrance, you can’t go wrong with this bestseller from Prada. Feminine and sensual thanks to the white flower bouquet, the addition of ambrofix and serenolide delivers a soft, warm, and velvety white musk with hints of fruitiness.
- Fragrance notes: Neroli, jasmine, ambrofix, serenolide
- Size: 100ml
Best musk fragrance: Glossier You Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A hit with everyone from old to young, this iconic Millennial pink fragrance bottle has become synonymous with understated cool since its launch. Considered by many to be the ultimate skin-soft musk fragrance, it combines notes of pink pepper, iris, ambrette and ambrox.
- Fragrance notes: pink pepper, iris, ambrette, ambrox
- Size: 50ml
Best gourmand fragrance: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau De Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A modern classic with all the elegance of a floral and all the mouth-watering juiciness of a gourmand, this beautifully feminine fragrance contains notes of iris, patchouli and jasmine sambac.
- Fragrance notes: Iris, spun sugar, vanilla, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, patchouli
- Size: 100ml
Best evening fragrance: Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A bold, sexy and ultra feminine fragrance that’s as timeless and elegant now as it was when it was first released. While it’s an inherently floral fragrance, with notes like lavender and orange blossom, base elements of ambergris and musk add a rich sensuality to the blend and makes it a perfect evening fragrance.
- Fragrance notes: Mandarin oil, blackcurrant accord, petitgrain oil, jasmine sambac absolute, jasmine grandiflorum India absolute, lavender oil, orange flower absolute, Madagascan vanilla, cedarwood oil, ambergris accord, musk
- Size: 150ml
Best functional fragrance: Clarins Eau Dynamisante
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Although this is a beautiful fresh, vibrant fragrance in its own right with notes of sweet and bitter orange, mandarin, petitgrain and lavandin and eucalyptus, its real power comes from its skin-energising extracts of organic red ginseng extract and organic lemon thyme extract, which works to firm and tone skin as well as scent it.
- Fragrance notes: Sweet orange, bitter orange, mandarin, petitgrain, lavandin, eucalyptus, tarragon, nutmeg, patchouli
- Size: 100ml
Best teen fragrance: Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A whimsical white flower blend that combines the femininity of jasmine with juicy red berries and warming sandalwood to create a floral fragrance with a cult following that’s bright, fresh and just a little juicy.
- Fragrance notes: Wild berries, white violet, jasmine, sandalwood
- Size: 100ml
Best floral fragrance: Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Widely one of the best floral fragrances out there, this timeless perfume uses classic floral notes like rose and jasmine and combine it with warming, soft notes of vanilla and musk, as well as juicy pear and melon to create a floral perfume with real lasting depth and warmth.
- Fragrance notes: Ylang-ylang, Damascus rose, jasmine, musk, vanilla, cedar, pear, melon
- Size: 100ml
Best classic fragrance: Chanel N°5 Eau De Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Nothing comes close to the powdery softness of this perfume, which is perhaps one of the bestselling fragrances of all time. Although abundant in florals like May rose and jasmine, aldehydes lend a sweet soapiness while vetiver and sandalwood help envelop the wearer in a sophisticated veil of musky scent.
- Fragrance notes: Lemon, ylang-ylang, neroli, jasmine, May rose, aldehydes, vanilla, vetiver, sandalwood, musk.
- Size: 100ml
Best fruity fragrance: Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: While this is an undeniably perfect perfume to wear on hot summer days, the natural warmth from cedar and the sunshine-soaked essence of fig actually makes it the perfect fragrance to wear year-round when you need a reminder of brighter, lighter days ahead.
- Fragrance notes: Fig leaf, coconut, cedar
- Size: 75ml
Best spicy fragrance: Hermès Twilly d'Hermès Eau de Parfum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Unexpected, captivating and warming, this blends contrasting notes of heady tuberose with spicy ginger and earthy sandalwood to create something vibrant and intoxicating in equal measure.
- Fragrance notes: Tuberose, sandalwood, ginger
- Size: 85ml
FAQs
What makes a bestselling fragrance?
It’s hard to pinpoint just what it is that makes a fragrance a perennial bestseller, but some frequently top the bestselling lists, no matter what else is loved or launched. From golden oldies like Chanel’s N°5 Eau De Parfum, which launched in 1921 and has been consistently loved ever since, to future classics like Glossier’s You, which is the brand’s biggest seller (we know why), some just hit the mark, whatever else is in flavour.
What are some of the bestselling fragrance notes?
Fragrance is an evocative, emotive and highly personal beauty buy, but some notes seem to capture the imagination more than others. Of course, that includes those you’d expect, like rose and jasmine and other floral notes, but others, like soft musk and earthy sandalwood, are perhaps more unexpected.
