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The Top 10 All-Time Best Perfumes for Women

By on November 26, 2013

Finding the right fragrance can be a pretty personal undertaking for most women. It takes time (and experimentation) to find a scent that fits your personality and pleases your senses. Some ladies like to change things up every so often, alternating their perfumes with the seasons or wearing various fragrances depending upon occasion. Others like to stick to one signature scent that defines them perfectly and lets everyone know who has just walked into the room.

Whatever your preference, it’s not easy navigating the wide world of fragrance. So we’ve gathered together our top ten picks for the best perfumes of all time (which was certainly no easy feat). But each of the following scents have something decidedly special about them, whether they’re old-school classics or newer to-the-market fragrances that are well on their way to becoming signature standards.

1. Miss Dior Eau de Parfum, $90

Miss Dior was first launched in 1947, as part of Christian Dior’s presentation of his first couture collection. The scent became an immediate must-have for women around the world, and still holds its place as one of the most popular perfumes on the market. The elegant, luxurious packaging makes it a true classic, as well as the fragrance’s fresh, citrusy scent, which contains notes of Italian mandarin, Egyptian jasmine and Indonesian patchouli.

2. Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum, $98

This is another true classic—the first fragrance launched, in 1921, by the now legendary fashion icon Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. The refined, floral scent has made this perfume almost as famous as its creator, and contains an intoxicating blend of bergamot, lemon, ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley and iris, along with base notes is of vetiver, sandalwood, vanilla, amber and patchouli.

3. Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette Spray, $75

 

If it’s Gucci, you know it’s got to be good. This citrusy scent is extremely sexy, with notes of black pepper, patchouli and amber blending seamlessly with an all-around floral aroma. It’s definitely one of the best perfumes out there, so you should feel no guilt buying yourself a bottle.

4. Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum Spray, $110

A fully fragranced perfume, Balenciaga Paris is the perfect pick if you really want to make a scent statement. It contains strong, sexy notes of mossy wood, violet leaf, pepper, cedarwood, patchouli and vetiver. Plus, the blown-glass bottle’s creative design is reminiscent of the fashion label’s inimitable style.

5. Burberry Brit Eau de Parfum, $74

If you’re seeking a fun, flirty and playful scent, Burberry’s Brit might be the fragrance for you. Notes of Italian lime, green almond, pear and sugary almond combine with white peony, amber, mahogany, vanilla and Tonka bean to create a whimsical, unpredictable and sexy scent. Perfect for day and night.

6. Givenchy Dahlia Noir Eau de Parfum, $90

The black dahlia flower is the inspiration behind this mysterious, sexy and soft perfume. Pink pepper, mandarin, cedrat, rose, peach, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and amber all come together to exude an incredibly feminine fragrance. Like Givenchy’s earlier perfumes, the bottle is sturdy and sharply structured, with the Givenchy Paris name boldly displayed in the front.

7. Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Eau de Parfum, $82

Classic and clean, Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist is a wonderfully light fragrance that’s perfect for any time of year. It makes for a great signature scent, as it’s perfect for any season, day or night. It’s soft and sensual yet also subdued. Notes include amber, vanilla, cedarwood, and patchouli, as well as musk, Lily of the Valley, suede, bergamot, sandalwood and orris root.

8. Bvlgari Eau Parfume Green Tea, $62

Bvlgari’s signature Green Tea perfume is the perfect summertime scent, even though it still smells wonderful any time of year. The delicate fragrance is light and relaxing, with the citrusy aroma of green tea coming through to subtly enliven the long-lasting scent. The first cologne launched by Bvlgari back in 1992, it’s most certainly the brand’s best. Plus, it’s neutral enough to be worn by both women and men (though we happen to think it smells best when spritzed on a lady).

9. Marc Jacobs Fragrance Daisy, $70

Like the fun, daisy-designed bottle, Marc Jacobs’ Daisy perfume is lively, youthful and full of charm. The scent is super fruity, with notes of strawberry and ruby red grapefruit mixing with gardenia, musk, vanilla and violet petals. It’s a flirty delight of a fragrance with an incredibly cute bottle, which looks adorable on any dresser or vanity.                

10. Chloé Eau de Parfum Spray, $120

Ah, Chloé. So simple. So sweet. So elegant yet understated. Just like the French fashion line, this eau de parfum is sophisticated and fresh, perfect for any woman seeking a chic and smooth scent. Top notes of pink peony, freesia, and lychee mix with midnotes of magnolia flower, lily of the valley, and rose rise, along with base notes of cedarwood, amber and honey. The beautiful bottle is made with grooved glass, and the sleek, silver top is embossed with the Chloé mark and adorned with a pretty, hand-tied pink ribbon.