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Looking to get the special lady in your life something luxurious this Mother’s Day? Then you’ll want to snag her one of the best perfumes for women. Whether she’s someone who tends to stick to a couple main fragrances or likes to keep her dresser decorated with beautiful bottles galore, we’ve found a scent for her this Mother’s Day. So, where should you start?
How to Buy Perfume for Women
Much like fashion and makeup, perfume is a form of self-expression for many women and something that people tie to their identities. This is the main reason why some people hesitate when it comes to gifting perfume to their loved ones. However, with a little guidance, there’s a way to make sure your fragrance purchase is reveled in and not reviled. Here are three tips on how to buy perfume for women.
1. Go with a tried-and-true favorite. If the woman you’re shopping for already has a favorite perfume, (and doesn’t like to stray from it) picking up another bottle for her is the best way to go. There’s no better feeling than knowing that you completely hit the nail on the head.
2. Go with something you’d like on her. Chances are that when she shops for cologne for you, she’s picking up something that she likes and would like to smell on you. So, take a page out of her playbook and do the same thing! However, be safe and don’t stray too far from her go-to; opt for a scent that has similar notes to ones she’s worn before. For instance, if she’s a fan of clean, fresh, citrusy scents, she may not be into something deep and musky. In this case, balancing familiarity with slight differences is the key to success.
3. Go with a luxurious classic. When it doubt, go all out. Picking up a classic, high-end fragrance — perhaps a bottle she wouldn’t normally splurge on or one she’s always dreamt of owning — is a surefire way to gift success. After all, no one’s ever turned down a bottle of Chanel No. 5, have they?
Best Perfumes for Women
Whether she likes her perfume fresh and crisp, smoky and woody, or sweet and warm, there’s an option for everybody. And with some of the best-selling perfumes of all time on this list, finding one your mom or wife will love is sure to love is easier than you think. Keep scrolling forWoman’s World’spicks for the best perfumes for women this Mother’s Day.
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1. Chanel No. 5 — Best Classic Perfume
Much like your lady, this one's a timeless classic. If you're looking to surprise your loved one with the ultimate bucket-list fragrance, Chanel No. 5 is it. This iconic perfume features notes of ylang-ylang, bergamot, rose, lily of the valley, sandalwood, and patchouli for a scent that exudes elegance.
Where to buy: $105-$215, Nordstrom
2. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue — Best Popular Perfume
There are a lot of popular perfumes out there, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're good fragrances. However, he hype is real when it comes to Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. Fruity and floral, this fragrance features a blend of Sicilian citron, bluebell, granny smith apple, jasmine, bamboo, white rose, cedarwood, amber, and musk for a scent that immediately brings to mind the sun and warmth of summer with each spritz — perfect for anyone in need of an escape to a warm weather locale.
Where to buy: $29-$134, Sephora
3. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb — Best Floral Fragrance
With a name like Flowerbomb, what you see is what you get — a rich floral with a kick. This fragrance has garnered a cult following that adores its blend of freesia, rose, and jasmine. An additional layer of amber, wood, patchouli, warm vanilla, and praline, create a spicy floral fragrance that's perfect for year-round use.
Where to buy: $30-$215, Sephora
4. Carolina Herrera Good Girl — Best Perfume Bottle
They say never judge a book by its cover, and the same goes for perfume. Carolina Herrera's Good Girl is a warm floral dream, made with a blend of tuberose, jasmine, tonka bean, coffee, cocoa, and almond. Packaged in a sky-high heel, this perfume's beautiful scent is rivaled only by its creative design.
Where to buy: $28-$117, Sephora
5. Vince Camuto Amore — Best Romantic Perfume
For a fresh floral, we love Vince Camuto's Amore. Featuring a collection of florals, including blush orchids, fresh freesia, and floating lotus, this perfume tops it off with a hearty dose of cassis, clementine, bergamot, sandalwood, cashmere, and musk, for a floral fragrance as deep as your love.
Where to buy: $90, Amazon
6. Tom Ford Velvet Orchid — Best Sexy Perfume
Tom Ford is well known for his exquisite fragrances (in fact, he appears on this list twice!). So when it came to finding the perfect date night fragrance, it took little thought — his iconic Velvet Orchid. Lavish, feminine, and mysterious, this perfumes takes another of his famous perfumes (Black Orchid, $49-$175, Sephora) and amps up the richness with additional notes of orange blossom, suede, honey, and rum for an addictive scent that's both dramatic and refined.
Where to buy: $84-$175, Sephora
7. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium — Best Vanilla Perfume
If your lady loves a good vanilla-based perfume, chances are she'll love Yves Saint Laurent's Black Opium. Beloved by millions, this scent is intoxicating in the best way. With notes of rich coffee, sweet vanilla, and soft white florals, this fragrance is like the perfect cup of joe — warm, robust, and comforting.
Where to buy: $29-$145, Sephora
8. Acqua di Parma Colonia — Best Unisex Perfume
You can't go wrong with a classic like Acqua di Parma's Colonia. One whiff of this and you’ll be transported to the sunny shores of Italy, thanks to its rich blend of Sicilian fruits, lavender, damask rose, vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Where to buy: $63-$194, Nordstrom
9. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne — Best Fruity Perfume
Fruity perfumes tend to get a bad rap, but when done correctly they're not the saccharine sweet scents we typically associate with the term. Inspired by London's Covent Garden early morning market, Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne blends notes of nectarine, peach, and cassis with delicate spring flowers and honey for scent that is authentically fruity, sweet, and playful.
Where to buy: $68-$136, Sephora
10. Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Absolue — Best French Perfume
Products of the French beauty scene have long been acclaimed, and one of the most celebrated in the fragrance department is Atelier Cologne's Clémentine California Absolue. Built around the sweet scent of clementine, this perfume can only be described as sunshine in a bottle. Fresh and elegant, this perfume uses 100-percent naturally sourced ingredients alongside the star clementine, including mandarin, juniper berries, star anise, basil, vetiver, sandalwood, and cypress for a scent that will instantly transport you to the shores of the Mediterranean.
Where to buy: $78-$195, Nordstrom
11. Tom Ford Santal Blush — Best Spicy Perfume
For his second appearance on this list, we bring you Tom Ford's Santal Blush. If your Mom likes her perfume a bit on the spicier side, then she'll love this luxe fragrance. Featuring notes of cinnamon bark oil, Australian sandalwood, cumin seed oil, ylang-ylang, balsam, jasmine, rose, and musk, this scent is the perfect mix of spice with just a touch of floral to soften things up.
Where to buy $235, Nordstrom
12. Burberry Brit — Best Unique Perfume
With so many perfumes on the market today, it can be hard to set yourself apart from the pack. So, what makes Burberry Brit so unique? With opening notes of lime and pear, this perfume shouldn't work but it does thanks to some help from sweet vanilla, amber, peony, and tonka bean.
Where to buy: $83, Sephora
13. Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream — Best Perfume with Patchouli
The beauty scene went gaga for Charlotte Tilbury's debut scent when it hit the market. The inspiration for this perfume comes from a place of wanting to alter ones own fluerotic frequency— how a person's scent can attract someone — and achieves this thanks to a blend of notes like lemon, peach, black pepper, saffron, mandarin, bergamot, jasmine violet, and, of course, patchouli. With a gorgeous bottle to match the scent, this one is a surefire hit.
Where to buy: $75-$130, Nordstrom
14. Commodity Rain — Best Fresh Perfume
There's something about the smell of spring flowers after a fresh rain shower that never fails to delight the senses. And there's finally a perfume that has captured that moment beautifully — Commodity's Rain. Combining soothing notes of lotus blossom, lemon verbena, dew, jasmine, cedarwood, and water musk, this airy, aquatic scent is perfect for the woman whose ideal fragrance is fresh.
Where to buy: $26-$105, Sephora
15. Glossier You — Best Affordable Perfume
Awarded the Fragrance Foundation's most popular fragrance of 2018, Glossier's You came on the scene with a fury. So what's so special about this best-seller? Designed to be a "skin enhancer," this perfume is formulated to smell like, well, you (or in this case, the mom you're shopping for.) Your skin naturally produces a scent that is all "you" by combining notes like ambrette, ambrox, musk, Iris root, and pink pepper with oil.
Where to buy: $60, Glossier
16. Replica Beach Walk — Best Summery Perfume
Let her reminisce about summers walking along the seashore with Replica's Beach Walk. The definition of a "beach in a bottle" perfume, this fragrance uses a blend of bergamot, pink pepper, lemon, ylang ylang, cedarwood, and coconut milk to transport wearers to a sandy beach where the sun drenches her skin and the taste of salt and sunscreen fills the air.
Where to buy: $126, Nordstrom
17. Le Labo Tonka 25 — Best Musky Perfume
For fans of deep, earthy scents, Le Labo’s Tonka 25 is the way to go. Evoking the sweet scents of a humid summer rain, this perfume features a blend of orange flower, musk, a couple drops of vanilla for warmth, and, of course, absolute tonka to round out this dark fragrance.
Where to buy: $82-$275, Nordstrom
18. Nest Fragrances Black Tulip — Best Sensual Perfume
Nest's Black Tulip is hard to beat. Warm, deep, and and alluring, this perfume is peppered with notes of black amber plum, patchouli, pink pepper, and Japanese violet for a scent that is sensual, seductive, and provocative.
Where to buy: $27-$74, Sephora
19. Prada Candy — Best Warm Perfume
For a sweet treat this Mother's Day, put the chocolates aside and pick up a bottle of Prada Candy. A favorite of many, this perfume is infused with white musks, noble benzoin, and a caramel accord for a scent that's almost good enough to eat.
Where to buy: $28-$124, Sephora
20. Aerin Lilac Path — Best Delicate Perfume
Aerin's Lilac Path is crisp and delicate. This perfume features notes of galbanum, jasmine, orange flower, and of course, a flurry of lilac without overpowering anyone in the slightest. Let her revel in the scents of springtime year-round.
Where to buy: $30-$175, Sephora
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