What Perfume You Should Wear on Valentine's Day, Based on Your Vibes
Dinner with your S.O., night out with your besties, or a movie night at home—we've got you covered.
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Although I've spent every Valentine's Day on this very Earth single, it's one of my favorite holidays. I'll deck myself out in red and pink hearts, throw on a red lipstick, and ring in the season of love with a romcom or my besties by my side (or, occasionally, lots of swiping on Hinge). But it's simply never complete without a Valentine's Day perfume, IMO. You can opt for a fruity fragrance to wear to a party, a ~sexy perfume~, or something soft and cozy to snuggle up with at home. Whatever your V-Day plans, I've gathered the best perfumes to wear this holiday, depending on your vibes, including a mix of sweet, spicy, and fresh scents for every type of fragrance lover.
Our top picks for best 2025 Valentine′s Day perfumes:
Best Valentine's Day Perfume for Cooking At Home With Your Partner
Noteworthy No 150 Blush Affair Eau De Parfum
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Keep scrolling for all of my top picks (I've been sniffing so many new scents lately from Phlur, Orebella by Bella Hadid, The 7 Virtues, and more) and where exactly to wear 'em to. Don't let this deter you at all, though—there are no rules in scent, so feel free to mix and match these notes for any and all occasions. But if you need a lil guidance to get you started, you've come to the right place.
Pros
- Subdued and clean fruity floral scent
- Has great longevity, according to reviews
Cons
- Leaned too sweet for some reviewers
Your besties will actually understand that you fashioned your perfume after the round of lychee martinis you're all going to order, unlike anyone from Hinge. The vanilla and lychee come together for a soft sweetness that isn't cloying (the warmth from a crystal amber nose in the base likely helps with this too), while peony brings forward a bit of maturity.
- Key notes: Lychee, vanilla, peony, crystal amber
One Cosmo editor says: "This is exactly what I thought being 30, flirty, and thriving would smell like when I watched 13 Going on 30 as a child. It's fresh and bubbly and juicy, but also just a little sweet—I love it so much." — Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Noteworthy No 150 Blush Affair Eau De Parfum
Pros
- Reviewers loved the soft, rose scent
- Not at all overpowering, per testing
Cons
- I wish it had a stronger sillage
If you want to elevate a casual night at home, spritz on this rose perfume from Noteworthy. It blends rose, geranium, crème de cassis, and jasmine with lychee, velvet musk, and white amber for a well-rounded, muted bouquet that just screams romance. But it's not too powdery or nose-crinkling either, rather chic and elegant. Just a few dabs of this on your wrists will make even pajamas feel luxurious.
- Key notes: Lychee, rose petals, crème de cassis, geranium, velvet musk, jasmine, white amber
One Cosmo editor says: "Why would you want a bouquet of roses as a V-Day gift when you could be the roses? Noteworthy's No. 150 Eau De Parfum is the scent of true romance thanks to its classic rose notes, but the musk of lychee and crème de cassis really up its sexiness." — Sam Olson, assistant news editor
Pros
- Soft and sweet, but still has some projection
Cons
- Some wished it were a bit more unique smelling
Kayali founder Mona Kattan Elamin developed Silk Santal to wear on her wedding day—a soft, sugary vanilla with a sandalwood, musky base that features hints of nectarine and champagne for some fizz. It's bubbly and bright, but also not overpowering or cloying at all. It's the ideal perfume to wear when you want someone to want to get closer to you all night to catch more whiffs of your scent.
- Key notes: Vanilla, musk, sandalwood, champagne, nectarine, freesia, sugar
One Cosmo editor says: "I went through a mini bottle of this in as little as a month because I was wearing it so often. When I wear this, people take note, and it feels like suddenly everyone wants to be around me. Prob bc I smell so good." — BG
Pros
- Ultra-fine mister
- Really comforting, cozy scent
Cons
- A few testers weren't a fan of the citrus opening (though, I love the balance it brings with all the sweetness)
If I'm gonna be vibing at home by myself all night, I might as well smell delicious. But I don't want something too strong or heavy either. Hence, this body spray from Phlur. Its filled with creamy, milky notes that legit smell like my TV somehow got upgraded to smellvision while I'm watching Great British Baking Show, but in a format that doesn't linger too long that it gets overwhelming.
- Key notes: Marshmallow, coconut, whipped cream, sugar, lemon, jasmine
One Cosmo editor says: "I freakin' love mixing this sweet perfume with just about everything I own to give it a warm, cozy vibe. It makes everything smell yummy." — BG
Pros
- Testers love how light the sweetness is
- Unmistakably cherry, but in a unique way, according to reviews
Cons
- I wish it lasted longer on my skin (only get three to four hours)
Think of a delicious dessert, then wash it down with a cherry cocktail. That's Whipped Cherry, a decadent gourmand perfume with a blend of sweet notes, plus juicy cherry and pineapple and a hint of fresh florals. It's yummy, but not in a traditional cherry way and feels so unique, which will have whoever is across the table thinking you're extra ~mysterious~ and ~sexy~.
- Key notes: Cherry, pineapple, almond blossom, mimosa, whipped cream, vanilla, praline
One Cosmo editor says: "I've tested a lot of cherry perfumes in my time as a beauty editor, and this is the first one that really makes me wanna take a bite. The whipped cream, almond, vanilla, and praline notes make it so delicious, but not sickly sweet or candy-like." — BG
Pros
- Comes in a travel size that's v portable
- Many reviewers said it worked well with their skin chemistry
Cons
- Bottle doesn't stand up on its own, which can be annoying to store
Anyone who is lucky enough to be jetting away for Valentine's Day should have a specific tropical fragrance on hand to spritz without abandon their entire trip. This travel spray from Orebella (by Bella Hadid, btw) is full of creamy white florals and fruity bergamot, but grounded by patchouli to add a tinge of warmth and sunshine. Tip: Shake it, then spray on your skin (not your clothes) to make the scent oils last as long as possible.
- Key notes: Bergamot, cardamom, cedar, clove leaf, jasmine, patchouli
One Cosmo editor says: "Blooming Fire is the perf Valentine's Day vacay fragrance for sooo many reasons. The long-lasting perfume strikes a balance of fresh and spicy, which is the ideal note combo for a sexy, all-day wear scent. Not to mention, the packaging is soooo chic and slim, so it's sure to slide right into your carry-on!" — Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Pros
- Layered with a mix of sweet, woody, and bold notes
- Has an extremely loud sillage
Cons
- A bit too strong for some noses
Winner of a 2024 Cosmo Holy Grail Award, this scent really takes you on a ride (making it a dream to douse yourself in before getting into ~things~ on V-day). From juicy fig to warm vanilla to seductive suede to salty musk, the scent profile on Lover encompasses a whole damn night.
- Key notes: Fig, black pepper, vanilla, suede, cedarwood, vetiver, musk, oud
One Cosmo editor says: “If you’re in a Folklore or Evermore era, this should be your scent. The warm earthy notes are strong but don’t tip overtly ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine,’ and one spritz has real lasting power.” — Alexandra Whittaker, executive director, site
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing fragrance stories that range from a full Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow Review to the best patchouli perfumes. She's an authority in all perfume categories, but is an expert when it comes to Valentine's Day perfumes. I mean, she works at Cosmopolitan, the destination for all things love and relationships–it's just in our second nature to tell you what scents will make you feel all lovey.
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.
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