When you think of the scent trail a perfume leaves in its wake, imagine the frothy streak of a plane as it crosses the sky. In much the same way, lungfuls of crisp ingredients you first inhale evaporate to allow floral, woody and creamy vanilla notes to waft from your wrists as you walk past. It's these intimate puffs of scent that make a lasting impression on those around you.
We've all got a perfume that wins us the most compliments, haven't we? They're the best place to start when it comes to choosing your next fragrance buy. But if you're looking to widen the net, these are the perfumes GLAMOUR editors say have people stopping them in the street to ask what they're wearing.
The velvety floral
“After flitting between several favourite scents, I rediscovered my love for Narciso Rodriguez For Her when I tried the Musc Noir Rose edition. First my husband commented on how much he liked it, then friends complimented my scent, and in fact I find most people I lean in to kiss when wearing it, more often than not, mention my scent. It's for this very reason it has become an enduring favourite. I love the fact it's an unusual and dramatic scent that lingers on skin, without being cloying or overpowering, and it works from day to night.” - Camilla Kay, European Beauty Director
The intimate skin scent
“I have two favourite scents that I've worn for years. They lean into two very different moods but someone will inevitably compliment me every time I spritz them. The first is Prada Infusion D'Iris. All fragrances in the Prada Les Infusions range are designed to be second-skin scents but here, soft puffs of powdery iris are the heartbeat alongside citrus and musk that hover close and stop it smelling soapy or like the anaemic scents of the ‘90s. It's also the type of scent that men comment on when I'm on a date – largely because they have to get really close to smell it! One colleague commented, “I know exactly when you've walked past my desk because this perfume just smells of you”. And it's true, I love how Infusion D'Iris doesn't just sit on my skin – it has become part of me." - Fiona Embleton, Associate Beauty Director
The energy jolt
“The second is Louis Vuitton On The Beach, which reminds me of hazy summer days and the fuzzy feeling you get lying on a beach towel with your toes caressing the warm sand. On The Beach isn't sweet like a lot of beachy scents, or so bright and fizzy you practically need to wear sunglasses when you sniff it. Rather it perfectly balances a touch of spice from ‘sandy’ notes (thyme, rosemary, pink pepper and clover) with citrusy yuzu, neroli and cypress. It's no secret that I wear summer scents all year round. These sunny perfumes that smell like warm breezes and salty skin affect my mood at an energetic level. I also find it makes people around me smile on a grey London day.” - Fiona Embleton, Associate Beauty Director
The show-stopper
"I surprised myself with my most complimented scent. I tend to like airy citruses, soft skin scents and romantic florals, but Angels' Share by Killian is a show-stopping glug of boozy vanilla that I get asked about whenever I wear it. It's from the same brand that gave us Rihanna's infamously appealing Love Don't Be Shy (which every celebrity she wafted past testified was "heavenly"). This scent is a spritz of high-class confectionary that has old-school appeal and glamour. From the heavy cut-glass decanter – which resembles a brandy tumbler – to the caramel-coloured juice within, it feels plush, sumptuous and luxurious. As for the scent itself, it blends sweet tonka, silky smooth vanilla and a touch of creamy praline with a teeny pinch of cinnamon, an assured swill of cognac and softly-smoked oak wood. It's sweet, strong and sexy in one captivating spritz. It's a little too heavy for summer, but through autumn and winter, if you're going for not-so quiet luxury, or heiress perfume vibes, this is a scene-stealer." - Elle Turner, Beauty Editor
The fresh one
“I never really 'got' perfume before I found Whind's Pomello Mint Tea Leaves fragrance, with everything I'd tried before smelling like similarly synthetic, relatively uninspiring florals. As the only perfume my partner has actively expressed appreciation of, this is the most delicious ice tea-esque scent that is fresh and citrusy, sweet yet sharp. With pomello, eucalyptus, black tea and lemongrass amongst other notes, it's an unusual yet intriguing smell that friends immediately ask after when I wear it. I've never tried anything like it and love how well it lasts through the day. Above all, this scent feels very ‘me’, and I'm already dreading the day that it runs out.” - Lian Brooks, Audience Development Manager
The intriguing woody scent
“I first wore this perfume on holiday to Venice last year and actually ended up getting engaged on that same trip. I'm not saying it was the scent that swayed him, but he was very approving of it so... you can be the judge. Whenever I top it up at work, everyone asks what it is and if they can borrow it, which is the greatest compliment – given that I work with beauty journalists who have probably tried more perfumes than I've had hot dinners. I've even asked for a top-up this Christmas, because God forbid this scent is ever discontinued and I'm without it. It's rich, creamy, woody, and subtly floral in the best way, and is an absolute 10/10 for me.” - Georgia Trodd, Senior Commerce Writer
The floral with a twist
“If there’s one scent in my perfume collection that guarantees me consistent compliments, it would be the Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajád. This beautiful fragrance is everything that I want from a perfume: feminine without being predictable, long-lasting and one that truly stands the test of time. Featuring notes of hibiscus, rose, vanilla and a touch of leather, Hibiscus Mahajád was created by none other than Quentin Bisch, who is also the nose behind Delina by Parfums De Marly, another addictive and sensual scent that never fails to impress. The best part? A little really goes a long way – just 2-3 spritzes will easily last you through the whole day/night without the need for a top up.” - Denise Primbet, Beauty Commerce Writer
The heady one
“I’m something of a perfume hoarder – I don’t have a signature scent and couldn’t possibly pick a favourite – but one fragrance that consistently wins me compliments is Matiere Premiere’s French Flower. Day-to-day, I’m a fresh, floral fragrance girlie – but this is my version of a packs-a-punch evening scent. It’s a heady tuberose that gives me my floral hit, but also feels a little creamy, steamy and salty. In fact, it’s almost intoxicating and will linger on the skin for hours – so it’s definitely the head-turner in my collection. Admittedly, it’s expensive stuff, but my teeny 6ml vial has served me well for special occasions and as a travel scent.” - Fiona Ward, Acting Website Director
The sensual scent
"I've been wearing this fragrance intermittently for years now, and whenever I come back to it, I get floods of compliments on how I smell. It's all the headiness and sexiness of floral tuberose but balanced against a slightly green, earthy angelica and a warm, sensual amber. It's perhaps more of an evening scent, but that doesn't stop me spritzing it liberally throughout the day. It's not the most unusual of fragrances – it's certainly in the 'crowd pleaser' category – but it's the one scent I come back to time and time again." - Ali Pantony, Website Director
The bepoke scent
“The top white floral and peppercorn notes make You the ultimate everyday fresh scent, soft but lingering on the skin. Designed to be a 'personal skin-scent enhancer', I love that this scent smells slightly different on everyone. So you know the compliments really are for 'You'.” - Hattie Cotmore, Associate Visuals Editor
The nostalgic one
“I borrowed this perfume off my mum seven years ago and I’ve never returned it. Armani Si became my signature scent and my go-to for special occasions. Fresh with just the right amount of sweetness, it's never too heavy. The moment I put it on, it reminds me of all my favourite memories – like the night I met my boyfriend for the first time, or when we celebrated my Nanny's birthday just after lockdown.” - Néamh Randall, Commerce Photo Editor
The ultimate work scent
“My most-complimented perfume isn't actually a long-standing scent in my collection. Nor is it particularly nostalgic to me. Rather, a fragrance that landed on my desk at the tail-end of last year immediately became my 'work perfume' (I'd spritz it ahead of afternoon meetings for a quick midday freshen-up). Thanks to the compliments I received in said meetings, Lancome Idole Now has since become a daily staple. Laced with a powerful trio of iconic ingredients – uplifting rose, orchid and natural Madagascan vanilla – it feels grown-up, powerful and alluring. No surprise it's one of the brand's bestsellers.” - Sophie Cockett, Senior Commerce Editor, Europe
The party aftershave
“I started wearing this aftershave as an everyday work fragrance last year, especially after receiving no fewer than five compliments in the same day! I didn't want to dampen the impact of this woody and spicy scent so I started saving it for evening soirees only. But come to think of it, life's too short to just leave a great fragrance for special occasions!” - Ben Neale, Senior Creative Designer
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
