It’s officially May, which means Mother’s Day is just around the corner (it’s on Sunday the 10th, BTW). So it’s time to show a little extra love and appreciation for all the mother figures in our lives. Of course, we’re pairing handwritten cards with a floral bouquet, but if you also want to gift her a fragrance that she’ll truly treasure, Cosmo’s beauty team has you covered with the best perfume picks.
Our fragrance-obsessed editors have rounded up the bottles that we’d genuinely gift to our own moms—they’re universally loved, blind-buy-safe scents. No matter her scent preference, from clean and fresh to warm gourmands, there’s something on our list for every nose.
Ahead, the best Mother’s Day perfumes for every kind of scent lover, according to Cosmo editors.
| Key notes | Bergamot, jasmine, violet, pear, musk |
Why we love it: My mom is truly the hardest person to buy a fragrance for (sorry if you’re reading this, Cindy). Lavender gives her a headache and vanilla is too sweet, but she finds Retrospect to be the perfect fresh scent. It blends pear, bergamot, jasmine, violet, and musk into a beautifully balanced mix of fresh florals with a soft touch of fruitiness.
One Cosmo editor says: "You know when you finally find the perfect (but slightly expensive) white tee and you’re like: “wow 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 easy to wear, whether you’re a perfume novice or full-on nose."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
| Key notes | Bergamot, white peach, lily of the valley, orange blossom, vetiver |
Why we love it: Valaya is soft and airy, like crisp, freshly pressed cotton. It boasts citrus and florals that are brighter than overly juicy—orange blossom, bergamot, and lily of the valley are layered with aldehydes for that freshly-laundered scent, with hints of vetiver and musk.
One Cosmo editor says: “Valaya smells like the fresh laundry of royalty. It's powdery, citrusy, and floral, but in the cleanest, soapy way. It also lasts so long on skin and even longer on clothes, so gifting one bottle will last a really long time.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
| Key notes | Raspberry, lavender vanilla, musk |
Why we love it: Berry Crush is a juicy twist on the classic YSL Libre scent that everyone knows and loves. It blends raspberry and orange blossom with the core DNA of lavender, vanilla, and musk for a floral that dries down into a sweet warmth.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ll be honest, I usually steer clear of anything with vanilla notes. On me, it can pull way too sweet. But this is the fruity exception I keep reaching for. The raspberry keeps it bright and juicy, so it never feels heavy—it’s warm, romantic, and really easy to wear.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
| Key notes | Gardenia, jasmine, pear, brown sugar |
Why we love it: Florals for Mother’s Day? Groundbreaking. But seriously, if your mom loves a floral scent, Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia is an unfailing choice. It’s a sweet, dreamy floral that feels soft and feminine, with creamy gardenia, a hint of ripe pear, and brown sugar that makes it feel effortlessly pretty—plus the bottle is just as gorgeous as the juice inside.
One Cosmo editor says: “I reach for this when I want something sweet but still really wearable and light. It’s built around jasmine, pear, brown sugar, and gardenia, and it has that soft, floral feel that’s perfect for anyone who loves a classic botanical feel.”—JH
| Key notes | Miracle berry, butterfly lily, oakwood |
Why we love it: Barénia is, in fact, the name of the leather that’s used to create the French fashion house’s coveted handbags, and this scent exudes that same feeling of luxury. It’s a trifecta of fresh, floral, and woody that makes anyone smell rich and regal with just a few spritzes.
One Cosmo editor says: “I can’t even put into words how warm and spicy and beautiful this smells. I get compliments whenever I wear it, including from my sensitive-nosed mother. It lasts all day on both my skin and clothes, so I don’t need to worry about reapplying it after a long work day. And for a luxury perfume, it’s decently priced.” —JH
| Key notes | Vanilla infusion, vanilla caviar, vanilla absolute, lavender |
Why we love it: This scent is equally ethereal and sensual, combining three different types of vanilla: Vanilla infusion, vanilla caviar, and vanilla absolute. The scent is rich, warm, and will make any motherly figure smell like the absolute goddess she is.
One Cosmo editor says: “I'm a firm believer that the right perfume can unlock the most confident version of yourself—and for me, Burberry Goddess makes me feel like this. This is a scent that proves vanilla can be mature—it's essentially the exact opposite of the sugary body mists of my adolescence—yet it still feels lively and youthful.”—MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
| Key notes | Ylang ylang, coconut nectar, sandalwood, sea salt |
Why we love it: Sublimity meansairy, elevated, and effortlessly beautiful, and that’s exactly what one spritz of this solar scent is to me. I can picture my mom freshening up with this on a perfect summer day. It’s the perfect balance of salty, juicy, and aquatic.
One Cosmo editor says: “If summer was a scent, it’d be LORE Sublimity. It captures that post-beach shower feeling—when your sopping hair is full of leave-in products, your tan is developing on your clean skin, and you’re sitting in the golden hour sun with a bowl of fresh fruit.”—JH
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all the latest scent trends and perfume launches. For this story, she put together the best perfumes that she’s tested and would gift her own mother, and polled the Cosmo team for their mom’s favorite fragrances.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
