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The 17 most iconic perfumes of all time, from viral scents to classic must-haves
According to scent-loving beauty editors
In my opinion, fragrance is the most personal part of any beauty routine. Perfume clings to clothes, stirs up memories, and becomes a key part of how people remember you. And while fragrance trends come and go, the most iconic scents have some serious staying power (literally and figuratively). These timeless perfumes don’t just smell amazing. They sparked trends, inspired a culture of perfume dupes, and built cult followings that still exist decades later.
Ahead, Cosmo’s ranking of the most iconic perfumes of all time. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new signature scent or are curious which legends your fragrance shelf might be missing, these are the bottles that changed the beauty world from the moment they launched.
“A little tart and a little sweet, this helped me get through the depths of winter because of how joyful and playful it feels, and you best believe I’ll be wearing it long into the warm season. In fact, I’m naming it the scent of the summer.” —MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
Key notes: Green mandarin, rhubarb accord, white musk
"When I want something that smells *sexy* but not overly strong (especially during the day), I dab on Phlur Missing Person. I’m not typically a fan of musky scents, but there’s something about this one that’s so subtle and interesting. It settles nicely into your skin in an ‘I naturally smell this good’ sort of way, even on a hot, sweaty summer day. Hours after application, people will still be telling you that you smell amazing, and it lingers on whatever you wore for days." —SARAH MABERRY, FASHION AND LUXURY COMMERCE EDITOR
Key notes: Skin musk, bergamot nectar, blonde wood
One Cosmo editor says: “This was the first big girl perfume I ever wore in high school, and the fresh and floral scent still holds up to this day. It’s equal parts floral and sweet, and brings a touch of youthful nostalgia.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Key notes: Strawberry, violet leaves, jasmine
One Cosmo editor says: "Let’s be real: the original Light Blue is iconic for a reason. That crisp lemon-meets-green-apple top note combo? Chef’s kiss. But the eau de parfum relaunch turns the volume way up while still honouring the fresh DNA we all know and love. This time around, perfumer Olivier Cresp added creamy ambrette seed and a musky, woodsy base that lingers. The new and improved version is built for all-day wear, thanks to its richer base and smart reformulation."—JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR AT LARGE
Key notes: Lemon, apple, cedarwood
One Cosmo editor says: “Gucci has an arsenal of recognisable, luxury scents, but Bloom takes the cake in terms of icon status. It’s a juicy and floral scent combo that smells like, well, a blooming bouquet. It feels mature without being powdery or overpowering, and is ideal for floral perfume lovers.”—JH
Key notes: Jasmine bud, tuberose
One Cosmo editor says: "Although coffee perfume doesn't exactly hit like my morning caffeine, it does smell pretty frickin' good. Don't worry, though. This isn't an edible gourmand. Instead, jasmine and other white flowers turn this into a sophisticated scent."—BG
Key notes: Black coffee, white flowers, vanilla
One Cosmo editor says: "Flowerbomb is the scent of my youth. I remember it being sweet and delicious, but still grown-up and sophisticated. When I smell it as an adult now, I feel the exact same way. It's somehow timeless and a time capsule to 2005 all at once." —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Key notes: Vanilla, jasmine, orange blossom
One Cosmo editor says: "I can't even count how many times I've seen Byredo's sleek bottles attempted to be replicated, but nothing comes close to their long-lasting scents, especially Mojave Ghost. If you’re looking to splurge on a signature scent and don’t know where to start, do yourself a favour 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."—JH
Key notes: Ambrette, magnolia, sandalwood, cedar
One Cosmo editor says: "Glossier pretty much changed the perfume game forever with the launch of Glossier You. The skin-adapting scent is fresh, spicy, layerable, and most importantly, so unique that it smells slightly different on every person. Their subsequent floral and sweet takes on the original are just as addictive."—JH
Key notes: Pink pepper, iris, ambrox
One Cosmo editor says: "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
Key notes: Blackcurrant, jasmine grandiflorum, bourbon vanilla
TOM FORD Private Blend Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50ml
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
Key notes: Tobacco leaf, vanilla, ginger
One Cosmo editor says: "At this point, Santal 33 is the quintessential woody scent that's been duped time and time again, but the original will forever one of my favourites. I probably smell at least one person wearing this every single day in NYC. But (!) there's a reason people are obsessed with the scent: Because it smells damn good and lasts all day on my skin."—BG
Key notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, musk, ambrox
One Cosmo editor says: “Francis Kurkdjian (who's behind the beloved Baccarat Rouge perfume, also on this list) is now the creative director for Dior's fragrances, where he's been reimagining and reworking their most iconic scents. My favourite atm? Miss Dior, which got a musky, spicy glow-up to bring this classic O.G. floral into 2024. It's got your usual suspects (floral notes, jasmine, mandarin orange, and peach), but it's rounded out with patchouli and amberwood to add a darkness to this otherwise bright, fresh perfume. And the lasting power is unmatched."—BG
Key notes: Jasmine, floral notes, mandarin orange, apricot, peach, amberwood
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum at Nordstrom, Size 1.2 Oz
One Cosmo editor says: "There's a reason everyone is so obsessed with this jasmine-dominant fragrance: It's light and airy yet warm and enveloping—it's really unlike any other perfume (you know, until everyone started making similar versions). Yes, it's extremely expensive, but all you need is one spritz to last all day long, meaning the bottle will last a pretty long time."—MH
Key notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, ambergris
One Cosmo editor says: “Delina smells like classic femininity—and not in a tradwife, kind of way. The florals are juicy and fresh--not reminiscent of a garden, rather a blooming bouquet. I thought I hated florals before I finally tried Delina, and now it's one of my go-to scents. And gosh does it last. One single spritz on each wrist and I'll get whiffs all day long."—BG
Key notes: Lychee, rhubarb, peony, vanilla, musk
One Cosmo editor says: "Arguably the most iconic fragrance of all time, Chanel No. 5 is a classic – and it smells like it, too. Yes, it’s very strong and powdery and reminds team Cosmo of their grandmother. But (!) upon learning it was Chanel No. 5, everyone said they felt a pang of nostalgia, knowing a sister, aunt, cousin, or family member who wore this and was immediately transported to another time."—BG
Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, jasmine, iris, rose
One Cosmo editor says: “I’m convinced every single perfume lover has this on their vanity—and I totally get why. The iconic sweet, bold scent lingers on skin for a full day, making it perfect for wearing from day to night. No wonder it’s considered the best-selling perfume in the world. And the bottle is basically chic decor in itself.” —BG
Key notes: Bergamot, almond, jasmine, tuberose, tonka bean
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan US where she writes about all the best perfumes and fragrance trends. For this story, she spent hours researching (and sniffing) to narrow down the most iconic perfumes. She also tapped the rest of team Cosmopolitan for more tested and reviews scents.
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.
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