The "Uncool" Perfume Trend Beauty Editors Are Obsessed With Right Now
Whenever I think of fruity perfumes, my mind immediately goes to my 13-year-old self's "beauty stash." I was 13 in 2002, so you bet my makeup inventory consisted of glitter eye shadow, glitter powder, the shiniest lip gloss (like MAC's Lipglass or a good ol' Lancôme Juicy Tube), drugstore mascara (still can't go wrong with Maybelline's Great Lash), and of course the sweetest fragrance I could find.
I had a large collection of perfumes and body sprays that smelled like mango, watermelon, strawberry, apple, orange—you name it. I put them in rotation based on my mood or where I was going. Watermelon was to be worn at school dances and parties. Mango and citrus, for pool parties. Apples and strawberries? Good for everyday wear, honestly. I guess the trend back then was to smell good enough to eat?
I'm not here to knock the very sweet fragrances of the early aughts. One whiff of a fruity perfume can send anyone down a nostalgic trip. And listen, those things really did smell good. But in the years since, as I've gone from my teens to 20s to now my 30s, I've noticed a trend toward more complex scents that can still be sweet but not exactly saccharine. When choosing fragrances for myself, I gravitate more toward fresh floral scents than anything remotely fruity. If fruity was cool when I was a teen, how can it possibly still be cool in my 30s? And how would I even pull it off?
But recently, I've given fruity perfumes a second thought, mostly because they are so different from those early aughts fragrances. Some of them blend fruits with more grounding scents. Others are so light, which is perfect for warmer months. And there are some that are playful iterations of past fragrances. In short, you're not going to be smelling like a fruit salad. I'm sold on them now.
Ready to get back on the fruity-perfume train? Take a look at some noteworthy scents below.
1. Tom Ford Bitter Peach Eau de Parfum
2. Miu Miu Twist Eau de Parfum
3. Burberry Her Intense
4. Vilhelm Mango Skin
5. Viktor Rolf BonBon
6. Jo Malone London Blackberry Bay Cologne
7. Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle
8. Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum
9. Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
10. Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau de Parfum
11. Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua Eau de Toilette
12. Versace Bright Crystal Eau de Toilette
13. Maison Margiela Replica Under the Lemon Trees Eau de Toilette Travel Spray
14. Byredo Sundazed Eau de Parfum
15. Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum
16. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Pink Couture Eau de Parfum
This fragrance is as close as you're going to get to those fruity perfumes of yesteryear, in the best way possible. It has fruit notes of watermelon and strawberry plus cassis leaves, pink water lily, jasmine, frangipani, vanilla, sandalwood, praline, and driftwood.
17. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit
18. Boy Smells Marble Fruit
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
Next Up: Honestly, These 9 Subtle Fragrances Get Me So Many Compliments
Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.
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