Aiming for a scent that lasts from sunrise to sunset? The best long-lasting perfumes deliver exactly that, and their staying power isn’t a matter of coincidence—it’s rooted in formulation. “Technically, the concentration of the perfume oil in the fragrance formulation creates the most long-lasting intensity,” Linda Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation, tells Vogue. Long-lasting scents aren’t designed for fleeting impact but for sustained presence. Higher concentrations linger on skin and clothing, ensuring your fragrance follows you wherever you go.
Vogue’s Favorite Long-Lasting Perfumes
As a self-proclaimed fragrance enthusiast (and frequent of the perfume review side of TikTok), my preferences are just as strong as an Extrait de Parfum—and my appreciation began early. As a child, I played “perfume store” with my grandmother. The ritual was simple but instructive: we’d smell each bottle, decide whether it resonated, rank our favorites, and finally choose the one that felt right for an imaginary client. What I’ve learned is this: I prefer longer-lasting perfumes not to announce my presence, but to ensure my signature scent stays with me throughout the day. While there are lovely eau de toilettes and eau fraîches on the market, they’re simply not my type.
A curated edit of Vogue’s favorite long-lasting perfumes below, with certifiable favorites from experts and editors alike.
In This Story
- Fragrance Intensity Ranges
- Does a perfume have to be an exclusif or extrait to be long-lasting?
- How many hours of wear-time do long-lasting fragrances have?
- How We Tested
- Meet The Expert
Best Creamy Powder: Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Extrait
- Why We Love It: Consider this a more intense version of one of Matiere Premiere’s most popular scents, Vanilla Powder. Despite scents the name conjures, don’t get it twisted—this scent is not your average gourmand. While it features a high concentration of Venezuelan tonka bean (aka vanilla) absolute, the scent reads as a modern day, edgier twist on a powdery fragrance. Here, palo santo and white musk balance with creamy coconut powder for a scent that has a touch of sweetness and smoke.
- Editor’s Experience: “When I first spritzed this scent, Vogue’s senior shopping writer Cortne Bonilla instantly swiveled in her chair to face me. ‘Oooh…what is this delicious scent I’m sniffing?’ she asked with perfect comedic timing. It was none other than Vanilla Powder Extrait—this scent is a major compliment collector. A cool girl’s powder perfume, it isn’t objectively sweet, while still projecting a delectable aroma.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Notes: Palo santo, coconut powder, Madagascar vanilla absolute, white musk, tonka bean
- Wear-Time: 8-10 hours
- This Smells Like: A cool-girl version of a powder perfume
Best Etherial: Valaya Exclusif Parfum
- Why We Love It: While Parfums de Marly’s Delina often steals the spotlight, there’s an unsung hero in the brand’s lineup that’s just starting to gain the hype it deserves: Valaya. Fragrance expert Eudora Nwasike previously described it as a joyful, signature-worthy fragrance that opens with a radiant blend of peach, aldehydes, and bergamot. As it settles, soft white florals and a veil of musk create a clean, almost satin-like finish on the skin. The eau de parfum version is already exceptionally long-lasting, and the exclusif version only further amplifies that—prepare to have this scent linger on your clothes for days.
- Editor’s Experience: “I’m typically a floral fragrance hater, but every so often, one grabs my attention and reminds me that it is in fact the most diverse fragrance category—Valaya is one of those scents. It’s not overtly floral so much a it is musky and fresh in a hyper-femme way. Dare I say, this fragrance garners me almost too much attention. No really, I have been literally sniffed out in public by mutual friends and had endless strangers proclaim ‘Who smells amazing?’ C’est moi.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nymphaea, vetiver, musk
- Wear-Time: 12+ hours
- This Smells Like: Totally etherial, like heaven in a bottle
Best Unique Floral: Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower Parfum Spray
- Why We Love It: We promise you this—Carnal Flower is a floral fragrance unlike any other. Levy notes that tuberose is the star of this perfume, calling it “a truly sensual and distinctive fragrance.” First, quick lesson in botany: tuberoses are a particularly complex flower, starting off as sweet, with a spicy green undertone. Their natural scent is complex, and often described as animalistic. Now that you get the picture, Carnal Flower embodies exactly that. Some even say the combination of tuberose, coconut, and musk evoke the nostalgic scent of sunscreen spray—but significantly more sophisticated, and complex.
- Editor’s Experience: “Carnal Flower was not love at first sniff; it took me a moment to appreciate its complexity. I describe it as a floral for someone partial to warmer, sultry scents. As it dries down, it gets better over time—cocooning you in its presence. It’s on the softer side, but begs to be noticed.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Notes: Tuberose absolute, green aquatic, ylang-ylang, jasmine absolute, orange blossom absolute, coconut extract, white musk
- Wear-time: 8+ hours
- This Smells Like: A warm rose.
Best Boozy Spice: Kilian Paris Angels’ Share
- Why We Love It: Boozy, spicy, and alluring best describe the essence of Kilian Paris’s cognac-inspired fragrance—apt as founder Kilian Hennessy hails from a distinguished family of brown liquor producers. The scent feels warm, inviting, and delectable, opening with cognac before transitioning into notes of cinnamon, tonka bean, praline, and vanilla. This is undeniably a gourmand fragrance, but with sophistication—like sipping whiskey beside the fireplace on a crisp winter day.
- Editor’s Experience: “I received this scent as a Christmas gift years ago, and it’s one I always reach for during the chillier months. Utterly cozy, for me, it’s the perfect blend of sweet and spice that leaves behind a delightful fragrance trail. This is another perfume that is a major compliment-collector, and it lingers on my clothes for days after it’s spritzed. And yes, for what it’s worth, I do enjoy the occasional glass of whiskey, so I find the bottle to be charming.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Notes: Cognac oil, oak absolute, cinnamon essence, tonka bean absolute, sandalwood, praline, vanilla extract.
- Wear-Time: 8-12 hours
- This Smells Like: A boozy apple crumble pie, with a generous sprinkle of spice.
Best Concentration: Amouage Guidance 46 Exceptional Extrait
- Why We Love It: Amouage’s Guidance didn’t select a number at random to include in the scent name—it speaks to the scent’s 46% concentration of fragrance oils (a.k.a., it’s incredibly long-lasting). It’s hard to pin down exactly what this scent smells like, because there are so many notes wrapped into one bottle—and that’s part of the appeal. Our best attempt? Fruity, nutty, woody, floral, and spicy all at once
- Key Notes: Pear, frankincense, hazelnut, rose water, pink pepper, bitter almond, saffron, rose, sambac jasmine, osmanthus
- Wear-time: 12+ hours
- This Smells Like: Main character energy (for those who love floral and fruity scents).
Best Oud: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Extrait de Parfum
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking for a fragrance with remarkable staying power, Nwasike recommends this one as a top choice. Oud Satin Mood is an Extrait De Parfum (a.k.a. long-lasting, and high projecting)—ideal for those who want something that lingers throughout the day and into the evening. Nwasike has described it as “an elegant, sweet, jammy rose combined with powdery violet and a subtle touch of oud that adds depth and sensuality.” The fragrance’s complex composition makes it suitable for a variety of occasions, whether it’s a formal event or a casual outing. Its rich blend captivates the senses and leaves a lasting impression.
- Key Notes: Violet accord, geranium, rose oil, cinnamon, rose absolute, oud, benzoin, vanilla
- Wear-time: 10-12 hours
- This Smells Like: Velvety and addictive.
Best Soft Herbacious: Loewe Iris Root Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: Imagined by Loewe perfumer Nuria Cruelles, Loewe’s craft colleciton takes singular ingredients—vanilla, iris, and oud—and surrounds them to accentuate their facets. “To me, [the word] craft is like the work of an artisan,” Cruelles previously told Vogue. “At Loewe, we sculpt the ingredients.” Iris Root yields a powdery, herbaceous, and creamy scent that’s absolutely lovely. Not to mention, the hand-blown glass and granite cap encapsulate all of Loewe’s chic aesthetic.
- Editor’s Experience: “Loewe takes the traditional powery iris and gives it a sparkling quality thats rather energizing. Its Timur pepper offers a spiciness for an unexpected twist. The composition keeps you guessing throughout its wear—and that’s what I love most about it.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Notes: Angelica seed, neroli essential, pepper timur, orris, clary sage, cashmeran, tonka bean absolute, cedarwood heart, musk
- Wear-Time: 6-8 hours
- This Smells Like: A dazzling jewel: delicate yet dazzling
Best Sweet Seductive: Tom Ford Figue Érotique Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: With a name like Figue Érotique, it has to be seductive—and Tom Ford delivers exactly that. The fragrance opens with fleshy fig and citrus, deepened by notes of brown sugar and licorice that create a warm, sensual experience. It evokes the same luxurious allure as the jewel-toned velvet hip-huggers from Tom Ford’s iconic 1995 debut collection with Gucci, making it essential for anyone who loves jammy fruit fragrances.
- Editor’s Experience: “Dare I say this is my new favorite Tom Ford perfume? I reach for it when I can’t decide on a scent profile. I like that it leads with fresh and fruity notes without being overly sweet or earthy. Instead, the muscovado comes to the fore for a cozy touch.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Notes: Kadota fig accord, vert de bergamote, muscovado accord, fig leaf accord, ylang ylang absolute, vetiver essence
- Wear-time: 6-8 hours
- This Smells Like: Tom Ford-era Gucci A/W 1995
Best Earthy Spicy: Maison d’Etto Rotano
- Why We Love It: Do you want to really be “not like the other girls”? Boy, do I have a parfum for you. Niche and chic fragrance brand Maison D’etto is the perfect destination to look for a signature scent that oozes originality. Rotano, in particular, is like nothing you’ve ever smelled before and is totally intriguing. Leathery, musky, earthy, and spicy, the best way to describe this fragrance is a mezcal cocktail set on fire for dramatic effect at a boujee restaurant.
- Editor’s Note: “Maison d’Etto founder Brianna Lipovsky told me that Rotano was one of the more niche scents from her collection and while I was surprised, I can understand why. It’s a blend of unexpected ingredients—leathery and musky with an earth-forward touch that lends it a gender-bending quality.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Notes: Cypriol, halo musk, suede, myrrh, olibanum, cedarwood heart
- Wear-time: 6-8 hours
- This Smells Like: A delicious mezcal cocktail.
Everything You Need To Know
Fragrance Intensity Ranges
According to Levy, the most common ranges from most intense to least are: parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne and eau fraiche. These categories serve as general rules of thumb, though parfums and EDPs can be intense depending on their particular formula concentration.
Does a perfume have to be an Exclusif or Extrait to be long-lasting?
Not necessarily. “There is a new language for describing the intensity of perfumes," Levy explains. “One of the biggest recent trends is for ultra-intense fragrances. As brands create new versions [of established scents], each becomes more intense than the prior releases. Generally, an extrait is a super concentrated formulation, with the highest percentage of the fragrance oil.”
That percentage, she explains, usually ranges from 20% to 40%. "Even within an extrait, there are still layers of intensity as exclusifs index on a specific note or ingredient to add depth.
How many hours of wear-time do long-lasting fragrances have?
Levy explains that a long-lasting fragrance typically wears for about six to eight hours, so the scents with the most longevity can extend to ten hours and beyond. Though, there is a caveat to note when considering if your perfume actually stands the test of time: going nose numb.
“Most people describe their personal fragrances fade more quickly but that is not the actual case,” says Levy. “As we grow accustomed to the scents we apply and tend to sense them less on ourselves versus those we encounter throughout the day or evening.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—fragrance specialists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to long-lasting perfumes, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: notes, projection, and wear-time. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet The Expert
- Linda G. Levy is the President of The Fragrance Foundation.
