It’s like July grew wings and flew away because somehow, we have arrived at the end of the month. While this does, sadly (or thankfully, for some of us), mean that summer is coming to an end, it also means we have quite a few new beauty launches to talk about.

​July saw the release of one of my favorite brow products ever, which is a bold claim, considering I’ve been obsessed with makeup for well over 15 years now. Still, I fully stand by it because this product is simply one of the easiest-to-use and well-executed beauty products I have ever used. On the fragrance side of things, one of my favorite influencers, Funmi Monet, launched her highly anticipated brand, Influxious, to rave reviews and an almost instant sell-out of inventory. Thankfully, my favorite from the line is still in stock on the brand’s website, so more on that to come. Westman Atelier makes one of the best luxury highlighters on the market, and a recent addition to the line reminded me once more why I’m so obsessed with the formula.

​Apparently, I can go on and on about all of the best new launches of July, but I’ve gone ahead and curated a list of only my favorites that neither the Marie Claire beauty team nor I can stop talking about. Whether you’re on the hunt for some new makeup favorites or believe that smelling good is a lifestyle (hard agree), keep reading for the products worth adding to your shopping cart and late-summer beauty routines. ​

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I grew up in the '90s and early '00s, which obviously means I spent plenty of time shopping at the Gap at my local mall (shoutout to Chesterfield, MO). Roaming the aisles filled with pastel cardigans and bell-bottom jeans was a true treat for the senses, including my nose since the store was heavily scented in the way that all mall brands were at the time—I basically needed an oxygen tank to step foot inside Abercrombie & Fitch. But Gap (then stylized as The Gap) did it right, with scents that perfectly captured the minimalist, clean aesthetic of the '90s. Sadly, the brand phased out the collection in the early 200s, and Gap Beauty became yet another Y2K relic. Until now.

Gap fragrances have returned, with a five-piece collection of scents that both honor the prior aesthetic and move the brand into the future—much like the fashion arm of the brand under the guidance of Creative Director and EVP Zac Posen. Four of the original five scents have returned, albeit slightly reimagined for 2026: Dream, Grass, Heaven, and Om. An entirely new blend, Harmony, has replaced the So Pink perfume from the original lineup.

“Gap has always created products that become part of how people express who they are, and fragrance is a natural extension of that,” Mark Breitbard, CEO and President of Gap, said in a press release to media. “We’ve modernized Gap’s signature fragrances for the person who grew up with Gap and for those discovering it for the first time. It’s a deeply personal category and a powerful way for us to connect generations as we continue to evolve the brand.”

As a millennial gal who has newly fallen back in love with the brand—I'm waiting for a pair of the Hailey Bieber x Gap jeans to arrive in my mailbox any day now—I had to find out if the new Gap fragrances could transport me back to my tween and teen days, without feeling too dated or stuck in a nostalgia loop. The (extremely picky) Marie Claire beauty team weighs in on the new Gap scents, ahead.

What Are the Gap Beauty Scents?

Like the original collection, Gap Beauty is made up of five eau de parfums: Harmony, Om, Heaven, Grass, and Dream. And like the OG lineup, each fragrance is extremely wearable, but the modern renditions are designed with extra attention to their layering capabilities. The new Gap Beauty scents are for anyone looking to build her or his fragrance wardrobe while also adapting to the day's mood and occasion. As DebRedmond, Head of Beauty at Gap Inc, explained via press release, “We were rigorous about the technical journey, maintaining the core DNA of the original scents while modernizing the formulations for how people actually wear fragrance today."

Here are our honest thoughts on each of the five Gap scents.

Gap Harmony

This is the new kid on the block. Bright, playful, with punchy notes of apricot nectar, lush gardenia, and warm amber. "It's extremely wearable...so lovely," says Marie Claire Beauty Writer Ariel Baker. "As a notorious floral hater, if you're in my neck of the woods, you will still really like this. It's not too on the nose in terms of being a floral. It just smells like you just came out of the shower, used a really gorgeous floral-scented body wash but it's not as potent anymore because you've toweled off, and then you follow up with a really milky lotion. Then you top it off with a perfume oil. Done! Love it!"

Gap Om

Om is arguably the most sophisticated scent in the bunch, with rich notes of sandalwood, ginger, and cedar. Deep, earthy, but still approachable, this is for the elder millennials and true fragrance fans that are curious about the new Gap Beauty universe. "It's so yummy," says Marie Claire Senior Beauty Editor Samantha Holender. "It's very skin-scenty, a little woody, but a warm wood, with something that makes it very comforting. I'd wear this on a summer night into fall, it's very cozy, with a warm cashmere-like vibe."

Gap Heaven

If you're a fan of a fresh and sensual scent, Gap Heaven eau de parfum might be right up your alley. Soft Madagascar vanilla, heady patchouli, crisp pear, and buttery amber create a soft fragrance that is perfect for layering any time of the year. "This is giving, not clean per se, it's not giving cotton-y, but it's definitely pear, really fresh, with a hint of something punchy," says Baker. "I'm not a signature scent gal but this could make a really nice signature scent. I could wear this in the office or wear it out. If you want to be known as someone that smells really good all the time, but can't really pinpoint how or why, this is really good. It wears close to the body; it's a universally appealing scent."

Gap Grass

I was the most eager to try the Gap Grass scent, as it was the perfume that first caught my attention as a young kid at the mall. It's a very green, earthy fragrance, but not in a freshly-cut soccer field sort of way; think more long beach-side grass in Nantucket. Crisp notes of green mandarin, matcha, and Virginia cedar keep it grounded and woody yet still bright and energetic. I really can't wait to smell how it transforms during a slightly sweaty, 90 degree day. This is my pick for the best summer scent of the collection.

Gap Dream

This is for the true OG Gap heads (Gappers?) who still crave that '90s, minimalist aesthetic from their perfume. The latest eau de parfum is the closest to the original formula, per the brand, keeping to its warm, woody DNA with fresh notes of Italian bergamot, silky jasmine, and cedarwood. "It's Gap in a bottle," says Holender. "When you walk into a Gap store, this is what it smells like. It's definitely floral—I normally hate floral, however, it's not too powdery. It has a very smooth, creamy undercurrent through it. Remember the Gap x Doên collab? If that had a signature scent, it's this one."

How Much Do the Gap Fragrances Cost?

Now that the fragrances are finally available to shop both online and in store, you'll be able to snag a five-piece .05 oz Discovery Kit for $20, a 10ml size for $20, and 50ml bottle for $52. I love a fragrance sampler, and honestly, there's not a single perfume in the bunch that I wouldn't wear, so I'll be adding the minis into my rotation ASAP.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

There’s nothing better than being the best-smelling person in the room. While I’m a big fan of niche, hard-to-find scents that really flex my fragrance knowledge, sometimes I just want something comforting and universally beloved. Enter: my obsession with powdery perfumes—except these ones smell incredibly chic, not like your grandma.

​I’ve come to find that certain accords are serious crowd pleasers, and powdery scents tend to fit the bill almost unanimously. They can lean sweet, gourmand, clean-smelling, or even woody, but wherever they land on the olfactive chart, I typically find there to be a healthy amount of musk in almost every powdery perfume that I own, which I’ve found to be a fantastic hack to build out my powdery perfume wardrobe. “[Musks] provide a sensual, earthy aroma and often serve as a base note that can anchor lighter, more fleeting scents,” DMS-Firmenich Perfumer, Alexandra Monet, previously told Marie Claire. Paired with additional notes like orris, vanilla, and even classic aldehydes, you never know when that perfect “I need it now” concoction will finally find you.

​If you’re anything like me, the musk-to-powder perfume pipeline is very real, but of course, not everyone has the time to curate a perfect fragrance wardrobe. That’s where I come in. For the past few weeks, I’ve been spritzing, sniffing, and layering some of my favorite powdery perfumes to find only the best concoctions worth recommending.

Ahead, I’ve curated a list of only the most impressive options on the market, for your easy perusal (and shopping, of course). From luxury houses to niche options you might not have even known about, keep reading to find the 10 best powdery perfumes worth adding to your fragrance collection, straight from a beauty expert and fragrance connoisseur.

Best Powdery Perfumes

• Best Overall Powdery Perfume: Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Muschio Di Luce Eau De Parfum
• Best Floral Powdery Perfume: Frédéric Malle Iris Poudre Eau de Parfum
• Best Citrus Powdery Perfume: Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Musc De Soie Eau De Parfum
• Best Luxury Powdery Perfume: Chanel 1957 Les Exclusifs De Chanel Eau De Parfum
• Best Skin Scent Powdery Perfume: Ex Nihilo Iris Porcelana Eau de Parfum
• Best Niche Powdery Perfume: Chambre 52 Orencie Eau de Parfum
• Best Everyday Powdery Perfume: Juliette Has a Gun Musc Invisible Eau de Parfum
• Best Viral Powdery Perfume: Borntostandout Angel's Powder Eau de Parfum
• Best Cozy Powdery Perfume: Essential Parfums The Musk Eau de Parfume

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

One thing I’ve learned over the past few months: moving in New York City is not for the weak. Finding an apartment is like the Hunger Games. And once that very stressful step is done, it’s time to pack everything up. Call it an occupational hazard, but I have hundreds of glass-bottled perfumes, fragile skincare jars, and eyeshadow palettes that need extreme TLC. For all of a split second, I considered packing ‘em alone, but I ended up having Piece of Cake Moving & Storage do it for me—nuts to bolts—and it was the single best decision I made. “When packing fragile fragrances or glass cosmetic bottles, the biggest priority is preventing movement inside the box to avoid them from hitting each other and cracking; wrap each bottle individually with packing paper and pay extra attention to caps and lids to prevent leaks,” says Najah Ayoub, Piece of Cake’s Chief Marketing Officer.

Once my mattress, too many clothes, and all my beauty products arrived safely at point B, well, that’s when the fun actually started. I moved into this space determined to make my home (and bed) feel—and smell—like a luxury hotel room. I was hyper-focused on finding the creme de la creme of candles, diffusers, detergents, and soaps. I needed a bed that felt plush, crisp, and most importantly, very cool. And I obviously had to maximize my bathroom storage. That was the fun part.

Finding furniture that works in a small space—and provides storage— was not an easy feat. I’m in a studio apartment, so every inch matters. Add that to the fact that I was adamant about achieving a modern Parisian vibe without any crown molding in my rental, and I had my work cut out for me. But after going through, well, every home website that ever existed, I firmly believe I’ve found the best kitchen, bathroom, and apartment products of all time. My guide to stocking a new home, ahead.

Signature Scent

I’m a big believer that an olfactory personality doesn’t stop with my physical person. My home is a reflection of my personal style, and I want it to smell as such. I switch out my diffusers pretty frequently, but the end goal is the same: to feel like I’m entering an oasis the second I open my apartment door.

The Ideal Hotel Bed

I always have the best, best, best night’s sleep when I’m in a fancy hotel room. The comforters are fluffy, there’s an exorbitant amount of pillows, and the sheets feel cool, crisp, and temperature-regulated. After much trial and error, I’m convinced this assortment of products is a recipe for a perfect night’s sleep. (And that’s coming from a terrible sleeper.)

Chic Cleaning Supplies

I’m definitely a bit neurotic about keeping a clean home. It’s a shoes-off household, and I’m very strict about no outside clothes on the bed (and couch). That being said, I refuse to have my space smelling like bleach, so I’ve stocked my home with the most elevated detergents (if you know me, you know this is my biggest obsession) and cleaning supplies.

Kitchen Staples

My kitchenware predated my college graduation, so it was time for a Big Girl refresh. But I also wanted to make sure the apartment's feminine, modern vibe carried into my kitchen, so I was pretty picky about the color of my pots, the shape of my plates, and the design of my utensils. Oh, I even went so far as to have my gray countertops covered in Taj Mahal peel-and-stick wallpaper from Amazon.

Bathroom Basics

For the past five years, I’ve been doing my makeup at a vanity with a massive Glamcor mirror. But it kind of ruined the vibe of my new apartment, so I’ve transitioned into getting ready in my bathroom. Storage has been very important, as have towels and robes that make the whole process feel calm and cozy.

Cozy Details

It was much more difficult than I anticipated to execute a modern Parisian aesthetic in such a small space. But I was adamant about making my apartment feel like a snapshot of a luxe Paris hotel, so it became imperative that every single item in my home be intentional and serve a very specific purpose—especially the little details. “It’s really about effortless sophistication. It needs to feel warm and timeless, elegant yet unfussy,” says Kathy Kuo, the founder of Kathy Kuo Home. “The key to getting it right is restraint: Every piece should feel intentional and slightly storied, as if it's been in the apartment for years.”

Small Space Furniture

My tape measure is my new best friend. But! Every single item fit perfectly into my home. “The secret to making a small space feel bigger is to make the most of its footprint. I don’t mean filling it to the brim with lots of furnishings and objects, but choosing pieces with the right proportions and utilizing vertical real estate,” says Kuo. “The idea is to use design elements in a way that naturally moves attention to the boundaries of the space and makes it feel more expansive.” I played with textures, multiple mirrors, and height to make the space feel much larger than it actually is.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I was first introduced to Nette, a niche fragrance brand based in NYC, when I was in the midst of sniffing hundreds of perfumes for Marie Claire’s inaugural Fragrance Awards in 2024. Once you’ve smelled roughly 250 scents in a given day, everything starts to smell of sameness—the gourmands are all weirdly reminiscent of one another and the skin scents, which were blowing up at the time, were more or less all interchangeable. It wasn’t until I came across Pear Jam, Nette’s jammy and wildly joy-filled fruity floral blend with Japanese pear and raspberry pulp, that I felt like I had actually stumbled across something genuinely new in the market. It made me feel giddy—and that was the point.

The crux of Nette is emotional chemistry. Founder Carol Han, who is a second-generation candle maker and one of my favorite humans I’ve met in the beauty industry, approaches each scent like a piece of poetry. “I think of scent as a language. Every Nette fragrance begins as a poem I write that captures an emotion—joy, calm, nostalgia, desire. That poem becomes the blueprint for the scent: it defines the emotional intention,” she explains. “Then we bring science in. Each fragrance is scientifically proven to boost certain emotions.”

The proof is in the perfume. Lemon Puff consistently provides a wave of calm. Mochi Banane gives me that touch-grass grounding. Rose Parade is a manifestation of feelings of comfort. But don’t just take it from me—discover the five best Nette fragrances in the brand's portfolio and enjoy tapping into some of that NYC It-girl energy.

The Best Nette Fragrances

• The Best Citrus Nette Perfume: Lemon Puff
• The Best Fruity Nette Perfume: Pear Jam
• The Best Banana Nette Perfume: Mochi Banane
• The Best Floral Nette Perfume: Rose Parade
• The Best Vanilla Nette Perfume: The Vanille

The Best Citrus Nette Perfume

The Best Fruity Nette Perfume

The Best Banana Nette Perfume

The Best Floral Nette Perfume

The Best Vanilla Nette Perfume

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

It’s the thick of summer, and if you, like me, refuse to smell anything other than completely magnificent, then I have something to tell you: Frédéric Malle has extended its Acne Studios collaboration to include two brand new formulas.

​While I don’t typically subscribe to any fragrance rules, I do find myself gravitating toward fresher, cleaner, and even citrus scent profiles in the summer months. That’s exactly why the creation of the body wash and milk formulas in the popular Acne Studios scent caught my attention immediately. The fragrance that resulted from the collaboration between the two houses is a perfect scent for the sweltering summer heat that is blanketing New York City right now. Aldehydes, rose, peach, vanilla, and more combine to create a slightly fruity but extremely soapy scent that makes me feel like I just stepped out of the shower for the entire life cycle of the perfume.

​With the new body care formulas readily available to layer with, I expect this already beast-mode scent to become nuclear when I stack all three products back to back. With that being said, if you’ve never tried the perfume and don’t want to commit quite yet, the body care formulas are a fantastic way to get in on one of my favorite summer scents. Keep reading to see my full review of both the body wash and milk, plus a few of my other favorite products from the esteemed house of Frédéric Malle.

What Do the Acne Studios by Frédéric Malle Body Care Formulas Feel Like?

As the name suggests, the Body Milk is a much lighter formula than a traditional lotion. While that means it sinks into the skin much faster, don’t let that lead you to believe the scent is affected at all. In fact, the fragrance is so strong that you can dab a bit on your pulse points like you would a traditional eau de parfum, and the scent trail you’d leave behind would still be unbeatable.

​For the body wash, the same rules apply. There is an overdose of the peachy, aldehydic fragrance that is the signature of this collection. When using in the shower, note that a little goes a very long way, as you can see in the video's viscous, thick texture. It doesn’t have the most bubbly lather; however, the formula does make my skin feel clean without completely stripping it of moisture, all without compromising the mouthwatering scent.

What Ingredients Are in the Acne Studios by Frédéric Malle Body Care Formulas?

There are a few standout ingredients across both launches that lead me to believe that these formulas are wonderful for a wide range of skin types. The body wash has hexylene glycol, which is acne-safe and acts as a penetration booster, helping the soap's cleaning agents penetrate a bit better. There are also oat amino acids, which help to condition the skin, and castor oil, which acts as an emollient to keep the barrier moisturized.

​As for the body milk, a myriad of oils like sweet almond and safflower seed keep the formula nourishing, while butylene glycol helps with retaining moisture to keep the skin looking soft and supple. Both formulas are applied like any other body care product: the body wash is used in the shower and can be applied with a washcloth, African net sponge, or loofah, and the body milk can be used either in place of or paired with a thicker lotion.

Is the Frédéric Malle Acne Studios Body Care Collection Worth It?

In short, these new formulas are exactly what this line needed, and this launch was timed perfectly. Acne Studios for Frédéric Malle is the perfect summer scent, especially for anyone who wants to smell sweet, clean, and a little fruity without having to put on three different perfumes. Each olfactive journey is so distinct, but when they all mingle at the end of the day, the result leaves you smelling fresh and inviting.

​This line isn’t the only thing that Frédéric Malle has become known for, so keep reading to see a few of my other favorite products from the brand. Expect compliments and thank me later.

More Frédéric Malle Products I Love

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Although I work in the media sector, it’s rather rare that I get excited to meet a celebrity. All that nonchalance went out the window when I met Hilary Duff for the first time. Not only is she one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, but she looks incredible. And not in a flippant way. I mean, everything about her looks ridiculously good. Her hair, her nails, her teeth. She looks just like she did on my TV screen growing up, and when I finally saw her in person, the nostalgia hit me like a freight train.

​I’m sure this isn’t a unique experience. In fact, I’m certain because that was exactly the vibe that Bath and Body Works was channeling when the brand decided to partner with her for its new Fruit Fusions line. “It felt like the perfect partnership because one: I want to look like that all the time,” Duff told me in a recent sit-down, cheekily pointing to the campaign she shot with the brand that was playing on a screen behind her. “But also Bath and Body Works is such a fun brand that many people, including myself, have grown up with.”

​Not only is this collaboration a meeting of two icons, but I also got a chance to use the products from the new line, and I have to say: these are some of the best scents that have come from Bath and Body Works in a while. Both Duff and I share an affinity for the Tangerine Twirl mist, but for even more insight on the singer’s beauty routines and favorite products, keep reading for the rituals and practices that help Hilary Duff get In The Mood.

"I more so have a practice than a mantra: I’ve been waking up earlier than the rest of the house and making my morning matcha. There’s something so indulgent about having on some cozy pajamas and making a delicious drink just for myself that I love. As a mom of four, I don’t get to wake up gently, well, ever, so this alone time has become sacred to me."

"I’m really big on scent, so I actually love making my showers smell really good. Something I've been doing with these products is putting on my lotion in the shower instead of getting out and doing it separately. It makes my skin feel super moisturized. I also love using the shampoo and conditioner from the brand RŌZ. The founder is an incredible hairstylist, and the products are phenomenal. Before I get in the shower, I also love dry exfoliating with the Goop brush. It’s wonderful."

"The first one would have to be my night guard. But I also have a Lyma laser that I love, but I have to admit it’s a little scary-looking. When I use it in bed, I often wonder if my husband is giving me the side-eye."

"Berry Bliss and Tangerine Twirl are my favorite scents right now. They're also what I've been wearing on tour. They’re perfect for a light misting that doesn’t feel suffocating. I’m in my fruity era right now, probably because of the heat."

"I'm going to use a little bit of concealer. I’m going to contour with a bronzer. I'll do a little tiny flick of a cat eye, but not like a liquid liner because I'm going to smudge it out. I’ll curl my lashes, but I'm not wearing mascara. Then I'm going to overline my lips, dab on a little lipstick, and then probably put a gloss on top. I’m obsessed with the Victoria Beckham bronzing drops, as well as a bronzing mist from a brand called Luna Bronze."

"A slicked-back bun. It’s functional but chic. I also have a lot of piercings and love to wear jewelry, so I feel like that hairstyle shows them off really well."

"I’m a minimal nail girl. I just like a nude, long, almond-shaped, super glossy manicure. Sometimes I’ll do a French tip, but I typically keep it simpler."

"I go full throttle. I never abbreviate my skincare routine. I also am a consumer to my core, so I love trying new skincare products all the time. My dermatologist told me I should be exfoliating quite a bit, and one of my tried-and-true products is the MBR Enzyme Cleansing Booster. I love it."

Shop Hilary Duff's Beauty Routine

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Not many people can claim to still be at the top of their career after decades in the entertainment industry, but Christina Aguilera is one of the few who can. The Dirrty singer has spent decades in the spotlight as a vocalist, actor, and entrepreneur, and if you’ve long been a fan, you’d know that many of her eras are marked by some rather dramatic hair changes.

​While her signature color was (and remains) blonde, the singer has been seen in everything from jet black to bright red over the years, even playing with different lengths and haircut styles in the process. Aguilera’s hair has gone through its own journey throughout her career, which is why she says partnering with Nexxus made so much sense.

​“My hair has been through a lot,” Aguilera tells me in a recent sit-down. “I've had a career of so many different looks, and I love, love, love to play and experiment. My hair is and has always been a part of my creative expression.” Though she has long been a fan of the brand, her partnership introduced her to the Nexxus Keraphix Liquid Crystallizer Reconstructive Leave-In Treatment Serum, which she said has been a game-changer not only for the strength of her strands but also for the glass-like shine it delivers. (Editor’s note: I saw said shine in person; it was incredible.)

​Hair tips aside, Aguilera and I talked about all things beauty, from her favorite skincare formulas to her go-to perfume. For all the products and routines that make her the icon she is, keep reading for everything that gets Christina Aguilera In The Mood.

“I'm at peace. I am safe. I am in my own power."

"I’m both a shower person and a bath person. So for the latter, I love using those little shower scent diffusers, and depending on how I want to feel, I switch up the scents. If I wanna be a bit more uplifted and happy, I go for an orange scent. If I want to relax, I’ll do lavender. I’m very scent-oriented. Fragrance can really have such a big effect on my mood."

"There are so many. I think pasties are inherently really unsexy, but I can’t live without them. We have to have our little secrets."

"I love scents that are a little musky and a little floral. A little smoky, too. Two of my favorite scents in the world are Roses and Tuberose from Diptyque. As for perfumes, I’ve made a ton, but my favorite right now is Eau So Beautiful."

"If I'm going out, I'll probably just do a light little concealer, a little foundation, lip liner, and a balm, then I'm good to go. I don't love to fuss after all these years unless I'm literally having to get ready for an event or something like that. But if I'm on my own downtime and just have a day to myself to enjoy, and I still want to look put together, it would be just that minimal. I’ve been obsessed with the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for years, and the Charlotte Tilbury foundation is new to my arsenal. Those two are my go-tos when I’m doing my own makeup."

"My dream is always to have big, voluptuous, beautiful hair. I love all the texture, curls, and volume. But also, if I want no fuss and I just want to go out, we'll keep it simple. Think texture-y and simple beachy waves."

"I think red nails are so sexy. I love a black nail with a dark red French tip."

"I’ll always do my skincare routine, but I can’t be bothered to have 20 steps. I’m a mama to many creatures. I don’t have time to be in the bathroom all night; it’s bedtime."

"The journey still to come. There's an endless bucket list of things to do out there and adventures to have. Make those plans and set those goals. I'm so appreciative of the experiences and the lessons that I’ve had to learn, unfortunately, sometimes the hard way, but they got me to where I needed to be next. I wouldn’t have the life I do now without the past I’ve had, and that makes me look forward to the future and aging even more."

"Sunscreen. My partner is a water baby, so he spends a lot of time in the sun. He’s always complaining and asking how I look younger than him. My answer? SPF."

Shop Christina Aguilera's Beauty Routine

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has finally arrived and I’m strapping in for over two weeks of incredible savings, especially when it comes to my beauty routine. We’re still in high summer, my friends, and my highlighted blonde hair, temperamental skin, and sweat-proof makeup routine all need a few goodies to beat the heat and UV exposure. Luckily, this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is, dare I say, the best one yet. Some of my favorite brands are offering steep discounts, from skincare heroes like Dr. Diamond’s Metacine and Allies of Skin, to makeup must-haves like NARS and Bobbi Brown. And the hair deals? Squeal. Pretty much every high tech gadget to help with everything from hair loss (with Higher Dose) to all-in-one styling (from Dyson, of course). Plus all of the dreamiest body care staples, from Salt & Stone to Supergoop! have got you covered and smelling delicious for the rest of the summer.

So, with the start of the sale underway (although you have until August 9th to shop) here’s everything I’m adding to my cart from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this season.

Skincare Staples

You know I’m not about to let my favorite skincare products pass me by when they’re on sale, right? I’m searching for refills on my most tried-and-true formulas to keep my skin glowing all season long.

Makeup Must-Haves

While I consider myself a makeup minimalist, I won’t lie and say I ever leave the house totally barefaced. Where’s the fun in that? This sale is the ideal time to scoop up some of my favorite glam necessities.

Hair Heroes

My long, blonde, wavy hair may look effortlessly beachy, but it’s decidedly not low-maintenance. I’m looking for repairing products to protect against damage and styling staples to make my routine quick and easy.

Body Care Baddies

Remember, skincare doesn’t stop at your neck! I love pampering my skin from head to toe with luxe, hydrating, and targeted body care formulas both in and out of the shower.

Fragrance Favorites

Sure, my perfume collection might be nearing the 100-bottle mark but that doesn’t mean I’m not scoping out the fragrance deals this sale season. Summer scents are some of my favorites to layer, which means a new addition or two feels like a must.

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I wouldn't call pistachios an under-appreciated nut, but if you take a little time to think about them, you'll realize they're so much more than a protein-packed snack. They're creamy, showcase a gorgeous color, and work just as well in gelato as they do on a summer salad. Or, perhaps, in a perfume?

The latter is something that's getting a ton of buzz in the beauty space—and for good reason. Richard Saint-Ford, founder and creative director of Iggywoo, thinks that the popularity of pistachio fragrance is at the center of a much bigger shift in the olfactory world. "For the past few years, we've been surrounded by very obvious dessert-style gourmands; frosting, caramel, brown sugar, sweetness for the sake of sweetness," he explains. "Pistachio offers something different. It still feels comforting and indulgent, but it has a natural savory warmth and texture that makes it feel far more sophisticated."

Keep reading to discover 10 of the most exciting pistachio fragrances on the market, from straight-up pistachio concoctions to easy breezy body sprays and a surprising note or two (if you want to really go nuts).

Pistachio Perfection

While pistachio has made its way into plenty of scents in a supporting role, I want to start this list off with a few options that really let the note shine. "Pistachio has appeared in perfumery before, but it was never really treated as a hero ingredient in the way vanilla, rose, or oud have been. Historically, it's been used much more as a supporting note or folded into gourmand compositions rather than given its own identity," Saint-Ford says. The following perfumes—including one made by the expert himself—have pistachio as the star.

Transportive Pistachio Scents

We're well aware that fragrance can transport us somewhere far, far away. These are the pistachio fragrances that'll mentally transport you, whether you choose to travel to the tropics or to an Italian gelato shop, is up to you.

She's Nuts, But She's Sweet

As Saint-Ford says, pistachio has an incredible texture and can "smell creamy without feeling milky, nutty without becoming dry, and naturally warm without relying on sugar." If you do feel like turning up the sweetness, though? There are some great ways to do it—starting with these two scents.

A Body Spray Moment

Nuts famously offer a great amount of protein at a reasonable price. These body mists strive to offer the same. Ringing up at a much lower price point than other options on this list, these body mists deliver the same nutty flavor and can be used on both hair and body.

Not Your Regular Pistachio

According to Saint-Ford, one of the biggest challenges in the pistachio fragrance realm is that many treat the note as just another excuse to add sugar and milk. "What we're seeing now feels like the first real wave where pistachio is becoming the headline ingredient," he explains. "The risk, though, which I see happening, is that it can quickly become formulaic if every interpretation follows the same sugary, creamy blueprint." That's not happening here.

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Meet the Expert

As a child, Akari Takenobu says she was confronted with the supernatural on a daily basis. This unsettling experience shaped the way she relates to her work as an artist. She’s had to develop a complex process in order to give shape to this mystery. After winning this year’s Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents, she puts into words for us what she explores through her work: what it was like to live among the spirits, and how does one relate to the unknown.

What was it like to grow up in a haunted house?

Until the age of 13, I grew up in a very ordinary, standard Japanese house, which people around me would call a haunted house. Strange things kept happening. I was an only child, so I spent a lot of time alone, and ended up kind of coexisting with this strange and unknown existence. I don't feel like that anymore, but because of that childhood experience, I remain interested in the unknown, the strange, what some would call the paranormal, I guess.

As a child, did you talk about it with your parents?

My parents actually had an acute sensitivity to this psychic experience. My father was even able to see its shape. Of course, I was scared a lot. As I mentioned earlier, I was home alone quite often, and so it eventually became kind of normal to me; scary but normal. Somewhere in between the daily reality and the unknown. It's very difficult to express my feelings about it. It was something that was always with me, always there, and so even though it was scary, I felt like I was allowed to be there in a sense.

You said that your father saw the ghost. What did it look like?

Sometimes it would be a small person telling him things about the house, or sometimes it would look like a woman. Sometimes it would be like a mist or a haze, a very vague form of a person.

So how does that relate to these images that you are creating?

When I think about the difference between myself and a ghost or spirit, it is mostly is the fact of my body. As a human being, there's the physicality of my body existing as an object, so by removing that substance, the physicality, maybe I can get closer to being a ghost. That's my starting point. When I take a picture of myself, the physicality of my body does not exist anymore, there's no substance in the picture. Then I cut the picture and disassemble the picture into pieces, virtually killing myself in a way, and then I reassemble the small pieces of these photographs and create a new body, which originates from my body. But by going through this process, I feel like I get closer to being a ghost. I'm not trying to create a paranormal self, I'm just trying to figure out a way that brings me closer to that unknown, to find where that border is.

What techniques do you use to do that?

Basically, I take hundreds of pictures of my body, disassemble them and cut them into pieces, and then reassemble them to create a digital collage. Then I print it, copy it, and again take a couple of photos. It's really a back and forth between digital and analog.

When do you know you’ve found the ghostly image?

To be completely honest, I don't even know whether I've ever done it. I call this process the pseudo experiment or the virtual experiment. I do it simply to learn more about the unknown. I don’t need to find the answer. The important thing for me is to continue seeking. I don't really have a destination in mind.

When did you start this photographic exploration?

About five years ago. In art school, I studied oil painting, but I wasn't really able to trust my judgment when I was painting. So I decided to create a process: I photograph my body, disassemble and reassemble it. Once I set that rule, I became like a part of a conveyor belt—my judgment was no longer necessary because I just needed to follow the rule I had set. The camera and my body function as a device—there's no meaning in me, I'm just a part of the process. Becoming that invisible device is very important to me because I don't want to have a sense of myself in it. I think that by eliminating that sense of myself, I can get closer to the structure of the world. When I use a camera, I can create a distance from my own self. I use the camera to take images as materials.

What did you learn by photographing your body so much, and therefore looking at it so closely?

I was really using the pieces of my body as material only, so it didn't really feel like it was me or my body. I was just a part of that conveyor belt that I mentioned earlier, where I was just doing my job and just following the rules that I laid for myself. It wasn't really about me at all.

The theme of the award is face-to-face, but there are no faces in your work…

It’s true, there is no face. It's more of an interview or a meeting, an acquaintance between myself and the unknown. The face-to-face is between me and the unknown.

What are your plans for the future?

I really want to continue working on this theme, because there are so many other scenarios I have in mind. Right now, I've only gone through the easy process, but there are more complicated processes that I would like to explore. I would also like to try to apply this in a more spatial piece, like a sculpture as image. There's a lot that I want to further evolve through this collage process.

I don’t know about you, but I’m fully in my clean-smelling perfume era. Laundry-like, soapy, musky, I want it all. Just as I’ve discovered that not all sweet perfumes automatically belong to the gourmand family, I’ve also found that fresh fragrances don’t have to be super aldehydic to achieve the same effect. In fact, there’s a whole other subcategory that reads as fresh and clean-smelling to my nose, and they are none other than orris perfumes.

"Orris is one of the most quietly beautiful ingredients in perfumery," Tia O'Niell, senior account manager at CPL Aromas, tells me. "It has an elegant, soft and incredibly complex smell, most often recognised for its powdery, violet-like floral character."

​You may have seen the word orris used interchangeably with iris, as they both hail from the same plant. However, there is a distinction. Essentially, while iris refers to the flowers that bloom from the plant called a rhizome, orris comes from the dried root of the plant. "What makes orris so special is not only the way it smells, but the extraordinary patience required to create it," O'Niell says. Not only does it take time for the root to age before it is dug up, but it also takes around three to five years for it to mature enough for the finished product, orris butter, to be extracted "It is one of the most precious, expensive, and time-intensive natural ingredients in perfumery," notes the expert.

​With that being said, orris is one of the most ethereal scents that my very experienced nose has ever smelled. It’s earthy, clean, and somehow fresh-smelling, especially when paired with notes that highlight its more powdery facets. I’ve been on the hunt for the best orris fragrances on the market, and I am pleased to share that I have a very healthy list ahead. If you want to have endless “I don’t know what you’re wearing, but you smell incredible” compliments, keep reading for the 10 best orris perfumes to add to your collection.

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Meet the Expert

While fragrance is always subjective, some notes just give off a certain vibe. Vanilla makes you feel warm and delicious, musk makes you feel cozy, leather makes you feel like a badass—you get the point. So, it feels fitting to say that orange perfumes are like bottling all the best parts of summer—the freedom, the open air on vacation, and that fresh, clean feeling that we’re all chasing in the hotter months.

​“The rise in the affinity for orange fragrances signals a shift in the American olfactive palate,” director of education and events at Interparfums Luxury Brands, Matthieu Sucheyre, tells me. “But as consumers travel more, eat more globally, and experience different cultures firsthand, their noses evolve. They begin to crave more nuance, luminosity with structure, freshness with sophistication, and emotional contrast.” An orange note, in particular, along with its more elevated expressions like neroli and orange blossom, sits exactly at that intersection, which is why Sucheyre says it’s having its proverbial moment in the sun.

​When I think about my own journey with orange fragrances, I’ve realized that Sucheyre is completely right. I wouldn’t say I was drawn to citrus or orange perfumes in the past, but as I’ve continued to explore the world of perfumery (I’ve even taken trips just to smell perfume), I find myself really enjoying how the note is incorporated into different formulas across cultures and regions. Whether you’re just drawn to orange scents or are just getting into the note, I’ve gone ahead and rounded up the best ones on the market. Keep reading for the best orange fragrances actually worth adding to your perfume tray.

The Best Orange Perfumes

• Best Orange Perfume Overall: Clive Christian Blonde Amber Eau de Parfum
• Best Woody Orange Perfume: Granado Amazônico Eau de Parfum
• Best Aquatic Orange Perfume: Ledda 12 Marina Soleil Eau de Parfum
• Best Floral Orange Perfume: Liberty Lbty Maze Eau De Parfum
• Best Unisex Perfume: Creed Love in White Eau de Parfum

Why Are Orange Perfumes Trending?

Yes, fresh, citrus scents tend to trend in the warmer months because people tend to want to smell clean and fresh during sweaty weather. Still, orange perfumes may be trending for an entirely different reason.

​“In a world that feels fast and heavy, citrus, especially orange notes in all its multifaceted forms, offers an immediate sense of clarity and joy,” Sucheyre says. “It’s almost like opening a window.” It’s true. A well-made orange perfume can almost act as a shock to the senses, thanks to a terpene called limonene. It’s what gives citrus fruits that zesty scent that can tickle your nose, and what makes orange perfumes feel so fresh and uplifting.

What Notes Pair Well With Orange Perfumes?

The expression of an orange accord can vary not only depending on the perfumer’s interpretation of the note but also on what other scents it is combined with. “Orange is incredibly versatile and elevates what surrounds it,” Sucheyre says. “It’s like light. It brightens and reveals the beauty of other notes.”

If you love to layer your scents and plan to do so with your favorite orange perfumes, Sucheyre says that the note pairs beautifully with the following:

• White florals (jasmine, tuberose): Provide luminous, sunlit effect.
• Woods (cedar, sandalwood, vetiver): Add depth and elegance.
• Musks for a clean, comforting skin-like warmth.
• Spices (cardamom, cinnamon): Bring subtle warmth and contrast.
• Gourmand notes (vanilla, tonka): For a modern, softened sweetness.
• Green notes (petitgrain): Highlight its natural, slightly bitter facets.

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Meet the Expert

I associate seasons with specific scents. Summer, to me, smells like all the best things. Kara Kowalski, Snif’s Director of Fragrance & Formula Development, shares my sentiment. "To me, summer smells like early morning sunrises, warm breezes, blooming flowers, and trees at their fullest. It smells like sunshine and sunscreen, fluffy beach towels and chlorine from the pool." She also likens it to Aperol Spritzes enjoyed al fresco, sticky gelato runs, and long days that seem to stretch on forever. But what do all these smells have in common? They work so very well as summer body mists.

According to 1996comms co-founder Shannon Travis, body mists "really shine" when it's hot outside. While an eau de parfum can feel intense during a heatwave—especially in close spaces like the subway or the office elevator—mists are "lighter, airy, and perfect for travel." You can spritz them all over—many are suitable for your hair as well, given the low alcohol concentration—and reapply throughout the day as you move from the gym to the beach to dinner, adds Travis. "It’s that freedom and lighter formulation that make them a summer essential,” she says. A stunning combo, really. Keep reading to discover the 10 best summer body mists to capture that carefree seasonal vibe.

Juicy Fruits

To me personally, summer is all about good peaches, plums, and berries. A juicy, fruity body mist can do such a wonderful job capturing the magic of the seasonal produce aisle. Whatever fruit you're craving, there's certainly a summer body mist out there that'll capture its specific flavor.

Dive Right In

One of this summer's key body mist trends, according to Travis, is scents that evoke a "tropical, aquatic vibe." This scent category is also Kowalski's "favorite part" of her summer scent memory. "Summer smells like the beach! Crashing ocean waves, salty skin, sea spray, and the best mix of earthy, briny, ozonic, and aquatic notes that instantly make me feel relaxed and grounded," Kowalski explains. "It's a season that's both energizing and comforting."

In the Garden

I can't constantly brag about how my garden is flourishing; that would be much too annoying. I'm not above wearing a floral scent that tells you the same story, though! The world is in bloom right now, and these summer body mists will let you know.

Sweet Escapes

Perfumes really have the power to transport you somewhere far, far away. Body mists do, too. "Escapism is everywhere right now! We’re seeing fragrances that feel transportive in both fragrance names and scent profiles," says Kowalski. "Brands are leaning into ingredients that instantly transport you somewhere. It’s fun to be able to travel through different vacations by bottle."

Solar Power

While Lorde's Solar Power still hasn't gotten the respect it deserves, solar fragrances are having a moment this summer. (I'm sure "Mood Ring" is just one step behind.) Made to smell how it feels to soak up the sun, these scents really are the perfect summer day in a bottle.

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Y’all, it’s hot outside. As in, a walk down the sidewalk for more than two blocks feels like you’re entering an oven—that type of heat. I really don’t do well in boiling temperatures. It’s why I keep a roster of cooling products on my person at all times from late May to early September. But on the days when it’s simply too hot to commute anywhere—unless it’s straight to the beach or pool—I make it my mission to post up inside and enjoy the A/C, a good book, and copious snacks (fresh watermelon, anybody?). Being a true beauty girl, I’ll still make sure to spritz my favorite summer fragrance, specifically a solar perfume, which helps to capture the essence of sunshine and warm weather on the skin, all from the cool and comfortable atmosphere of my Brooklyn apartment.

Not familiar with solar perfumes? Think of how sun-kissed skin smells after a lazy afternoon in the park. Not too sweaty, slightly floral, and warm but not in the gourmand for winter-type of way. In other words, solar scents are sexy, light, and perfect for the summer season. Keep scrolling for ten of my go-to perfumes to wear this time of year.

Fresh and Light

I’m not always in the mood for a heavier scent in the summer, and these summer solars keep things breezy and relaxed with every spritz.

Sexy and Sensual

Although solar fragrances are all about sun-drenched bare skin, these sexy scents kick things up a notch for your summer date nights.

Flirty Florals

The quintessential amber notes of a solar perfume mean it pairs perfectly with additional florals. If you’re new to the solar scent game, this is going to be the easiest place to start—so many options!

Wild and Woody

I’m always drawn to woody scents for their sophisticated and lush notes. Paired with solar perfume’s signature muskiness, it’s the perfect combination—trust me.

Milky and Marvelous

Lactonic perfumes are having a serious moment in 2026, so I’m not surprised to find dozens of options in the solar scent space. It’s the ideal combination for a soft, comforting, yet sultry fragrance.

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Summer has barely started, and yet, I’m already in desperate need of a reset. The rise in temperature paired with the emotional highs and lows of watching the Knicks in the NBA playoffs was simply too much for my nervous system to take. So, naturally, I’m in the mood for some retail therapy to help get me—and my skin and hair—back on track. And lucky for me, there’s plenty of beauty sales going on this week, so I don’t have to spend all my money to do it!

After indulging in the Bluemercury Summer Shopping Party Sale, my wallet needs a bit of a break, which is why this week I’m turning my beauty editor eye towards sales on products that are all about performance, less about luxury branding. I’m talking about products like the high-end, but still reasonably priced, Shark Beauty Flexstyle, currently on sale at Ulta, or the Vegamour GRO Scalp Detoxifying Serum on sale at Sephora. Not interested in hair or tools? No worries, Ulta and Sephora sales also feature some must-have skincare and makeup products you’re going to want to check out. Trust me, these 10 beauty products currently on sale at Sephora and Ulta are worth the splurge.

The Best Beauty Products to Shop on Sale at Sephora

The Best Beauty Products to Shop on Sale at Ulta

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If there’s anything that Anok Yai has proven over the span of her career, it’s that nothing is impossible for the supermodel. From accidentally being discovered on the campus of Howard University to walking runways all over the world, Yai has been collecting bucket list experiences like infinity stones, and her latest endeavor as the face of Mugler’s new launch, Alien Pulp Eau de Parfum, is, again, something most models could only dream of.

“Before I even started in fashion, I remember always watching the YouTube videos of the Mugler couture shows and seeing the way the women presented themselves,” Yai tells me in a recent sit-down. “The designs were so intricate. Then I would also see the fragrance ads, and I'd be like, oh my God, I want to be a part of that world.”

Fast forward to the present day, and not only has she walked the brand’s runway multiple times, but she’s also its fragrance ambassador, a role that feels extremely fitting given her love for the famous “Alien” line. We get into all that and more, including some of Yai’s unconventional beauty secrets (spoiler: hemorrhoid cream is involved), her views on aging, and the mindset mantra that gets her ready to tackle her very hectic schedule and life. Keep reading to see what really gets Anok Yai In The Mood.

“‘My intuition is my advantage,’ and ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.’ Those are two of my favorites, but I have mantras all over my room that I love to look at when I wake up in the morning. As women, we have such strong intuition. We all have it, but I feel like sometimes like we ignore it. But we really shouldn’t. I think of intuition as a message from the universe. It’s a gift from God. Once I learned to really listen to it and hone in on what my intuition and my spirit are telling me, I’ve approached the world so differently. Specifically from a more kind, gentle, and protective space.”

"I don’t do it anymore, but this is a hack. So, for us, Fashion Week isn't a week. It's a full month of just back-to-back shows. And the days can easily be 16 hours. You don't sleep. You're just constantly going. And we're doing our best to look young, fresh, and cute. But the eye bags don’t stop for anyone. So I’ve used hemorrhoid cream under my eyes, and it works like a charm to snatch them up."

“It used to be the Mugler Eau de Parfum, the dark purple one. But now that it's summer, I like to smell more fresh, fruity, and flirty, so I’ve been using Alien Pulp nonstop. I think the reason I love it so much is because of the raspberry note. It adds such an uplifting, effervescent vibe to a perfume, and that’s exactly how I feel when I wear it—sparkly.”

"A contoured eye and clear lip gloss. Plus approximately 100 sprays of perfume."

"Right now I’m actually playing more with hair colors. I'm thinking about going for an auburn base color with dark tips."

"Almond French tips on my hands and a straight, square French tip on my toes."

"Either I'm doing the whole regimen, or I'm knocked out with my makeup on. There’s no in between."

“I’m Black. I don’t age. I’m kidding. But to me, aging is a beautiful thing. I think we, as a society, should embrace it. I also think there's too much stigma attached to it. We have to fix that. There are 13-year-old children wearing retinol."

"I always use rose oil after I take a shower. I usually buy one that I can’t pronounce from this Hamam in Paris that I go to, but any rose oil can do."

Shop Anok's Beauty Routine

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Inch by inch, my fragrance collection is taking over my vanity. Glass bottles also perch precariously on every part of my desk at the office, waiting until I find a moment to spritz and assess whether or not I’m bringing them home to join my happy perfume family. Earlier this year, the Marie Claire beauty team spent hours, days, weeks sniffing and spraying the best of the best new fragranced products—we included candles, detergents, cleaning sprays, gift sets and more—to find the 62 winners of the 2026 Fragrance Awards. When I tell you I smelled nearly 1,000 different scents, I’m not kidding. This was a beauty editor’s dream scenario, even if I needed to stick my head out the window a few times to reset my nose during busy testing days.

Of course, fragrance is so subjective, so even though there were six of us ranking the winners, we all had our favorites of the bunch. So, without further ado, these are the 10 fragrances that stole my heart and convinced me to reassess my summer perfume lineup.

Surprise Hits

I have my go-to fragrance brands, but I’m always delighted to discover an unexpected winner. These were just a few of the surprises I found during testing.

The Stalwarts

I knew these scents would be winners before we even started testing—they’re just that delectable.

The Affordable Cuties

Fragrance doesn’t always have to break the bank—even though I love a luxury perfume as much as the next girl. These winners are under $100 and still manage to dazzle.

Luxury Lovers

What can I say? I love a little luxury. These scents are the perfect reminder that you always deserve the finer things in life.

Take It Home

Beautiful scents aren’t just limited to your perfume, as evidenced by the winners of our home care categories. These two immediately stood out to me.

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If you want to know what the Marie Claire Beauty Team has been up to over the past few months? Well, here are the SparkNotes. We were each tasked with spraying, wearing, and evaluating nearly 1,000 fragrances on a mission to discover exactly which scents (and body products and home scents) would bring in the most compliments, last the longest, and spark tremendous joy. The result: an expertly edited list of the 62 best scents of 2026, otherwise known as the Marie Claire 2026 Fragrance Awards.

But what’s the point of an award if you’re not going to celebrate it? That’s very much a rhetorical question, and precisely why we gathered nearly 200 of the biggest names in the fragrance world at Nine Orchard Hotel in New York City last Thursday, June 4, to honor each and every well-deserved winner. We had noses responsible for creating our favorites in attendance (and yes, we obviously picked their brains about upcoming fragrance trends), as well as marketing executives, brand founders, and freelance writers.

The goal of the party? Eat, drink, mingle, and take in the picturesque skyline atop the Nine Orchard rooftop. While the views are the true star, we did spruce up the space with gorgeous flowers from Seeking Florals (@seeking_floral_arrangments), and have live jazz music playing in the background courtesy of Elan Artists (@elanartists), and photo opportunities with the incredible Sabrina Steck (@sabrina_steck). Of course, it wouldn’t be a Marie Claire Frangrance Awards party without the incredible Susanna Merick, founder of Aura Wear (@aurawearnyc). Every year, we try to step things up a notch, so in addition to Merick’s iconic intuitive aura read, guests were also received an aura photograph.

But the most special part of the evening is the conversation, which, obviously, is always about fragrance. And let me just say, you’ll learn a thing or two about the state of the industry when you spend three hours in a room with a bunch of fragrance nerds. There are new launches in the pipeline that I have a sneaky suspicion will make an appearance at next year’s celebration. In the meantime, scroll ahead to take a peek inside the 2026 Fragrance Awards event.

Of course, we had Marie Claire custom cocktails—with branded orange peels to boot.

Chatting about fragrance was in full force.

The Marie Claire Beauty Team (and our noses) are very relieved our Fragrance Awards is out in the world.

It was a big week for the AKT founders—they also helped sponsor the Tony Awards!

Guests probably talking about a secret 2027 launch.

Who doesn't love a trophy?

We'd like to thank the New York City weather for being the perfect 75 degrees and sunny.

Word from the wise: book a private appointment with @aurawearnyc if you want to be read like a book.

Every winner was able to take home a special, engraved trophy.

This live jazz music was the perfect backdrop.

We don't mess around with our gift bags—each contained nearly $1,500 worth of product.

A moment for this gorgeous step and repeat.

Beauty Director Hannah Baxter and Executive Editor Andrea Stanley gave some opening remarks to welcome guests and celebrate the success of the 2026 Fragrance Awards.

What's better than a MC Fragrance Award and this skyline?

What MC Fragrance Awards winner do we think they're wearing in this photo?

Beauty Director Hannah Baxter probably talking about her newest fragrance obsession.

The world might be a chaotic mess, but through it all, my luxury beauty obsession never fails me. Especially when there's a major summer sale that lets me save on high-quality skincare essentials. Enter: Bluemercury's Summer Shopping Party sale. Starting on June 4 and running through June 14, Bluemercury's Summer Shopping Party sale is offering up to 30 percent off purchases of luxury products—and I've already got my cart ready to go.

The Summer Shopping Party sale is Bluemercury's biggest sale outside of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offering 20 percent off purchases of $200, 25 percent off purchases of $500, and 30 percent off purchases of $1,000. Select brands and products will be excluded from the sale, and discounts on iS Clinical and Jan Marini products will only be available to BlueRewards members. But don't let the restrictions fool you; this is a huge summer sale, with most items eligible for the discount. In other words, you really don't want to miss it.

In preparation for the Summer Shopping Party sale, I've scoured the Bluemercury website to pick out my faves from top brands like Victoria Beckham Beauty, La Mer, and, of course, Dyson. Here are the 10 best luxury beauty products I'm eyeing at the 2026 Bluemercury Summer Shopping Party sale.

Best Beauty Products on Sale at Bluemercury

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

The Marie Claire beauty team knows fragrance. It's our job, after all—not only to be the people those around us look to for a recommendation (searching for a mango scent? Floral? Honey? We have the perfect eau de parfum for you), but also to know exactly what's trending in the olfactory world at any given moment.

Over the past few months, we've spent countless hours testing every product that applied for Marie Claire's third-annual Fragrance Awards. There were nearly 1,000 products submitted for consideration—from detergents that smell shockingly delicious to cult-favorite perfumes with reputations that precede them—and each was evaluated on its inherent charm, projection, and, of course, its ability to rake in the compliments.

Team Beauty spent (more) time with the classics, dove into some niche brands, and had lots of fun sniffing the most talked about new releases on the market. In the end, we found 62 winners that comprise every taste, budget, and scent profile. While fragrance is inherently personal, we promise you'll find something you love below, from the perfect tomato candle to a fragrance kit that lets you craft a scent experience that's entirely your own.

Best Overall Fragrances

Best Scent Families Fragrances

Best Fragrance Collections & Gift Sets

Best Hair & Body Fragrances

Best Home Fragrances

How We Tested

Our testing process for the Best Fragrances of 2026 was incredibly thorough—no winner was selected without hands-on testing from multiple editors. Following the 2026 Fragrance Awards Entries, our team had each fragrance delivered the Marie Claire office. (That's nearly 1,000 fragrances!)

Over the course of four weeks, Marie Claire's beauty team sprayed every single fragrance on blotter sheets, wore the fragrances on our skin for extended periods of time, and scored the fragrances on their packaging, innovation, staying power, and sillage.

Because fragrance is wildly personal, we had at least two editors score every fragrance.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I can get down with a weird perfume. After all, I’m a niche fragrance collector who loves to smell different than everyone else in the room, and it’s a badge of honor that I wear with pride. However, once in a while, a fragrance note comes out of left field so much that I have no choice but to become obsessed, make it my personality, and go down the research rabbit hole. So goes my journey with the newly trending olive perfumes.

​“Olive scents reflect a broader movement in perfumery towards more natural, textured and unexpected scent profiles,” senior perfumer at CPL Aromas, Julien Rasquinet, tells me. “It brings something very authentic, rooted in the Mediterranean, in sunlight, in skin, and at the same time introduces a subtle, savory twist that feels new and sophisticated.”

​It’s true. The olive perfumes that I’ve tried continue to catch me very off guard but in a way that makes my very experienced nose feel excited again. In fact, the first one that came across my desk, Delphes by L’Objet, in my mind, was going to be salty, maybe a little aquatic, and, frankly, not my cup of tea. Imagine my surprise when I sprayed it on and was met with one of the freshest, most grounding scents that I’ve ever tried. It was the scent that sparked my current obsession with olive perfumes, and if your interest is piqued, keep reading to learn more about the note, plus a few other scents you can pair with it to spice up your fragrance collection.

The Best Olive Fragrances

What Is An Olive Perfume?

While I don’t partake in olives on a regular basis, the fragrance note is strikingly familiar to the taste of the real-life fruit. “An olive accord is soft, green and slightly bitter,” Rasquinet tells me. “It has a smooth, almost velvety texture.” It’s not typically a very loud note, which minimalist fragrance lovers will appreciate. (Fun fact: it’s also not technically considered a gourmand scent, despite olives being a stone fruit.) However, an olive accord is fantastic for making a fragrance a little more atmospheric. “ It evokes crushed leaves, warm skin, and a quiet richness you only find in nature,” Rasquinet adds.

What Do Olive Perfumes Pair Well With?

If you’re anything like me, you’re a big fan of layering your perfumes to match your olfactive personality. Of course, this means that some notes pair better with olive perfumes over others. “Olive works beautifully with citrus for freshness, with aromatic herbs for a very natural feel, and with woods or soft florals to create elegance,” Rasquinet says. “It’s a very versatile note. It doesn’t dominate; it elevates.”

I’ve personally been pairing my olive perfumes with notes like violet, ambroxan, and even moss, but feel free to play around with your own favorite scents. That’s the fun thing about fragrance—it’s your personal space to play and explore.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

I’d love to be the type of woman who wears only one signature perfume. No matter the season, she spritzes a singular scent onto her neck and wrists, reminding everyone who’s lucky enough to stand close to her that she always smells delicious. Well, I’m not her, and my collection of 50+ fragrances and I simply cannot stick to just one—and that’s okay! Variety is the spice of life, my friends, and with it comes many, many perfumes to play around with. Given that it’s Memorial Day weekend, and the official start of summer, that signals that it’s time to ditch the floral, sweet, and bright fragrances of spring (gone but never forgotten) in favor of my favorite summer perfumes.

So, what do I gravitate towards this time of year? Well, as a certified sweaty lady, I tend to lean into the musky skin scent of it all, with mineral, solar, and zesty perfumes all taking up prime real estate on my vanity. And given that I’m all about fragrance layering these days, it makes perfect sense to embrace more than one scent for summer. Whether you swap them for day to night or you enjoy concocting your own signature blend, here are the 10 summer fragrances I’ll be wearing until fall.

Mystic Minerals

My happy place is by the beach, so anything with a salty, briny kick is an automatic win for the summer fragrance lineup.

Scintillating Citrus

Who doesn’t want to enjoy a zesty cocktail in a friend’s backyard during the summer? These citrus scents capture that energy perfectly, in perfume form.

Seductive Skin Scents

Designed to sit close to the body, these your-skin-but-better scents are everything you want to wear for a sexy summer fragrance.

Flirty Fig

Speaking of fig notes, I’m already seeing this lush scent run take over 2026 fragrance trends, and I—a longtime fig fan—am more than happy to embrace them for summer.

It’s In the Air

Any perfume that can capture that clean, fresh air feeling when it’s a million degrees outside and the steamy sidewalk vapors are threatening to clog my nose is a major summertime win for me.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

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Just like my wardrobe, I like to give my beauty routine a bit of a refresh with every new season. My summer beauty moodboard is all about glowy skin (both on my face and body), effortless hair, and soft, warm Aussie girl glam. With May's best new beauty products, every step of my routine is getting an update.

Now that it's shorts season, achieving a supermodel glow is top of mind. I've reved up my bodycare game with new scrubs, serums, and lotions over the last month, and the results are unreal. My makeup routine has seen an overhaul, too, with sunburnt blush shades, touches of shimmer, natural lip stains, and bronzy skin. Even the way I style my hair, which I've kept the same for years, has changed thanks to a just-launched texturizing spray and styling cream.

It's safe to say I'm heading into June with an entirely new beauty routine, and I'm not mad about it one bit. From Guerlain's Kiss Kiss lipstick to Nars' Insatiable liquid blush, keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the beauty launches that Marie Claire editors tested and loved in May.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

For most people, their olfactory personalities change based on the seasons. Woody scents in the fall, smoky concoctions for the winter, fresh notes in the spring, and so on. While I’ve done the same in the past, recently, I’ve found myself hyperfixating on specific notes. Lily, iris, milk—I’ve found some of the most fascinating fragrances on the market by focusing on specific ingredient expressions, and lately, I’ve been all over caramel perfumes.

​“Caramel can smell different based on everything from the perfumer’s interpretation to the specific notes that they use to make up their version of the accord,” Jay Pardo, Senior Director of Commercial and Marketing at DHub 95, a niche perfume distributor, tells me. “Traditionally, a caramel note includes molecules like benzoin, vanillin, coumarin (from the tonka bean), ethyl maltol, and also sandalwood on occasion.”

​In short, no two caramel perfumes are the same, but quite a few caught my attention while I was testing for this story. As someone who loves gourmand perfumes, but can also be honest about the downsides of the category (they can be cloying and a little headache-inducing at times), this list contains something for everyone. Regardless of whether you’re someone who loves to smell like an edible dessert or just want the caramel in your perfume to be a supporting character, keep reading to see the ones that pleased my very critical nose and are worth adding to your own fragrance collection at home.

The Best Caramel Perfumes

• Best Caramel Perfume Overall: Penhaligon's Changing Constance Eau de Parfum
• Best Luxury Caramel Perfume: Bond No. 9 Tribeca Eau de Parfum
• Best Viral Caramel Perfume: Giardini di Toscana Bianco Latte Eau de Parfum
• Best Gourmand Caramel Perfume: Cirque du Soleil L'eau de Parfum
• Best Citrus Caramel Perfume: Casamorati Lira Eau de Parfum
• Best Caramel Body Spray: Lush Let the Good Times Roll Body Spray

How Do I Wear Caramel Perfumes?

Gourmands are wonderful to wear in the drier, colder winter months, but even the most seasoned nose can find them hard to wear in the summer months. But there’s a hack for that. “If you’re finding your caramel perfume to be overwhelming or cloying, the easiest way to still wear it is to spray less and from a farther distance to the skin,” Pardo says. “You can also find fresh gourmands that are not overly sweet, but that can combine elements of more fresh scents like citrus or even aldehydic notes.” There are a few scents that he says perfectly straddle this line, like Tonka in the Sun from Maison Tahite, or La Playa from Carner Barcelona.

What Notes Pair Well with Caramel Perfumes?

If you’re just getting into the world of caramel perfumes, or simply like to layer your scents as I do, there are a few notes that pair really well with a caramel note. “Usually other gourmand notes are your best bet,” Pardo says. Think coffee, cocoa, vanilla.” For those who want to take their caramel perfumes into an entirely different olfactive family, oakmoss or cedar can give a nice contrast and depth to the caramel notes. “Boozy notes like rum or cognac can also pair very well and are extremely elegant,” Pardo adds.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

I’ve followed the same post-gym ritual for years: After working up a sweat, I douse myself in perfume for a quick refresh before heading home to shower. Sometimes I’ll even sneak a few spritzes before working out to pump myself up. Nothing too crazy. However, on a recent visit to Barre 3 in New York City’s West Village, I was stopped before I could even uncap my bottle. I spotted a sign that read “Please limit the use of scented products while exercising in the studio.”

I live in a bubble of fellow fragrance lovers—my entire career revolves around beauty and perfume. But even though thousands of people adore scent, there are just as many who are sensitive to it. And in some cases, completely despise it.

After seeing that sign at the workout studio, I began wondering whether establishments could really enact fragrance bans, and if they’d become, well, somewhat commonplace. Turns out, there are a variety of locales that already ask patrons to avoid wearing perfume, and it spans much further than fitness centers. For example, it’s standard practice to not wear fragrance in medical settings—especially fertility offices. It’s also frowned upon at high-end omakase restaurants. The Araki in London has a disclaimer on their booking page that says “Please refrain from wearing perfume, eau de cologne, etc. in order to enjoy the aroma of the food to the fullest.”

It’s also common knowledge in the LGBTQ+ community that wearing fragrance is a major no-no at leather bars, like The Eagle in New York. “It’s understood that no personal scent is allowed…or preferred might be a better way to put it,” one of my gay friends, who asked to remain anonymous, told me. Some spaces, like the now defunct bar The Mineshaft, had an iron clad no-fragrance policy. Queerty reported that The Mineshaft “required members not to wear cologne or any scents, as most patrons preferred a natural smell of sweat and musk.”

The real question is, are these bans even enforceable? And do those with fragrance sensitivities actually condone these policies? For the latter, it depends on who you ask. TikTok users have very strong feelings about wearing perfume in public.

“Perfume should be banned in public places, especially public transit,” one person commented on a viral TikTok of mine. A few months ago, I wore an oud perfume on the subway which prompted everyone who sat next to me to immediately get up and move further away (oops). I chronicled my experience and 1.6 million views later, the discourse that followed was…passionate to say the least. “It’s honestly disrespectful to wear perfume in public,” another wrote. Both comments garnered thousands of likes.

People in my life who have fragrance sensitivities hold less stringent sentiments. (And let’s be real, internet commenters tend to blow things way out of proportion.) “I compare fragrance sensitivities loosely to peanut allergies,” says Deb Carpanzano, a public relations executive in New York who struggles with certain scents. “If you think about it, peanuts aren't banned, even though some people can’t eat them. So something like a fragrance ban seems unfair and unlikely to be upheld or enforced.”

As scent layering has become more popular, Carpanzano’s sensitivities have increased. She tends to get nauseous around musky and super sweet fragrances, and sometimes extra strong smells can lead to migraines. “Worst case scenario, I lose my appetite and it takes a few hours until I feel normal again.”

Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan, also experiences nausea and light-headedness around strong scents, which makes aspects of her job difficult. “When I’m testing perfume for a story, I spray a blotter far away from my desk because the scent tends to linger,” she says. Enclosed spaces with loud aromas are also triggering for her. “I immediately get car sick if I’m in a ride share and the driver is wearing a strong fragrance. Also, I know it’s trendy for hotels to have their own signature scent, but sometimes it’s so overpowering and I can’t escape it in the room.”

Still, while both Carpanzano and Balsamo struggle with serious scent-induced side effects, they’re not totally on board with full-out bans. “Fragrances allow individuals to express themselves, so I don't think a ban is fair,” says Carpanzano. Instead, they both suggest that perfume-lovers just be more mindful of what and how much they are spraying.

Mindfulness makes sense, in theory, but the current perfume trends are the antithesis of quiet. “We are in a moment where incredibly strong, maximalist perfumes are popular,” says Steven Gontarski, the senior manager of brand and public relations for Luckyscent and Scent Bar. Also known as ‘beast mode perfumes,’ the trend emerged in 2025 with the rise of #PerfumeTok and peoples’ desire for scents that not only project, but also last incredibly long. “They're too strong for me, but it's what people want and there’s serious demand for them.”

Brands are happy to oblige. A variety of perfume houses have launched intense versions of their bestsellers over the last few years, including Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Intense, Mugler Alien ExtraIntense, Dior J’adore Intense, and YSL Libre Intense, just to name a few.

Like any scent, beast mode perfumes have their time and place—and it’s certainly not in enclosed spaces. I’m a perfume fanatic, and I even get overwhelmed when I’m trapped by someone else’s strong scent, especially when the weather is balmy. As we head into summer, fragrance content creator Esti Routhenstein, who also deals with scent-induced migraines, reminds people to put their heavy scents away (save them for the fall and winter!) and be mindful of how much you’re spritzing if you’re going to be in confined spaces.

“If we place bans on perfume in certain places, those who love fragrance will simply go somewhere else,” Routhenstein says. Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D, a board-certified neuropsychologist agrees. “People have worn fragrance in public forever, and telling adults they can't wear their signature scent to dinner is the kind of rule that's nearly impossible to enforce and easy to resent,” she says. Plus, she adds that some individuals wear scents for cultural or religious purposes, so full-on bans could alienate swaths of people.

“The healthiest version of this is businesses handling [strong perfumes] on a case by case basis rather than broad bans, finding a middle ground that respects everyone without making anyone feel policed,” Dr Hafeez says.

In the case of Barre 3, I asked the front desk what happens if someone does wear perfume to class. The answer? Nothing. “It’s not really enforced,” I was told. However, they said if I was bothered or overwhelmed by anyone’s scent “it would be taken care of.” They didn’t exactly say how, though. (Ominous.)

I’m not sure how any place could fully implement a fragrance ban. Frankly, I hope we never find out. Perfume is one of the purest forms of self expression. People should be able to express themselves—mindfully. I wear perfume everyday, and I’ve become much more conscientious of what I’m spritzing based on where I’ll be. Rest assured you’ll never catch me wearing an oud scent on the subway again. It’s better for everyone that way.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Experts

As a perfume lover, I hate the idea of playing by some arbitrary rules while wearing fragrance—if you want to wear a vanilla-heavy gourmand in the summer heat, I say go for it! That said, I'm someone who typically gravitates toward certain scent families with each new season. As I curate my fragrance wardrobe for summer, I've noticed a fruity note that's become the main character: mango.

As far as fruit fragrances go, I consider mango scents the "party girl" of the group. They are bright and juicy, and bring a distinct sense of fun with every spray, which is why they're my go-to for hot summer nights spent outside. Mango perfumes can also be incredibly transportive—one whiff will whisk you away to a tropical paradise (in a much less obvious way than, say, a sunscreen-y coconut scent).

I've been reaching for mango fragrances non-stop in recent weeks, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. I have a few new 2026 additions, along with some iconic scents to blame for my newfound appreciation of the fruit. Ahead, I'm sharing my favorite mango fragrances for you to get your spritz on. Get ahead of the curve while you can: I'm betting mango will be everywhere this summer.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Fragrance has the unique ability to transport you to faraway places without having to hop on a plane. Now that it's summer, my wanderlust has spun out of control, but without the budget for traveling, I'm turning to new fragrances to take me somewhere new. Diptyque's Summer 2026 collection does just that with fresh scents, luxury candles, and a body spray that doubles as mosquito repellant reminiscent of a lush garden.

For the new season, French fragrance brand Diptyque dreamed up a collection inspired by a Jardin des Eaux, aka a water garden. Imagine taking a stroll along a stone-paved path, complete with plenty of fountains, overhead pine trees, and blooming jasmine and orange blossoms, and you get the aesthetic behind Diptyque's limited edition Summer Collection.

Working with contemporary mosaic artist Mathilde Jonquière, the collection features familiar favorites, such as the floral, patchouli scent Eau des Sens, alongside new additions. Each bottle and box is covered in a colorful mosaic tile pattern, inspired by water's reflecting surface and the freshness of a garden.

If you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of your hometown (or simply on the hunt for a new summer signature scent), Diptyque's new perfumes and candles may be your ticket. Ahead, dive into the collection and shop your favorites.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I don't know about you, but the erratic temperature swings means my acne-prone skin is suffering through sweat-inducing hot days and dry, cool nights. In other words, my skin is going through it and I'm in desperate need for a reset courtesy of some of my favorite luxury beauty products. And thanks to Dermstore's Summer Sale, I won't have to pay the full luxury price tag.

Dermstore's Summer Sale is currently ongoing, with discounts as high as 25 percent off select products through May 25 with the code “SUN” at checkout. The sale is massive and includes all of the high-end, luxury skincare I need to get my skin back on track, like my favorite Allies of Skin Azelaic and Kojic Advanced Clarifying Serum, which helps with redness and acne, and Augustinus Bader Riche Cream, which replenishes my skin.

The retailer also has plenty of discounts on your sunscreen needs—think beloved brands like EltaMD and Supergoop. And Dermstore is offering special deals on high-end beauty tools, like the T3 Aire 360 styler, as well as luxury makeup and hair care. That said, to save you from losing sleep scrolling through the sales section, I've compiled a list of my personal top luxury beauty products to buy on sale at Dermstore this week.

Best Skincare and Hair Tools to Buy on Sale at Dermstore

Best Luxury Skincare to Buy on Sale at Dermstore

Best Luxury Makeup to Buy on Sale at Dermstore

Best Luxury Fragrance to Buy on Sale at Dermstore

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

I’ve been on a clean-smelling perfume kick recently, and it’s not only led me down a niche fragrance rabbit hole, but also an ingredients-specific hyperfixation moment (or two). In the process, I’ve become deeply obsessed with notes like iris and musk, and more recently, lily.

​It’s a note that almost acts like a chameleon to my nose, transforming fragrances that run the gamut from fresh and soapy to deep and heady, with an elegance that I didn't think was possible. I won't lie, I was a little scared that I would have a hard time with testing, so I did what anyone else would when exploring a new perfume category: I layered. "This is a technique that should feel fun and intuitive, not technical," Yvan Jacqueline, President of the Americas for Parfums de Marly and Initio Parfums Privés, previously told me. "At the end of the day, it is a personal choice and your own taste.”

​A few custom concoctions and layering recipes later, I came to realize that the magic of a lily note is that it's nothing short of ethereal. It can be watery, it can be a traditional floral, it can even be in gourmand perfumes, but once there's lily in a formula, there's going to be a touch of an almost ethereal quality to that perfume.

Of course, this sent me down the rabbit hole to find the best lily perfumes on the market, and I have to say: I think I’ve aced the assignment. Ahead, I’m sharing a list of my favorite lily perfumes, all of which are fantastic for summer.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

Fragrance has the unique ability to transport us to faraway places. A sun-drenched floral perfume could remind you of a holiday in St. Barths, or maybe a vanilla-laden scent takes you to your favorite Parisian cafe. The two latest body mists to join Phlur's lineup, Paradise Nectar and Island Swim, have that same getaway-in-a-bottle energy, but not in the way you might expect.

The kinds of summery fragrances I reach for most often remind me of the beach. They tend to replicate the feeling of sun-kissed skin with tropical fruits, warm florals, and musks, and they almost always contain a creamy coconut note. Phlur managed to whisk me away to my dream vacation spots without leaning into piña colada territory—a feat for summer fragrances, in my book.

If you're looking for a new cool-girl scent for the hot weather months, Paradise Nectar and Island Swim, may be right up your alley. Ahead, I'm diving into what makes these new fragrances so impressive. TL;DR: They're unique, sophisticated, and worthy of any It girl's beach bag.

Paradise Nectar

Phlur labels Paradise Nectar as a floral chypre fragrance, which means it's full of contrasts. This family of perfumes typically has a bright citrus opening, followed by floral heart notes, and a deep woody or earthy base. Paradise Nectar follows that construction almost to a T. It opens with zingy pink pepper, mandarin, and jammy black currant, then it blossoms with a bouquet of tuberose, jasmine, and lotus, before settling into a base of patchouli and woods.

Although this blend doesn't technically contain rose, it still reads very much as a rose fragrance to my nose. Combined with the subtly spicy pink pepper and sweet fruits, Paradise Nectar is a much more modern take on floral scents. It reminds me of a luxury hotel lobby in the tropics—the kind of open-air rooms filled with flowers and greenery, where you're greeted with a fruity cocktail. For that, it's obsession-worthy.

Island Swim

Where Paradise Nectar is floral and fruity, Island Swim is fresh and aquatic (as you might've guessed from the name). It opens bright and zesty with bergamot, calamansi, aka Philippine lime, and coconut (think coconut water, not coconut milk). In the heart, there's a cool ocean mist accord, with fresh lavender and plumeria, followed by a soft, warm base of sandalwood, musk, and amber.

A few sprays of Island Swim is like rinsing off in an oceanside shower. There's a salty freshness in the air, a fruity shampoo in your hair, and you step out feeling clean and refreshed. I love that this blend doesn't completely veer one way or the other—it's equal parts fresh, aquatic, and fruity, with a subtle masculinity for an interesting unisex feel. It's the kind of scent you spray on when you're in the mood for a light fragrance, or an extra dose of freshness in your layering combo.

The Takeaway

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Paradise Nectar and Island Swim are some of my favorites out of Phlur's lineup of fragrances—and I own them all. There's just something a little off about them (and I mean that in the best way possible) to make them especially intriguing. They're certainly not what I expected in a summertime release, and that's exactly why I love them so much.

From the peppery opening in Paradise Nectar to the unisex finish in Island Swim, these new body mists are distinct. They still have that transportative effect you know and love in a vacation-inspired fragrance, but not in the obvious tropical way. I don't expect everyone to love them, and that's what makes them stand out. And if you layer either of the scents with another one of Phlur's summertime fragrances, below, you've got a scintillating blend that's bound to be all your own.

Shop More Phlur Fragrances for Summer

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

There are a few things that I do that I objectively find very chic. I have a pink Drowsy sleep mask that matches my favorite night gown. I’ve committed to a daily LED mask routine. I even have a signature red lipstick. However, I recently started matching my perfume with my home fragrance, and I have unlocked a new level of boujee that I didn’t even know existed.

​While I typically gravitate toward candles and perfumes that share similar notes, a recent pre-bedtime scroll made me realize Guerlain had already done all the heavy lifting for those of us who like to partake in this indulgent little practice. For context, I’ve been a big fan of the maison for a while now, and the brand’s Les Eaux line continues to be some of my most reached-for formulas. The house has scents that run the full gamut of the olfactive spectrum, from smoky, honey gourmands to sultry, heady leathers.

That said, Guerlain also carries a magical, somewhat lesser-known line, simply called the signature extraits, or “Les Extraits Signature.” The collection centers on extrait perfume interpretations of some of Guerlain’s most iconic notes, such as vanilla, iris, bergamot, rose, tonka bean, and jasmine. Because the line has been so well-received, the brand recently launched candles with the same notes as the perfumes. See where I’m going here?

​There are a total of six extrait perfumes in this collection and nine candles in the home fragrance line. Each extrait de parfum has a matching candle for all six options. I’ve recently managed to get my hands on a few of duos and, well, I’ll let you keep reading for the rest. At the end of this, you might suddenly find yourself on the brand’s website with a rather hefty shopping cart. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The Scents

It's the perfume heard around the world: Vanille Planifolia. Often hailed as the perfect vanilla fragrance, it has gone viral countless times, so you’ve likely heard of it by now. Still, I would like to reiterate that it is, in fact, incredible. This is the vanilla, and nothing else that I’ve ever tried even comes close. The notes include bergamot, pink pepper, Madagascar vanilla planifolia, rose, Opoponax, and musk (and that’s not even all of them). The result? A scent that is warm, a little resinous, and honestly, very expensive-smelling, which tracks because the fragrances from this collection cost almost 700 dollars each.

​I was also able to get Rose Centifolia, and I have to be honest: It’s the best rose perfume I have ever smelled. If you’ve read any of my work, then you’re already likely aware that florals aren't typically my jam. This one, however? Heavenly. The notes are centifolia rose absolute, patchouli, frankincense, and amber, and it’s like the brand took the entirety of the flower, from the petals to the stem, and even all the way down to the soil it’s planted in, and turned it into a fragrance. The result is a scent that is soft to the point of almost feeling ethereal, grounding, and somehow also very fresh—literally like smelling a full rose garden on a perfectly sunny (but not oppressively hot) day.

The Candles

The same notes that are in each perfume are in the candles, and just like the extraits, the sillage (or, in this case, throw) is immaculate. One single candle fills my entire one-bedroom apartment with fragrance, and the best part? You can choose the vessel that your candle comes in. There are six colorways to choose from, based on your personal taste in home decor (I personally went with Linden Blanc, which is a white and gold combination), but if you want to take things even a step further, you can also match your vessel with the color you think your fragrance embodies. I will be getting my hands on the Pompadour Rose vase for my rose-scented candle, and I just know that I’ll be unstoppable when I have on my pink night gown and sleep mask, and have my pink, rose-scented candle burning.

In addition, the candle vessels are reusable, and the scented wax itself is sold as a refill that you can pop into each holder and burn. This means that when your favorite candle is done, you can either repurchase the refill to keep enjoying your custom combination or use the jar as a very chic container for all your makeup brushes or little bits and bobs. Yes, I know everyone says to reuse your candle jars all the time, but I promise this is one you’ll actually want to keep around and use as decor—they’re that gorgeous.

The Takeaway

In all, this is a level of classy that I didn’t even know existed, and it absolutely is going to become my new norm. Having a signature scent is one thing, and having one for your home is another. And having those two fragrances be the same scent? That just screams “I have my life together.” That may be the farthest thing from the truth in my case, but smelling like it feels like the next best thing (and a win is a win, right?!).

​The brand also offers the Exceptional Set, which includes sample sizes of all six perfumes in the collection, so you can test them at your leisure before buying full-size. My advice? Locate the nearest boutique, spa, or retailer that carries the brand, go in person, and play. The world of Guerlain is a beautiful place, and I can almost guarantee that you’ll be leaving with more than just a bottle of perfume, especially if you’re a true lover of haute perfumerie.

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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

It may come as a surprise to learn that Queen Camilla—King Charles's wife, the Queen of England, the 78-year-old consort, that Queen Camilla—has a bit of a racy side. A fan of the sexy TV series Rivals and occasionally raunchy chick lit, The Queen doesn’t shy away from a bit of spice in her life. She’s known for being a little bit cheeky and up for a good flirty joke—after all, her iconic condolences for Dame Jilly Cooper wished the late author a hereafter “filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs."

Queen Camilla shared a potentially very sexy beauty secret with human rights attorney Amal Clooney earlier this week. At the 50th anniversary celebration of The King’s Trust, Queen Camilla met Amal and her husband, George. Amal Clooney complimented The Queen, saying, “you smell very good—amazing.” Queen Camilla quickly replied, “it’s a Charlotte Tilbury scent.” Queen Camilla expanded on her perfume of choice, too quietly for the audio to pick up, but a slightly shocked Amal Clooney replies, “ooh, I see, so it’s a signature."

Charlotte Tilbury has several perfumes that “enhance feelings of love, happiness, seduction and confidence,” according to the brand. The six perfumes all feature a “magic scent trail that lasts up to 18 hours” and “emotion-boosting molecules to boost your chosen mood.” While the aromatic emotions include calm, joy, power, confidence, and love, Amal Clooney’s reaction and Queen Camilla’s hesitance to share the scent on the red carpet made us curious. The Queen’s penchant for cheeky jokes and a bit of spice in her life have Marie Claire editors suspecting she wears the brand’s More Sex fragrance.

Charlotte Tilbury's More Sex scent is described by the brand as “a rush of passion through your body,” with scent notes “that always leave you wanting more.” More Sex is sultry and deep, with notes of black pepper, musk, sandalwood, and leather accord, which “is the perfect scent for an alluring aura of attraction.” I recently attended a Charlotte Tilbury event, and it was truthfully the best scent in the whole collection—warm, sensual, and the kind of perfume you compliment another woman on when you catch the scent it.

Shop The Scent

As one of Marie Claire's resident fragrance fanatics, allow me to debunk the myth that a high price tag equates to quality. I love a high-end, luxurious perfume as much as the next girl, but they don't always earn a gold star in my book just because they are expensive. In fact, I have well over 200 bottles in my fragrance wardrobe, yet I turn to my favorite affordable scents on a weekly basis.

My line-up of affordable perfumes spans every major fragrance family. For spring and summer, I go all in on fruity fragrances—Phlur is behind my all-time favorite strawberry scent, and it rings in at $99, for instance. Hot weather means I'm also regularly wearing fresh and musky blends. My current obsessions hail from Glossier, Cyklar, and (somewhat surprisingly) Zara.

While I can go on about my love of budget-friendly scents, I'll spare you the rant and leave you with my top 10. Each of the fragrances below smells rich and bougie, but comes with the unbelievable price tag of $100 and under. I promise they aren't just designer perfumes dressed in TSA-friendly bottles, either.

Affordable Sweet Perfumes

My fragrance journey started with all things sweet-smelling, so they will always have a special place in my heart. Vanilla, brown sugar, marshmallow—you name a dessert ingredient, and chances are I'm going to love it. My favorites from Cyklar and By Rosie Jane, which have reached TikTok-viral status, aren't over-the-top saccharine, but will have you smelling good enough to eat.

Affordable Fruity Perfumes

Every year when temperatures start to rise, I start craving summery fruity scents. The bright and juicy blends instantly awaken my senses and leave me with a fresh dose of nostalgia. There's an affordable fragrance for every fruit you can think of, but I've personally been on a strawberry and citrus kick.

Affordable Fresh Perfumes

When it's sweltering, and I can't stand the thought of wearing something sickly sweet, fresh-smelling perfumes are my go-to. Blends with subtle florals, citrus, and musk are light and airy enough not to induce headaches in hot temperatures. Some scents even give a "clean" feeling, which I love for when I'm breaking a sweat at the gym.

Affordable Musk Perfumes

Musk perfumes are undeniably sexy. They have a skin-like quality that can read as warm, sensual, woody, or sometimes powdery. They play especially well with other fragrances, too, so if you're a layering pro, the two skin-enhancing scents below are must-haves.

Affordable Floral Perfumes

I used to think floral fragrances were too mature and powdery for my nose, but then I discovered blends that quickly became some of my all-time favorites. In addition to florals, these perfumes include a dose of sensual sweetness with warm notes like pistachio and tonka bean. If you want to feel like your most feminine self, spray on one of the below scents.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Some people collect stamps or vintage coins. Me? I have a perfume museum in my New York City apartment. With well over 200 scents to my name, I’ve developed quite the discerning nose during my decade as a beauty editor. Of course, I have my personal preferences: gourmands and citrus scents are my go-tos. But I’ve also learned to appreciate a well-crafted oud or floral blend. Through my spritzing and spraying, I’ve come to the conclusion that when I want to smell expensive, Guerlain is the clear frontrunner.

Every single fragrance from the brand has a secret sauce, if you will. Called Guerlainade, it blends vanilla, bergamot, tonka bean, iris, rose, and jasmine. In some scents, like the iconic Shalimar, it's very noticeable. But in others, like the new Les Eaux Collection, it’s only detectable if you know what you’re looking for. The nice part about this intentional throughline, though, is that it allows all the Guerlain scents to play nicely together. Because let’s be honest, no one has the self-restraint to wear just one perfume at a time. “Combine fragrance. Apply one to your pulse points, another to your hair, and an all-over scent; perhaps something behind the knees as well,” Guerlain perfumer Delphine Jelk tells me.

While everyone’s olfactory personality of choice is going to be different, I’m sharing some of the standout scents in my collection ahead.

The Extraits

Brace yourself for the price point, but this new (ish) collection from the brand is truly something special. These scents have staying power I’ve never experienced (I still smell them on my skin almost 36 hours later) and contain a 30 percent concentration of Guerlanaide, the highest across the entire fragrance profile. One to two sprays is plenty.