The point of finding a signature scent goes far beyond the compliments one might earn. It’s largely internal—about relishing in an olfactory “that’s so me” moment after the first spritz. It’s the dopamine hit of taking a personality quiz, with a result that everyone can experience—because your scent is your vibe in a bottle (with a vessel to match).
Vogue Editors’ Favorite Fragrances:
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Vogue editors are certainly an opinionated bunch when curating our ever-evolving fragrance wardrobe—each scent carefully selected to reflect an aura, a mood, a moment in time. There are best-selling classics, perfume snob-approved gems, and new arrivals that have not yet become mainstream. The delectable scent-obsessed, the gourmand haters, those fiercely loyal to their skin scent—and then there’s me, who layers scents to satiate a raging (yet harmless) individuality complex (I’m a Leo!). Read on to discover 23 Vogue editors reveal the perfumes and colognes they can’t stop wearing to inspire your next signature.
Chloe Malle, head of editorial content
Any Frédéric Malle scent is a favorite for me but the unisex Cologne Indelible is the scent I’ve been wearing every day for the last few years. I’m also charmed by this Liis Virginia Woolf–inspired fragrance, just bookish and brooding enough for fall.
Kiana Murden, senior beauty commerce writer
A few years into my fragrance journey, it’s been really special to see how my preferences evolve. While I used to gravitate towards slightly spicy ouds, I now seem to be grounded by things that skew more floral and sweet. Parfums de Marly’s Delina was my gateway—a delectably sensual cocktail of rhubarb, lychee, and Damascena rose. This layers exceptionally well with Tory Burch’s Sublime EDP, a duo that garners numerous compliments on each and every wear. U Beauty’s Proem surprised me, though with a floral, fruity, and earthy notes—similarly with rhubarb and rose—I should’ve anticipated loving it.
On days I want something more bright and citrus forward, Dries Van Noten’s Mystic Moss is my absolute favorite. The label has some of the most underrated fragrances—perfect for someone who wants something bit more niche. Honorable mention to my beloved Loewe 001 Man eau de toilette which doesn’t seem to be in stock! It’s warm and soft with just a hint of lavender which lends it a clean, skin-like quality. If it’s been discontinued, I will have to cherish my current bottle forever.
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Concetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
I adore a lot of scents, but very few actually feel like me. I usually go for something musky and spice-forward, layered with a sophisticated sweetness—nothing that smells like a teenage locker room drenched in Victoria’s Secret body sprays. Simone Rocha once said she sees her brand as “hardcore femininity,” and that’s exactly how I think of my favorite perfumes. My crown jewel is Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur—if Tom Ford’s ’90s era at Gucci were a scent, this would be it: sexy, amber-y, and a complete knockout on its own or layered with something else. For a moody, elevated vanilla, I reach for Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, sweet from tobacco leaf but balanced with ginger, spice, and tonka bean.
Another favorite is Henry Rose’s Dave, whose pink pepper and neroli make it a grown-up gourmand and a total crowd-pleaser—when I spritzed this in the beauty closet, everyone turned to ask “what smells so good?” Lastly is Dries Van Noten’s Crazy Basil, which is aromatic, herbaceous, woody, and a completely new territory for me. I like to think it smells like “whimsi-goth” in a bottle. As an honorable mention, I always have a roller ball of Nemat’s Egyptian Musk fragrance oil in my bag; and Nemat, if you can here me, I’m begging you to make a perfume version of it.
Elly Leavitt, lifestyle shopping editor
I’ve dabbled in other scents over the years (including an ill-advised vanilla phase) but Burberry’s Weekend is the one I always return to. An aunt gifted me a travel-size bottle when I was ten, and I remember thinking then that it was the height of glamour—delicate and fresh, it’s stood the test of time well.
Alexandra Ditch, associate commerce producer
In the process of selecting my wedding perfume, I have researched and tested countless scents along the way. I’m looking for something warm, musky, and rich, yet still fresh and floral. Each of these fragrances strikes that perfect balance—and they all happen to feature the vanilla notes I can never resist. Wish me luck deciding!
Hannah Jackson, fashion writer
I’ve always had a difficult time articulating what I want in a fragrance—aside from the fact that you will never catch me dead in a gourmand. (I will never forget the horrors of a vanilla body spray-filled middle school locker room.) But I think I’ve finally unlocked my perfume trifecta: It needs to have musk, florals, and amber. Like everyone else on earth, I love Glossier You for the way that it mingles with my skin without feeling overpowering. Earlier this year I used my Glossier You roller ball until the day it ran dry—and what a sad day it was. For that same reason, I’m obsessed with Byredo’s Mojave Ghost, which I first discovered thanks to my friend Erin, who always let me steal a spritz when we went out dancing.
Margaux Anbouba, senior beauty editor
I had faithfully worn the Costa Brazil body oil as a base layer or substitute for a fragrance for years, so when the fragrance version was released it became an instant favorite. The aroma is the most recognizable, if-you-know-you-know scent I know of (and not many people know!) that smells incredible on everybody—the natural notes of citrus, spices, and waxy leaves interact with each body’s natural chemistry to smell completely sexy.
My father has worn the original Dior Sauvage fragrance for as long as I can remember. The OG smells so perfectly him and I could spritz it on without feeling overcome with emotion—but Dior’s genius perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian just released a new version has been slightly reimagined with a heavy dose of lavender. It feels lighter and a bit more modern but still has a touch of notes that smell just like my dad. I wear it in moments when I need to feel him close.
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Andrea Zendejas, commerce market editor
When it comes to fragrance, my go-to is always rose. I’ve tried countless versions from different brands, but Byredo’s take remains my favorite—soft, buttery, and impossibly feminine. What I love about Byredo scents is that you can easily layer them with others to create a unique mix.
Christian Allaire, fashion style writer
I love spritzing Margiela’s Jazz Club fragrance for a night out—and it’s by far my most complimented scent from strangers. It has sweet notes of honey and woody notes of cigar boxes. As for Gucci’s The Last Day of Summer, I love this breezy, forest-inspired scent for the summer. There are notes of cedarwood, cypress, nutmeg, patchouli, and vetiver. It’s woodsy, yet fresh and light at the same time.
Arden Fanning Andrews, beauty editor at large
I first met the Matière Premiere team in Paris—on my radar thanks to Mateo designer Matthew Harris, who introduced me to their Falcon Leather scent after I smelled it on him at F1 (he now has a line of gemstone fragrances I love). Their Crystal Saffron scent stood out to me immediately. I’ve been wearing it for a few years now, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I get at least one compliment on it a day—sometimes a few. It bottles the scent of Grecian saffron oil and an “addictive” ambroxan often found in bestselling fragrances (Byredo’s new Alto Astral has it, and I love that one too). I wear Crystal Saffron to work—it’s my “on” scent.
When I’m working from home, I’ll layer it with a simple patchouli oil rollerball I found for under $10. And when I’m off-duty and out to party, I wear just the patchouli—and still get just as many compliments. Once, at Bowery Ballroom, musician Frankie Rose stopped me to ask what I was wearing and had me send her the link. Even my French Uber driver last week asked about it right before I got out of the car.
Cortne Bonilla, senior commerce writer
I’m not a sweet, floral type of gal—this coordinates with my wardrobe, as well. I prefer a little spice, a little steam. The musky undertones to this go-to fragrance are what my body’s chemistry absorbs the most. Whenever I wear it, I’m told I smell delicious the entire day. It’s sensual, and bold, like an Aries!
Florence O’Connor, content manager
I have always been a huge fan of the Le Labo fragrances but know far too many people who have claimed Santal 33 as their “signature scent” for me to dare to wear it. However, last year, I received the Le Labo The Matcha 26 Eau de Parfum tester bottle in the Liberty Advent Calendar and instantly fell in love with the subtle musky scent. After I finished my bottle I stole the one out of my mum’s advent calendar (she wasn’t going to use it—I promise!) and used up every last drop. I am also a huge fan of the Vilhelm Parfumerie Dear Polly Eau de Parfum scent (another Liberty Advent Calendar find) and it quickly became a staple in my perfume rotation. It’s a lovely woodsy smell that somehow lingers on your clothes all day all without making you feel like a walking car diffuser.
Chloe Schama, senior editor
For most of my life, I have been on the hunt for the perfect, effervescent citrus fragrance. The thing about citrus, though, is that it can lead you fairly quickly into adolescent, lemonhead candy territory, leaving you smelling a bit like the malls of your youth. This Acqua di Parma Yuzu fragrance avoids that pitfalls by layering the bright tang of yuzu over more complex and duskier notes—it’s a scent that shines brighter because of the darkness underneath.
Molly Barstein, associate manager, audience development
I’ve always gravitated toward sweeter perfumes—I was a Pink Sugar girl in middle school (if you know, you know)—but I like them to feel grown-up, not overly sugary. Mochi Milk by DedCool strikes that perfect balance: soft, creamy, and effortlessly fresh for daytime. When the weather turns chilly, I reach for something with a bit more warmth. Lately, I’ve been alternating between Jo Malone Myrrh Tonka and Diptyque Eau Duelle. I love a vanilla-based scent, especially during the colder months—it feels cozy, comforting, and just a little indulgent.
Naomi Elizée, fashion market director
I currently have two go-to scents. First up is a fan favorite and its none other than Mojave Ghost by Byredo. Honestly, I don’t think I will ever get tired of this scent. More recently, I’ve been wearing Diptyque’s floral and flirty scent Eau Rose. I love how light and easy the smell is, it’s not too overpowering!
Laia Garcia-Furtado, senior fashion news editor
I used to just wear one perfume all the time—it was D.S. Durga’s Cowboy Grass before the pandemic, and then I switched to Rose Atlantic about a year in because Cowboy Grass smelled like, well, my old life, but I miss it and have been considering slowly bringing it into my rotation. Anyway, these days, I’ve been doing a seasonal thing; it feels very luxurious to have a little perfume wardrobe. In the fall, I was wearing Tory Burch’s Mystic Geranium; it’s light, a little sweet, but still a little bit musky.
My “winter” scent is No. 12 Bousval by Maison Louis Marie. On bare skin, it felt weirdly too intense and a little masc, but somehow under layers of knits and sweaters, it’s exactly right. If I ever go out at night—which is rare these days since I have a one-year-old at home—then I do Dries Van Noten’s Fleur Du Mal. It’s intoxicating and sensual, and I love it. I bought the “discovery kit,” which had all the fragrances and turns out there are a few that I really like, but that one’s my favorite. When it got close to running out, I decided to save the little bit that’s left for special occasions. Maybe I’ll ask for a full-size bottle for my birthday this year.
Virginia Smith, fashion director
I’ve been a fan of Jo Malone Red Roses fragrance for many years. I typically layer the cologne and body creme, which is a rich creamy texture. The scent reminds me of a summer garden—a memory I never get tired of.
Talia Abbas, associate shopping director
The beach is my happy place—incidentally, I’m drawn to scents that transport me to a sunny day by the water. Carthusia’s roll-on oil reminds me of summers spent on the Mediterranean, skin sticky from salty sea mist and the air perfumed by lush gardenia trees. Regime des Fleurs feels more heady and surreal—a swell of neroli and citrus that comes alive at night.
Mai Morsch, editor
I love a natural, musky fragrance that smells like clean skin. My recent obsession is DedCool’s “Milk” fragrance, it is super light but I’ve gotten more compliments on it than I can count. I’ll often layer it with Santa Maria Novella’s “Melagrano” fragrance—a true classic that is clean and soapy in the best way possible.
Irene Kim, production and editorial associate
I first tried out Gypsy Water at the perfume counter and walked away due to the hefty price tag. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful yet mellow vanilla, citrusy, and sandalwood scent that I had to return back to Nordstrom the following day to immediately purchase it. They also have a roll-on perfumed oil version of it as well, which I love as I often find spray-based perfumes smelling very alcohol-like on me.
Another (and newer) favorite of mine is Glossier You Doux. I smelled it on my colleague Florence initially and she smelled so good I immediately went to go buy it that evening. Two weeks ago, I wore it to the office and Florence told me I smelled good and asked me what scent I was wearing. I really love how it smells so different, but heavenly on everyone.
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Madeline Fass, shopping associate director
I have never been the type to have a signature scent or wear perfume every day so I prefer to keep discovery sets from fragrance brands around in my vanity so I can spritz a little on whenever I feel like it. For reasons I don’t have the answers to, I haven’t committed to any particular scent for myself. I like to keep it a surprise I guess! Plus the tiny size is perfect for traveling!
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Emma Specter, culture writer
I was recently sent Vacation’s new scent and absolutely love it (summer never has to end!), but the perfume I’m most actively hoarding samples of right now is Byredo’s Mojave Ghost, which smells like the coolest girl in your college sociology seminar who always comes in ten minutes late in a gorgeous vintage dress clutching a coffee and somehow gets away with it. That makes sense, right?
Kylee McGuigan, associate production manager
I’ve been on the hunt for a signature scent for a while now, yet haven’t committed to splurging on one just yet. Recently, my friends put me on Dossier to essentially “sample” perfumes that are similar to their designer counterparts. I’ve been loving the Fruity Almond perfume that’s inspired by Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl; it’s a subtle, yet sweet scent that’s been perfect for the winter, and has convinced me to invest in the real thing!
