Second-best: Eau de Parfum (EDP) has 15-20% perfume oils and should last between four to five hours, making it popular for evening fragrances. Drawing the line between Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Parfum is a nuanced endeavor. Eau de Parfum, with its moderate concentration of aromatic oils (usually around 15-20%), strikes a balance between longevity and subtlety. Eau de Toilette, on the other hand, contains a lower concentration (typically 5-15%), making it lighter and more suitable for daily wear. Parfum, the pinnacle of fragrance potency, boasts the highest concentration (up to 40%), resulting in a luxurious and enduring aroma. Eau de Parfum Intense and Eau de Parfum Extreme: Elevating the Elegance

While you might associate fruity scents with teenage nostalgia, don’t get it twisted—this NYC-inspired perfume is a super sophisticated spin on apple that doesn’t smell like a body wash of yesteryear, but an elegant woman walking down cobblestone streets on a brisk fall day. As fragrances weave through diverse cultures, Eau de Parfum’s character evolves across geographic regions.In the best possible way, this luxury fragrance smells like a well-loved, high-quality leather handbag that’s long been a staple of your wardrobe; similarly, this perfume is also bound to become a go-to in your routine. Remember that leathery scents tend to perform best in cooler weather as heat and humidity can make a perfume wear you, rather than the other way around. Selecting an Eau de Parfum that resonates with your personality and style requires an understanding of fragrance families. Fragrances are typically categorized into families such as floral, oriental, woody, and fresh. If you’re drawn to floral scents, you might find solace in EDPs adorned with the elegance of rose, jasmine, or lily. I’ve reviewed several perfumes and can say that the ones on this list are among the most classy. Super feminine, ultra graceful, and oozing beauty, these fragrances will have you feeling as though you’re the queen of the castle! What We Don’t Love: So iconic, so ubiquitous—if you make it your signature scent, others will be wearing it, too. For such a light fragrance, it boasts an impressive lasting power, and you’ll catch a whiff of it whenever you move. We especially love giving our summer wardrobe an olfactory boost by spritzing it over our hair and onto our clothing, especially sunhats and linen beach coverups.

However, keep in mind that delightful and unobtrusive scents like this one tend not to last very long. We don’t mind this, though. In fact, we look forward to our midday touch-ups, especially considering the brand makes smaller sizes—so we have no need to decant into a travel atomizer. Often, extraits and eau de parfums will be pricier than other formats of fragrance as they use more raw materials. However, that doesn’t mean one is necessarily better than the other.Discover fresh freesia, heady rose, osmanthus, and Sambac jasmine, set on a sweet-and-spicy stage of patchouli and vanilla. Yes, Flowerbomb is luxuriously feminine and playful while winking to something a little more Dionysiac—daring and decisive, and oh-so-addictive. Shaped like a diamond grenade, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb is a glittering explosion of fresh and sweet sensations and an endlessly sought-after scent. Designed by the talented trio, Olivier Poleg, Carlos Benaim, and Domitille Berthier, this best-smelling perfume for women is like wandering through your own secret flower garden—but after dark. The best thing is to keep them in the fridge if possible,” she adds. If you don’t have the space for this, consider getting a mini skincare fridge in which to store your most precious perfumes. For an added scent boost, buy the other products in your favorite perfume lineup. “Combine your fragrance with the ancillaries, such as the lotions and shower gels, to help keep the scent longer on your skin,” says Monet, who also recommends keeping a travel-sized version of your perfume in your bag for midday touch-ups. To make it last longer, we recommend wearing it over body lotion—which you’ll be wearing on your wedding day anyway to boost your skin’s glow.

Then, consider how you spray it on. You’ll want to focus on applying to pulse points, most commonly the inner wrists, but dab instead of rub, whether you're using a mist or a rollerball perfume. “Rubbing the pulse points too aggressively can cause friction and potentially change the intended character of the top notes,” says Mauro. Having one of the best perfumes for women by your side is practically a necessity. But that's easier said than done, considering there's no such thing as “one scent fits all”. There are classic florals, fruity fragrances and spicy, woody blends – among many, many others. As the top notes gradually dissipate, the heart notes take center stage. These heart notes, also known as middle notes, form the heart and soul of the fragrance, unfolding as the scent warms on the skin. Floral bouquets, delicate fruits, and nuanced spices often compose this layer, contributing depth and complexity to the fragrance narrative. The heart notes are what truly define the fragrance’s character, leaving a lasting impression on those who encounter it. Base Notes: A Lingering Legacy Perfume can really lift your mood and alter how you feel. If you’re heading on a night out, you will wear something sexy and daring, whereas, for a vacation, you might opt for a light, fresh fragrance. But what do you wear when you want to feel elegant? Too many rose fragrances smell dry, powdery, and dated—like old drawer liner paper—but not this refreshing one from D.S. & Durga. It’s inspired by time spent sipping spritzers cruising the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and that really comes through when you smell the juice.Unsurprisingly floral fragrances are the most popular for women’s perfumes. It is also the broadest fragrance family, with scents ranging from a single flower’s scent to bouquets. Popular floral notes include rose, jasmine, and peonies. And softer musky florals such as lavender and violet pair well with orientals like vanilla, petitgrain or neroli. Fresh fragrances The nose behind this scent, Dominique Ropion, is a master of the craft, and that’s clear upon first sniff. With tuberose leading the charge, the fragrance boasts a positively elegant mix of white florals as well as unexpected notes of melon, coconut, coconut, and eucalyptus, all resting on a base of musk. It projects and wears beautifully, with no need for spritzes throughout the day.