Sure, These Perfumes are Expensive, But They're Worth Every Penny

Is this perfume made of angel dust? I'm convinced! The original Delina is very fresh and quaint, while this intense version has a fruitiness that makes it so much brighter. But it's still a bit sophisticated and warm, thanks to vetiver and incense. TBH, it's what I spray when I'm trying to cosplay as someone who has their shit together.

• Key notes: Rose, pear, lychee, grapefruit, incense, vetiver
  
• Size: 2.5 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I keep a bottle of Delina Exclusif on my desk at the office to spritz on before big meetings. It makes me feel powerful, but not because it's strong or loaded with heavy woods or intense ouds. It's packed with mature-but-soft rose; juicy pear, lychee, and grapefruit; and warm incense and vetiver that combine for a bold scent."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

It's no surprise a perfume inspired "by a night in Paris" would smell inherently sexy. But it's not sexy in the traditional sense. Actually, nothing about this unique scent is traditional. It opens with sharpness (ginger, mandarin orange, and black pepper) that quickly shifts to a soft, floral profile with notes of quince, jasmine, and orange blossom. As it dries down, you really pick up on the cashmere and patchouli that ground the scent and add richness.

• Key notes: Ginger, mandarin orange, black pepper, jasmine, orange blossom, cashmere, amber, patchouli
  
• Size: 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I finally smelled this iconic scent for the first time in Paris recently and immediately fell in love. It's extremely unique and unlike all of the other scents in my (very large) collection. It's effortlessly sexy—like a chic French woman with messy hair and jeans and a t-shirt."—BG

For the first fragrance developed for Dior by perfumer and Dior Perfume creative director Francis Kurkdjian, this scent feels distinctively Dior, but for nighttime. Orange blossom, jasmine, and rose combine for a concenrated classic scent that's deep but intense. It's sexy and smells like florals that've been dipped in gold.

• Key notes: Jasmine, orange blossom, violet, lily of the valley, rose
• Size: 1.2, 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “Although this is loaded with florals, it has a creamy, sweet scent. The orange blossom is syrupy and delicious. I love wearing this on the beach, so I've brought it on many beach vacations."—BG

Perfumehead is made for people who wanna smell intense. All of their scents are extraits for this reason. But 1272 is the brand's first "coltrait," a cologne-extrait that's meant to have the lightweight qualities of a cologne combined with the longevity of an extrait. And it totally does just that. Ultra-bright citrus notes at the top are ripe and keep the scent transparent, while sandalwood and patchouli add an earthy balance that extends the wear and projection of the scent.

• Key notes: Lime, red mandarin, pink pepper, bergamot, orange, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli
• Size: 1.6 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I'm not usually into a citrus perfume, but the added woodsiness of this scent really takes it to another level. It's juicy and yummy but also grounded. It tows the line between masculine and feminine, making it truly unisex, which I love."—BG

Vanilla perfumes are always amongst our favorites, but many can smell plastic-y and artificial. Not Tobacco Vanille. This one is opulent, creamy, and musky, with a hint of spices. Many people pick up on a cinnamon-esque scent with this, thanks to the spices, cacao, and smokey tobacco notes.

• Key notes: Tobacco leaf, vanilla, spicy notes, cacao, tonka bean
• Size: 0.33, 1, 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is inherently sexy without being overly sweet or cloying or in-your-face. I love a vanilla scent but don’t want to smell like a birthday cake (most of the time). This hits that layered, grown-up note perfectly and lasts all night.”—MADELEINE FRANK REEVES, SENIOR DIRECTOR

The color of this bottle is exactly what the scent smells like: rich, sticky honey. Sweet and delicious, warm and homey. Ambra's what I picture a royal woman would drink at her bedside in Italy—a boozy cocktail with orange, lavender, and honey. It's got an old-world feel, which makes sense, considering the perfume originally launched in 1828.

• Key notes: Bitter orange, bergamot, lavender, rosemary, benzoin, amber, sandalwood
• Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I think if I took this perfume home, my fellow Cosmo staffers would start a riot. Not a day goes by where someone doesn't come up to my desk to ask for a spritz of this bottle. Everyone loves the sweet, warm scent. It's cozy and essentially universally liked."—BG

This is basically the fragrance equivalent of sipping on a whiskey by a fireplace with your ~lover~ (not like I have experience in that or anything). The boozy cognac is immediate and so rich, but the sweet and woodsy notes of vanilla, praline, oak, and sandalwood make it smell so cozy and warm. Not to mention, the bottle, inspired by a fancy rocks whiskey glass, makes this look like a decor piece on your vanity.

• Key notes: Cognac, tonka bean, cinnamon, praline, vanilla
  
• Size: .24, 1.7 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I'd give up real booze if it meant I could be doused in this perfume for eternity. It makes me smell like the most fancy and chic version of myself."—BG

Okay, so we all know about "clean laundry" scents. Well, this is that on steroids. This is clean laundry, but like, Harry Styles's clean laundry. It's got aldehydes—which is what gives it that fresh, soapy scent—plus rich, warm notes like vanilla and tonka bean that make it smell cozier and richer. There's a reason Krigler has been creating scents for royalty and the elite for a century: They're all dripped in decadence.

• Key notes: Aldehydes, vanilla, sandalwood, tonka bean, pepper, bergamot
• Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “I spritz this on when I want people to think I'm wearing head-to-toe The Row (which, unfortunately, is never the case). It just oozes wealth, but in that whispered 'quiet luxury' way, thanks to the soft aldehydic scent."—BG

Inspired by Greta Garbo's hotel room at the iconic Carlyle Hotel in NYC, this perfume is as luxurious as it gets. I picture silk robes, velvet curtains, clawfoot tubs, and overflowing glasses of champagne when I spritz on this sweet, floral perfume. It's filled with bold florals that get a bit sweeter with the addition of blackberry and musk, while sandalwood adds an earthy element that has a real "golden age of Hollywood" vibe.

• Key notes: Blackberry, orchid, violet, musk, sandalwood
  
• Size: 0.67, 1.7, 3.4 oz

One shopper wrote: "As soon as spritzed this perfume, I felt as glamorous and chic as Victoria Beckham. Not a mystery as to why Victoria uses this scent as often as she does. It is so refreshing and light it instantly makes me feel feminine with the burst of floral."

This is the most classic, essential take on rose perfume, but that's why it's so good. It's exactly what you'd picture a starlet would spritz on before walking a red carpet in a couture gown. The heady patchouli and incense give this otherwise fresh, floral a bit of edge and ~sexiness~. And it's a beast—one spritz and they'll smell ya down the hall.

• Key notes: Rose, red fruits, cinnamon, incense, patchouli
  
• Size: 1.7 oz

One shopper wrote: "Some may get discouraged by cost, as I was first time I bought. However, a little goes a long way; pretty much used daily and this bottle lasted a good 8.5 months! Plus, the compliments from strangers... can’t put a dollar sign on the added ego-booster!"

A new celebrity perfume launches nearly every other week, so it's hard to truly impress me. But I brought an itsy-bitsy sample of Portofino to try on a five-day trip to Punta Cana a few weeks ago, and literally needed a full size by the second day because it was the only scent I wanted to wear. The mix of citrus, spice, and woods smells exactly how I imagine an Italian summer vacay with David and Victoria would smell. (If y'all are interested in a throuple, HMU!)

P.S. You can get a discovery set with samples of all three perfumes from Victoria Beckham if you're not sure which is your vibe.

• Key notes: Calabrian bergamot, black pepper, amber, patchouli
  
• Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “This isn’t the celeb perfume we know from the ’00s, because Victoria Beckham might have been a perfumer in a previous life. Portofino ’97 is a delicious fresh yet spicy take on a summertime, beachy perfume that lasts forever on my skin. And the gorgeous bottle doesn’t hurt either.” —BG

Amouage refers to this perfume as "loud whispers," which is legit the perfect way to describe it. At first sniff, it's soft and delicate, but then the spicy saffron and sambac come out, giving it so much more depth. It's truly unlike anything I've ever smelled, which is why I'm a lil forgiving with the $$$$ price tag.

• Key notes: Saffron, rose, sambac, sandalwood, vanilla, frankincense
  
• Size: 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: “Whenever another beauty editor smells really freakin' good around me, I know they're wearing Guidance. I wear it when I want to smell good for hours and hours. It lasts longer than any other perfume I own. In fact, I sprayed it on before a 14-hour flight once and could still smell it when I walked into my hotel room."—BG

A quick spritz of this layering perfume makes all of my perfumes smell expensive. It essentially distills that whole ~je ne sais quoi~ essence all rich-smelling perfumes have without totally overtaking the fragrance you pair it with. The notes are largely a mix of skin-like notes (see: iso e super, civettone, and ambrox super), giving it a musky warmth.

• Key notes: Iso E super, bergamot, civettone, ambrox super, vetiver
• Size: 0.34, 1.7, 3.4 oz

One Cosmo editor says: "I love combining this with body mists to make them smell more complex and give them a lil more longevity. This works well with legit everyone's body chemistry—I've convinced everyone I know to spray it on themselves at my apartment, trust—so it's generally my most consistently-recommended blind buy."—BG

I just have this idea in my brain that Jacob Elordi smells like Mojave Ghost from Byredo. It's entirely his vibe: expensive, velvet-y, smooth, deep, and smart. The floral is warm, not powdery, especially when paired with the warm sandalwood and amber. Brb, wrapping myself up in a blanket smelling like Jacob Elordi because I can!

• Key notes: Ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, cedar, amber
• Size: 1.7, 3.3 oz

One Cosmo editor says: "If you’re looking to splurge on a signature scent and don’t know where to start, do yourself a favor and try spritzing yourself in this vibrant and long-lasting scent from Byredo. The fragrance is the perf combo of woody and floral—making it ideal for any occasion. Whether it’s date night or a day in the office, I promise this perfume will bring in alllll the compliments."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR