Girllll, You Smell Good — Or At Least You Will With One Of Our Fave Scented Perfumes

Can’t stop, won’t stop. This best-selling fragrance from Armani goes out to all the Mom CEOs (Chief Everything Officers) who go above and beyond duty to get $h!t done. The fruity-floral scent, containing notes of rose and woody vanilla, will be a match for your passionate and fierce spirit. Best described as “an irresistible combination of grace, strength, and independence of spirit” by Giorgio Armani himself, it’s the fragrance you didn’t know you needed but now won’t be able to live without.  Raves this Amazon customer, “I love this perfume. Subtle/Soft. It starts out smelling sort of like soap and vanilla. Fragrance warms up, once it’s on the skin, it loses the soapy smell. Ends up smelling clean, soft, sweet with a hint of vanilla. This is perfect for everyday wear to work.”

As it turns out, Catbird doesn’t just excel at designing hauntingly beautiful jewelry—they make a damn good water perfume. Their signature scent “Kitten” (inspired by the brand’s cult-favorite candle) evokes “visions of dusty records, lipstick, and feather pillows.” We’ve tested this bad boy out and just one spritz (on the wrist!) will do for all-day wear. We may be a tad biased but if we could make our room, laundry, favorite summertime frock (you get the idea) to smell like “Kitten,” then we would do so in a heartbeat. It’s also alcohol-free, VOC-compliant, and pthalate free if harsh chemicals are something you want to steer clear of. Just a subtle hint-hint-nudge-nudge: Don’t hesitate to check out Catbird’s other fine-misting sprays “Ghost Rose” and “Tarot Deck” for a dash of mystery.

As you might have guessed from its name, dirty lemon is a tart scent with notes of cold-pressed lemon, lime, and lemon petitgrain. It’s a bit naughty, so definitely know what you’re signing up for. Credo Beauty buyer Ellyssa S. says, “Dirty Lemon is sexy and sophisticated and I always get compliments on how good I smell when I wear it.” Bonus: It’s primarily plant-derived so it’s even safe to use on sensitive, allergy-prone skin. Says another Heretic convert, “Dirty Lemon goes on with a strident, stringent blast of lemon (right along with the zest). Shortly to follow a sexy, warm mushroomy note (I take it this is the “dirty” part of the name) blooms before it settles into a wispy-woodsy goodness. I can still smell the lemon, but it’s muted; if I press my nose to my wrist, I can detect a tartness that clings close to my skin. The end result is a sweet-sour smell that’s oddly delightful and definitely memorable.”

So fresh, so clean: If that’s the universal scent you’re after then Philosophy’s Pure Grace is for you. This modern scent is a match for the modern woman who craves the simplicity found in a crisp chambray shirt and jeans. Splashes of bergamot and water lily will have you feeling as though you’ve just stepped out of the shower. But actually. Here’s the inside scoop according to one Amazon shopper, “My favorite scent, smells clean like you just showered. Smells like fresh clean soap and water. I love to spray this in my hair after a shower to give that super clean scent!!! Great if you use dry shampoo, and need that fresh clean smell… I live in Texas and it gets pretty freaking hot in the summer, and I am not a fan of that not so fresh feeling, and this stuff really helps, plus I just love the scent. The smell also lasts a long time and well, it’s Philosophy, and I love their products!!!”

Awaken your senses with this bright, citrus fragrance (top notes include blood orange, clementine, lemon, and basil) from Ellis Brooklyn that will transport you to the West. The inspiration behind the scent stems from chasing dreams and optimism. This non-toxic formula can be spritzed on pulse points or blended with other perfumes for a unique scent. This Credo Beauty aficionado says it best, “Disclaimer: I sampled all of the Ellis Brooklyn fragrances, and none of them really stood out except for West, which I promptly purchased. On first blast, it presents as a sunny, energetic, effervescent citrus — think of the fizzy, nose-tickling smell of orange soda right after you pop the tab. West goes from morning to dusk in about an hour, calming into a more mature, thoroughly modern, and intriguing scent that I associate with hot summer nights, house parties with fascinating strangers, and drinks on the deck. I can still detect the citrus, but it’s more like an electric undercurrent rippling through an earthy-herbal base. (It’s interesting to note that the basil really popped where the perfume got on my shirt collar, but not on my skin.) It’s an uncomplicated, uncluttered scent, and yet it manages to be compelling.”

Ooh la la! Cue the romance (and conjure spring while you’re at it) with Pacifica’s French Lilac spray perfume. Sounds divine, no? It’s vegan and cruelty-free with a blend of lilac and nectarine notes. One Amazon customer says “I was shopping here for one of the other perfumes this company makes and found this by accident. I remember as a teenager that my Mom had a beautiful lilac bush that smelled nothing short of heavenly when it bloomed, so I just had to give this one a whirl. I received it and tried it, and it has me totally captivated! The scent is so close to what I remember my Mom’s plant smelling like, and when I spray this delicious juice, I am immediately carried back in time and my mind is flooded with some sweet memories from that time in my life. On my skin, I don’t consciously notice each of the notes listed, but rather just a heavy dose of the luscious violet.” 

Mama, you’re in bloom! Isn’t it incredible how a scent can make you feel approximately 1,000 times better about something that was driving you nuts only five seconds ago? This lovely scent from Gucci will not only transport you to a secret garden (maybe even the gardens of Versailles) but it contains traces of Rangoon Creeper, a unique flower discovered in South India that smells utterly delightful. Base notes include Orris Root, Sandalwood, and Honeysuckle while middle notes contain Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, and Honeysuckle. True to Alessandro Michele’s creative vision, the scent is meant to be a celebration of authenticity, vitality, and diversity. Says this Amazon customer, “Bought it for my daughter, it smells so great that people ask what perfume she is wearing. It is a floral perfume with a smooth silky personality. With a powdery side, this scent allows you to indulge yourself in the creamy flowers in the blend.”

Designated for the dreamers and doers (sound like you, mama?), Meadow is a refreshing floral scent that is just enough without being overpowering. It can be layered with similar scents or worn alone for feel-good vibes. Geranium Leaves, Labdanum, and Patchouli Leaf make up the base notes while Bright Lime, Orange Blossom, and Ethereal Tuberose shine through as top notes: TLDR: If the smell of baie rose, rose, and tuberose heightens your senses, then a spritz of this formula is in order. All Skylar fragrances are clean, vegan, hypoallergenic (hooray, no inhaling harmful ingredients!), and cruelty-free. The reviews are in: Michele raves that it’s just the scent she’s always wanted, “For years I’ve loved this particular kind of scent but didn’t want chemical perfumes. So happy to find all-natural Skylar!! Meadow is soft and sweet, rich, and luxurious!”

You, lady, are destined for the finer things in life including this luxury toilette spray from Versace. TBH, the fancy-schmancy bottle alone will make you feel G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S. We so wish you could smell this RN (rather than read about it) but we’ll do our best to bring the scent to life for ya. Base notes are sensual (just the way we like it) with vegetal, amber, and musk making us feel some sort of way. Meanwhile, middle notes include a blend of rose, peony, magnolia, acajou, and lotus flower. One faithful Amazon customer says that one spray goes a long way, I purchased the Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette Spray from Amazon Prime as a gift for my wife. My wife knows her perfumes and was thrilled by the dazzling bottle and the beautiful scent that lingers for 6-8 hours. One spray goes a long way… The mixture of floral scents is very feminine but the lingering undertones of musk and amber appeal to a man like me.”

Not sure which fragrance to pick? Scentbird is an affordable fragrance subscription service that lets you pick a new designer scent every month. You’ll receive a cool twist-to-open case that can be refilled every month with whatever scent you want to try next. This is an awesome way to test out new smells for a few weeks without investing in a full-size bottle that you may get tired of after just a few uses.