Whether you're hunting for a new signature scent, looking to switch up your everyday fragrance for summer or winter or searching for gifting inspiration, taking the most popular perfumes into consideration is a great place to start. After all, if a perfume has made it onto the best seller lists, it must be for good reason, right?
Fragrances like Chanel N°5 and Dior J'Adore are amongst the most popular perfumes in the world and have more recently been joined by modern classics like Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 and Le Labo's Santal 33. But what is it that makes these best-selling perfumes so popular? According to Jo Malone CBE, perfumer and founder of Jo Malone London and Jo Loves, people are most drawn to light, happy notes that inspire fond memories, which is why you'll often find these features in fragrance best sellers. "Everybody loves a clean citrus or fruity scent," she explains. "I think they are universally loved since they are timeless and bring happy and light moments to life."
Malone adds that after COVID she noticed a renewed appetite for much more powerful and vibrant fragrances. "I think now people are looking for a unique fragrance," she says. "People want to customise and be a part of the fragrance creation process as much as possible. That's why I always create with a memory and place in mind. I want to inspire people and make them feel unique and special." In the past few years, we've seen new and emerging brands begin to rank amongst the classic fragrance houses for the first time in decades, which is evidence of people's desire to find something new and unique which they can connect with on a personal level.
From scents which have stood the test of time to future classics from brands like Jo Loves and Byredo, the following 12 fragrances are some of the most popular perfumes of 2023. Whether you prefer clean florals or warm, musky scents, there's something for everyone on this best seller list.
1. Chanel N°5
Key notes: Aldehydes, ylang-ylang, neroli, iris, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver.
Possibly the most popular perfume in the world, Chanel N°5 is a fragrance icon. It's a really complex blend which melds together both floral and woody notes to create a truly unique scent.
Other popular Chanel perfumes:
Key notes: Pink pepper, jasmine, iris, patchouli, musk, vanilla.
Key notes: Orange, bergamot, grapefruit, litchi, rose, jasmine, patchouli, vanilla, white musk.
2. Byredo Gypsy Water
Key notes: Juniper, lemon, bergamot, pepper, pine, incense, orris root, sandalwood, amber.
There's something really mysterious and alluring about this Byredo scent, which you don't get by just reading the notes alone. Sweet and woody, this it's a really beautiful and intoxicating fragrance, so it's easy to see why it's so popular.
Other popular Byredo perfumes:
Key notes: Aldehydes, rose, pink pepper, peony, violet, musk, sandalwood.
Key notes: Red rose, pink pepper, raspberry, papyrus, amber.
3. Dior J'Adore
Key notes: Pear, melon, magnolia, jasmine, orchid, violet, musk, blackberry, cedar.
J'Adore is a really bold floral, drawing upon classic notes like jasmine and orchid. Although it was created over 20 years ago, it still smells modern—which explains how it's maintained popularity.
Other popular Dior perfumes:
Key notes: Iris, peony, lily of the valley, apricot, rose, peach, vanilla, musk, tonka bean.
Key notes: Rose, oakmoss, patchouli, bergamot, cedar, amber, sandalwood.
4. Jo Loves Pomelo
Key notes: Pomelo, rose, vetiver, clove, patchouli, suede.
Pomelo was the very first Jo Loves fragrance to launch, the result of Malone's years of experience as a perfumer. Inspired by her time spent in Turks and Caicos, she describes it as a "clean citrus."
Other popular Jo Loves perfumes:
Key notes: Grapefruit, lime, bitter orange, mint, black pepper, guaiac wood, Hedione, cedar.
Key notes: Mango, lime, black pepper, mint, freesia, vetiver, thyme.
5. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
Key notes: Saffron, jasmine, amberwood, ambergris, fir resin, cedar.
Despite being less than a decade old, Baccarat Rouge 540 has become a cult best seller in recent years, cementing its position as a modern classic. It's sweet, decadent and truly intoxicating.
Other popular Maison Francis Kurkdjian perfumes:
Key notes: Rose, chamomile, bergamot, guaiac wood, Hedione, oud, papyrus.
Key notes: Vanilla, amber, musk, juniper, nutmeg, coriander.
6. Jo Malone Lime Basil Mandarin
Key notes: Lime, mandarin orange, bergamot, basil, thyme, iris, lilac, vetiver, patchouli.
When you think of Jo Malone, this perfume is probably the first that springs to mind. The combination of citrus and herbal notes results in a really warm, bright fragrance, making it an especially popular choice for summer wear.
Other popular Jo Malone perfumes:
Key notes: Lavender, myrhh, tonka bean, vanilla, almond.
Key notes: Pomegranate, rhubarb, plum, clove, pink pepper, olibanum, jasmine, cedar, patchouli, amber.
7. Diptyque Do Son
Key notes: African orange flower, iris, rose, tuberose, pink pepper, benzoin, musk.
Diptyque has produced so many classics, but Do Son is one of the brand's best sellers. It's a clean, white floral fragrance that is ideal for those who love to wear soft, delicate scents.
Other popular Diptyque perfumes:
Key notes: Litchi, damask rose, Grasse rose, rose water, chamomile, artichoke, musk, woody notes.
Key notes: Fig leaf, fig, green notes, coconut, woody notes, cedar.
8. Penhaligon's Halfeti
Key notes: Cypress leaf, saffron, cardamom, grapefruit, nutmeg, rose, jasmine, oud, leather, cedar.
If you're new to Penhaligon's perfumes, Halfeti is a great introduction and really sums up what the brand is about—telling stories through the medium of scent. Halfeti itself is inspired by the precious gods historically traded through Turkey, so it draws upon rich herbal, spicy, and floral notes.
Other popular Penhaligon's perfumes:
Key notes: Rose, musk, woody notes, mandarin orange.
Key notes: Lemon, bergamot, bitter orange, rose, juniper, jasmine, balsam fir, musk, ambergris.
9. Le Labo Santal 33
Key notes: Sandalwood, leather, papyrus, cedar, cardamom, violet, iris, amber.
Le Labo's Santal 33 is another modern classic which found fame in recent years. It's one of those unique and intriguing scents which smells a little bit different on everyone but also features people-pleasing notes like sandalwood and amber.
Other popular Le Labo perfumes:
Key notes: Pear, citrus, apple, ambrette, moss, jasmine, Iso E Super.
Key notes: Fig, bay leaf, bergamot, cedar, vetiver, musk, tobacco, hay.
10. Serge Lutens Fleurs d'Oranger
Key notes: Orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, citrus, neroli, hibiscus, cumin, musk.
One of the things that Serge Lutens does so well is interpret classic fragrance notes in innovative, creative ways. Case in point: the brand's best-selling fragrance Fleurs d'Oranger, which combines sweet orange blossom with a musky, herby base.
Other popular Serge Lutens perfumes:
Key notes: Rose, geranium, palmarosa, honey, moss, patchouli.
Key notes: Resins, amber, bay leaf, myrrh, benzoin, vanilla, coriander, oregano, patchouli.
11. Tom Ford Black Orchid
Key notes: Truffle, gardenia, blackcurrant, orchid, jasmine, lotus, chocolate, patchouli, incense.
There are hundreds of Tom Ford perfumes to choose from, but Black Orchid is by far the most popular option—and a great starting point for those new to the brand. Sensual, dark and opulent, this scent is the perfect perfume for evening wear.
Other popular Tom Ford perfumes:
Key notes: Tobacco leaf, vanilla, cacao, tonka bean, dried fruits, woody notes.
Key notes: Bitter orange, neroli, citron, pistachio, petitgrain, tuberose, ylang-ylang, jasmine, coconut, vanilla, amber.
12. Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace
Key notes: Cloves, pink pepper, orange blossom, chestnut, guaiac wood, juniper, vanilla, Peru balsam, cashmeran.
Maison Margiela's Replica scents are all inspired by exact places and moments of time—they're fun and nostalgic, and there's something for everyone. However, By the Fireplace is the most popular perfume in the collection. Who doesn't want to be reminded of cosy autumn evenings sat in front of a blazing fire?
Other popular Maison Margiela perfumes:
Key notes: Bergamot, lemon, pink pepper, ylang-ylang, coconut milk, heliotrope, musk, benzoin, cedar.
Key notes: Pink pepper, neroli, lemon, rum, vetiver, clary sage, tobacco leaf, vanilla bean, styrax.
More popular perfumes:
Key notes: Iso E Super.
Key notes: Musk, bergamot, jasmine, cyclamen, neroli, orange blossom, white musk, sandalwood, white wood.
Key notes: Cherry, almond, mandarin orange, bergamot, jasmine, freesia, caramel, white musk, sandalwood.
Key notes: Rose, clove, raspberry, blackcurrant, cinnamon, patchouli, incense, sandalwood, musk, benzoin, amber.
Key notes: Pink pepper, iris, ambrette seeds, Ambrox.
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