The 5 Best Marc Jacobs Perfumes Never Fail to Win Me Compliments
Daisy Eau de Toilette is a classic for a reason.
If you're in the market for one of the best designer perfumes, might I suggest Marc Jacobs? Beyond fashion, the brand has made a name in beauty with its playful yet elevated fragrance line. (He also recently brought back his cult-favorite makeup line to the absolute glee of pretty much the entire beauty community.) That being said, the fragrances from the brand have long been one of its most popular offerings, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't had a bottle or two in their collection, whether currently or at some point in time. I have a few of my own, and I have to say: the best Marc Jacobs perfumes incorporate fresh notes like wild berries, pear, lychee, and sandalwood, offering a handful of light yet sweet gourmand scents.
While some, due to their fruity floral profiles, lean more toward spring and summer, there are no hard-and-fast rules with fragrance—most can be worn year-round. The designer collection comprises 10 total perfumes, many branching from the iconic Daisy scent, which is characterized by notes of violet leaves, strawberries, vanilla, and musk.
You could sniff them all in search of your next 2025 perfume purchase, but I took it upon myself to do the heavy lifting (well, sniffing) for you. I've worn every fragrance in the line—from light eau de toilettes to intense eau de parfums—and remodeled my nightstand into a Daisy garden.
The result: I discovered the five best Marc Jacobs perfumes. My honest thoughts on the juices (and their cheeky packaging) ahead.
Best Marc Jacobs Perfumes
- Best Marc Jacobs Perfume Overall: Daisy Eau De Toilette
- Best Fresh Marc Jacobs Perfume: Daisy Love Eau de Toilette
- Best Fruity Marc Jacobs Perfume: Daisy Eau so Fresh Eau De Toilette
- Best Light Marc Jacobs Perfume: Perfect Eau De Parfum
- Best Citrus Marc Jacobs Perfume: Daisy Wild Eau De Parfum
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a Sephora teen growing up, so it took me a while to get my hands on the iconic Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume. It captures the essence of the sweetest time of year—the middle of spring on the brink of summer. It feels youthful with notes of wild berries, white violet, and jasmine flowers, which I like because I enjoy keeping people guessing about my age.
The fragrance is more fresh-smelling than floral and is nicely grounded by sandalwood. It almost feels like the perfect choice for someone looking to upgrade from Sol de Janeiro body sprays to something more sophisticated.
Top Notes: Wild berries
Middle Notes: White violet, jasmine
Base Notes: Sandalwood
What I Love: Layers nicely; Fresh scent; Smells different on everyone
What I Don’t: Not a very unisex scent
Lasting Power: Four to five hours
Customer Review: "Daisy Wild by Marc Jacobs has such a subtle and delicate scent. It gives me a clean, fresh and natural vibe feeling. I love it! The packaging was very nice. The scent is not overwhelming, it’s definitely my new favorite go-to out of all my other perfumes." — Sephora
This eau de toilette is a great light option for everyday—and very office appropriate.
To me, this fragrance is like the older sister of the classic Daisy—earthier and more versatile. Unlike the other family members, which are very spring and summer-centric, this one can easily transition into fall and winter. Of course, there are no strict rules about wearing scents based on the season. While it retains a hint of that this-could-have-been-a-body-spray-in-another-life quality, it has the staying power of perfume, lingering on the skin for hours. Personally, I love spritzing it on all my clothes; it makes the scent last longer.
Top Notes: Crystalized cloudberries
Middle Notes: Daisy tree petals
Base Notes: Driftwood, cashmere musks
What I Love: Light and refreshing; Earthier version of the signature Daisy; Multiple sizes
What I Don’t: Earthier than the other Daisy scents
Lasting Power: Two to three hours
Customer Review: "I get nausea and headaches from strong perfumes, but I am obsessed with this. It’s so feminine, light, sweet, and floral. It doesn’t last too long, though, but I have a travel-size one that I put in my purse. Even if you’re picky (like me), you’ll love this." — Sephora
This scent will take you from fall to winter.
Fresh as a daisy takes on a whole new meaning with this scent. It’s not the typical floral fragrance that can often be overwhelming (and give me a headache); instead, it offers a delightful blend of fruity notes like pear, apple blossom, and lychee, mixed with jasmine petals, earthy musks, and cedarwood. The result is a sophisticated, fresh mix of fruity and floral elements. Also, the scent lingers throughout the day, so whether navigating the subway or relaxing on the couch, you’ll smell great all day.
Top Notes: Natural raspberry, ruby red grapefruit, pear
Middle Notes: Violets, wild rose, apple blossom
Base Notes: Musks, cedarwood, plum
What I Love: Showpiece of a bottle; Not overpowering; Only requires one or two sprays
What I Don’t: Leans more spring than fall; Feels very young
Lasting Power: Three to four hours
Customer Review: "Such a classic scent! I feel like this is definitely a “date night” perfume and i’d save it for special occasions!" — Sephora
This might feel a bit juvenile for some, but the light aura makes it great for layering.
The design of this perfume bottle brought me Marie Kondo-style joy. However, this might not be the bottle for you if you want to project a minimalist aesthetic. My first impression after spritzing was that it smelled juicy, like biting into a ripe piece of fruit after a long day by the pool. Imagine my surprise when I guessed half-correctly—rhubarb is the top note.
There’s also almond milk in the mix, which I didn’t specifically notice, but I did pick up on a hint of daffodil, which gives a subtle floral twist. It's not overpowering, though, which I appreciate since most floral notes are too mature for my taste.
Top Notes: Juicy rhubarb, bright daffodil
Middle Notes: Almond milk
Base Notes: Cashmeran
What I Love: Light summer fragrance; Sweet yet balanced; Multiple sizes including a roller ball
What I Don’t: Not very long-lasting
Lasting Power: Five to six hours
Customer Review: "Smells incredibly fresh and clean—perfect for those active days when you need something light but noticeable. It’s not overpowering, which makes it ideal for the gym or post-workout errands. Keeps you feeling confident and refreshed without being too intense. Definitely a go-to for gym days or anytime you want a clean, crisp scent." — Sephora
Make this scent last longer by priming your wrists with vaseline or moisturizer.
When I saw banana listed as the top note of this fragrance, I was intrigued—banana is my least favorite candy flavor and I usually only tolerate it in smoothies. However, despite being the top note, it’s beautifully blended with other scents. It smells far more citrus than fruity, like you’ve spent the day picking fresh lemons and limes. The fragrance also features jasmine and sandalwood—two notes I’m typically obsessed with—and they blend together wonderfully. Plus, the bottle itself is quite maximalist, as are all Marc Jacobs perfumes.
Top Notes: Banana blossom accord
Middle Notes: Jasmine, macadamia accord
Base Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver des sables
What I Love: Grounding scent; Long-lasting
What I Don’t: Feels a bit less elevated than traditional daisy
Lasting Power: Six hours
Customer Review: "I have used this perfume and received many compliments. It is a beautiful jasmine flower smell that lingers for a long time. The packaging is beautiful as expected and does not disappoint. It can be worn in casual as well formal occasion. Highly recommend to family and friends."
Despite the floral composition, you'll get a whiff of citrus with Daisy Wild.
What's the Most Popular Marc Jacobs Perfume?
While Marc Jacobs Daisy line may be the most recognizable and comes with the greatest number of iterations, Marc Jacobs Perfect Eau de Parfum is the brand's best-seller at their two main retailers: Sephora and Macy's.
Which Marc Jacobs Perfume Lasts the Longest?
If you're looking for the Marc Jacobs perfume with the longest staying power, you have three options: Daisy Wild Intense Eau de Parfum, Perfect Intense Eau de Parfum, and Daisy Eau So Intense Eau de Parfum. The intense editions of these favorite scents are crafted with a higher concentration of perfume oil, so they'll stay on the skin longer. But there are also hacks for making you perfume last longer in general that you can employ using your favorite formula.
According to J.J. Vittoria, founder of the customizable fragrance brand Olfactory NYC, perfumes generally last the longest on "your clothes or hair". Darryl Do, Senior Perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrance Lab, adds that to increase longevity, you may also want to try spraying a few more places than you may expect. "Start with the neck, hair, and wrists," he says. "If you want a broader fragrance reach, extend it to your clothes and coat or jacket."
If you want to get even longer wear? Try priming your wrist with petroleum jelly before spraying.
What Happened to Marc Jacobs's Decadence and Lola?
Two of my favorite scents from the brand: Decadence and Lola, have unfortunately been discontinued. While it's unclear whether or not the scents will ever be re-released ever again (Marie Claire has reached out to the brand who confirmed that there are no plans for a relaunch as of right now), I am holding out hope until I can't anymore.
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How I Tested
To select the best Marc Jacobs fragrances of all time, Contributing Beauty Writer Iman Balagam sprayed, wore, and smell every single scent that has been released by the brand. She evaluated every bottle based on notes, wear, and price point, while searching the internet for customer reviews and requesting personal favorites from the Marie Claire team.
Meet the Experts
J.J. is the founder of the customizable fragrance brand Olfactory NYC.
