In a beauty editor’s world, being forced to declare a favorite beauty category is like choosing a favorite child — you simply can’t expect us to pick. But we make no apologies for admitting that fragrance holds a very special place in our lives (and our routines).
A compliment on your perfume can be incredibly affirming, but there’s something even more poignant about fragrance’s ability to transform how you feel when you wear it purely for yourself. For us, fragrance is a constant: at the office, at the gym (controversially), and, yes, even at home when no one else can smell you. With that in mind, we take our fragrance very seriously here at Refinery29. Over the past few years, we’ve made it our mission to sniff out, test, wear, and discuss the latest launches alongside the classics — so we can recommend the ones that are truly worth your time, money, and shelf space.
That’s why we wanted to give the very best of them their moment in the spotlight with our Fragrance Awards 2026. From niche, under-the-radar houses to the biggest names in perfume, these are the 29 scents we’ve spent the past few years smelling, spritzing, and talking about with our friends and colleagues.
Who knows? You might even discover your new signature.
DashDividers_1_500x100 Best New Fragrance: Byredo Future Memories Eau de Parfum, $235 for 50ml“Mark my words: Future Memories is going to become the fragrance Byredo is best known for, even usurping cult classics like Bal D’Afrique and Gypsy Water. At first spritz, it’s a generous pour of vanilla-steeped whiskey, but the intoxicating boozy notes soon unfold into tobacco-like iris butter, cozy orange blossom, and salty, skin-like musk. If a 1920s speakeasy were a fragrance — all cigar smoke, strong cocktails, and perfumed lapels — it would be this, despite the “future” in its name. And the staying power! I sprayed it on a jacket over a month ago, and it’s still as hypnotic as it was on the first day.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29 beauty director
Best Luxury Fragrance: Penhaligon’s Halfeti Eau de Parfum, $330 for 3.4 fl oz.“I would say the enduring popularity of Halfeti needs to be studied, but the reason is obvious: Nothing smells as expensive and seductive on my skin as this does. Even ten years after its launch, I have a hard time comparing it to anything else. Warm, cozy saffron, cardamom, and nutmeg jump out at first, but over time, creamy sandalwood, cocooning amber, and comforting musks come into their own, making it nuzzly and inviting. I love wearing it on my neck and wrists, and whenever I pull someone in for a hug, they never fail to compliment me. In fact, anything from Penhaligon’s is the epitome of luxury to me, but Halfeti trumps them all.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29 beauty director
Best Drugstore Fragrance: Le Monde Gourmand Tomate Bébé, $30 for 30ml“Le Monde Gourmand is known for its vast array of affordable eaux de parfums, and this past spring it added Tomate Bébé to its roster. The fragrance, made in collaboration with iconic Los Angeles restaurant Jon & Vinny’s, is everything an aspiring tomato girl wants to smell like. As the name suggests, it’s a vegetable-forward blend of green pepper, tomato leaf, and fresh basil, but with citrusy lemon verbena, skin-like ambrox, and a whisper of dessert-like caramel. The result? A perfume that’s good enough to eat — almost.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Niche Fragrance: Ex Nihilo Demon Dancer, $180 for 50ml“Ex Nihilo is one of those brands perfume enthusiasts talk about in hushed tones, as if keeping it to themselves will help them gatekeep it — it’s that good. I’ve tried pretty much every scent from the niche perfume house and found favorites in Blue Talisman and Fleur Narcotique (the latter said to be adored by Hailey Bieber), but I think the latest addition to the brand’s burgeoning fragrance dynasty blows them all out of the water. Tart rhubarb, zippy peppermint, and sharp, green blackcurrant give it such an intriguing edge that you can’t help but smell yourself — the notes practically dance off the skin — while vanilla-esque tonka and warm musks ground it, making it the perfect everyday scent.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29 beauty director
Best Designer Fragrance: Miu Miu Miutine Eau de Parfum, $108 for 30ml“Strawberry scents had a big year (see: The 7 Virtues Strawberry Jam and Phlur’s Strawberry Letter), but I’d argue that no fragrance has captured the fruity note quite like Miu Miu’s Miutine — the house’s first new scent in six years. With notes of juicy strawberry, heady gardenia, warm brown sugar, and cozy vanilla, it’s everything the Miu Miu woman is: playful, feminine, and a little offbeat in the best way. And can we have a moment for the bottle, please? Inspired by Miu Miu’s iconic matelassé leather goods, it’s every bit as chic as the juice inside.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Celebrity Fragrance: Billie Eilish Your Turn II Eau de Parfum, $70 for 30ml“Billie Eilish: Grammy-winning recording artist, Gen Z style icon, and…the front-runner in the celebrity fragrance game. One of her more recent drops, Your Turn II, is a darker, woodier interpretation of the original fresh-fruity scent. (In a 2025 interview, the singer actually revealed that Your Turn II was an earlier fragrance sample she’d loved but hadn’t ever seen the light of day.) I personally love the blend of more feminine perfumery with accords more commonly used in colognes. Case in point: jammy fig and cassis clashing with zesty vetiver and resinous olibanum. (Not to mention, the lasting power of this rivals some of my most pricey perfumes.) Safe to say, with it emerging as a fan-favorite, she made the right call rescuing it from the vault.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Genderless Fragrance: Lore Somewhere but Nowhere Eau de Parfum, $92 for 50ml“I rarely ambush my husband with fragrances, but I’ll never forget the first time I sampled Lore’s Somewhere but Nowhere — and immediately knew I had to smell it on him. It cites Americana as its north star, but to me, it smells like home (or your person — more or less the same thing, really.) Its heart of cedarwood mixed with creamy cardamom and black tea (and a barely-noticeable touch of whipped vanilla cream) makes this one that I love as much on him as I do on me. Which means one thing: We’re going to need a larger bottle.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Everyday Fragrance: Merit Retrospect L’Extrait, $92 for 30ml“Merit had no business going this hard with its fragrance debut, but hey, we’re certainly not complaining. The inaugural scent, Retrospect, is exactly what you’d expect from the makeup brand that mastered minimalism: Effortless yet impactful, and with a certain mysterious quality. No one note really stands out; you just smell really good. However, we can reveal the notes in the warm, sheer scent: Bright notes of citrusy bergamot and fresh pear meet a floral bouquet of jasmine, rose, and violet. The secret sauce, in my opinion, is in the base of warm vanilla, skin-like musk, and leafy moss, giving it a familiar finish. And because it’s an extrait (a more concentrated form of fragrance), you can expect this one to last all day long wherever you apply it.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Long-Lasting Fragrance: Diptyque Orphéon Eau de Parfum, $260 for 2.5 fl oz.“During a closet clear-out recently, I pulled out a coat I hadn’t worn in over a year, and the scent that greeted me was unmistakable: Diptyque Orphéon. It’s the perfect paradox. Juniper berries give it a strong gin-and-tonic edge — a tall glass tumbler loaded with ice — while cedarwood, jasmine, and tonka bean evoke a church foggy with incense. The dry down is so special: powdery and comforting, like a blush compact from the ’90s. It’s the one perfume all my beauty editor peers agree on, and the staying power is truly second to none.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29 beauty director
Best Compliment-Earner: Glossier You Doux Eau de Parfum, $82 for 50ml“Glossier You Doux has earned me so many compliments; it was a front-runner for my wedding-day scent. (I ended up wearing it at my rehearsal dinner.) It’s easily the most wearable, romantic take on a woody fragrance I’ve tried, and like all of the Glossier You scents, it has a musky ambrox base that truly works on everyone. Along with toasted palo santo, it features delicate violet, spicy frankincense, and smoky myrrh. The result is an effortlessly alluring scent with truly unparalleled mass appeal.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Travel Fragrance: Dior J’adior Solid Perfume L’Or de J’adore, $109“We’ve all seen Charlize Theron exiting a pool of liquid gold (or more recently, Rihanna sauntering through Versailles), but Dior’s solid perfume iteration, L’Or de J’adore, somehow makes the iconic scent feel more luxe than ever. Housed in a tiny gold compact that’s basically begging to double as a bag charm, this travel-friendly solid makes it easier than ever to bring your scent on vacay — without fearing it being confiscated by airport security. With notes of heady jasmine, sweet rose, and elegant violet wrapped in a warm, nectar-like finish, I think it’s bold, iconic, and unforgettable.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Office-Friendly Fragrance: D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum, $225 for 1.7 fl oz.“There’s a fine line between wanting to smell good at work and causing perfume cloud-induced headaches from two cubicles away. Here’s where D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What comes in. It’s subtle but noticeable, with a clean, woody, skin-like quality that somehow smells like you — only better. The formula is built around a mix of bright bergamot, iso e super (a synthetic fragrance molecule with moody, amber-like notes), herbaceous vetiver, and musky ambroxan, creating an airy, balanced scent that lingers all day long on skin and clothes without alerting Brenda from HR. In other words, it’s office-appropriate without being boring, and transitions seamlessly to after-hours.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Wedding Fragrance: Commodity Milk Orchid Expressive Eau de Parfum by @Perfumerism, $115 for 50ml“Commodity’s Milk Orchid was one of the most anticipated perfume launches of 2025, but the formerly limited-edition fragrance recently became a permanent fixture in the brand’s collection. Content creator Emma B, aka Perfumerism, collaborated with Commodity to create a gourmand floral that feels elevated yet universally appealing. Creamy notes of fig and coconut milk swirl with orchid to create the perfect light-yet-impactful scent for your big day. This is truly special-event and signature-scent worthy!” — Sophia Dennis, head of programming and brand strategy for Refinery29 & Beautycon
Best Date-Night Fragrance: NOYZ Only Human Eau de Parfum, $85 for 1.69 fl oz.“Some fragrances can’t help but take center stage. By contrast, NOYZ Only Human is more about making people lean in closer in a “What perfume are you wearing?” kind of way. Which is exactly why it’s taking home our award for best date-night scent. Warm, woody, and subtly sweet, it blends creamy cardamom, comforting sandalwood, dessert-like vanilla, and sultry musk into a skin-like scent that feels intimate yet totally effortless. It’s the kind of fragrance that smells even better up close. Conveniently, right where you want it for date night.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer.
Best Skin Scent: Cyklar Flora Veil Roll-On Perfume Oil, $24“If you find traditional floral scents annoyingly loud, you have to try Cyklar’s Flora Veil. It bypasses the heady, garden-in-full-bloom intensity entirely, redefining what a floral profile can be. When I first took a whiff of it, I instantly thought it smelled like me fresh out of the shower, but even better. It earns top honors in the skin scent department because of how masterfully it wears throughout the day. It starts with a delicate (not overly fruity) whisper of crisp raspberry that has just enough brightness to intrigue you without feeling sweet, and it melts seamlessly into a grounding, velvety musk base. Rather than sitting heavily on top of your skin or taking over a room, the oil formula literally warms up with your natural body chemistry, creating your own little bubble of a delightful-smelling aura. What makes Flora Veil so addictive — and why I grab it the most — is the I’m-not-trying-too-hard confidence it gives.” — Alexis Bennett Parker, Refinery29 director of shopping partnerships
Best Hair Fragrance: Initio Atomic Rose Hair Perfume, $105 for 50ml“I first smelled this hair perfume on a friend as I leaned in for a hug, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to buy one for myself, and now I reach for it more than my eau de parfums. Most hair perfumes apply with a whisper and disappear in the breeze, but this clings to strands like an extrait. Lush Bulgarian rose and powdery Turkish rose are heady and mesmerizing, while zingy bergamot cuts through with a hit of freshness. But it’s the vanilla that really sticks around — you’ll find yourself wanting to smell your hair throughout the day. Perhaps an odd habit, but one I can’t kick when I wear this.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29 beauty director
Best Body Mist: Being Frenshe Matcha Me Hair, Body, & Linen Mist, $16.99 for 5 fl oz.“Body mists are having a major comeback, and when I got a sneak peek (whiff?) of Being Frenshe’s new Matcha Me scent in the Hamptons this summer, I knew I’d found a new favorite. (I’ve been keeping the lab sample in my purse for mid-day touch-ups, and am glad to no longer keep it a secret.) It’s fresh, soft, and uplifting — just like your favorite matcha latte. Alongside the namesake tea note, there’s a hint of soothing vanilla (a favorite of founder Ashley Tisdale French, who also includes it in Vanilla Cashmere) and a soft musk that gives it a cozy, clean quality without veering sugary. Even better, it’s formulated to softly scent everything from your skin and hair to your linens and room for the ultimate relaxing mood.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Scented Body Wash: LOoPHA Oud + Amber Hand + Body Wash, $24.50 for 400ml“Life’s too short not to make every shower a great-smelling one. LOoPHA (aka The Ordinary’s sister body care brand) has arguably mastered the art of the body wash, elevating the humble shower gel with its liquid and powdered body cleansers, which come in three scents: Oud + Amber, Chalk, and my personal favorite, Broadleaf Forest. There’s not a bad one in the bunch, but I can’t get enough of how crisp and clean (not medicinal) Broadleaf Forest smells. It’s cozy, grounding, and makes every shower feel like a moment of calm.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Scented Body Moisturizer: Brunel Pearl Glow Body Oil, $53“Capturing that signature, sun-kissed Jasmine Tookes glow has been pinned to the top of my beauty mood board for years. Actually achieving it? Pure chaos. Traditional body oils often turn into a slippery mess, ruining fine silk and making crisp white linen an absolute no-go. But Brunel’s Pearl Glow is the holy-grail pivot. Pearl Glow smells effortlessly high-end. It opens with a bright burst of crisp red apple and warm solar notes that instantly transport you to a golden-hour beach day. As it settles into skin, it unfolds into a lush heart of jasmine petals and creamy almond, before drying down to a grounding, velvety sandalwood base that gives it a bespoke luxury perfume feel. What makes it an absolute award winner, though, is how seamlessly it balances top-tier perfumery with real-life practicality. You get that enviable, lit-from-within sheen without feeling heavy or sticky. Best of all, its dry-touch finish absorbs quickly with zero transfer onto white clothing, meaning you can finally bathe your collarbones in supermodel radiance and walk out the door completely stain-free.” — Alexis Bennett Parker, Refinery29 director of shopping partnerships
Future Classic Fragrance: Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif, $265 for 1 fl oz.“Some fragrances have their moment before fading away; others feel destined to have one for years to come. Parfums de Marly’s Delina Exclusif falls firmly into the latter camp, earning our Future Classic award for its unapologetically luxurious take on the iconic fruity-floral Delina. A richer, moodier sibling to the original scent, it layers juicy lychee and crisp pear with Turkish rose, spicy incense, warm vanilla, and woody oud for a multifaceted, versatile scent that’s sweet but not saccharine. It’s the kind of perfume that instantly feels iconic — and I, for one, wouldn’t be surprised if, years from now, we’re still talking about it.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Alcohol-Free Fragrance: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Kurky Eau Parfumée, $195 for 2.4 fl oz.“Maison Francis Kurkdjian is known for fragrances that smell expensive and sophisticated (hello, Baccarat Rouge 540), but the luxury perfumer is far from a one-trick pony; Kurky Eau Parfumée is a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air, thanks to its bright, fruity profile. It opens with juicy raspberry and peach mixed with soft florals, light-as-air musk, and creamy sandalwood. And unlike the vast majority of my perfume collection, this formulation is alcohol-free. (“Eau parfumée” literally translates to “scented water.”) As such, it feels less drying on skin than a traditional alcohol-based fragrance, and I also love using it as a hair mist to add scent and a hint of shine. The result is playful yet elevated, proving that an alcohol-free fragrance can have just as much personality as a traditional eau de parfum.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29 senior beauty writer
Best Fall Fragrance: Phlur Vanilla Canyon Eau de Parfum, $99“To me, most vanilla perfumes are usually way too sweet, aggressively artificial, or smell like a walking dessert table, which is an instant pass. But Phlur Vanilla Canyon completely flips the script, taking the usually cloying note to grown-and-sexy territory. If you’re already obsessed with Vanilla Skin, consider this its darker, cooler, big sister. It has a smoky vanilla DNA that doesn’t read as buttercream. Think smoldering amber and intoxicating depth that feels grounded. What elevates Vanilla Canyon to true award status is how easily it grabs attention without ever feeling overpowering or suffocating. It gives you that warm, sultry vibe that