13 Best Perfumes for Women 2022

3 bottles of our favorite perfumes for everyday wear — Real Simple / Sabrina Jiang

Contrary to popular belief, if I ever saw someone with the same outfit as me, I wouldn't be turned off at all. I'd think⁠— ha, a woman with great taste⁠—and continue my day without a second thought. But if I ever smelled someone with the same fragrance as me? It would be weird. Super weird.

Because here's the thing: When you smell someone's scent, it can take over their personality and become a defining element of their identity. Fragrance is something so...intimate that it quite literally becomes a part of you. That's why picking a signature fragrance isn't something to be selected lightly.

Unfortunately, picking out your everyday fragrance isn't as easy as going to the beauty counter and aimlessly spraying, which is more likely to leave you with a pounding headache than your ideal scent. You want your perfume to be subtle enough to not be overwhelming, but significant enough to be noticeable. And most importantly, you want it to be an olfactory interpretation of your personality. Although it would be impossible to handpick the quintessential scent for everyone (since everyone's tastes are different), we did make the selection a bit easier by narrowing down some of the best scents in their categories. Whether you're a lover of musk or sucker for roses, these fragrances are so good that you'll be turning heads (or shall we say noses?) everywhere you go.

Walmart

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Shaped like an actual grenade, this perfume explodes with a super feminine, floral scent in a single spritz. But this isn't your grandma's floral fragrance. V&R's Flowerbomb is infused with notes of orange blossom and seductive patchouli on top of jasmine and rose for a refreshing take on the standard floral perfume.

Bluemercury

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Before we get into the perfume, first some backstory: Orphéon was a bar at the intersection of 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue de Pontoiseis where Diptyque's founders used to meet. This perfume pays tribute to that era with a sentimental chypre scent, mingled with dark, aromatic undertones (think tobacco, juniper berries, and just a hint of soap). It's somehow comforting and familiar, making it the perfect everyday fragrance in our book.

Glossier

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Described by the brand as 'your skin but better,' Glossier's newest foray into fragrance has subtle notes of ambrette and musk for the perfectly subtle scent. And we'd be remiss not to mention the adorable, ergonomic bottle, which has a thumb-print design that allows the fragrance to sit perfectly in your hand.

Valentino Donna Born in Roma Yellow Dream Eau de Parfum

Ulta

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Valentino calls this fragrance "a scented picture of the streets of Rome." When I picture my street culture, I think of strewn black plastic bags, abandoned beer bottles, and the signature scent of garbage mingled with street food (can you tell I live in NYC?). However, when I smell this, I'm transported to a floral garden straight out of Mary Poppins—spectacularly clean with just a dash of citrus. If Rome smells like this, count me in.

Ulta

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Like you, this fragrance has a lot of layers: It starts with feminine notes of strawberries and bergamot, before drying down to reveal more sensual, woody notes like ambrox and cashmeran.

Sephora

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Disclaimer: Be prepared for all your friends to copy your signature scent—it's that good. From the chic minimalist glass bottle to the stunning scent inside—which features a blend of blackcurrant, rose, patchouli and vanilla—it's perfectly versatile for every day but just seductive enough for date night.

Amazon

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If you're a fan of sensual perfumes, this is one to try. The ginger-amber scent has a softness that draws you in like a warm blanket (which explains why I've recently started sleeping with it).

Amazon

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Looking for a signature fragrance at a bargain price? Take your senses on a trip with a spritz of this addictive perfume. The OG summer fragrance, Bella Vita is inspired by a sunny Californian road trip to the Mediterranean—aka it smells like the vacation of your dreams. The main notes include black cherry, tuberose, and tonka beans.

Calvin Klein CK Everyone Eau de Toilette

Ulta

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CK Everyone is aptly named⁠—we really can see this crisp, unisex scent appealing to everyone. To be more specific, it smells like bergamot, pineapple, and papaya with just a hint of musk. But what makes this fragrance smell even better is that it's Calvin Klein's first clean, gender-free, and environmentally conscious scent. The formula is developed with all vegan, naturally derived ingredients, naturally derived alcohol, and even recycled materials for its packaging.

EstÃ©e Lauder Beautiful Belle Eau de Parfum

Ulta

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Beautiful Belle is an elegant blend that evokes a sunny stroll through Paris. Pretty lychee and mimosa notes are teamed with romantic rose petals, sultry gardenia, and marzipan musk. Together, they dry down to a non-sickly sweetness that's perfect for everyday wear.

Sephora

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If you were to try to capture the scent of a field of wildflowers into a bottle, this would be it. One whiff whisks you away into a land of enchanting florals, from white peony and orange flowers petals to rose centifolia. But the star note, by far, is the wild geranium, which smells exactly like a freshly picked bouquet.

Sephora

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This black and gold glass bottle is the epitome of chic⁠—and so is the scent inside. The lavender essence and Moroccan orange blossom draws you in, but the punch of musk accord will keep you coming back for more.

Sephora

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It's the best of both worlds with Jo Malone's fruity-floral fusion. Its sweet-but-zesty scent has notes of rose and violet (aka, the ultimate people pleasers), mixed with barley and fresh fruit scents to give a lightness that make it wearable for everyday.