From Debut to ‘The Life of A Showgirl’: The Perfume That Defines Each Taylor Swift Era

Taylor Swift’s first album is a certifiable classic—much like Marc Jacobs Daisy. I look at debut and Daisy as one in the same: For many fans, this album was their introduction into the Swiftie universe. Similarly, Daisy was also the first “adult” perfume for a ton of my friends, essentially acting as a gateway into the world of fragrance.

The uplifting, soft perfume smells fresh, optimistic, and extremely nostalgic with a swirl of violet leaves, wild strawberry, and lush white florals. One spritz will have you replaying “Our Song” in your head and feeling like you ~have a place in this world.~

Let’s rewind to 2008, the year that Fearless *and* Chloé’s O.G. perfume came out. (Coincidence? I think not.) This album was my youth, and every time I listen to it, I’m taken back to summer bonfires and endless laughter. Chloé manages to do the same with its fresh floral aroma.

With a single spritz, a gorgeous bouquet of peony, freesia, rose, lily of the valley, and magnolia comes to life. While it’s floral to its core, a bit of cedar and amber ground it in cozy warmth. This scent cloaks you in optimism, and truthfully, wearing this will make you want to dance in a storm in your best dress—fearless.

Does everyone remember Taylor Swift’s perfume Wonderstruck? That scent was Speak Now to a tee, but it was discontinued a few years ago (womp). However, Tocca Maya comes pretty damn close to that TS signature—plus, the bottle completely matches this era too.

Maya opens with a sparkling mix of citrus and blackcurrant before quickly transforming into a romantic wildflower field with hints of rose, iris, and jasmine. The woody dry down maintains an ethereal softness with a touch of earthy oakmoss. Simply put, it’s enchanting.

Maybe it’s because of the ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version)’ visuals or the fact that Red (Taylor’s Version) debuted in November, but there’s something about this album that screams fall. As such, it only feels fitting that this era would smell like Autumn Vibes. A quick misting of this spicy, resinous scent—which combines coriander, cardamom, cedar, and moss—transports you to a wooded upstate trail where brown and yellow leaves crunch under your feet.

Out of all of Swift’s eras, 1989 feels the most carefree. This is a coming-of-age album that embodies all of the emotions you experience as you enter early adulthood: embracing new beginnings, falling in love, surviving heartbreak, and building yourself back up. No perfume conveys all of these feelings quite like Candied Lychee.

Simple yet sparkling, lychee provides a sweet, flirty opening before mellowing with honeyed peony and settling in a soft ambery-vanilla haze. It’s a scent that will make you want to dance the night away and believe all your wildest dreams can (and will) come true.

🎶Can you feel the flames on your skin?🎶 No? Well, you will with this smokey perfume, okay? Smoking Hot mirrors the defiant vibes of Reputation with a dark, seductive cocktail of spicy cinnamon, tobacco, and boozy bourbon vanilla.

This scent is beautifully layered just like the album: Under the tough exterior, it’s a masterful homage to love. At the first whiff, you’ll pick up on hints of caramel apple. Then, smoke and Kentucky tobacco give this a hard edge, but as vanilla and licorice emerge, it becomes warm and heavenly inviting again. If love doesn’t make you—or your crush—crazy, this perfume will definitely do the trick.

Cotton candy skies and whimsical vibes immediately come to mind when I think of Lover. Skylar’s bottle sure matches this era’s aesthetic, and it also smells like soft-focus daydreams and golden hour—which Swift was 100 percent trying to evoke while writing this album.

Tart apple and juicy raspberry sorbet create a really delicious opening that makes way for candy-coated guava flowers and creamy coconut milk. Cotton candy adds a sugary twist before settling in the warm glow of amber, vanilla, and musk. Overall, the scent feels like a mosaic sky as the sun peeks over the horizon to reveal daylight.

Salt aiiiiiir… Okay, so, this scent doesn’t smell like ‘August.’ But it does uniquely feel like your a chilly summer night on the water: breezy yet cozy. The aroma of Liis Studied flawlessly aligns with the wistfully dreamy aura of Folklore. This understated musky skin scent is enlivened with a dash of juicy pear and slightly spicy carrot seed before enveloping you in a warm, powdery embrace thanks to iris and cashmere (hello, “Cardigan”).

It’s all by design, this perfume was made for a mastermind. (But seriously, it was inspired by the game of chess.) Grand Master is meant to be worn on sleepless nights and fully portrays the ethos of Midnights: It’s powerful, unexpected, and completely captivating.

This opens with unsuspecting dewy rosewater and blackcurrants before energizing hints of Kona coffee intermingle with velvety rose. The dry down turns dark and mysterious courtesy of smokey incense, rich ebony wood, and a pinch of delicately sweet panettone. Checkmate.

Inspired by ink grazing clean, crisp paper, L’Eau Papier has the melancholic Tortured Poets Department written alllll over it. This lightly grazes your skin—almost like a ghost—with a peculiar blend of airy musks, sesame, mimosa, and rice steam. The resulting aroma is reminiscent of a dusty library filled with classic novels (AKA our English teacher’s happy place).

I’m a teensy bit convinced that Miss Swift and Harlem Perfume Co. conspired to create Showgirl. I mean, come on, the bottle completely matches the album cover!! This sophisticated perfume blends vintage florals with modern touches for a memorable spritz. Bright, fizzy mandarin and pink pepper create a dazzling start. Lavender and jasmine—along with a touch of spicy cardamom—take center stage in the middle, then amber and sandalwood steal the spotlight on the dry down. Smells like showbiz, baby.