Can I be frank? I mostly wear perfume for the compliments. Not entirely, of course. Sniffing my wrists and smelling something delicious throughout the day makes me feel good. But there’s nothing like a friend, coworker, or stranger (and best of all, an Uber driver) taking a beat in the middle of a conversation to note how good you smell. The scent could be nice, but the praise is what’s really intoxicating.
Since I became a beauty editor four years ago, I started keeping track of all the fragrances that garnered the most compliments in a note on my phone. I’d look at it before big events, like a first date or wedding, and spritz myself accordingly. Reading over it recently, I realized nearly every single perfume on the list had one thing in common: They’re brimming with fig, a fruity fragrance note that’s subtly sweet, warm, and creamy. But the best part is, fig perfumes come in a variety of scent families, from yummy gourmands to earthy tea scents to bright citrus perfumes.
Compiling my favorites was a challenge, but I was up for it. Starting with the first one I ever wore that started this whole craze...
Le Labo Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum
| Notes | Fig, bergamot, cedar, vetiver, musk, tobacco |
| Scent family | Warm and spicy |
Named one of the best perfumes ever by Cosmo (aka me), Thé Noir is sophisticated, reminiscent of fruity, herbal tea. It’s a take on fig that isn’t so obvious, pulling in cedar and tobacco for a spicy, grounded base. I’ve been wearing this scent for years—so much so that it’s probably the closest I have to a signature scent as someone with over 200 perfumes in my collection.
TOM FORD Figue Érotique Eau de Parfum
| Notes | Fig, bergamot, pink pepper, salt, patchouli, licorice, vetiver |
| Scent family | Fruity and spicy |
This is fig at its sexiest and most seductive. Winner of a Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award, Figue Erotique has a “muted sexiness,” says assistant beauty editor Jasmine Hyman. And it’s one of the rare scents that both of us love. If I wear it to the office, Jasmine can immediately clock it, and vice versa. It’s not so sensual that it feels over-the-top during the day, but it still has a hint of something that leans in that direction. Perhaps it’s the mix of fruity fig and bergamot blending with spicy pink pepper and powdery patchouli—together, they all create a soft veil of scent that’s universally flattering and unique at the same time.
FWIW, my current go-to combo is spritzing Le Labo Thé Noir all over, then layering a few quick sprays of this on top. It really highlights the fig in both but creates a sultry scent that’s great for nighttime.
Yves Saint Laurent Lavallière Eau de Parfum
| Notes | Fig, rose petals, musk |
| Scent family | Fruity Floral |
In a sea of people wearing Black Opium and Libre, YSL’s more popular fragrance lines, I’m keen on Lavallière, a rosy, fig-scented scent inspired by the iconic YSL lavallière accessory (also known as the pussy bow). I’ve been wearing this perfume for years, and it always garners questions (which annoyingly makes me have to show off how wretched my French accent is). The fig takes away a lot of the powdery, “grandma” vibes of the rose note, turning this into a sparkly, bright floral. It’s uber feminine, so I love it in spring and summer.
Phlur Father Figure Eau de Parfum
| Notes | Lush fig, jasmine dew, sandalwood, |
| Scent family | Woody |
Father Figure is one of the most popular fig scents on the market. And for good reason! It was one of the first to highlight the note so prominently, combining fig with lush green florals and woods to create a cool, earthy fragrance. On a mega-hot day, this immediately cools me down.
Liis In This World Eau De Parfum
| Notes | Blood Orange, eucalyptus, fig, violet, lavender, tonka wood, sage |
| Scent family | Fruity |
I brought this to Tulum on an adult spring break two years ago, and legit every single person—a group of eight beauty lovers—complimented my fragrance. In This World is tropical without being too on the nose, with blood orange, fig, violet, and tonka wood. There’s a vibrancy to the scent that immediately pairs with Farm Rio dresses and beach cover-ups, transporting you to a beach club. And I love how it wears throughout the day and night, softening a bit and drying down to a subdued green scent.
Lake & Skye 333 Sheer Fig + Salt Hair & Body Mist
Lake & Skye 333 Sheer Fig + Salt Hair & Body Mist
| Notes | Grapefruit blossom, clary sage, bergamot, amberwood, marine, sandalwood, sea moss, driftwood |
| Scent family | Woody and fresh |
Sometimes, I just wanna coat myself in scent, but I don’t want it to be too heavy. And a body mist is perfect for those occasions. I love how beachy this one is, combining fig with salt for a fresh, airy scent. After a day at the pool or beach, I’ll take an everything shower, and just before I put my cozy loungewear on, I’ll spray my whole body with this. It makes me smell so clean.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
