Whether I’m dashing out to a day of meetings, sprinting to the school run or getting my head down at home for an entire day of writing, I never forget to apply a fragrance. In fact, I don’t feel ready for the day until I’ve spritzed on one of the best perfumes from my collection. Yet, as someone that writes about the most popular fragrances and trending scents—and has amassed a pretty sizeable stash of compliment-worthy perfumes in my decade working in the beauty industry—it was only recently that I tried a solid perfume for the first time.
Admittedly, it was the launch of Dior’s “jelly” perfumes—three chic, solid fragrances in the Miss Dior scents—that piqued my interest in the category. So when I asked fellow beauty editors whether the buzz around the launch was just TikTok hype, I was surprised to learn that many of them already used and loved solid perfumes.
Freelance beauty journalist Tori Crowther explained that she uses them when she’s out and about and spraying on a perfume wouldn’t be appropriate. “There’s nothing worse than strong perfume in close quarters so I try to avoid it wherever possible,” explains Crowther. And makeup artist Mira Parmar swears by them for travel and for boosting the staying power of her favourite spray perfumes. “You can layer them up with your usual fragrance and then you’re on for an absolute winner as they really stay on the skin, but even worn on their own they’re brilliant,” says Parmar.
In fact, solid perfumes have so much appeal that entrepreneur Sophie Beaumont and founder of Tenth Muse launched a fragrance brand that only formulates scents in this format. “Solid perfumes offer a more controlled and customisable scent experience, explains Beaumount. “Unlike sprays, which can be overpowering upon application, solids allow the wearer to build fragrance gradually, enhancing their natural body chemistry. They’re also discreet and portable, and tend to linger longer on pulse points since they meld seamlessly with the skin’s warmth.”
So, whether you’re in need of a fragrance touch-up between meetings or you’re jetting off on your holidays, the best solid perfumes might just be your new scent secret weapon. Compact, spill-proof and endlessly portable, they ensure that you can take your favourite fragrance with you wherever you go. Whether you’re after a cult classic fragrance in solid form or a new scent discovery, ahead we’ve rounded up 7 of the best solid perfumes to try.
The 7 Best Solid Perfumes
1. Tenth Muse Date Night Solid Perfume Balm
Key notes: Peony, gardenia, peach, rose, vanilla, jasmine, patchouli, vetiver
I love everything about Tenth Muse’s solid fragrances, from the chic refillable compacts to the skin-nourishing fragrances themselves which are rich in shea butter and coconut oil. Although they have so many lovely scents, it’s this one which has earned a permanent spot in my handbag. It's a really lively and playful scent that’s brimming with juicy peach and a whole bouquet of uplifting florals. I’m always a sucker for a rose fragrance, but this one feels really modern thanks to the addition of sweet vanilla and earthy vetiver. It might be called date night, but it’s definitely a scent that I wear for my own delight.
For
- Gentle, everyday fragrance
- Blends easily into the skin
- Great if you're sensitive to strong scents
Against
- Have to buy the refillable compact separately for £24
2. Dior Miss Dior Eau De Parfum Mini Miss Solid Perfume
Key notes: Lily-of-the-valley, peony, iris, rose, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, tonka bean
As a huge fan of the original Miss Dior perfume, seeing it reimagined in solid perfume form is a real delight. It has all of the familiar notes of the bestselling fragrance—bright florals, skin-like musks, and creamy vanilla and sandalwood—but in a chic new format. Not only is the packaging seriously covetable, but I actually love the innovation of this solid perfume design. Unlike so many on the list which require you to apply with your fingertips, Miss Dior can be simply twisted up and applied directly to your pulse points from the bullet—kind of like a lipstick. And while the internet has been going wild for this because the jelly-like design is so bright and floral, it really does deliver in terms of intensity of scent and longevity too.
For
- Iconic scent in a portable format
- Love the twist-up packaging
- Long-lasting
Against
- It's expensive
3. Diptyque Orphéon Refillable Solid Perfume
Key notes: Juniper berry, cedar, tonka bean, jasmine
An incredibly sophisticated and emotive fragrance, Diptyque Orphéon is a warm and smoky homage to a late-night bar in Paris in the 1960s. Set to be one of the most popular perfumes of 2025, it’s truly unique, capturing the feeling of cosying up on a velvet sofa with a crisp gin and tonic—powdery and clean with a subtle floral bouquet. Even better, in solid format, applying it to your skin with your fingertips really brings out the warmth and depth of the notes—particularly the comforting tonka bean and woody cedar. And when it comes to the packaging, this refillable compact has to be the most beautiful of the bunch.
For
- The most compact
- Can be refilled once you've finished it
- Great staying power
Against
- It's quite weighty!
4. Glossier You Solid
Key notes: Pink pepper, iris, ambrette seeds, ambrox
Something of a modern classic, Glossier You, along with Wholesale Replica Bag iteration, Glossier You Fleur, is a skin scent that almost guarantees you compliments when you wear it. And in my opinion it somehow works even more effectively in solid format. It’s slightly softer than the spray version, but feels even more skin-like and personal that way. It melts into the skin, imparting a beautifully subtle and musky cosiness that really does smell like you in the best way. Plus, if you love the original bottle with that distinctive thumb-print indent, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the solid perfume format has the same sculptured curves.
For
- Universally-appealing scent
- Layers well with other perfumes
- Tactile packaging
Against
- Not the longest lasting scent
5. Fenty Beauty Fenty Parfum Solid Fragrance
Key notes: Musk, rose, patchouli, tangerine, magnolia
The best celebrity perfume to ever exist, Fenty perfume is a bold, playful and, dare I say it, sexy scent that smells way more expensive than its price tag. To me, wearing this evokes the same level of confidence that wearing a bright red lipstick instils—it’s uplifting and striking, yet has a comforting sweetness too. As for the solid format? The fact that this fragrance is made entirely of middle notes, meaning it’s really warm and long-lasting, lends itself really well to this iteration. It melts into the heat of your skin, radiating a kind of spicy and sweet aroma that really lingers. Plus, that eye-catching compact is perfect for spotting in your handbag when applying on-the-go.
For
- Bold, power fragrance
- Amazing staying power
- Eye-catching compact
Against
- I don't love the ball maze detailing on the front—it makes a rattling sound
6. Lush Lord of Misrule Solid Perfume
Key notes: Patchouli, pepper, vanilla
When I took to Instagram to ask my fellow beauty journalists and fragrance fanatics if they had any solid perfumes that they adored, there was one brand that came up more than any other—Lush. While bath bombs typically spring to mind for most when you hear Lush, the brand actually has an impressive fragrance offering with so many brilliant solid options. I’ve tried a few, but Lord of Misrule comes out on top for me. Appealing to those that love sweet, gourmand perfume—thanks to an abundance of creamy vanilla—there’s also a delightfully spicy undertone from patchouli and black pepper which adds a rather expensive and unexpected edge. Plus, I love the lightweight packaging which is perfect for chucking in your handbag and applying while you’re out and about.
For
- Affordable
- Lighweight portable packaging
- Feels hydrating on the skin
Against
- Would love a refillable option
7. Unifrom Cassis Solid Perfume
Key notes: Fig leaf, plum, coconut, sandalwood
Points for the chicest and sleekest solid perfume packaging has to go to Swedish fragrance brand Uniform. The reflective compact slips effortlessly into the smallest of clutch bags or pockets and can be flipped open to reveal the solid scent inside. There are three available, but as we move into the warmer weather I predict that Cassis will be a scent with mainstream appeal. Inspired by the lush fruits and sun-bleached woods that you might find on a tropical island, this is an undeniably sunny scent that has a paradisiacal hint of coconut along with verdant fig leaf and sandalwood for an earthiness that lingers on the skin.
For
- Super chic packaging
- Unique scents
- Sleek for easy transporting
Against
- It's very expensive
