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11 of the best new perfumes from 2025 that are guaranteed to get you compliments all the way into next year
New signature scent, coming up!
2025 has been a cracking year for perfumes. While gourmands led the way (searches for “sweet perfumes”, “vanilla perfume” and “peach scents” spiked 44% year on year, according to Perfume Direct’s data), there were new launches that will appeal to lovers of all fragrance families. From big splurges to high street heroes there have been dozens of launches spritzed in the Cosmo beauty cupboard that we have become borderline obsessed with. Some have even replaced old favourites in my fragrance stash at home. Take Glossier You Fleur, for example, I was so in love with You original but now, You Fleur and Doux is the power combo that I didn't know I needed, and every time I wore it into the office, our Site Director, Dusty, would comment on how good I smell when I walked past her desk. Win.
Over the past year, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on the ones we have gotten the most compliments on and naturally we wanted to share with you in case you are on the hunt for a new signature scent to add to the Christmas list or to shop in the boxing day sales...
Ouds can be a little marmite but everyone that has smelt on me this has been blown away. It oozes sexiness, which makes sense as it's a part of Byredo's Night Veils collection and is meant for evenings, but there is no reason to to limit this to the nighttime. It's spenny but it's an Extrait, one of the most luxe kinds of fragrance thanks to the hefty dose of perfume oil compared to EDPs and EDTs.
Notes:
Top Notes: Saffron, Eucalyptus, Papyrus,
Heart Notes: Tuberose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Oud
Base Notes: Mineral Amber, Patchouli, Labdanum, Sandalwood
Glowing customer review: "absolutely addictively gorgeous. strong. woody, leathery, dry spicy. I am absolutely in love - it smells like a very rich sophisticated and sexy woody scent. head turner. perfect for the colder months."
Every scent in the Angel's Share collection has a base of sultry cognac (the term angel's share refers to the alcohol, water and some flavour that evaporate out of liquors as they age in their barrels) but each has a tweak to their notes to give the cocktail a twist. I love the original Angel's Share, but find it a tad too masculine for me, my fave has been Paradis which is a little sweeter with hints of raspberry. But then I spritzed this. On the Rocks is warm and woody but with a gorgeous unexpected zesty twist thanks to the bitter orange.
Notes:
Top notes: Italian Lemon, Grapefruit, Ice, Bergamot, Mandarin, Bitter Orange and Aldehydes
Middle notes: Cognac, Cinnamon and Caramel
Base notes: Tonka Bean, Oak, Sandalwood, Cashmere Wood and Myrrh.
Glowing customer review: "I honestly don't think I've ever smelled anything like this. Fresh enough to wear in the heat during the day but still sweet and boozy to also wear at night in the cold. Just a perfect 10/10 for me."
If you're thinking, hang on, this is not new, you aren't entirely wrong. Issey Miyake Le Sel d'Issey eau de toilette has been around for a while but, this is the amped up EDP version with a bigger dose of perfume oil and therefore more staying power. There are some tweaks to the notes too, with Amber accord bringing warmth to the base. It's a woody, aquatic and genderless scent that's as fresh as a cool breeze whipping off the waves on a beach, some say it's similar to Tom Ford Oud Minerale.
Notes:
Top notes: Salt accord, ginger, Incense
Heart notes: Marine seaweed, Sand Vetiver
Base notes: Amber accord, cedarwood, oakmoss
Glowing customer review: "It smells like a cold beach. Sea breeze, distant smoke, rounded and earthy, masculine. Quality is high, this is far from from ocean scented shower gel. The performance is also excellent. Its also not ruined by too much sweetness or saltiness, it projects as very natural."
This is such a beautiful summer floral scent, and has some surprising depth to the notes so everybody can smell something a little different. The first thing I smell when I apply, is banana and I thought I was going crazy as it's not on the notes list but SO many people have also said this online and IRL. It fades away to reveal a fruity floral with a warm and creamy dry down with the jasmine lingering the longest for me.
Notes:
Top Notes: White Strawberry notes, Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Heart Notes: Marigold, Jasmine, Violet notes
Base Notes: White Woods, Musk, Vanilla notes
Glowing customer review: "This is by far my most used perfume from the Daisy line, there is something just so utterly deep and sexy about this scent, like you would wear it on a night out to somewhere nice, with your hair up and a dark dress on, it's almost mysterious. The violet hits you first, but it intertwines with the fruity strawberry heavenly, then after about an hour of wearing it, for me at least, it almost has an amber-vanilla like dry down."
With each new scent in the You family my love grows deeper, but I was so dubious about this one as I'm not typically a floral fan. This altered my brain chemistry though. It is so warm and joyful, it's the scent equivalent of laying at a picnic in the park and the sun peaking back out from behind a cloud - just bliss! I love layering mine with You Doux for a woodier punch.
Notes:
Top note: Mineral Salt Accord
Middle: Osmanthus, Ylang Ylang, Apricot Skin, Cashmeran
Base: Ambrox
Glowing customer review: "Ordered the sample pack to try the new glossier fragrances. Fleur has a warming scent to it, despite being floral so it doesn’t feel like a summery fragrance and works all year round. The floral undertones come through before it settles down to a more woody and I feel coconutty scent. The scent adjusts to your skin so it’s personalised to you. Long lasting, I can still smell this towards the end of the day. This scent layers well with others for added depth."
I know an It girl scent when I smell one and this is incredible. I've had so many compliments with this scent and I think if you like scents like Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche that are light and feminine, you'll love this. The strawberry notes at the top gives it a cheeky fruitiness that is anything but cloying.
Notes:
Top Note: Wild Strawberry.
Heart Note: Gardenia.
Base Notes: Vanilla Brown Sugar & Patchouli Oil
Glowing customer review: "In love with this fragrance! I bought it just going off the reviews as I’d not smelt it and omg it is amazing I am in love with this fragrance! You will not be disappointed if you purchase this!!"
I said in my big M&S perfumes review that the eau de toilette of this smells like Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle and the EPD does too with a longer-lasting scent. It's a little sweet, very feminine and slightly spicy.
Notes: Petitgrain, Pink Pepper, Vanilla
Glowing customer review: "Smells amazing , long lasting , a bargain at the price"
One thing I've noticed with this, is that I only get compliments on the scent when someone comes in for a hug, which I kind of love as it's such a snuggly skin scent. It's a creamy, woody scent that warms up on the skin. If you like subtle warmth over big projection, you'll love this.
Notes:
Top Notes: Pink Pepper, Almond Milk, French Vanilla
Heart Notes: Iris, Cypriol, Musk
Base Notes: Amber Woods, Tonka Bean, Cashmere Woods
Glowing customer review: "This is soft, comforting, creamy and just plain good. It’s accessibly priced. My other favorite of the collection is Otherwear—it’s like a scent I’ve never smelled before."
Warm breeze gently lifting at your towel as you lay back and sip your fruity drink by a pool, the sun is beating down, life's good. That's what this scent is to me. It's a fragrance water so it's not long lasting, but you can slip it in your bag to top up as you feel it fade away.
Notes: Jasmin, vanille, salin, ylang ylang, fève tonka
Glowing customer review: "This fragrant water has a lovely smell. All I would say is that one should treat it like a cologne. It is not as strong as eau de toilette so will not last as long on the skin but having said that it is a lovely smell to freshen you up and spray on liberally. I would recommend it but remember it is not a strong perfume."
I'm a big fan of Char Tilbs scents and this 2025 addition is beautiful. Its a warm, floral feminine scent that genuinely does have you oozing confidence. It's incredibly long-lasting and the jasmine is the star of the show.
Notes: Juicy Blackcurrant Absolute, Dewy Jasmine Accord, Confident Oakmoss Absolute
Glowing customer review: "For the ladies that love a sugary sweet jasmine, Star Confidence will be perfect."
I'm calling it, this is the flirtiest scent of 2025 and I'm obsessed. It's the grown-up and sexy way to do a gourmand. The scent is packed with sweet notes like cacao and cherry with a dose of boozy rum to cap it off so it's not girlish at all.
Notes:
Top Notes: Tart Cherry, Rum, Cacao
Heart Notes: Jasmin, Tuberose, Gurjun Balsam
Base Notes: Myrrh, Tolu Balsam, Vanilla
Glowing customer review: "On me this fragrance is like a cozy whisper — cherry, cacao, and warm woods blending into something that feels completely personal. It doesn’t shout, but those who come close always notice how beautiful it is."
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
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