15 Blind Buy-Safe Perfumes to Give This Year That Won't Get Returned, According to Our Editors
Consider this your cheat code to finding the perfect fragrance gift every single time.
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As far as online shopping goes, perfume is (admittedly) one of the most difficult things to buy based on sight alone—especially if you plan on gifting it to someone else. I can't count the number of times that I've read a perfume description thinking it would be perfect for me, only to feel majorly disappointed after trying it IRL. However, since testing a scent in person first isn't always possible, I've rounded up 15 of the most blind buy-safe perfumes that any fragrance lover is sure to adore.
You might be wondering, what makes a perfume blind buy-safe? In my opinion, it's a scent that's crowd-pleasing, easy to wear, and relatively affordable—so I've steered away from controversial and pricey perfumes, and instead leaned into tried-and-true favorites under $150. That includes picks that have earned our editors dozens of compliments over the years. Think soft, musky blends like Dedcool Xtra Milk, fresh florals like Ouai Melrose Place, and viral scents that are worth the hype like Phlur Vanilla Skin.
Below, find editor-approved, blind-buy safe perfumes for everyone on your list (including yourself!).
Who it's for: The person in search of a holy grail vanilla scent
“There's a reason why Cosmo editors crowned Vanilla 28 the best vanilla perfume of all time—it's simply perfection. Warm, sultry, and sweet without going cloying, this blend of vanilla, jasmine, amber, brown sugar, and tonka is pretty much a vanilla lover's dream. On my skin, it lasts around eight hours and projects well enough to earn tons of compliments, so it's definitely worth the price point."—LAUREN GRUBER, ASSOCIATE COMMERCE EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bourbon vanilla, brown sugar, jasmine, amber, musk |
| Sizes available | 0.33 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz |
Who it's for: Literally anyone—it's THAT crowd-pleasing
"This is actually one of my most-complimented perfumes. It gives me that Rihanna effect—everyone I cross paths with can't get enough of my scent. In fact, the first day I wore it, a cab driver immediately asked for the link so he could buy it for his sister."—SAMANTHA OLSON, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, white musk, amber |
| Sizes available | 0.5 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz |
Who it's for: The person who never skips a mani
"Picture the most luxurious bubble bath scattered with rose petals (doesn’t that sound like a dream?). Melrose Place brings that self-care ritual to life at a moment’s notice. My nose is immediately greeted with sparkling champagne and pink peppercorn before a bouquet of roses, peonies, freesia, and jasmine calm my senses. This gorgeous mix creates an incredibly refreshing fragrance that embodies the ~clean girl aesthetic~ to a tee."—MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, champagne, lychee, rose, peony |
| Sizes available | 1.7 fl oz |
Who it's for: The bookworm who loves to feel cozy
"For a cheap perfume that doesn't smell, well, cheap, Chai Épicé has my vote. This blend of soft spices, violet, and musks is undeniably comforting, like sipping a tea latte in a cozy cafe. Its understated scent profile works for everyday, but I find myself reaching for it most during the fall and winter months."—LG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Violet fig, lily of the valley, musk blonde woods |
| Sizes available | 1 fl oz, 2.5 fl oz |
Who it's for: The overachiever in search of an office-safe scent
"This perfume is basically a cheat code to feeling elegant and put-together. With notes of sage, sea salt, and woods, it smells so natural and reminds me of crisp ocean air. Plus, Jo Malone London fragrances tend towards the subtler side, so it's a safe pick for someone who finds most perfumes to be overwhelming."—LG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Sea salt, sage, ambrette, woods |
| Sizes available | 0.3 fl oz, 1 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz |
Who it's for: The TikTok-savvy giftee
"Few perfumes have gone as viral as Phlur Vanilla Skin, so there's no doubt your social-media-savvy friend has had her eye on this for ages. Sophisticated and alluring, this perfume pulls people in with creamy woods, sugar crystals, and, of course, vanilla."—MH
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Pink pepper, jasmine, vanilla, cashmere wood, sandalwood |
| Sizes available | 0.32 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz |
Who it's for: The wellness enthusiast
"Sandalwood-forward scents are sophisticated and unexpectedly sexy—but if Le Labo's Santal 33 is a little out of budget, this pick offers a similar vibe at a literal fraction of the price. Its notes of sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, and amber offer a calming, spa-like aroma. And although it's technically a body mist, the glass bottle makes it feel super luxe and gift-worthy."—LG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Sandalwood, cedar, amber, violet leaves, vetiver |
| Sizes available | 3.4 fl oz |
Who it's for: The minimalist with great taste
"You know when you finally find the perfect (but slightly expensive) white T shirt and you’re like: 'holy shit this is worth every dollar—I’ll wear this all the time and a million different ways?' That’s Retrospect. It’s indulgent, but good for everyday and the clean, skin-like scent is easy to wear, whether you’re a perfume novice or full-on nose."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, pear, violet, vanilla, musk |
| Sizes available | 0.32 fl oz, 1 fl oz, 2 fl oz |
Who it's for: The older sister that gives the best advice
"There is nothing I love more than showing up on a first date and being told I smell good. It’s intoxicating, really. And the perfume that’s been doing that most recently is Noyz Only Human, a vanilla-based skin scent that's creamy and soft. There are hints of cedarwood and pink pepper to round out the milky vibes, but most of all, I get a soothing sweetness."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, pink pepper, bamboo, vanilla, cedar |
| Sizes available | 0.5 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz |
Who it's for: The notorious flirt of the friend group
"This fragrance strays from the rest of Sol de Janeiro's lineup—rather than being warm and spicy, it has a sparkling, fresh vibe, thanks to sugared dragonfruit and aromatic jasmine. In my eyes, the mist redefines what a stereotypical "sexy" scent should smell like: It embodies the feeling of enchanting, flirty escapades."—MH
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Pink dragonfruit, lychee, jasmine, vanilla, musk |
| Sizes available | 3 fl oz, 8 fl oz |
Who it's for: The beauty lover who practically lives in Sephora
"Celebrity perfumes are a dime a dozen, so I was pleasantly surprised at how elevated the Rare Eau de Parfum smells. I'm impressed with its dynamic scent profile that has a little bit of everything. It's got layers of gourmands that make you smell delicious and a subtle spicy kick that adds sophistication. I can truly see myself wearing this every day, all year long."—ANVITA REDDY, COMMERCE EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Caramel, pistachio, vanilla, ginger, sandalwood |
| Sizes available | 0.34 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz |
Who it's for: The one who wishes it was summer all year long
"Most of Glossier's You line is blind buy-safe—thanks to its skin-like ambrox base and under-$100 price point—but Fleur is my personal favorite. Some floral scents can lean too mature, but this one is modern and playful with notes of osmanthus, sea salt, ylang-ylang, and apricot. It reminds me of an everything shower post-beach day, when you feel fresh and clean but the smell of salt still lingers in your hair."—LG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Ylang-ylang, apricot skin, osmanthus, sea salt, ambrox |
| Sizes available | 0.27 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz |
Who it's for: The life of the party
"Designer scents that everyone knows aren't generally the scents that get me the most compliments. But Donna Born in Roma is the exception. It's a sweet and floral mix that works well with basically everyone's body chemistry (I've spritzed it on quite a few friends to test this theory). And the scent projects well without cloying or inducing a headache."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Blackcurrant, bergamot, jasmine, vanilla, cashmere wood |
| Sizes available | 0.34 fl oz, 1 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz |
Who it's for: The person who loves a fresh bouquet
"I'm extremely picky when it comes to rose perfumes: If they're too powdery, I feel like a grandma; if the base notes are too woody, I get a little queasy. But Eau Rose is the one and only exception. It's earthy and dewy and fresh, like you're stepping right into a rose garden, so it's quite crowd-pleasing while still smelling elevated. In fact, the first time I wore it, my friends demanded that I send them the link so they could buy it for themselves." — SAMANTHA JONES, COMMERCE EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Rose damascena, centifolia rose, blackcurrant, lychee, cedar |
| Sizes available | 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz |
Who it's for: The holiday host who adores a sweet treat
"Bar none, I've gotten the most compliments when I'm wearing Billie Eilish's original scent than any other perfume. Today, I wore it to the office, and eight of my coworkers have already badgered me about what perfume I'm wearing, because I smell so good. Eilish smells like an ultra-sweet vanilla cloud. It's loaded with sugar, cacao, musk, red berries, and amber that make it warm and cozy."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Mandarin orange, red berries, cacao, vanilla, musk |
| Sizes available | 0.33 fl oz, 1.7 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz |
How to (successfully) choose a blind buy-safe perfume
When it comes to buying perfumes without smelling them IRL first, I like to abide by a few key rules. First, stick to scent categories that tend to be crowd-pleasing, like yummy vanillas and fresh florals—save the bold leathers and boozy notes for in-person shopping. I also recommend opting for travel sprays or smaller bottles, since you can always upgrade to a larger size later if it's a win. Finally, staying in budget is a surefire way to avoid major buyer's remorse, so every scent on this list is under $150.
Why trust Cosmo?
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Cosmopolitan with over five years of experience researching and writing about all things beauty. An expert in the perfume space, she uses her knowledge of the history and science of fragrance to analyze the latest trends. She hand-selected each scent featured on this list, and sourced testing notes from her fellow Cosmo editors.
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Country Living, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater.
You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
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