12 Best Perfumes We’ve Ever Smelled

To shop for yourself or the ladies in your life…
Published February 26, 2025
best perfumes for women

(Image: Getty Images)

Picking a new perfume can induce a full-blown identity crisis.

Where do you even start? Do you want to feel chic and old-worldy, or fun and fresh? Are you more sultry and sexy, or should your signature scent give clean girl? By the end of the process, you’re overwhelmed, nose-blind, and questioning every decision.

Lucky for you, one Cosmopolitan Australia writer has sniffed her way through over 60 fragrances to bring you her top picks of all time. Don’t worry, each one is guaranteed to earn you compliments—or her affection.

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best perfumes for women...

1.

Kayali Vanilla 28 Eau De Parfum 100ml

$228

At Sephora

Key Notes: Vanilla Orchid, Tonka Absolute, Amber Woods, Musk, Brown Sugar

Yes, this scent may have gone viral on TikTok, but every glowing review is spot on. The blend of vanilla, brown sugar, and musk creates a sensual, enticing, and long-lasting scent. Anytime you wear this, you’ll get so many compliments and even better, it lasts all day. 10/10.

2.

best perfumes for women (3)

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Toilette 30ml

$135

At MECCA

Key Notes: Orange Blossom, Lavender, White Tea Accord

Despite being an Eau de Toilette, the longevity is there with this fragrance. The lavender and orange blossom blend is light, airy, and effortlessly chic, yet still demands attention. Perfect for a night out with the girls, it radiates confidence in the most effortless way.

3.

best perfumes for women (4)

The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods Eau De Parfum 50ml

$156

At Sephora

Key Notes: Vanilla, Rose, Pear

A hidden gem on this list! The 7 Virtues can do no wrong, and Vanilla Woods is proof. Even though it’s a vanilla-based fragrance (duh!), it’s not overly sweet. Instead, its musky, sensual, and deeply intriguing. A consistently complimented fragrance at a very reasonable price point.

4.

Coach Eau de Parfum 90ml

$180

At Myer

Key Notes: Musk, Rose, Woody

If you want an affordable perfume that smells like a splurge, Coach EDP needs to be your go-to. Deep and warm, this scent nails the smooth, sexy musk vibe effortlessly. Perfect for getting your crush’s attention…trust me x

5.

Armani My Way Eau De Parfum 50ml

$200

At Myer

Key Notes: Orange Blossom, Bergamot, Jasmine, White Musk

It’s easy to overlook Armani’s other fragrances when Si has such a cult following (and deservingly so), but My Way deserves its moment. This scent is a beautiful balance of sweet and warm, with orange blossom and bergamot creating a blend of comfort and elegance. If you want heads turning, this one’s a no-brainer.

6.

Billie Eilish Eau de Parfum 100ml

$105

At Adore Beauty

Key Notes: Vanilla Bourbon, Warm Musk, Mandarin, Tonka

What can’t Billie do? This perfume is sexy, intriguing, and warm, (basically, everything you want in a scent) and let’s talk about the bottle, literal perfection. This fragrance is ideal for a hot date or just a boost of confidence.

Bonus: it’s super affordable.

7.

Kayali Eden Juicy Apple 01 Eau De Parfum

$228

At Sephora

Eden Juicy Apple is flirty, playful, and totally irresistible—we would even say it is the perfect first-date scent. The combination of red apple, red berries, and grapefruit creates a sweet yet warm fragrance that’s long-lasting and endlessly complimented.

8.

Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum 50ml

$215

At Adore Beauty

Key Notes: Amber, Vanilla Bourbon, Bergamot, Tangerine

A cool fragrance for a cool girl. Paradoxe is floral, amber-heavy, and effortlessly sophisticated. It smells like you have your life together. The sleek, handbag-friendly bottle makes this worth the splurge and trust us, everyone will be asking what you’re wearing.

9.

Charlotte Tilbury More Sex Eau de Parfum 100ml

$265

At MECCA

Key Notes: Black pepper, juniper, leather accord, velvety musk, sandalwood

An aptly-named fragrance from Charlotte Tilbury, this deep, seductive scent is velvety, musky and oh-so alluring. It’s the perfect scent to wear with nothing…

10.

Kylie Cosmic Eau de Parfum 100ml

$112

At Myer

Key Notes: Star Jasmine, Blood Orange, Amber

Even if you don’t usually don’t buy into the overly saturated celebrity fragrance market, let Kylie prove you wrong. Cosmic EDP is earthy, woody, floral, and fresh, balancing sweetness with musk in the best way. It’s a warm, comforting fragrance that’s perfect for any occasion and lasts all day.

11.

Merit Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum 30ml

$147

At Merit

Key notes: Bergamot, pear, jasmine, rose, violet, vanilla, musk, moss

This scent from everyone’s new fave beauty brand is as stylish as you’d expect. With a nearly 30 percent fragrance oil formula, it’s not only fruity and musky, but long-lasting, too.

12.

Carner Barcelona Bo-Bo Eau de Parfum

$175

At Saison

Key notes: orange flower, bergamot, mandarin, white amber, musk

Fancy a Mediterranean holiday? No need to book one—let this fragrance transport you to sunny, European beach days instead. African orange flower, Italian Bergamot and mandarin dance mix with white amber and musk, while Indian Jasmine and Lily of the Valley add just the right amount of sweetness.

To recap, the best perfumes for women (according to Cosmo) are:

  • Kayali Vanilla 28 
  • YSL Libre
  • The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods
  • Coach
  • Armani My Way
  • Billie EIlish
  • Kayali Eden Juicy Apple 01
  • Prada Paradoxe
  • Charlotte Tilbury More Sex
  • Kylie Cosmic
  • Merit Retrospect
  • Carner Barcelona Bo-Bo

Should I Buy an Eau De Parfum Or Eau De Toilette?

The answer really depends on how you plan to wear it.

An Eau De Parfum (EDP) has a higher concentration of perfume oils, usually between 15 percent and 20 percent, making it richer and long lasting. If you want a scent that lasts all day or has a bolder presence, an EDP is the way to go.

On the other hand, Eau De Toilette contains 5 percent to 15 percent perfume oils, making it lighter and easier to layer. It is the perfect choice is you are wanting a more subtle scent

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Carla Traplin
Carla Traplin is the Digital Producer at Cosmopolitan Australia, where she stays ahead of emerging trends and has a knack for finding the best camera angles. With a background in Luxury PR and Media, she specialises in transforming high-end branding into dynamic digital content, crafting scroll-stopping stories that keep audiences engaged. As someone who is very up to date with trends (read: chronically online), she seamlessly blends digital innovation with luxury media. When she’s not creating content, you’ll find her with a spicy marg in hand, perfecting the ultimate lip combo, living by the mantra: I was born and liked fashion.
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