Fragrance has to be one of the most personal and divisive products in the beauty game. And so of course it can be hard to nail down the right one. But what better place to start than the best women’s perfumes of all time?
If you’re unsure of the notes you like or have no clue which fragrance family your nose fancies, starting with some of the most popular picks can help to point you in the right direction.
Another favourite game of ours? Finding the perfumes worn by our favourite celebrities. Try it, it’s fun.
But whether you’re hunting for a signature scent for yourself or (even harder) looking for a top-notch juice to gift, these fragrance picks sell like hot cakes for a reason.
The best women’s perfumes
Giorgio Armani Sì Eau De Parfum

Ideal for: Embracing your inner strength. A sophisticated spritz that’s always a stand-out. If you’re looking for an everyday, “own the boardroom” aroma, it hits the brief.
Notes: Blackcurrant nectar, chypre, musky white and wood accord.
Review: “I’ve tried many perfumes but this is my fav by far. Smells expensive, different, amazing and I’ve gotten so many compliments on it. 100% recommend.” – nemoooooom, Myer customer
$155 for 50ml at giorgioarmani.com.au
YSL Black Opium

Ideal for: A long-lasting confidence boost that’ll make you feel glamourous all evening. Get ready to own the night.
Notes: Mandarin, pink pepper, orange blossom, jasmine, patchouli and cedarwood, vanilla.
Review: “Like the name suggests, it’s really addictive just like a drug, you could never get enough of this scent! This perfume is definitely for glamorous ladies with class. The Spicey yet sweet scent is so unique, and addictive, smell lasts for ages, there are a few more versions of the same( edp, edt, nuit blanche, floral shock) but I think the classic edp is yet one of the best. This is my signature scent.” – Pinkalicious, bh member
$170 for 50ml at Myer
Read more YSL Black Opium reviews
Le Labo Santal 33

Ideal for: An elegant and intriguing scent that will see the compliments rolling in. It’s woody, yet fresh and 100 per cent addictive.
Notes: Sandalwood, leather, papyrus, cardamom, iris, violet and amber.
Review: “I can honestly say this is my all time favourite perfume. It is mature and warm and smoky and suits me so much! Its expensive but worth every cent.
I feel amazing wearing it. It seems to last all day and I never get sick of it.
You don’t need a lot, as its quite strong but not sickly strong.” – MECCA customer
$406 for 100ml at MECCA
diptyque Do Son EDT

Ideal for: Lovers of tuberose. The EDT is lighter and fresher, winning a spot in our best women’s perfume edit over the EDP. The most enchanting version of the flower, bottled.
Notes: African orange flower, rose, iris, tuberose, pink pepper, benzoin and musk.
Review: “A must-have for those who love white florals – opulent and rich, still retaining some freshness and translucency, without feeling sweet (like those bubble-gummy tuberoses on the market) or cloying. Not for those who do not like white florals (because it is pretty much a 100% pure white floral through and through), but a staple in my collection. Love it.” –Murmur123123 via Fragrantica
$192 for 100ml at MECCA
Byredo Gypsy Water EDP

Ideal for: An instant mood-lifter. This distinct, uplifting scent will transport you to a Roman holiday with every spritz.
Notes: Juniper berries, incense, amber, vanilla, pine needle and sandalwood.
Review: “This is just gorgeous. Very peppery, creamy and comfy. Warm yet great in heat. Just delightful. Very unisex. The epitome of a unisex scent to me. I love this on everybody that wears it. It’s delicious.” – fragrantbaker via Fragrantica
$320 for 100ml at MECCA
Lancôme La vie est belle L’Eau de Parfum

Ideal for: The young and young at heart. A sweet fruity gourmand that’s bursting with energy and stands its ground. It’s also won multiple Best in Beauty Awards for best women’s perfume.
Notes: Black currant, pear, iris, jasmine, orange blossom, vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli.
Review: “The scent is very feminine, sweet yet sophisticated, and it’s quite powerful. I love how it lasts all day so even though it’s a little pricey the bottle lasts a while. I honestly receive compliments every single time I wear this perfume it is worth every cent!” – Yvetteruby, bh member
$155 for 50ml at Myer
Read more Lancôme La vie est belle L’Eau de Parfum reviews
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt

Ideal for: Those who often steal a spritz of their male friends’ scents. Just because we said best women’s perfumes, doesn’t mean it has to be feminine. A unique, unisex fragrance that’s somehow bottled the smell of the ocean air.
Notes: Sea salt, sage, grapefruit, ambrette, seaweed.
Review: “A beautiful, soft, skin scent that transports you right to a rocky beach on a cool, breezy day. I was initially a touch disappointed by its simplicity, but the longer I’ve had it the more I’ve come to appreciate it for the soft, fresh, comforting scent that it is. I haven’t experimented much yet, but I think it’d be a fantastic scent for layering.” – badinlatin via Fragrantica
$212 for 100ml at Myer
Gucci Bloom EDP

Ideal for: The floral fragrance lover. Think: a spring garden in full bloom surrounded by freshly cut green grass. As spring as it gets.
Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, rangoon creeper.
Review: “This smells exactly as a fragrant garden in full bloom! Jasmine being the strongest note. Gosh this is refreshing its lovely! Its very luscious and fragrant. As it warms up the other notes bloom and its a true walk in the garden… I mean you can even smell the dirt and sunshine and stems!” – Gemsense via Fragrantica
$158 for 50ml at Myer
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Ideal for: Someone who enjoys intrigue. This amber, spicy fragrance will always keep you guessing.
Notes: Tobacco leaf, spice, vanilla, cacao, tonka bean, tobacco blossom, dried fruits and woody notes.
Review: “The vanilla in this is so realistic. It brings me memories of scraping vanilla beans. While vanilla is the main note here, there’s also a lot of “weird” notes like spices, dried fruits, dark chocolate. I think they’re weird, because they break the general vibe of this scent and vanilla’s sweetness, but in a good way! Tobacco is all the time flying somewhere in the background, but it’s a sweet, pleasant tobacco. However, sometimes this fragrance might smell a little like medicine, maybe like iodine or something similar.” – DariuszXY via Fragrantica
$360 for 50ml at David Jones
Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb EDP

Ideal for: Those who THINK they don’t like florals. Don’t be fooled by the name and notes. It’s a sweet and enticing scent with a surprising masculine edge. One to sniff if you haven’t yet.
Notes: Tea, bergamot, osmanthus, orchid, jasmine, rose, freesia, African orange flower, patchouli, musk and vanilla.
Review: “Opens up bright and floral. The combo of flowers is so enchanting. As it progresses its sweetness intensifies. It is sweet but not in an annoying way. It has character and depth. A bouquet of pink and white flowers wrapped in caramel and patchouli. Caramelized jasmine petals. Not complex or challenging. It is perfectly balanced. Beautiful.” – valelita via Fragrantica
$170 for 50ml at Myer
Have you tried any of these fragrances? Are we missing any of your favourites?
So happy to see my favourite, Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt, on this list!
I thought Chanel No.5 would be there, maybe it is a bit outdated? . I love Gucci Bloom, but not the price tag.
Lol, I thought the same as well!
Haha, I thought the same as well!
I expected to see it listed, too.
I always heard how good it was and then was gifted it and it was enough to make me gag.
Never outdated if it suits you, Lisa359. I’m surprised Chanel No 5 isn’t there too.
I have tried Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb it’s beautiful.
I will have to try it in store to see. Sounds beautiful.
I love Si by Armani and I always get asked what I’m wearing when I have it on
I haven’t tried this – I’ll have to give it a sniff in-store somewhere.
Yes, sounds lovely.
I also like flower bomb but I find it to be very strong
I think the Jo Malone, Byredo or Gucci would suit me best. The Santal 33 and Tom Ford I gave had sampled and both are too intense for me. FloweBomb too floral/sweet.
I agree
I’m not a perfume wear, it gives me headaches but I love essential oils
I love all these options. I am obsessed with perfumes. I have my eye on diptyque Do Son EDT. But it’s not cheap.
The only one I’ve tried out of the mentioned ones is Lancôme La vie est belle L’Eau de Parfum but then again I don’t wear a lot of perfume.
Lancôme La vie est Belle is so divine!
I prefer Estee Lauder perfumes, Beyond Paradise is my favourite
I would love any of these perfume, I need a new one.
At the moment I dont have a fave.
I love Si and Black Opuim, the rest not so much.
I always associate perfumes with special times in my life. Dior’s Poison reminds me of clubbing with my friends when we were in our early 20’s. Red Door reminds me of a Pacific cruise. Poeme reminds me of my favourite workplace. I love the association of scents and memories.
I’m surprised that Red Door is not on this list: my mum wore it, I wear it & my niece in her 20s adores it!
‘Like’ 😀
I’m into natural fragrance at present but some of those I’ve certainly used.
Santal 33 is on my wishlist for if I ever win Lotto. I’ll have to add Gypsy Water to the list – I’ve heard a lot about it & many celebrities wear it.
I’ll have to avoid Diptyque Do Son like the plague – white flowers are a migraine trigger for me. The tuberose in it makes me think of Yohanna – she’d like this one.
I’d love to try Byredo Gypsy Water… the other sweet fruity ones give me a headache. I only sampled it in an oil version and it was nice
Le Labo Santal 33 is heavenly! I just adore it!
Yes, missing all of my faves lol
JPG Scandal by Night, TF lost cherry, TF soleil blanc, TF black orchid
I’ve only tried flower bomb. It’s very musky from memory.
i have only smelt the the ysl an dlancome but love them both
I’m not surprised by these faves. I couldn’t imagine having a signature scent, I have to wear different fragrances or I’ll get bored
None screaming at me to try them…
I’d love to try Black Opium.
Good article. Will definitely have a smell of these next time
I love Dune by Christian Dior. One of my splurges.
I had a small sample of La vie est belle which I really loved and I also have the Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt which is heavenly. There is a fabulous perfume which I discovered when I was in Noosa in February this year and it is called Acqua Noosa. Check it out online. It smells divine and is Vegan & Cruelty free. Contains no nasties. Ethical & Eco – Suitable for sensitive skin and proudly created, blended, manufactured and bottled in Australia by renowned perfumers.
I love Opium on other people but not on me.
Same with Red Door.
Same! I got it gifted from BH prize and bought one small 30mL from new flanke,.but my nose can’t detect it after 3 minutes or less, at all! And I dose it all over. On others can smell it and it is nice. Generic. I’m over it =/
Love so many of these!
I have been using All Saints Sunset Riot lately. It’s lovely and uni-sex so hubby uses it too which means it must be good because he is VERY picky when it comes to fragrances!
I am a bit of a nut for tuberose lately, so great to wear at this time of the year! Orchid soleil from TF was on me last couple of weeks!
Good suggestions here for the gifting.
Sure are must agree.
I haven’t tried any of these, I’m intrigued by the unisex one as I like wearing a men’s scent
ooh the Lancome is lovely
I love Si.
I haven’t tried some of these like Giorgio Armani’s Si and will have to try a tester when I’m next in a store.
I had to laugh. I haven’t tried any of these fragrances – NOT ONE – and I love perfumes and wear them all the time. They must be out of my price range.
I would happily wear any of these but Lancôme La vie est belle L’Eau de Parfum is divine.
I wear Si by Armani sometime and I also love YSL Black Opium but my all time favourite is Mon Paris by YSL
My all time favourite was discontinued years ago unfortunately, Norman Hartnell’s In Love.
Unfortunately I get a touch of hayfever whenever I wear perfume. I do so love some of the fragrances though
I ended up trying Black Opium. It’s nice, but I didn’t like it as much as my daughter did.
Some lovely looking perfumes but I notice big price tags as well.
Haven’t tried any of these. My all time favourite disappeared many years ago unfortunately.
I honestly love Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, I think I have been using it for the past two to three years and am looking to change. Jo Malone is my top pick so far…. but the Wood Sage & Sea Salt is just WAAYY too strong for me. I’m sure I will find something I will like though.
I love Flowerbomb it’s such a pretty fragrance.
I havent smelt any of these scents before
I love the Lancome perfume but have not tried the others. I would love to though as I adore perfumes.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is one of my favourites.
Love all of these! But I thought Chanel or Dior would be on the list as well.