Contrary to Popular Opinion, This "Dated" Perfume Note Always Attracts Compliments

Content creator Sarah Sol posing by the River Seine

(Image credit: @sarahhsol)

I hate to admit it, but there are times I've fallen victim to avoiding a fragrance based entirely on its reputation of being overly mature. When you pause to think about it, there are definitely a few floral fragrance notes that are widely considered dated—probably based on the strong possibility that we associate notes like gardenia and rose with our grandmothers or the perfumes that collect dust on ruffled vanities. But what if we turned that reputation on its head and instead looked at gardenia fragrances as having a timeless quality.

Throughout history, gardenia flowers were used in elixirs and magical potions, as they were regarded as possessing mystical powers. While I can't attest to their ability to grant one's deepest desires, I absolutely love their enchanting fragrance and wear the best perfumes with it on the daily. Below, we're taking a deep dive into gardenia perfumes and giving 14 standouts their well-deserved flowers.

The 5 Best Gardenia Perfumes, Listed:

1. Caswell-Massey Gardenia Eau de Toilette
2. Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum
3. Byredo Night Veils Casablanca Lily Extrait de Parfum
4. Santa Maria Novella Rosa Gardenia Eau de Cologne
5. Le Labo Ylang 49 Eau de Parfum

See the Ultimate List of the Best Gardenia Perfumes:

1. Caswell-Massey Gardenia Eau de Toilette

2. Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum

3. Byredo Night Veils Casablanca Lily Extrait de Parfum

4. Santa Maria Novella Rosa Gardenia Eau de Cologne

Emmanuelle Koffi attends a Graff high jewelry event during Haute Couture Week

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

5. Le Labo Ylang 49 Eau de Parfum

6. Armani Beauty Gardénia Antigua Eau de Toilette

7. Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum

8. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum

Content creator Mary L Jean in front of a rose hedge

(Image credit: @maryljean)

9. Versace Crystal Noir Eau de Toilette

10. By Rosie Jane James Eau de Parfum

11. DedCool Red Dakota Eau de Parfum

12. Van Cleef Arpels Gardenia Petale Eau de Parfum

13. Jo Loves Golden Gardenia

14. Guerlain Cruel Gardenia

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.