Finding your “perfect” perfume is a truly tedious task, especially if you’re someone, like me, who prefers to shop online. Even though there is something to be said for shopping in person, and actually having the ability to smell your potential scent suitors, you have limited options. Shop online, however, and all of a sudden the world is your oyster.
Fragrance is hyper subjective… hyper personal. it’s not lost on me that something I love, someone else might hate. But, there is a small repertoire of perfumes I’ve experienced in my time as a beauty editor that are just so sublime, and that universally accrue so many compliments, I’m convinced they’re disappointment-proof. And, luckily for my fellow fragrance lovers out there, a large handful of them are conveniently available at our fingertips thanks to Nordstrom. Curious to see which perfumes made my cut? Keep scrolling, the absolute best fragrances to snap up at Nordstrom (IMO) are below!
Key fragrance notes: freesia, plum, amber, cashmere woods, Madagascar vanilla, cistus oil. I have two words for you: Tread carefully. And if you’re a Harry Potter fan, prepare for an Amortentia level of magnetism when you spritz this on. (Read: “love potion” for you non-HP peeps.) This isn’t the type of perfume I’d wear to the office or even on a first date. No, no. You wear this one with intention, folks. One of my best friends (who also swears by its powers) calls it “sex on a stick” (which doesn’t actually make sense, but you get the idea lol), and once when I wore it, a guy couldn’t stop saying “oh my god.” As Miranda Priestly would say, “that’s all.”
Key fragrance notes: lemon, tangerine, rose, pink peppercorn, patchouli. A diamond in the rough Chanel scent that needs more commotion! This is a Nordstrom-exclusive sparkling floral-woody perfume inspired by the magic of Paris. Lemon and tangerine give it this pretty dose of freshness while rose, pink peppercorn, and woody patchouli provide the ultimate plot twist.
Key fragrance notes: bergamot, plum leaves, fresh fig, handpicked jasmine, cyclamen, orris, orange blossom, amber, vanilla planifolia, musks, coconut. I own (and love) almost every single perfume from Ellis Brooklyn. For some reason, however, I hadn’t tried this fruity masterpiece from the brand until a couple of months ago. (The frustration I felt when I realized it’s my all-time Ellis Brooklyn favorite!) Well, better to discover it late than never. The mixture of mouthwatering plum, fig, jasmine, vanilla, coconut, and amber is truly what summer dreams are made of.
Key fragrance notes: pear, jasmine, freshly cut grass. I love how effortless this perfume is, and it has range! I’d just as easily wear it on a Sunday at home putzing around my apartment while doing laundry as I would on a first date or to the beach. How many perfumes can you say that about? People will wonder if it’s your detergent, shampoo, or just your natural scent—it’s that refreshing and comfortable. Liken it to your favorite white tee or that perfect pair of Levis you’ve pulled on 500 times. It’s that same level of familiar, well-worn perfection, but in a perfume.
Key fragrance notes: violet leaf, neroli, petitgrain, freesia, jasmine, vanilla, coco musk, sandalwood. I haven’t met a perfume from Henry Rose that I don’t like, but if I had to choose just one to wear for the rest of my life, it would be Queens & Monsters. It has this luxurious depth and creaminess to it, which almost smells sweet thanks to vanilla, coco musk, and sandalwood, but it’s fresher and lighter than other sweet or woody perfumes thanks to violet, neroli, petitgrain, freesia, and jasmine.
Key fragrance notes: blackberry, bay leaves, cedarwood. A classic! I once got into a conversation with a random man about fragrance (as one does when your job entails living and breathing all things beauty) and he told me this scent, when his girlfriend wears it, drives him absolutely mad. I didn’t dig for details, but you can use your imagination. Even though it’s sophisticated and not composed of a note equation most of us would categorically think of as a “sexy,” there is something so undone and natural about it.
Key fragrance: red currant, Bulgarian rose, transparent white flowers, plum accord, mimosa absolute, plumeria, petalia, sandalwood, tonka beans, vanilla pod. Cassili might not be the most famous or TikTok-viral perfume within the Parfums de Marly family, but I do, low-key, think it’s the absolute best. It’s juicy, rich, and just smells luxurious. Lately, I can’t get enough, and am planning on splurging for a full-size after I’ve officially depleted my travel-size. Trust me, you’ll wish you had discovered it sooner!
Key fragrance notes: bergamot, benzoin, pine, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver. Initially, I didn’t think I would love this fragrance. Though I loved the relaxing forest bathing inspiration behind the scent, the mix of vetiver, cedarwood, benzoin, pine, patchouli, and bergamot didn’t sound like my typical fragrance vibe. Historically, I don’t love earthy or citrus scents, and this one exemplifies both! But plot twist: it’s become one of my all-time favorites It features unique olfactory chemistry and patented technology to mimic the molecular compounds produced in forests called phytoncides which are correlated with the beneficial health perks associated with forest bathing, like decreased stress and anxiety. Said perks are nice, but the smell itself is absolutely heavenly.
Is this cheating? Sorry for not selecting one particular scent from this ethereal collection from Tory Burch, but I love (and religiously wear) each and every one. Choosing just one felt impossible, and if you buy the discovery set yourself, which I highly recommend, you’ll immediately understand my conundrum. Plus, how pretty will it look sitting on your vanity!?
Key fragrance notes: dark cherry, saffron, osmanthus, smoked woods. Truth be told, I am not a fan of Tom Ford’s most controversial scent, Lost Cherry. (It’s just a little too rich and cloying for me.) However, the brand’s most recent additions to the cherry family, Cherry Smoke and Electric Cherry, are much more palatable for me, especially the former! To me, it smells like a fizzy cherry cola in the best way possible.
Key fragrance notes: aquatic accord, coriander, red seaweed essence, ambergris. I don’t think I’ve ever hugged anyone while wearing this underrated aquatic gem from Replica, and not received major compliments. It’s what I would describe as a truly unisex fragrance. If I had to imagine what my boyfriend’s favorite sweatshirt would smell like after a day out sailing—aka fresh air, salt water, and cologne—this is exactly what I’d hope for.
Key fragrance notes: osmanthus, orange blossom, rose, tuberose, jasmine, narcissus. I once had the pleasure of meeting with Steve Assous, head of Global Education for Kilian Paris, and he walked me through every collection and practically every single scent from the iconic brand. After all of that (and many omg-I-need-it moments), this is the scent I landed on as my absolute favorite. It’s part of Kilian’s “Narcotic” olfactive family, and it does, indeed, lean undeniably addictive. I’m not normally a big lover of tuberose, but the way it melts into apricot-like osmanthus, orange blossom, and additional florals creates some kind of magic I can’t get enough of.
Key fragrance notes: vanilla, jasmine, benzoin. I absolutely love when a brand comes out with an “intense” version of a perfume that’s already a banger. This headier sister scent to Valentino’s OG Donna Born in Roma has gotten rave reviews, and I have to agree. It’s a tribute to Rome, glowing sunsets, and a ‘what happens in Rome stays in Rome” type of night out.
Key fragrance notes: petitgrain essence, coconut water, coconut milk, bergamot, solar musk, banana, pineapple, pool water, swimsuit spandex, sea salt. Think Pamela Anderson circa Baywatch, bottled. If you’re someone who doesn’t like the sun and sand-crusted scent of baked on sunscreen, I’d move on. However, if you’re someone, like me, who can’t get enough of the nostalgic melding of coconut, banana, and pineapple synonymous with the most iconic sunscreens ever made, you’ll flip for it. I can’t imagine my summer beach days (or a vacation!) without it. I’m convinced it’s the milky, almost skin-like additions of petitgrain coconut, solar musk, and sea salt that make it wearable, not tacky.
Key fragrance notes: bergamot, pear, pink peppercorn, rose, jasmine, white musk, vanilla, patchouli, cedarwood. Years after launching, this perfume from Lancôme continues to be one of the most prized (and spritzed) perfumes in my collection. It has enough depth and complexity to make it feel rich and unique, but the classic mix of florals and fruits gives it a sophisticated timelessness that I love. I consider this my “can’t miss” fragrance when I don’t want to overthink my scent. It’s appropriate for literally any occasion and is light and versatile enough to become your everyday signature.
Up next, The Natural, Luxury Perfume Brand of Our Dreams Didn’t Exist—So We Created It
