The best perfume is like a killer outfit: it makes you feel confident. But finding the right scent can be tricky.
Perfume usually comes in three types: eau de toilette, eau de parfum and extrait de parfum. Eau de toilette has a lower fragrance oil concentration in water, usually around five to ten per cent, making for a lighter scent. Eau de parfum has a higher concentration, usually more than 20 per cent. However, you may not have heard of an extrait. More common among luxury brands like Chanel and Kilian, an extrait de parfum can reach concentrations up to 40 per cent, and cost more than £200.
On top of that, you need to know your floral scents from your gourmands, and consider staying power, throw and scent notes. All this jargon can be hard to parse if you’re new to fragrance, and buying the wrong scent can be a costly mistake. Inflation means that even the humble eau de toilette can be expensive, and buying a £30 cheaper alternative can often prove a waste of money entirely.
That’s why I tested more than a dozen perfumes for two months straight, separating the quality from the merely costly. My top pick, Kayali’s Maldives in a bottle (£79, Boots.com), successfully juggled having a scent like no other. But I’ve also found options if you’re on a budget, prefer citrus scents or gourmand perfumes.
How I tested
After researching the most sought-after perfumes from big-name and specialist brands, I compiled a testing longlist of more than 20 scents.
I gave all the fragrances a full eight hours of wear and sprayed each one in the same way: on the pulse points of my left and right wrists, and the pulse points under the left and right sides of my jawbone. I then assessed the following factors:
- Technical notes versus on-skin aroma: I compared the brand’s fragrance profile of top, heart and base notes with the smell on the nose, both initially and after several minutes as the perfume had a chance to settle on the skin. As the day wore on, I also paid attention to any changes in the aromas as their top notes faded.
- Uniqueness: I wanted my guide of the very best perfumes to feature scents that didn’t feel overdone, basic or familiar, so the ones that landed a spot in my final edit needed to be distinctive and gain you compliments.
- Staying power: Everyone’s spent money on a high-end perfume only for it to lose its potency after 10 minutes, so all of the final entries in this guide lasted for at least an hour and, ideally, the entire day. Through testing, I did learn that all fragrances react to your skin oils and temperature, so one person’s potent perfume could fade rapidly on another.
- Value for money: From the aesthetics of the packaging to the quantity of perfume and quality of the atomiser, I weighed up the cost effectiveness of each fragrance.
This extensive criteria meant some scents didn’t make the cut, which you can read more about at the end of this review.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Lucy Smith has accrued a wealth of scenting know-how in her six years of industry experience. She’s covered fragrance launches from Chanel, Sol de Janeiro and Marc Jacobs, and taken deep dives into the world of perfume dupes and best perfume deals – so she’s well-versed in the key brands to look to and avoid. In fact, she’s gleaned fragrance know-how from the experts at Chanel’s salon de parfums and spoken to Charlotte Tilbury herself about the scent layering in the brand founder’s growing perfume collection. Beyond her experience as a beauty writer, she also has a personal interest in finding fragrances that deliver.
The best perfumes for women 2025 are:
- Best overall – Kayali Maldives in a bottle ylang coco 20 eau de parfum: £79, Boots.com
- Best budget buy – Diem dare you eau de parfum: £20, Diemscents.com
- Best citrus scent – Jo Malone London lime basil and mandarin cologne: £55, Johnlewis.com
- Best gourmand scent – Tom Ford vanilla sex eau de parfum: £290, Spacenk.com
- Best summer scent – Miss Dior eau de parfum: £61.20, Boots.com
Kayali Maldives in a bottle ylang coco 20 eau de parfum
Best: Women's perfume overall
Scent notes from the brand: Rosemary, ylang ylang, coconut milk, wild lemon, starfruit, banana blossom
Real-world scent: Citrus, florals, sun cream, coconut
Fragrance family: Fresh
Sizes: 10ml, 50ml
Why we love it
- Light, fresh scent
- Beachy
- Not overpowering
- Aesthetic, notable bottle
Kayali’s Maldives eau de parfum is a tropical-inspired scent. It’s exactly what I want in a summer fragrance, and I enjoyed the warm-weather nostalgia it evokes when I tested it at the end of winter and the start of spring. It’s light and has a hint of citrus and freshness.
The addition of star fruit and wild lemon gives it a bright, zingy start. There’s meant to be a hint of herbaceous wild rosemary on the top notes, but I couldn’t detect that.
Once it settles, the tropical, floral notes of ylang-ylang and banana blossom come through but remain gentle. With smooth coconut milk on the base, there’s a soft creaminess that lingers like sun cream but never becomes overpowering.
This holiday in a bottle scent lasts for a few hours, leaving a lovely, understated freshness that’s akin to the strength of a skin scent like Glossier you (£70, Spacenk.com).
Buy now £79.00, Boots.com
Diem dare you eau de parfum
Best: Budget perfume for women
Scent notes from the brand: Saffron, cardamom, oak and cedar
Real-world scent: Cedar, sandlewood, musk and soap
Fragrance family: Woody
Sizes: 30ml (with a monthly subscription or one-time purchase)
Why we love it
- Excellent staying power
- Compliment-magnet from both men and women
- Unisex
- Perfect for travel
Take note
- Lack of size options, only small available
If you're a fan of Mugler’s Alien (£77.60, Boots.com) or perhaps nostalgic for Abercrombie and Fitch’s Fierce (£46, Thefragranceshop.co.uk), Diem’s Dare You offers a mature, luxurious alternative. This scent offers a deeper, woodier, and more sophisticated twist on these cult classics. With sultry notes of oak and cedar, and the spice of saffron and cardamom, it’s a perfectly balanced blend that leans confidently unisex, with a rich, androgynous finish that lingers all day long. Expect both men and women to ask what you’re wearing with envy.
Diem’s standout concept is its “fragrance wardrobe” philosophy. Rather than a large, expensive bottle, Diem offers smaller, accessible 30ml sizes designed to encourage rotation and experimentation. This idea is that you can switch your scent to suit your mood, like changing your outfit. For £20 a month, you can have a new signature scent delivered via the Diem Club every month and save even more cash.
While the compact size means you might power through it faster (especially thanks to the addictive scent), the accessible price point softens the blow. The slim bottle also makes it perfect for travel or tossing in a handbag. However, 30ml won’t last long.
Buy now £20.00, Diemscents.com
Chanel Coco mademoiselle eau de parfum
Best: Long-lasting women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Orange, rose, jasmine, amber, patchouli, vetiver
Real-world scent: Rose, zest, soap, subtle sweetness
Fragrance family: Floral
Sizes: 35ml, 50ml, 100ml, 200ml
Why we love it
- Instantly recognisable
- One of the most ‘commented on’ fragrances I’ve tried
- Scent lasts all day
- Available in other formats
Take note
- Expensive
Chanel’s Coco mademoiselle is one of the brand’s most popular fragrances, offering a lighter, more delicate scent than the divisive floral bouquet of Chanel No. 5. With top notes of orange and a fresh, lightweight rose, it balances florals with a bright, outdoorsy vetiver.
This makes it perfect for both day and night wear, and its subtle sweetness layers beautifully with vanilla scents. It lasts from morning to night, too, so it’s a perfect all-day scent. I loved the elegant packaging, featuring 1920s art-deco gold accents, but you’d expect that for the high price – this scent costs a whopping £140-150 per 100ml.
However, if you like the scent, it’s also available in lots of cheaper forms. There’s a purse spray (£110.50, Johnlewis.com), body oil (£90.10, Boots.com), and even a deodorant (£40.80, Boots.com).
Buy now £126.65, Boots.com
Parfums de Marly, valaya eau de parfum
Best: Sweet women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Orange flower, nympheal (like white florals), vetiver, bergamot, mandarin, white peach, akigalawood (like a spicy/woody patchouli), ambrofix (ambery) and musk
Real-world scent: Marzipan, sugar, florals, powder, musk
Fragrance family: Floral
Sizes: 30ml, 75ml
Why we love it
- Scent lasts all day without being overpowering
- An antidote to indulgent gourmands
- Packaging is gorgeous
Take note
- Expensive
If you’ve been keeping atop the latest TikTok news, then you’ll know that Parfums de Marly’s valaya was the scent that influencer Ambar Lee wore for her South African wedding. Now that I’ve tested the fragrance myself, I can certainly see how it would slot into a wedding morning with its light, dreamy scent.
If you’re neither one for heady florals nor rich gourmands, valaya makes the perfect middle point with its powdery, sugar-dusted petal aroma. While I couldn’t detect all nine notes from the French perfumers’ description, I did pull out the nympheal, ambrofix, peach and musk.
I’m not always a fan of fruity fragrances, but the peach adds freshness rather than sweetness, making for a finish that’s delicately floral with echoes of milk and honey. It’s a sweet scent for those that don’t like sweet scents. It has remarkable staying power, too. I caught as many whiffs of it at 4pm as I did when I first applied it 8 hours earlier.
Buy now £255.00, Harveynichols.com
Balmain Beauty carbone eau de parfum
Best: Powdery women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: White musk, rose neo absolute (a rose scent extracted from distilled rose petals), suede, patchouli, sandalwood, cumin
Real-world scent: Rose, talcum powder, musk, cashmere
Fragrance family: Musk
Sizes: 50ml, or 150ml refill
Why we love it
- Versatile
- Lasts eight hours-plus
- Refillable
- Unique and prompts comments from passers-by
Take note
- Expensive
Balmain’s carbone perfume only launched in 2024, but it’s become a firm favourite. The central note is rose, but while some rose aromas can skew old-timey, this one leans on accompanying notes of suede and sandalwood to bring a more contemporary feel.
The marketing says that there are also notes of cumin, but I couldn’t detect any. It’s truly an investment, right down to the art deco bottle, but the good news is that carbone’s refill bottle (at three times the size, at 150ml) saves you around a quarter of the price when you compare per ml.
It’s also seriously strong, so you’ll only need a spritz on each of your pulse points (two on each wrist, two under the jaw), and you’ll be good to go for the day. In fact, I’ve had compliments on it at the end of a full day’s wear, so while it’s incredibly expensive, you certainly get your money’s worth.
Buy now £145.00, Selfridges.com
Jo Malone London lime basil and mandarin cologne
Best: Citrus perfume for women
Scent notes from the brand: Mandarin, basil, amberwood, thyme
Real-world scent: Freshly peeled orange, lime, herbs, botanicals
Fragrance family: Citrus
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
Why we love it
- Luxurious
- Like nothing else
- A day scent with enough warmth for evening wear
Take note
- Becomes very faint after a few hours
My mum used Jo Malone’s lime, basil and mandarin scent as a bath oil when I was a child, and it has remained in my memories ever since. It lives up to its name with noticeable hints of citrus and green leaves. However, if you’re worried about smelling like a greenhouse, you’re in good hands. The basil is understated, providing an earthy balance to the sweet citrus notes.
Compared to other citrus scents like Calvin Klein one (£36.66, Boots.com) or D&G’s light blue (£54.40, Boots.com), it doesn’t lead with the sharpness of lemon but rather surrounds the lime and mandarin notes with warming amberwood.
This gives this scent a maturity and luxury often lacking from citrus scents, many of which can smell too much like mosquito repellent. Annoyingly, as much as I loved it, I didn’t find this fragrance lasted well on my skin, even with its high price, so you’ll need to top it up every few hours.
Buy now £56.00, Johnlewis.com
Penhaligon’s quercus eau de cologne
Best: Unisex perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Mandarin, lily of the valley, oakmoss, basil, jasmine, cardamom, amber
Real-world scent: Lemon, moss, amber, apple, cut grass
Fragrance family: Citrus
Sizes: 100ml
Why we love it
- A clean, fresh scent
- Bottle is an heirloom piece
Take note
- Needs topping up
- Expensive
Penhaligon’s quercus is about as British as a fragrance can get. It’s part of the brand’s English garden collection, celebrating the country’s natural flora and fauna. Quercus is the Latin genus for oak trees, and the marketing for this scent says that it evokes the feel of a sunny day spent in the shade of the tree’s leaves.
Perfume marketing is usually off the mark, but this time it’s true - the aroma evokes nostalgic memories of crisp, clear-skied spring days. While the oakmoss mimics the scent of morning dew on grass, the mandarin and lily of the valley bring a freshness reminiscent of new blossoms at the start of March.
Quercus is as close as a fragrance can be to a freshly cut lemon and, in that sense, it’s entirely unisex – without sweetness or spice. The packaging is, as with all Penhaligon’s products, ornamental in itself. I just wish that the scent lasted a tad longer on the skin, especially at this price.
Buy now £140.00, Penhaligons.com
Yves Saint Laurent libre eau de parfum
Best: Strong perfume for women
Scent notes from the brand: Orange blossom, lavender, tangerine, neroli, musk, vanilla, jasmine, petitgrain (essential oils from bitter orange tree)
Real-world scent: Honey, musk, vanilla, florals
Fragrance family: Floral
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 90ml, 150ml, 100ml refill
Why we love it
- Refillable
- Ultra long-lasting
- Chic packaging
Take note
- Can be a bit overpowering
Aside from black opium, libre is YSL’s most famous fragrance. It’s deep and complex, combining lavender and orange blossom to create a botanical, warm fragrance like a jar of honey. The jasmine florals and tangerine give the scent a bright zing, which is undercut by vanilla for a more evening-appropriate feel.
On the whole, I’d say it has day-to-night wearability, but I think it’s most effective in winter or night. In the same vein, it’s a more mature scent and not one I’d look to as a first foray into fragrance.
The real draw of libre is its incredible staying power. It landed a spot in my longlist for this roundup after I repeatedly caught whiffs of it on a friend. After testing it, I can confirm that it lasts a long time, with the fragrance almost as pungent in hour eight as when I first spritzed it. However, this also means that it’s easy to overdo it on the spritzing – three sprays should suffice.
Buy now £81.60, Boots.com
Creed love in white eau de parfum
Best: Clean women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Bulgarian rose, Florentine iris (orris butter), magnolia petals, vanilla, orange zest, apple, apricot, musk, cedarwood, rice
Real-world scent: Fresh orange juice, apricot, freshly laundered sheets, florals
Fragrance family: Asian-style floral
Sizes: 30ml, 75ml, 240ml, 500ml
Why we love it
- Refreshing
- Unique
- Strong scent all day
Take note
- Very expensive
- Underwhelming packaging
No perfume round-up would be complete without Creed. Love in white turns 20 this year, but it’s still one of the best scents on the market. Its bright, clean scent leads with the fresh powderiness of rose and orris butter, and it dries down with a bit of zing from the zest.
This latter element was reminiscent of freshly squeezed orange juice and gave this scent an uplifting daytime feel. It’s probably not suited to evenings or the cosier times of year.
Love in white’s staying power is nearly unmatched. Often, I find that fragrances fade for me as the wearer, while others still notice them; love in white, however, offers subtle whiffs throughout the day for both you and those around you to enjoy.
Though I wish its packaging was a little more distinctive, I love the uniqueness of this fragrance, and I think it’s a good choice as a gift to mark a special occasion. However, it goes without saying that Creed’s list price of £165 for 30ml is incredibly expensive.
Buy now £165.00, Johnlewis.com
Phlur soft spot eau de parfum
Best: Skin scent for women
Scent notes from the brand: Jasmine, bergamot, mandarin, freesia, waterlily, vanilla orchid, musk, amber, sandalwood
Real-world scent: Cotton, waterlily, amber, vanilla, sand
Fragrance family: Musk/amber
Sizes: 10ml, 50ml
Why we love it
- A sweet scent for those that don’t like them
- Unique
- Melds with your skin scent
- Subtle
Take note
- Short scent-span
Phlur describes its fragrances as inspired by memories, experiences and emotions. It’s not a particularly helpful description, and the brand’s soft spot eau de parfum is similarly subtle.
Its subtle waterlily floral notes lend this scent a remarkable lightness, but as it settles into the skin, it develops the warmth and complexity of amber.
Given that the perfume combines with the wearer’s natural skin scent, it’s hard to describe it accurately. However, after spritzing on my wrists, the aroma generated a clean and cotton-like undercurrent.
This understated vibe means that soft spot loses its strength within an hour or two, which is a little disappointing when you consider that it costs nearly £100. However, I can’t fault its originality.
Buy now £99.00, Spacenk.com
Prada paradoxe eau de parfum
Best: Floral women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Neroli, amber, musk, jasmine, bergamot, tangerine, pear, vanilla
Real-world scent: Florals, amber, musk, love hearts sweets
Fragrance family: Amber floral
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 90ml, 100ml refill
Why we love it
- Striking bottle
- Wearable from day-to-night
- Suitable for all ages
- Refillable
Take note
- Doesn’t last all day
- Similar to other perfumes
Prada paradoxe is the brand’s most intriguing fragrance. Housed in a unique triangle bottle, the perfume has a floral scent that’s rounded off with a light sweetness.
Having recently tested YSL libre (£81.60, Boots.com), I was surprised to draw comparisons between the two scents, finding Prada’s scent a much more refreshing take. While YSL’s iteration has a headiness, Prada’s is better for those who prefer an understated perfume.
Unfortunately, this meant that it had faded by the end of the day, but it’s by no means alone in requiring a midday top-up, as lots of the perfumes I tried had faded by lunchtime.
While the aroma is undeniably feminine, it’s neither young nor old and adds a touch of glamour to anyone wearing it. That means it lends itself to both day and night scenarios, and the amber and tangerine notes mean that it will work well in every season.
Buy now £72.00, Sephora.co.uk
Miss Dior eau de parfum
Best: Summer perfume for women
Scent notes from the brand: Lily-of-the-valley, peony, iris, rose, musk, Papua New Guinea vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood
Real-world scent: Citrus, florals, sugar, sandalwood
Fragrance family: Floral
Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml, 150ml
Why we love it
- Display-worthy packaging
- Hard to dislike (great for gifting)
- Youthful
Take note
- Average scent strength
Unlike the rich floral notes of Dior J’adore (£88.40, Boots.com), Miss Dior is a younger aroma with a lightweight approach to springtime notes. It’s the sort of scent that’s hard to dislike, with subtle nods to each of the fragrance realms: fresh, floral, sweet and woody.
While the sweetness (like hot sugar) affords it a feminine feel, the vanilla and sandalwood allow for evening and winter wearability.
The florals are completely at home in daytime settings, especially in spring and summer. While Miss Dior is available in an eau de toilette variation (£88, Johnlewis.com), it wasn’t particularly long-lasting in this eau de parfum format. It fades away in around two to three hours, so I wouldn’t want to lessen this limited staying power with an eau de toilette, even if it’s a little cheaper.
Buy now £61.20, Boots.com
Tom Ford vanilla sex eau de parfum
Best: Gourmand women's perfume
Scent notes from the brand: Vanilla, jasmine, iris (orris), bitter almond, sandalwood, tonka bean, animalis accord (earthy, sensual and musky), amber
Real-world notes: Cherry, marzipan/almond, sugar, whisky
Fragrance family: Amber, technically, though I’d describe it as a gourmand
Sizes: 50ml, 250ml
Why we love it
- Distinctive
- Warm and cosy
- Not sicklyy
Take note
- Extremely expensive
- Doesn’t last well for the price
An edit of the best perfumes wouldn’t be complete without at least one fragrance from Tom Ford. Granted, these perfumes are an investment but, with a fan base spanning everyone from Taylor Swift to Harry Styles, there must be some method to the madness.
The brand’s vanilla sex scent is a “gourmand” – its main ingredients are derived from food scents. It more than lives up to it; this fragrance is practically edible, and has an aroma like a bakewell tart or maraschino cherries. It's sweet at first but dries down to a more complex, spirit-like aroma, reminiscent of whiskey or negroni.
While I commend the unique, creamy finish, I wish it lasted longer, especially for the price. Then again, fragrance longevity can vary based on factors like skin type and body temperature, so some might find this too strong.
Buy now £290.00, Spacenk.com
Maison Francis Kurkdjian absolue pour le matin eau de parfum
Best: Luxury perfume for women
Scent notes from the brand: Thyme, powdery woody accord, lemon, violet, orange blossom
Real-world scent: After sun, sun cream, talcum powder, citronella, vanilla
Fragrance family: Herbal citrus
Sizes: 70ml
Why we love it
- Summery
- Nostalgic
- Relatively gender neutral
Take note
- Subtle, more of a skin scent
- Very expensive
Maison Francis Kurkdjian is known for heady, woody scents, especially baccarat rouge 540 (£245, Johnlewis.com). However, absolue pour le matin is a departure for the brand. French speakers will know from its name that it’s designed for the morning, and the brand compares it to “the sun’s powerful rays stream[ing] through louvred shutters”. Again, another overly poetic description, but this airy fragrance is much lighter than the brand’s muskier scents.
It opens with fresh lemon and powdery violet, evoking the smell of after-sun, hotel body lotion, aloe vera, and sun cream. Not suited for evening or winter, pour le matin is more of a spring/summer daytime fragrance, with an undercurrent of warmth from the woody accords.
Like the brand’s other scents, I could still smell it on my pulse points after multiple hand washes and more than eight hours of wear. However, as with many powdery scents, it’s more of a subtle skin scent rather than one that throws across a room.
Buy now £230.00, Selfridges.com
What is the best women’s perfume?
Kayali’s Maldives in a bottle eau de parfum secured IndyBest’s ultimate seal of approval. At just under £80, this perfume sits on the border between mid-range and high-end but continues to impress with every wear. For luxury, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s absolue pour le matin offers summer in a bottle, and, for sweat-proof staying power, YSL libre was unmatched. As for the gourmand lovers, look to the edible aroma of Tom Ford’s vanilla sex.
How to apply women’s perfume
The common school of thought is that a perfume travels best when sprayed on the pulse points because these are some of the warmer points on the body. While you might be familiar with the pulse points on the wrists, either side of the neck and below the ears, you might not know – as The Perfume Shop suggests – that the insides of the elbows and behind the knees are also good spots to target for a notable scent trail.
What perfumes would you not recommend?
I found that there was no justifying the barely-there aroma of Byredo’s gypsy water (£150, Cultbeauty.co.uk). In the same way, Kilian’s good girl gone bad (£225, Cultbeauty.co.uk) proved too familiar to popular favourites like YSL’s Black Opium (£77.60, Boots.com) to warrant its £225 price tag.
For more inspiration, check out our round-up of the best vegan perfumes
