Gird your loins, party season is fast-approaching! Once you’ve got your party dress sorted, it’s time to find your party fragrance. Finding the right party fragrance is a tall order. It has to be long-lasting, powerful but not overpowering and be distinct enough to earn you the ultimate compliment: ‘You smell amazing!’
“The perfect perfume is one that makes you feel like you, but that adds an extra edge that enables you to tap into who you want to be and the rest will follow,” writer and perfume princess Bee Beardsworth tells Glamour. “Perfume is a personal journey. You have to follow your instincts, tap into your intuition. What scent are you most drawn to? What scent makes you feel most confident?”
With so many options to choose from – spicy, sweet, floral, woody, amber, musky – Bee suggests going in a completely different direction from your everyday scent. “An evening scent is about making a statement and having that certain je ne sais quoi, not something you would wear more day-to-day. You want something that has strong base notes – I love a tobacco, oud or amber dry down.”
Want something more unexpected? Niche notes can be a great way of alluring nearby nostrils. “I love a conversation starter, something with an unusual note like latex, cherry or animalics,” Bee continues. “It’s also fun to play with perception by wearing something that contrasts with how you present yourself, creating an alluring tension. I love wearing more masculine, dark scents, and I love when men wear more traditionally feminine, floral scents.”
Once you’ve found your perfect party fragrance, making the most of it is the next step. Bee advises looking for extraits – “AKA ‘beast mode’ fragrances that are stronger than traditional eau de parfum” – as one way of keeping your scent aura throughout the night.
Don’t forget to moisturise before spraying your fragrance, which acts as a base to stop your scent evaporating quickly. “A trick I learned from asking strippers how they wear their perfume is to apply it to your clothes and hair,” she says. “I also favour spraying the back of the neck, so that when someone leans in close they get that intimate whiff of scent.” Try to avoid commonly made fragrance mistakes, like rubbing your wrists together after spritzing – which can damage the fragrance molecules and make your fragrance fade faster – or spraying excessively around your chest or neck, which can lead to going nose blind (AKA why you can’t smell the fragrance on yourself).
While it’s tempting to douse yourself in an unholy amount of fragrance before leaving the house, Bee warns against this. “Make sure it’s you wearing the fragrance, not the fragrance wearing you,” she says. “You can soak yourself in some more subtle scents whereas more potent perfumes need to be handled with a bit of caution, especially ones with very strong oud, leather or tobacco notes.” she says.
Now you’re all set to go out smelling like your best self, we’ve made things easier for you by asking 25 certified hot girls what their favourite party fragrances are to give you a headstart on some guaranteed compliment magnets.
Bee Beardsworth
“For a wild night my unhinged party girl perfume is Toskovat Born Screaming, with notes of latex, cherry and Red Bull. For a more sophisticated soirée I want something that makes me feel luxurious, like Dries Van Noten’s spicy, leathery Havana Gold or Trudon’s addictively sexy vanilla 45 Degrees. Maison Crivelli Cuir InfraRouge was actually inspired by the infamous Parisian nightclub Silencio and is a delicious cocktail of raspberry and oud that lasts all night long.”
“I can’t talk about party fragrances without mentioning Discothèque – the ultimate party girl perfumes that are inspired by famous clubs and made to wear in the club. I adore them so much that I recently threw a dinner celebrating them as part of my scent series Olfactory Intimacies! You will rarely find me on the dance floor without a stash of their 5mls in naughty condom-inspired packages ready to be torn open and spritzed.”
Chanté Joseph
“There hasn’t been a single time I've worn Lush Lord of Misrule and not been complimented. It is one of the few scents I own that really lasts. Power, pepper and patchouli: an undeniably Bad B collaboration of smells. A powerful scent that truly lasts.”
“I also have a very specific smell I enjoy. Give me woods, burning, spice, something that feels weighty but romantic and Phlur absolutely devoured with Somebody Wood. Somebody WILL smell this and take note.”
Dominic Cadogan
“It’s hard to choose just one party fragrance fave – I’m a fragrance wardrobe girlie and I always choose my scent to match my outfit or glam for the evening. With that said, Parfums De Marly Valaya and its vanilla-spiked sister Valaya Exclusif are often within reach for an evening soirée. A delicate scent that packs a punch, there’s undoubtedly a long-lasting trail of orange blossom and mandarin that follows me around the room attracting compliments with it.”
“An unexpected new favourite is Billie Eilish Your Turn. A warm, woody scent that features notes of ginger and sandalwood, what you’re left with is the equivalent of a scented embrace that is equal parts seductive and comforting.”
Aoife Cullen
“Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club is smooth, smoky, and timeless. It’s like the soundtrack to a night that you never want to end.”
Kemi Alemoru
“Anyone who knows me well knows I have an unhinged paranoia around smelling bad. I never want it to happen to me. Hot people should never be spoken about as an assault to the senses when they’re not around, it completely diminishes their hotness.”
“Aside from using a concoction of coconut-scented body butters and oils when I’m baring flesh, I either wear Kilian Paris Angels’ Share Paradis in the summer – which has raspberry and cognac notes mixed with oak – so I smell like high class version of a spirit mixer at a forest rave or Jo Malone Amber Labdanum for an everyday sexy musk.”
“For really special occasions, I created my own fragrance at a workshop with Maya Njie that I’ve called “tree root” – which was my late grandad’s nickname as a young man in Jamaica (because he was stubborn but it holds a double meaning for me as he was a farmer and then an avid allotment enthusiast in Manchester). The scent includes a bunch of notes that remind me of his favourite things: coconut, vanilla (because he was a keen baker), bergamot (because he was a citrus lover), as well as tree and crop-based scents like sandalwood, oud and tomato leaf. It smells incredible!”
Twiggy Jalloh
“Byredo Night Veils Vanille Antique is for the layered babes full of range, character and nuance. Just like the bottle, there’s expected sweetness to me, but don’t be too surprised when the headiness and rawness comes in later…”
“Britney Spears Fantasy graduates come to the front! It’s time to let the OG go and evolve into a new chapter with Hermès Tutti Twilly d’Hermès. We’re keeping the free-spirited sweetness, but this time it’s with a grown and sexy twist.”
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Louisa Bryant
“Prada Paradoxe is a sensational fragrance, offering a harmonious blend of amber and jasmine. I love it because every time I wear it, compliments flood in. A great conversation starter, it allows me to embody true feminine fierceness.”
Samantha Renke
“My all-time and only perfume is Chanel Chance. Growing up, my older sister Stephanie wore this and like most siblings, I learned from her. Although inspired by my big sis, I have absolutely claimed the perfume as my own. When I used to be a high school teacher, the kids would tell me that they could smell my perfume in the classroom I was previously in and it became my signature scent. I’ve had the most compliments from this perfume and I wear nothing else, it has become my trademark. Feeling sexy and sophisticated is not something always afforded to disabled people and this perfume makes me feel both.”
Darkwah
“My go-to for being the best smelling hottie at the party is Being Joyful. It’s a fragrance that is designed to lift your mood and if you want to have presence anywhere, you need to move people. This fragrance is truly a masterful blend of bergamot, lemon, cardamom, orange blossom, jasmine, coconut, patchouli and topped off with warm vanilla and glowing amber. It’s Joyful, Sensual and gorgeous! Who doesn’t want a bit of that in their life?
Anastasia Vartanian
“Super flowery scents just aren’t for me – I’m obsessed with perfumes that smell like a bakery, particularly vanilla and cocoa. The great thing about Kayali Vanilla | 28 is that you smell sweet but not sickly, avoiding cheap body spray territory. The notes of musk, amber, patchouli and brown sugar give it a woody base which counteracts the sweetness and makes the scent feel deep, sensual and warm.”
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Florence Huntington-Whiteley
“My favourite fragrance is Gabar 02 Ground. It was one of the perfumes they launched with and I actually picked it based on the name. As an Earth sign I was drawn to it and I’m so glad because it’s honestly my favourite scent. It’s deep, sexy and timeless. Plus perfect travel size.”
Georgia Trodd
“Ex Nihilo Vendomania was my wedding fragrance and, now, my favourite party scent. Like a lot of brides, I wanted something that’d instantly take me back to the ‘big day’ but also something that I could continue to create happy memories with and this does exactly that. It’s a sweet oud, super potent (my wedding coordinator literally texted me the next day to ask what it was), and it’s exclusive to Selfridges so not many people know of it. You’re welcome.”
Robyn Eugene
“I do not leave the house without a spritz of Merit Retrospect. The smooth, soft fragrance opens up throughout the day with a delicious floral smell, most distinctively jasmine notes which give off a luxurious, self-care spa energy. People are constantly drawn to it, always commenting on the sweet musky scent. It makes me feel regal, put together and exotic (manifesting this for me) and it has officially become a non-negotiable step in my festive party-prep ritual.”
“All OG hot girls know about Mugler Angel. It’s a cult classic for a reason, worn by the most beautiful and stylish women in the generation before us, trickling down to daughters and nieces who proudly carry the baton. It’s an incomparable, instantly recognisable scent that oozes confidence and completely commandeers the room. If you want a tried-and-true fragrance that’s an instant mood booster and aligns you with a small but unmistakably cool class of women, this is the one.”
Nicole Brixi
“Evening Glow by Tamburins is my ultimate hot-girl party scent and easily my most gatekept one. If you know Gentle Monster, Tamburins are their better-smelling sibling. The notes say rose, musk and patchouli, but on me? My best friend Mira likes to say: ‘You smell like generational wealth.’ It’s a shame that my tax bracket doesn’t share the same fantasy, but honestly, as long as everyone else believes it, I’m good.”
“Loewe Earth is my ‘I wanna smell like someone’s boyfriend but also the girl he’s obsessed with’ scent. Masc vibes? Yes. Flirty energy? Also yes. It gives very much gender is fake, but hotness is real.”
Tynan Sinks
“Ariana Grande Cloud is easily one of my most-complimented fragrances and most worn, too. It’s a truly artistic (and more importantly, fun) take on coconut cream, pear and musk that sort of smells like the sweet, staticy, humid air before a storm. I’ve put so many people onto this scent, who've gone out and bought it and then told me: ‘You’re really right about Cloud being so good” and like, ‘Yeah, I am.’”
“Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace is another great fragrance and one you don’t need to overthink. You know what people love? Woods. It’s primal, instinctual, just like our love of vanilla. This sweet take on charred wood, chestnut and clove makes people feral, in the best way. I often wore it back when I was bartending and it would make everyone go fucking nuts! The entire Replica line is gorgeous but this one is on a whole other level.”
Mowa Osifeso
“My go-to party fragrances? Floraïku One Umbrella for Two and Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder. One Umbrella for Two is sweet, warm and cozy, but still different, special and effortlessly beautiful. It’s not for everyone… just for the hot girls who get it. Vanilla Powder is simply irresistible. One of the most stunning vanillas I’ve ever smelled. It fills a room, turns heads and leaves a trail you can’t ignore. Sweet, powdery, musky vanilla perfection; made for a night out.”
Amy Francombe
“For nights out I gravitate toward overtly masculine scents, probably because, on some subconscious level, I’m trying to out-alpha any man who crosses my path. Currently I’m obsessed with Frédéric Malle Angéliques Sous La Pluie; it’s peppery in this biting, flirt-with-me-and-find-out kind of way.”
Ali Pantony
“My love affair with Byredo started with Gypsy Water (didn't everyone’s?), but then I discovered this slightly more powerful, edgier scent, Bal D’Afrique. It's bordering on masculine, which I love – I like to smell like I could’ve borrowed my husband's cologne – thanks to the cedarwood and vetiver, but is balanced against fresh, floral notes of marigold, violet and bergamot. It’s unlike any fragrance you’ve smelt before, which in my book makes it the perfect scent for party season.”
Nyome Nicholas-Williams
“Prada Paradoxe is my signature scent. It’s fresh, delicately sweet and lingers like a memory you can’t quite shake. MCM Crush is another sweet one that’s gorgeous, bold and the kind of scent that clings to you from daybreak to midnight.”
Shahira Allen
“An evening walk through a tropical garden in a warm country - when the air is soft and the world seems to have slowed down – that’s exactly what Marc Jacobs Wild feels like. It opens with a burst of fresh, airy florals and bright petals – vibrant, pretty, inviting and gentle.”
“As the scent settles, it becomes delicate, feminine, and softly comforting. The floral heart gives it a softness that drifts close, drawing people in without overwhelming. Underneath, there’s a subtle earthiness and warmth that keeps it grounded, giving the fragrance depth and a hint of quiet mystery.”
“It’s the kind of perfume that has people tilting their heads and lifting their noses to discover the source of this enticing scent. Wild feels youthful, carefree and gentle. It’s fresh and dreamy, with a delicate elegance that lingers softly – perfect when you want to feel graceful, natural, and effortlessly radiant. The belle of the ball…”
Anike Banks
“Creed Queen of Silk envelops me in an aura of beauty, elegance and sophistication every time I wear it.”
“Amouage Guidance 46 is a captivating fragrance that envelops me in an air of elegance and sophistication, making me feel refined and graceful with every wear.”
Lian Brooks
“Jo Loves Amber, Lime & Bergamot smells like the kind of person everyone gravitates towards at a party – it’s fresh, bright, and effortlessly magnetic. The citrus note pops first, then the amber melts in, leaving a warm, polished trail that feels like pure charisma.”
Maya Njie
“Aethi Opum is my latest fragrance. An ode to seasonal shifts and the folklore of The Gambia. If you’re drawn to woody, earthy, mysterious incense with soft leathery facets, this is one to wear to be both sensual and grounded. It’s a scent rooted in my West African lineage; timeless, atmospheric, and quietly magnetic at a party.”
“Rook Perfumes Undergrowth is an incredibly realistic scent that captures the damp, earthy coolness of a forest floor. It intertwines crisp, herbal, almost mint-like facets with deep, grounding earth notes, giving it both freshness and energy. It’s a beautifully crafted perfume that feels true to the maker’s vision – alive, textured, and perfect for keeping the night moving.”
Katie Leirey
“Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Parfum Intense is my most complimented scent. It's the one I reach for when I want a softer, more feminine vibe for a night out. It’s fresh, yet undeniably sensual, with top notes of peach and bergamot with a warm vanilla base. One spritz at the start of the evening lingers beautifully until the party winds down, giving effortless confidence all night long!”
