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Want to Smell Like Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era? There’s a Perfume for That

From debut 🪕 to The Life of A Showgirl. ❤️‍🔥

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I'm a certified Swiftie. I've been listening to Taylor Swift since the debut days, first saw her on the Fearless Tour in 2009, attended the Eras Tour three times, and I even planned a breakup to align with the release of Midnights (I know she'd be so proud). Amidst relating to her music through all of my life's biggest moments, I became a beauty editor who reports on the best perfumes for my job. And I thought: What if I combine the two? Is there really a perfume perfectly aligned to every Taylor Swift era? I'm convinced, yes.

Just like how every Taylor Swift album has a specific sound and vibe, each of them must have a distinct scent, IMO. I've spent literal years thinking about what each era smells like. 1989 has always felt vibrant and jovial, while Speak Now gives off an incandescent, romantic aura. As for Evermore: That era is woody as hell with a hint of spice. And The Life of a Showgirl definitely smells like glimmering vintage sophistication.

As you can see, I've put alooooot of thought, time, and effort into this, and below you'll find a perfume that encapsulates the energy of each Taylor Swift era. Before replaying your favorite album, be sure to spritz the corresponding perfume for the ~best listening experience~ of your life.

Taylor Swift's first album is a certifiable classic—much like Marc Jacobs Daisy. I look at debut and Daisy as one in the same: For many fans, this album was their introduction into the Swiftie universe. Similarly, Daisy was also the first "adult" perfume for a ton of my friends, essentially acting as a gateway into the world of fragrance.

The uplifting, soft perfume smells fresh, optimistic, and extremely nostalgic with a swirl of violet leaves, wild strawberry, and lush white florals. One spritz will have you replaying "Our Song" in your head and feeling like you ~have a place in this world.~

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    Key notesViolet leaves, wild strawberry, jasmine, vanilla
    2
    "Fearless"

    Chloé Chloé

    new york august 27: taylor swift performs during the fearless tour at madison square garden on august 27, 2009 in new york city. (photo by jason kempin/getty images)
    chloé eau de parfum
    taylor swift fearless album cover taylor's version
    new york august 27: taylor swift performs during the fearless tour at madison square garden on august 27, 2009 in new york city. (photo by jason kempin/getty images)
    chloé eau de parfum
    Now 45% Off

    Let's rewind to 2008, the year that Fearless *and* Chloé's O.G. perfume came out. (Coincidence? I think not.) This album was my youth, and every time I listen to it, I'm taken back to summer bonfires and endless laughter. Chloé manages to do the same with its fresh floral aroma.

    With a single spritz, a gorgeous bouquet of peony, freesia, rose, lily of the valley, and magnolia comes to life. While it's floral to its core, a bit of cedar and amber ground it in cozy warmth. This scent cloaks you in optimism, and truthfully, wearing this will make you want to dance in a storm in your best dress—fearless.

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      Key notesPeony, rose, magnolia, amber
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      3
      "Speak Now"

      Tocca Maya

      nashville, tn december 10: musician taylor swift attends the annual nashville symphony ball at the schermerhorn symphony center on december 10, 2011 in nashville, tennessee. swift, a 4 time grammy winner, was honored with the nashville symphonys prestigious harmony award, recognizing her for exemplifying the unique harmony between the many worlds of music that exist in nashville, and her significant contributions to the development and appreciation of musical culture. earlier this month swift was feted by billboard magazine as their 2011 woman of the year, the youngest artist ever to receive this top honor. last month she won artist of the year at the american music awards and was named entertainer of the year by the country music association. (photo by royce degrie/getty images)
      tocca women's eau de parfum, maya fragrance, 1.7oz (50 ml) warm floral, wild iris, blackcurrant, patchouli heart hand finished bottle
      taylor swift speak now album cover taylor's version
      nashville, tn december 10: musician taylor swift attends the annual nashville symphony ball at the schermerhorn symphony center on december 10, 2011 in nashville, tennessee. swift, a 4 time grammy winner, was honored with the nashville symphonys prestigious harmony award, recognizing her for exemplifying the unique harmony between the many worlds of music that exist in nashville, and her significant contributions to the development and appreciation of musical culture. earlier this month swift was feted by billboard magazine as their 2011 woman of the year, the youngest artist ever to receive this top honor. last month she won artist of the year at the american music awards and was named entertainer of the year by the country music association. (photo by royce degrie/getty images)
      tocca women's eau de parfum, maya fragrance, 1.7oz (50 ml) warm floral, wild iris, blackcurrant, patchouli heart hand finished bottle
      Now 16% Off

      Does everyone remember Taylor Swift's perfume Wonderstruck? That scent was Speak Now to a tee, but it was discontinued a few years ago (womp). However, Tocca Maya comes pretty damn close to that TS signature—plus, the bottle completely matches this era too.

      Maya opens with a sparkling mix of citrus and blackcurrant before quickly transforming into a romantic wildflower field with hints of rose, iris, and jasmine. The woody dry down maintains an ethereal softness with a touch of earthy oakmoss. Simply put, it's enchanting.

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        Key notesBlackcurrant, Bulgarian rose, iris, patchouli

        Maybe it's because of the 'All Too Well (10 Minute Version)' visuals or the fact that Red (Taylor's Version) debuted in November, but there's something about this album that screams fall. As such, it only feels fitting that this era would smell like Autumn Vibes. A quick misting of this spicy, resinous scent—which combines coriander, cardamom, cedar, and moss—transports you to a wooded upstate trail where brown and yellow leaves crunch under your feet.

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          Key notesPink pepper, cardamom, cedarwood, fir balsam
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          Out of all of Swift's eras, 1989 feels the most carefree. This is a coming-of-age album that embodies all of the emotions you experience as you enter early adulthood: embracing new beginnings, falling in love, surviving heartbreak, and building yourself back up. No perfume conveys all of these feelings quite like Candied Lychee.

          Simple yet sparkling, lychee provides a sweet, flirty opening before mellowing with honeyed peony and settling in a soft ambery-vanilla haze. It's a scent that will make you want to dance the night away and believe all your wildest dreams can (and will) come true.

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            Key notesLychee, peony, vanilla, crystal amber

            🎶Can you feel the flames on your skin?🎶 No? Well, you will with this smokey perfume, okay? Smoking Hot mirrors the defiant vibes of Reputation with a dark, seductive cocktail of spicy cinnamon, tobacco, and boozy bourbon vanilla.

            This scent is beautifully layered just like the album: Under the tough exterior, it's a masterful homage to love. At the first whiff, you'll pick up on hints of caramel apple. Then, smoke and Kentucky tobacco give this a hard edge, but as vanilla and licorice emerge, it becomes warm and heavenly inviting again. If love doesn't make you—or your crush—crazy, this perfume will definitely do the trick.

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              Key notesCinnamon, smoke, tobacco, bourbon vanilla
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              Cotton candy skies and whimsical vibes immediately come to mind when I think of Lover. Skylar's bottle sure matches this era's aesthetic, and it also smells like soft-focus daydreams and golden hour—which Swift was 100 percent trying to evoke while writing this album.

              Tart apple and juicy raspberry sorbet create a really delicious opening that makes way for candy-coated guava flowers and creamy coconut milk. Cotton candy adds a sugary twist before settling in the warm glow of amber, vanilla, and musk. Overall, the scent feels like a mosaic sky as the sun peeks over the horizon to reveal daylight.

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                Key notesRaspberry sorbet, coconut milk, cotton candy, vanilla

                Salt aiiiiiir... Okay, so, this scent doesn't smell like 'August.' But it does uniquely feel like your a chilly summer night on the water: breezy yet cozy. The aroma of Liis Studied flawlessly aligns with the wistfully dreamy aura of Folklore. This understated musky skin scent is enlivened with a dash of juicy pear and slightly spicy carrot seed before enveloping you in a warm, powdery embrace thanks to iris and cashmere (hello, "Cardigan").

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                  Key notesPear, ambrette, orris, cashmere
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                  Rumor has it that this scent is Taylor Swift's real-life signature, and it totally gives Evermore. While many wood-centric scents are loud, this one whispers and wraps you in comforting, intimate warmth. Imagine a toasty fireplace minus the fire. Instead of a crackling flame, you get a bit of heat from a medley of spices—including cinnamon and carrot seeds. Ylang ylang, sandalwood, and benzoin then cut through the spice for glowing, creamy finish.

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                  Key notesCinnamon bark oil, ylang ylang, sandalwood, cedarwood

                  It's all by design, this perfume was made for a mastermind. (But seriously, it was inspired by the game of chess.) Grand Master is meant to be worn on sleepless nights and fully portrays the ethos of Midnights: It's powerful, unexpected, and completely captivating.

                  This opens with unsuspecting dewy rosewater and blackcurrants before energizing hints of Kona coffee intermingle with velvety rose. The dry down turns dark and mysterious courtesy of smokey incense, rich ebony wood, and a pinch of delicately sweet panettone. Checkmate.

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                    Key notesBlackcurrant, rose, coffee, panettone
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                    11
                    "The Tortured Poets Department"

                    Diptyque Paris L'Eau Papier

                    los angeles, california february 04: (for editorial use only) taylor swift attends the 66th grammy awards at crypto.com arena on february 04, 2024 in los angeles, california. (photo by jeff kravitz/filmmagic)
                    l'eau papier eau de toilette
                    the tortured poets department taylor swift
                    los angeles, california february 04: (for editorial use only) taylor swift attends the 66th grammy awards at crypto.com arena on february 04, 2024 in los angeles, california. (photo by jeff kravitz/filmmagic)
                    l'eau papier eau de toilette

                    Inspired by ink grazing clean, crisp paper, L'Eau Papier has the melancholic Tortured Poets Department written alllll over it. This lightly grazes your skin—almost like a ghost—with a peculiar blend of airy musks, sesame, mimosa, and rice steam. The resulting aroma is reminiscent of a dusty library filled with classic novels (AKA our English teacher's happy place).

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                      Key notesMusk, sesame, mimosa, woods
                      12
                      "The Life of A Showgirl"

                      Harlem Perfume Co. Showgirl

                      taylor swift
                      harlem perfume co. showgirl eau de parfum with amber and sandalwood 1.7 oz/50 ml eau de parfum spray
                      visual representation of a glamorous showgirl theme
                      taylor swift
                      harlem perfume co. showgirl eau de parfum with amber and sandalwood 1.7 oz/50 ml eau de parfum spray

                      I'm a teensy bit convinced that Miss Swift and Harlem Perfume Co. conspired to create Showgirl. I mean, come on, the bottle completely matches the album cover!! This sophisticated perfume blends vintage florals with modern touches for a memorable spritz. Bright, fizzy mandarin and pink pepper create a dazzling start. Lavender and jasmine—along with a touch of spicy cardamom—take center stage in the middle, then amber and sandalwood steal the spotlight on the dry down. Smells like showbiz, baby.

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                        Key notesMandarin, lavender diva, jasmine, sandalwood
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                        Mary Honkus is a beauty contributor for Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a full guide to the fragrance wheel and scent families, as well as a definitive ranking of the best celebrity perfumes. She is an authority in all beauty categories, but has a sweet spot for fragrance with a collection of over 300 scents. Mary is also a major Swiftie—she saw the Eras tour three times—and used her nose to select a perfume to go with each Taylor Swift album.

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                        Mary Honkus is a freelance writer who covers beauty, home, fashion, health, and wellness (just call her a jack of all trades!). She has held staff roles at Real Simple, People, and InStyle, and her bylines can be found in numerous other publications. When she's not testing the latest and greatest products, she can be found chilling on her Hell's Kitchen rooftop, checking out NYC's hottest new restaurants, or recording her podcast Good Trouble NYC. Follow her on Instagram.
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