My Favorite Gym Perfumes Are the Motivation I Didn’t Know I Needed
11 light, clean, and sweat-friendly fragrances for your best-smelling workouts ever.
I’m a firm believer that fragrance should be enjoyed anywhere and everywhere. That includes the office, airplanes, in bed, but especially the gym. Sure, I can throw on a luxurious deodorant to banish stinky sweat, but as someone who religiously wears fragrance, that doesn’t cut it for me. So, I have a slate of perfumes I like to wear specifically for working out because when I smell good, I feel good.
You won’t find me spraying on a heavy gourmand or beast-mode fragrance in the locker room, though—the last thing I want is a fellow gym-goer smelling me from five treadmills away. Instead, my go-to gym fragrances all fall into the fresh, clean, and light categories. Sometimes that means a body mist with a subtle and juicy fruity scent. Other times, I reach for a floral eau de toilette that imitates clean laundry. And more times than not, I turn to a musk perfume for that easygoing, “your skin, but better” feel. It’s less about the strength of the fragrance (although I wouldn’t recommend going overboard on an intense eau de parfum) and more about the invigorating feel it gives you.
While I don’t have the science to back it up, adding fragrance to my gym routine has made a world of difference, and I’m confident that it will do the same for you. Ahead, I’m sharing my rotation of gym perfumes from brands like Diptyque, Phlur, Glossier, and more—trust me when I say that breaking a sweat has never smelled better.
I used to be a rose fragrance hater, but Fleur Majesty Rose Royale converted me into a fan. Sweet rose is combined with a bright, juicy pear opening, creating a feminine, clean-girl blend. This pick is on the stronger side, so you only need one spray for an enticing scent trail.
This is one of those rare instances when I prefer the eau de toilette version of a fragrance over the eau de parfum. While both scents offer a powdery, cottony iris note, Fleur de Peau EDT is lighter and brighter, making it easier to wear for everyday. This fresh and clean blend lingers close to the skin, too, so you won't offend your fellow gym-goers.
If you could bottle the scent of freshly-washed bed sheets, you would get this Byredo fragrance. It uses aldehyde and rose centifolia to replicate that clean laundry feel, and later settles into a warm, musky base. I can't help but feel more elegant with every spritz.
I wear this By Rosie Jane body mist on its own and layered over eau de parfums on a weekly basis. Inspired by bare skin and the springtime, its bright, juicy apple scent is light and refreshing. One spray instantly makes me feel cleaner, which is why I wear it all. the. time.
Glossier's fragrances are light and sheer, which is why you'll see multiple on this list. Sandstone is my favorite of its body mists, and one I regularly reach for when I'm getting a sweat session in. Its fresh, slightly earthy blend of fig leaf and clary sage reminds me of a luxurious spa, and for that, I'm obsessed.
While technically-speaking, I Don’t Know What is intended to be layered as a fragrance primer, but I like to wear it to the gym on its own for that je ne sais quoi scent. It’s meant to be indistinguishable—while you can’t put your finger on any of its fragrance notes, you do know that it smells incredible. If a beast-mode fragrance screams, this one whispers.
Out of the Jo Malone London lineup, this pick is criminally underrated. Imagine you just washed your hair with a nostalgic, fruity shampoo, and you'll get the gist of this fragrance. It's not sugary like some fruit-forward fragrances can be, but instead strikes the perfect balance between fresh and sweet.
This just-launched body mist is already shaping up to be one of my favorite Sol de Janeiro products of all time—it's that good. Rose may be the star of the show, but it's beautifully balanced with juicy passionfruit and a touch of sweet honey caramel.
I have a go-to Phlur fragrance for every occasion, and that includes working out. With this body mist, it’s all in the name—you get the juicy succulence from a perfectly ripe peach that evolves into a creamy skin scent. Not too sweet or too warm, this blend is just right for hot days or sweaty workouts.
Glossier You really is that girl of skin scents. Its slightly peppery blend adapts to your unique body chemistry for a fragrance that's uniquely yours. I regularly reach for it when I'm thinking up layering combos, but it's subtle enough to wear on its own during workouts.
There's something about this pear fragrance that ignites my senses. No matter the season, one spray of this scent has me reminiscing on springtime. I liken this fruity floral blend to a ray of sunshine—it's bright, radiant, and joyful, so it's impossible to be in a bad mood while wearing it.
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