Cosmo Editors Have Tested Hundreds of Perfumes—These are the Best of All Time, According to Us

Although the rest of our beauty team is scent-obsessed, beauty director Lauren Balsamo is quite picky. Nearly every perfume we spray around her doesn’t meet her high standards (light, not too heavy, long wear-time). But if she’s going to wear perfume, it’ll almost always be Wood Sage & Sea Salt from Jo Malone. It’s soft and subtle—woody, earthy sage creates depth, while the salty top note smells like fresh air, just better. Don’t let “cologne” lead you astray—this scent is completely unisex and can be worn on anyone (as is the case with every fragrance ever, tbf).

One Cosmo editor says: “My senses can’t handle overwhelming strong or rich fragrances, so I lean toward options that are light and subtle on skin, like Jo Malone’s Sea Salt and Wood Sage. It’s airy and earthy and the salt note gives an aquatic element that feels fresh yet complex. Every single person I’ve recommend this classic scent to ends up loving it.”—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR

Of everything in beauty editor Beth Gillette’s (hi, me) overflowing fragrance collection, Thé Noir is the one she spritzes on the most. It’s also the scent she tells everyone to try at least once, since it has a subdued scent that appeals to a lot of noses. A combo of fig and bergamot add a brightness to the top of the scent, but it’s softened by woodsy notes, smokey tobacco, and musk.

One Cosmo editor says: “I go feral for fig notes in a perfume, so I’m not shocked that this spicy, black-tea fragrance is one of my top favorites from Le Labo. It’s fresh and crisp, thanks to the bergamot and fig, but has a smooth, warm finish from musk and cedar. And ooooh, the tobacco note gives it a deep, smokier finish. I wear this when I wanna be wrapped up in a cozy cashmere blanket (or smell like I’m at the Edition—IYKYK).”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

Walk in a room wearing Delina and someone is def going to smell ya, because the sillage (or the scent trail the perfume leaves behind) is strong AF. When I have a big event for work and want to make a good impression, I always spritz a lil bit of Delina on my wrists and behind my ears. The powdery, musky, scent—spiked with rose—makes me feel powerful and strong.

One Cosmo editor says: “I love everything about Parfums de Marly, from their gorgeous bottles to the longevity of the fragrances, and the Delina scent is my all-time favorite from the brand. It’s floral and fruity (thanks to notes of lychee, peony, and rose) but with musky base notes, it’s not overly feminine. I have put two of my non-beauty editor friends onto this scent and they’re so obsessed.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

Sexy perfumes are inherently subjective. What one person finds enticing, another’s gonna think is repulsive. But Carolina Herrera Good Girl is probably as close as it comes to getting objectively sexy. It’s actually the best-selling perfume in the world right now, likely thanks to its newfound fame topping lists that call it catnip for men. The sweet scent, housed in a gorgeous bottle, is packed with a mix of sweet and spicy notes that many say make it addictive smelling.

One Cosmo editor says: “I now spray Good Girl every time I want a boost of confidence and to feel sexy. I’ve come to think of it as a scent that functions like catnip. ‘Here, kitty kitty kitty,’ I whisper, doused in jasmine, tuberose, and tonka bean.”—IMAN BALAGAM, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I get it: Celebrity perfumes are usually a snooze. But Victoria Beckham’s line is comparable to all of the $$$ luxury perfumes on this list. I’ve been obsessed with Portofino ’97 since it came out, and it’s truly the best beachy, summertime perfume. The notes are so rich (I mean, Egyptian jasmine, Turkish rose, and Madagascar vanilla—come on) and offer up a much spicier and chic take on the usual sunscreen-y scent.

One Cosmo editor says: “This isn’t the celeb perfume we know from the ’00s, because Victoria Beckham might have been a perfumer in a previous life. Portofino ’97 is a delicious fresh yet spicy take on a summertime, beachy perfume that lasts forever on my skin. And the gorgeous bottle doesn’t hurt either.” —BG

My first-ever whiff of Guidance made me run across the room and practically tackle a fellow beauty editor to ask what perfume she was wearing. Since wearing it myself, I’ve learned this scent will bring that out in people. I’ve had people chase me down hallways, approach me on subway cars, follow me down grocery aisles—all because they could smell this beautiful saffron-infused, woodsy floral perfume from across the way.

One Cosmo editor says: “Of everything I’ve ever worn, this has the most intense sillage ever. One spritz will project throughout practically our entire office for pretty much the entire day.”—BG

“I can’t believe the massive dent I’ve put into this perfume that launched this spring. I’ve used it more than many of my perfumes that I’ve had for over a year! But it’s because the warm scent works so well with my body chemistry and really projects. If I want to feel confident and get compliments on how I smell, I just spritz this on. That’s all it takes.”—BG

“If you’re looking to splurge on a signature scent and don’t know where to start, do yourself a favor and try spritzing yourself in this vibrant and long-lasting scent from Byredo,” says assistant shopping editor Jasmine Hyman, who is constantly raving about this perfume (and smells damn good, I might add). The sandalwood and cedar notes smell woodsy, sure, but nothing like a campfire. They’re balanced with lush magnolia and violet and musky ambrette that give it a light, airy quality.

“The fragrance is the perf combo of woody and floral—making it ideal for any occasion,” Hyman adds. “Whether it’s date night or a day in the office, I promise this perfume will bring in alllll the compliments.”

• Key notes: Ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, cedar
• Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I wish this is what my laundry came out smelling like. Soft, lightly floral, with a hint of musk that’d make all my clothes feel lived in. I really dig the freshness this leaves on my skin.”—BG

“I typically hate floral perfumes. Just look at this list—all of my #1 faves are firmly outside of the floral category. But Merit Retrospect is just different. It doesn’t smell old or dated; instead, it’s chic. I liken it to what I thought I’d smell like as a magazine editor when I dreamed of this job in the early ’00s. Sure, the jasmine notes smell flowery, but without the usual powderiness.”—BG

Winner of the Best Hall of Fame Fragrance in our most recent Holy Grail Beauty Awards, Marc Jacobs Daisy is the essential floral perfume. Jasmine and violet give it a fresh, garden feel, while strawberry adds a juicy, youthful vibe that keeps this from smelling anything but powdery and old school. If you hadn’t sniffed this since middle school, stick your nose in a tester ASAP—not only will it bring back some serious mems, but it surprisingly withstands the test of time.

One Cosmo editor says: “One whiff of this fiercely feminine scent and you’re reminded of just why it’s so iconic. The thoughtful concoction of violet, wild berries, sandalwood, and jasmine makes it super wearable for any occasion and most certainly hall-of-fame-worthy.”—JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE

I keep a bottle of this at my desk to spritz on before ~very important~ business meetings, and I kid you not, every time I spray it, my coworkers flock to me to ask what smells so damn good. My bottle even went missing recently after associate editor Annabel Iwegbue sniffed it (loljk, I gave it to her, because I’m soooo nice— peep her full review below).

One Cosmo editor says: “I always knew that a sophisticated heiress laid dormant within me, but Atomic Rose’s deep bergamot and vanilla formula—which strikes the perfect balance between a feminine and masculine scent—pulled that identity to the forefront. A compliment from my roommate about how I left a wealthy-smelling air in the kitchen confirmed that this Initio fragrance will henceforth be my scent of choice when on days that I want to make a statement.”—ANNABEL IWEGBUE, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The entire Le Monde Gourmand perfume line is impressive, as it is. But factoring in that it’s the cheapest perfume on this list that I’ve tested and just so happened to fall in love with, I’m floored. All of the scents are hella sweet (gourmand is in the name, after all), so expect delectable, edible notes in them all. Like this one, a creamy vanilla (hence the name) with sticky brown sugar, plus juicy apricot to round it out.

One Cosmo reader says: “I love this perfume so much! My friend had it, and I wanted to try it because she always smells good, and it did not disappoint! It smells warm and fresh, and I keep getting complimented on how good I smell!”