Romance Isn't Dead: These 15 Perfumes Are Basically a Love Spell, Bottled
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Give me a category to work with, and I'll spend hours recommending specific perfumes that fit it. Warm, winter-specific scents? I got 'em. Luxe, vacation-ready vibes? Yep. There's one class of fragrances, however, that I've spent more time curating than any other, and that category is… romantic perfumes.
I'll be the first to admit that "romantic" can mean different things to different people, but I tend to associate it with an olfactory recipe that goes as follows: a dash of elegance, a pinch of sweetness, and a hint of seduction. This recipe, like all others, is adaptable. Some romantic perfumes veer on the lighter, fresher side. Others are warm, deep, and grounding with notes of amber, wood, and musk. Then there are the vanilla scents. As my colleague andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's senior beauty editor, Jamie Schneider, puts it, "I think vanilla scents are inherently romantic," and I'm inclined to agree. Ahead, see the 15 perfumes that are basically a love spell, bottled. They quietly draw attention. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The name of this perfume may feel a bit on the nose (pun intended), but in my opinion, it really epitomizes the timeless, aspirational appeal of true romance. Yep, I'm talking about classic fairytale fodder. With notes of rose, jasmine, lily, and musk, it's fresh, floral, and balanced. The addition of pink pepper and mandarin orange evokes the sparkling levity of falling in love.
When I told Jamie I was curating a list of the best romantic perfumes, she immediately recommended Prada's Infusion de Vanille, and I immediately agreed. With notes of vanilla (duh), bergamot, neroli, and musky angelica seeds, it creates a sultry, second-skin effect that whispers romance.
Lake Skye's 11 11 Eau de Parfum is sheer, airy, and ethereal—a true angelic scent. It's all thanks to a top note of ozonic accord that simulates the scent of fresh air, like the moment just before rain falls or when a fresh breeze blows past. IMO, it evokes the windswept Yorkshire moors featured in a certain Brontë novel. This airy quality is grounded by warmer notes, like amberwood, cyclamen, white musk, and driftwood. It might not be the most obvious perfume to wear on date night, but it just might inspire love at first sniff.
This fragrance is a simple yet surprisingly complex exploration of cedarwood. Described as "tender and supple," it opens on a slightly bitter, green note of crushed leaves before a hint of bergamot pulls through. Finally, the dry-down is warm, deep, and alluring thanks to notes of sandalwood and leathery rose. If you need proof that it's good—like, really good—Jamie wore it on her wedding day.
If you asked me to name a perfume that's as timeless, complex, and captivating as a Shakespearean tragedy, I'd say St. Rose's Juliet in White. Delicate white tea, mandarin, and bergamot set the scene. The second act introduces heady Indian jasmine, soft rose, and spicy ginger. Creamy sandalwood and warm amber are the opulent final act. It has the power to elicit Romeo Montague esque romantic fixation.
Leave it to Rihanna to create a scent that literally and figuratively "creates tension." Take that as you will. A push and pull of sweet, spicy, and creamy, it features notes of magnolia, musk, and Bulgarian rose with a hint of earthy patchouli and juicy tangerine. I'm pretty sure every beauty editor will agree with me when I say it inspires endless compliments.
Who What Wear's beauty director, Erin Jahns, wears Byredo's Young Rose more often than not on date night. "Not only do I love the scent (which is the most important thing, after all), but it's also so deliciously pretty it will make anyone in your presence pant. Trust me—I've seen it," she says. I'm a romantic at heart, so I find I usually gravitate toward classic floral perfumes that have just enough edge to keep the scent fresh, not stuffy. This one features damascena rose at the heart, but it's flanked with musks, orris, ambroxan, ambrette, and a hit of Sichuan pepper. Once it hits your skin, it's deliriously good."
This iconic French fragrance is a chypre scent. Chypre is a category of fragrances described as complex, mysterious, and alluring. These scents typically feature citrus top notes, floral middle notes, and mossy or earthy base notes. Portrait of a Lady certainly encompasses the complexity, mystery, and allure of the chypre category, albeit uniquely so.
The secret lies in its unbelievable concentration. Apparently, 400 flowers go into a single 100-milliliter bottle. But don't think that means it's heady and overbearing. In fact, it's quite the opposite—elegant, enigmatic, and surprisingly androgynous with notes of Turkish rose, black currant, raspberry, cinnamon, patchouli, sandalwood, and amber. It's made for a midnight tryst in Paris.
I'd be remiss not to mention Maison Francis Kurkdjian's iconic and ever-popular Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum. It smells sophisticated and expensive, opening on breezy jasmine and radiant saffron, which are swiftly followed by dry woods and a trademarked amber-like ingredient. It wraps the skin in a delectable, fire-starting finish.
Flirty, sweet, and floral, this fragrance is a total attraction magnet. Don't believe me? It was reportedly Rihanna's signature scent before she created the aforementioned Fenty formula. Notes of orange blossom and vanilla absolute coalesce with fluffy marshmallow, sweet honeysuckle, and classic rose. It has an innocent yet mischievous quality and is the scent equivalent of a cheeky smile from across a dim, velvet-draped bar.
Diptyque's Eau Duelle is a warm and spicy perfume that's built around vanilla, pink peppercorn, and cypriol ( a smoky, leathery note). Its base note of incense makes it undeniably alluring. Deep, warm, nuanced, and teasing, it reveals "itself between darkness and light." What more do I have to say?
Who What Wear editors have been known to describe this perfume as the perfect combination of sexy and innocent, which is why it's one of our most beloved date-night fragrances. It features a sophisticated note of Turkish rose as well as a spicy edge from Sichuan pepper. It's a tempting, seductive scent.
Phlur's Afterglow is inspired by "the thrill of first connection." Notes of ambrette, apricot skin, sandalwood, lavender milk, and creamy coconut milk are soft, tender, and utterly romantic. It's subtle, comforting, and luminous, making people lean in close and yearn for more.
As a longtime lover of Valentino's original Donna Born in Roma Eau de Parfum, I thought I would never reach for anything new. I was wrong. The Extradose version is deeper and darker—a more potent love potion. Notes of cassis, rum, and vanilla swirl on the skin, leaving an unforgettable first impression.
This isn't my most worn The 7 Virtues perfume, but that's because I keep it on reserve for romantic meet-cutes. An aquatic note of pear is at once deepened and elevated by classic rose, Madagascar vanilla, and sweet caramel. It's lovely and alluring on its own, but it plays exceptionally well with other scents. You know, if you want to experiment.
