I Stole This $78 Perfume From a Friend 3 Years Ago, and It's Become My Signature
Despite the fact that my apartment is filled to the gills with beauty paraphernalia, there's nothing that gets my adrenaline pumping like immersing myself in someone else's product terrain (I attack my friends' medicine cabinets with vengeance and take a detailed stock of any vanity I see), whether it belongs to a fellow beauty editor, family member, or someone I follow on Instagram. I just love getting out of my own beauty-obsessed mind and crawling into someone else's to see what they're currently using and loving.
I actually met one of my closest friends, Kaitlyn McLintock (whose wonderful content you have probably read here on WWW!), back when we were both writing for another publication, and while she sadly moved to Austin about one year ago, we were pretty inseparable when we were both living in L.A. Not surprisingly, you could find me rummaging through her beauty-stuffed studio on any given Friday, pre-night out, finding a variety of new things to fall in love with. You probably already know where this is headed based on the title of this piece, but one Friday night, I just so happened to spritz a certain Nest fragrance I found atop her vanity, and I practically had a conniption over how positively yummy it was. So being the fabulous friend that I am, I promptly stole it (partly as a joke but also very intent on keeping it forever), and eventually, Kaitlyn gave up asking for it back. The rest is history! Despite my obsession with perfumes and the fact that I seem to have a new favorite every other week, this particular Nest fragrance (you'll have to read all the way until the end for the big reveal) has become a forever signature of mine. Of course, Nest makes a slew of fabulous perfumes, so I'm ranking all of the brand's other best sellers below. Keep scrolling!
#9: Golden Nectar
Key notes: golden orchid, amber, vanilla, and musk
The only reason this warm, floral fragrance is coming in at the number nine spot is due to how new it is. It just hasn't had the chance to reach the level of popularity as some of Nest's other best sellers. It has a sophisticated level of enveloping sweetness thanks to notes like amber and vanilla, yet it's anything but saccharine thanks to gilded orchid. Fun fact: The perfume was inspired by Cleopatra's famed, tempting allure.
#8: Midnight Fleur
Key notes: exotic woods, black amber, patchouli, vanilla orchid
Sadly, Nest is actually discontinuing Midnight Fleur, but if you're fast, you can still snap up the rich scent in a travel-sized spray. It's actually very similar to Golden Nectar but leans even more woodsy, robust, and dark. It might be a bizarre association, but it's how I imagine a dark yet chanting Disney villain would smell.
#7: Citrine
Key notes: lemon blossom, lotus flower, freesia, essence of morning dew, and precious woods
Citrus lovers, this one's for you. Like sucking on a lemon drop in a breezy, yellow chiffon dress, this sparkling perfume is a burst of juicy energy you can spritz yourself with anytime, anywhere for an instantaneous pick-me-up.
#6: Indigo
Key notes: Italian lemon, orange bergamot, Moroccan tea, Kashmir wood, and wild figs
Again, sadly, this is another fan-favorite Nest fragrance that is in the process of being discontinued. But like its kin Midnight Fleur, it's still available to shop in various discovery sets from the brand in addition to a handy travel-size spray. Douse yourself and be transported to an exotic tea shop in the bustling streets of London.
#5: Dahlia Vines
Key notes: peony, rose, daffodil, dahlia, and essence of garden vines
This is the ultimate fragrance for anyone who adores an elegant bouquet of florals in the form of perfume, especially if you have a soft spot for rose (like me). It's the next best thing to taking a real-life stroll through an endlessly classic garden. In fact, it was inspired by Martha Stewart's award-winning gardens.
#4: Sunkissed Hibiscus
Key notes: golden amber, classic white florals, and tropical frangipani with a creamy coconut accord
Think electrified California sunsets and Voodoo Queen hibiscus, bottled. Luminous and floral, this fragrance from Nest has taken the industry by storm and has quickly become a unanimous favorite within the Nest family. Milky coconut with fluttering floral accents makes it extra divine for spring, summer, or a humid vacation.
#3: Wisteria Blue
Key notes: French wisteria, watery notes, Bulgarian rose, and imperial jasmine
Wisteria Blue is one of my all-time favorite Nest fragrances. One sniff makes my mind swirl with a dream world of balmy summer nights surrounded by mist and the wisteria tree's signature cascading blue flowers. It's ethereal, delicate, and beautiful. It's a fabulous classic floral perfume to add to your fragrance wardrobe.
#2: Black Tulip
Key notes: Japanese violet, Indonesian jasmine, patchouli, pink peppercorn, black amber plum, and black cherry
Even though Black Tulip isn't my number one (or the bottle I stole from my friend), it's listed as the number one best-selling fragrance on Nest's website. And while it's not my personal favorite, I totally understand the obsession. It has dark, mysterious layers that alternate between fleshy and juicy (plum and black cherry), floral (violet and jasmine), and earthy (patchouli)—with a final kick of spice courtesy of pink peppercorn.
#1: Wild Poppy
Key notes: Rose de Grasse, Himalayan jasmine, pear, raspberry, and apricot
Here it is, the perfume I fell so hard for that I had to pinch it from my friend the second my nose caught wind of it. Where does one even start when you're talking about perfection?! I think my undying love for this perfume comes down to its versatility. I've always been a sucker for the classic glamour of a beautiful rose fragrance, but I appreciate fresh updates that keep the flower from veering old-fashioned or outdated. This version offers the perfect balance between rose and jasmine (another one of my all-time favorite florals when it comes to perfume) and succulent apricot, pear, and raspberry. It's total magic once it hits your hair and skin.
Shop More Yummy-Smelling Best Sellers from Nest New York
Can't decide? This seven-piece discovery set of Nest best sellers will save you the agony of having to choose just one.
I don't know how it's possible to get five of Nest's addictive perfume oils for just $25, but here we are! Each one features a singular note. The set includes Turkish Rose, Seville Orange, Indian Jasmine, Madagascar Vanilla, and South Pacific Sandalwood.
You'll also want to collect an assortment of Nest's beloved candles. I love to light this invigorating blend of eucalyptus, ginger, mint, and basil when I'm in the tub or shower.
Chamomile, driftwood, and vanilla bean are the ultimate before-bed concoction for a dreamy nighttime ambiance.
If you thought you weren't a pumpkin-spice person, this candle will surely convert you.
The masses go wild for Nest's cult-loved diffusers. If I had to choose just one, I'd put Rose Noir Oud in my cart—think smoky oud, black leather, and patchouli.
But this amber, sweet patchouli, heliotrope, and bergamot number is a close second.
This citrusy room spray will immediately liven up your space and fabrics.
If you can't book a vacation to the Amalfi Coast, this candle will help satisfy the craving.
This candle is so delicious—Anjou pear, white musk, and amber will help melt away stress.
Up next, This $325 Perfume Has a Cult Following, But These 10 Dupes Smell Just as Good
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.