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The Best Perfumes For All Occasions By a Perfume Reviewer
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items I have smelled countless perfumes (niche, designer, indie, and others), and these are my favorites for different occasions. They are broken up according to. my full collection, the best skin scents, and the bottles on my current wishlist.
Sections
3
Full bottles of perfume I own
Best Skin Scents
My Full Bottle Wishlist
Full bottles of perfume I own
My small, but mighty (and growing) full bottle perfume collection. I have a million and a half samples, and a score of travel sizes, but these are the ones I decided I could not live without having a full bottle of on my shelves.
Is this the most beautiful lilac on earth? I think so.
Régime des Fleurs Tears
The most comforting of scents. I wear this on days I need to feel safe. Almost done with my first full bottle (100ml). Will be repurchasing!
L'Eau Papier Eau de Toilette 100ml | Diptyque Paris
This is the most interesting of my quasi-skin scents. A little spicy, a little green, and a little aquatic. Not like anything else on the market.
Lilyphéa - Eau de Parfum | Diptyque Paris
An almost citrusy rose, there's a hint of artichoke in this one. It's so beautiful.
Eau Rose Eau de Parfum 75ml | Diptyque Paris
Another amazing skin scent . . . this one is warm, ambery, and powdery. The perfect on-its-own scent, but also can be layered with almost anything.
Angel Dust - Fugazzi Fragrances
A creamy, classic white flower. A gift from my husband for our anniversary. Very romantic and beautiful.
Love In White | Creed Boutique
A beautiful white musk with a very subtle hint of soft sweetness. Great to wear when you want to be safe, or even to bed.
11 11 Eau de Parfum - Lake and Skye
A jammy, light tea scent that is great for every day, office wear. Lovely and uplifting.
Fig-Tea - Parfums de Nicolaï
The first niche perfume I ever bought, I wore La Chasse aux Papillions for almost 15 years. An explosion of tuberose, linden blossom, and other white flowers. Just so pretty.
La Chasse aux Papillons 10ml | L'Artisan Parfumeur
Another beautiful aquatic white floral . . . people say this is what a mermaid would wear. Beautiful, I would wear it in any season, but it's definitely the kind of thing people associate with the summer.
NITESURF NEROLI - Régime des Fleurs
There are some perfumes you sniff and it's like a light goes off in your head. Histoire d'Orangers is like this for me--a sort of poof of neroli, bark, and the rest of the orange tree.
Histoire D'orangers | L'Artisan Parfumeur
Not just a fig, but the whole fig tree, including a very green opening. I love this scent, it's just so fresh, sweet, and special. One time I wore this and a beetle landed on my shoulder--I think it thought I was some kind of flowering tree.
Debaser - D.S. & DURGA
I love an aquatic floral, and this one is a salty rose growing at the seaside in the Hamptons. Very distinctive and memorable--a fresh take on rose.
Rose Atlantic - D.S. & DURGA
Creamy, coconutty, jasmine and other white flowers. A woman wearing white flower perfume on the beach, rubbing almond lotion on her skin. Another aquatic floral, there is nothing like this one on the market.
LA MAR de Parfum - House of Bō Fragrances
The skin scent that started the obsession. A very lightly floral skin scent. I am on my fourth 100ml of this one.
MYTH Eau De Parfum - Ellis Brooklyn
This is a lovely fruity floral by a really cool independent brand that is inspired by Film Noir. A lovely spring perfume.
Flashback
A sunny heliotrope, another great option for the warmer months.
THE SUN CARD - Marissa Zappas
A warm, powdery skin scent. Great on its own or layered, particularly with other cozy scents.
Angel Dust - Fugazzi Fragrances
This is the white swan, a sparkling grapefruit laced with seven up soda. Something about this recalls beauty that is not sustainable . . . and the bottle! Love it!
ODETTE - GUMAMINA
This is a lovely citrusy rose. Opens with a light lemon scent, dries down to a beautiful dewy rose.
ROSARIO perfume
This is another beautiful aquatic floral with a wine note. The wine note does not register as a wine-like note, though, it's more like if you took all of the alcohol out of wine and just used what was left--a little fruity, a little floral, and total...
AVE MARÍA Parfum
This perfume does cherry beautifully! I am not a big fan of cherry perfumes (or candy, or anything, honestly), but Heist is so well done. I don't know anyone who has smelled this one who doesn't love it. Definitely worth a try, particularly if you ha...
Heist
This is another Frank Voekl classic. It is very similar to Santal 33 by Le Labo--if you're a fan of Santal 33, try this one and send your support to an independent perfume house.
Private Eye
If you spent time making daisy chains in elementary school, this will take you back to recess time. A beautiful, green, and nostalgic scent.
Dandelion Butter
Clue perfumery is more of an experience-based house. This is a cup of jasmine tea brewed with sea water. A little bit of patchouli and honey mixed with jasmine and marine. I love it.
The Point
Best Skin Scents
A white musk with a hint of sweetness. My favorite bedtime scent.
11 11 Eau de Parfum - Lake and Skye
A papery, dry, white rice scent. Can be worn by itself or layered with almost anything. Makes me feel safe.
L'Eau Papier Eau de Toilette 100ml | Diptyque Paris
A powdery iris with the most beautiful dry down on the planet. Lasts FOREVER.
Eau de Parfum Fleur de Peau | Diptyque Paris
The skin scent that started the obsession. A very lightly floral skin scent. I am on my fourth 100ml of this one.
MYTH Eau De Parfum - Ellis Brooklyn
A fresh, icy skin scent.
ANDREA MAACK CERAMIC EDP - ANDREAMAACK.COM
My Full Bottle Wishlist
These are the perfumes I've already sampled and skin tested. I'm hoping to get them into my collection someday . . . but perfume is EXPENSIVE!
This is a slept-on aquatic floral. Very easy to wear, goes with everything, some citrus but mostly a muted white floral fragrance. Great as a daily driver or “signature” perfume.
The Harmonist Sacred Water Yang Parfum, 1.7 oz.
This is a beautiful and airy white floral. The most recognizable scent in Les Mots Doux (to me) is honeysuckle. It's a lovely scent and not available in very many perfumes!
LES MOTS DOUX Perfume
Fabulous bottle, juicy rubarb, great name. I love this house.
Delulu Extrait de Parfum by Oddity | Luxury Fragrances