Meet the Best Lily Perfumes, the Fragrance That Smells Like an Ethereal Forest Fairy

Let me get this out of the way: Amouage’s Existence is for the people who love beast-mode perfumes. I tested this perfume out at a dinner, and afterward, someone told me that my scent lingered at their table where I had entered, and she said she could smell it all night. This was a complete stranger who remembered me from just this perfume. If that doesn’t scream “worth it,” I don’t know what does.

I don’t know how else to describe Dyptique’s Lilyphea other than ethereal. If I were a forest fairy, this is exactly what I would smell like—fresh, green, sweet, like sunshine. The notes are simple: cardamom, violet leaves, and vanilla, but the resulting fragrance feels so much more complex on the skin. If you want a sleeper hit lily fragrance, start here.

For the true floral enthusiasts, Byredo’s Casablanca Lily is for you. A combination of florals: gardenia, tuberose, and carnation, combine into the most stunning white floral scent, and when paired with the honey and rosewood in the base. You might actually levitate into perfume heaven.

Marie Claire beauty editor Siena Gagliano introduced me to this under-the-radar clean fragrance, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The scent blends airy white florals with warm amber and skin musk for something that feels soft, fresh, and quietly addictive. Its lily-inspired magnolan note gives it that ethereal, almost dewy quality that makes it smell like clean skin—but prettier.

While Creed’s Eladaria focuses quite heavily on a rose note, it’s supported beautifully by other florals. Notes like mandarin, lily of the valley, and ambroxan flank the rose essence in this formula, resulting in a fresh, musky, floral masterpiece that feels like the epitome of femininity (but don’t worry, anyone can wear it).

If there were a brand that really knows a floral note, it’d be Viktor and Rolf, so of course, Flowerbomb Tiger Lily had to make this list. Coconut milk, mango, tiger lily—it all combines into a mouthwateringly warm, sweet scent that feels like a tropical vacation in a bottle. With this travel-sized version, you can take it with you on vacation this summer.

Prefer a more intimate lily perfume? Henry Rose’s 1987 is just that. Fig, black pepper, water lily, all of these notes are wrapped into a vanilla base that makes the perfume smell like a perfected version of the scent of your natural skin. It’s addictive, cozy, and perfect for anyone who loves a more gourmand-leaning lily perfume.

Mui Mui’s perfumes deserve some love because if you’re a lily lover, L'Eau de Muguet will be the one for you. Ginger, sandalwood, two different types of lily, and even rose are jam-packed into the tiny bottle, and the result is a slightly spicy, fresh-floral scent that can be worn year-round.

Lazy Sunday Morning is one of the most apt names for a fragrance that I have ever come across. Lily of the Valley, iris, and white musk combine to create a fragrance that quite literally smells like the scent of hanging linens softly wafting through an open window. If you love light, fresh, slightly powdery perfumes, you’ve just found another one to add to your collection.

In my eyes, Alberto Morillas has never made a bad perfume, and Tears from the Moon is just further proof of his genius. It’s a stunning combination of lily of the valley, sandalwood, iris, and more, and the gorgeous bottle makes it feel all the more special. If you’re a fan of any of Morillas’s work, add this perfume to your stash, stat.