Marie Claire Editors Describe Their Favorite Fragrances of All Time

Stop and smell the florals.

perfume bottle on a blue background
(Image credit: Getty)

I don't know about you, but I refuse to leave the house without wearing perfume. In fact, even when I'm working from home or spending an evening in, I love wearing my favorite mood-boosting scents. Smelling good makes me feel good―a sentiment that's backed by science. According to a study published in the academic research journal Scientia Pharmaceutia, scent can positively impact mood, cognition, behavior, and work performance. Furthermore, another study in Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience tells us that scent could potentially be used as a means of treating stress and psychological distress.

The moral of the story is that scent is important, so it may be worthwhile to invest (and even splurge) on fragrances that makes you feel your best. Perfumes new and old can make you feel sexy, relaxed, energized, focused―the world is your oyster! So scroll on to check out our editor-approved fragrances that get us through the day.

Finding the Best Fragrance for You

Fragrance is a highly personal category, dependent upon your preferences, emotional responses, and even your skin type. For that reason, professional perfumer Alexandra Monet says that when shopping for your next favorite fragrance, it's best to throw away the rulebook and do what's best for you.

"A fragrance that you feel comfortable with and that you feel like yourself is really what is important," she insists.

Another myth she wants to dispell? The idea that some fragrances are for mature wearers while others are for young ones.

"I don’t believe in there being notes that are for specific ages," she says. "I recommend wearing a scent on your skin first to see how it wears on you, because there is no rule when it comes to fragrances."

The Best Fragrances of All-Time

Meet the Expert

Alexandra Monet
Alexandra Money

Alexandra Monet is a professional perfumer with Firmenich, a fragrance and flavor company. An urban globe-trotter, she is currently based in Paris, France.

Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, fashion, culture, and politics both at Marie Claire and for publications like The New York Times, Bustle, and HuffPost Personal. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, including two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy. As a film school graduate, she loves all things media and can be found making art when she's not busy writing.