20 best perfumes for women, from floral to woody scents

You may be surprised to learn our favourite women’s fragrance isn’t from a well-known brand. In fact, it’s likely Phlur’s perfumes aren’t on your radar at all.

Despite having a whole host of options available, it’s father figure that stood out the most for our tester, as it seems to have the best parts of every scent category combined into one. It’s slightly floral with whiffs of cassis; a bit fruity with fig; and rich and creamy with orris root, vanilla and sandalwood. So, if you’re not quite sure which type of fragrance is your favourite, this one is sure to tick almost every box. Plus, a little goes a long way, as it’s an eau de parfum, so it should last a really long time.

Named best fruity floral fragrance in our guide to the best bargain perfumes under £30, this Scentology option is a real steal at just £12.99.

Our tester praised the “sleek and minimalist” bottle, stating this brand’s scents “look much more expensive than they actually are”. But it didn’t stop there, of course, as our reviewer was also very taken with the scent: “Pomelo and neroli perfectly captures the sweetness of flowers with the sharpness of fruit, for a softly scented fragrance that sits in between the two. It’s light and airy yet still packs a punch.”

So, if you’re in the market for something a little more pocket-friendly, this is one of our top picks.

With Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba and Celine Dion all apparently fans of this fragrance, it’s safe to say Chanel No5 is one of the most popular perfumes on the market. Created in 1921, it’s certainly been around for an incredibly long time, building a long-standing reputation as one of the most luxurious scents to shop.

It’s scent is instantly recognisable, with neroli, May rose and jasmine giving it a floral feel, while aldehydes make it quite unique. Plus, as it’s an eau de parfum, it lasts all day. Although, as it’s expensive, especially when buying the bigger bottles, our tester likes to save theirs for special occasions.

This is one of our favourite fragrances. Inspired by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, as you can probably spot from the bottle, it’s fresh, citrusy and really helps to lift our mood. Along with the smell of sweet flowers, the key notes are mandarin and passion fruit, for a zesty zing; honey; and crystallised musk, which adds a bit of depth. In fact, it’s one of the only scents we could keep spraying without it getting sick of it. Although, as it’s an eau de parfum, just two to three spritzes a day is probably enough to keep you well-scented, meaning one bottle lasts a really long time.

The ingredients in this perfume read more like a cocktail list, because that’s exactly what it’s meant to smell like – a spiced rum Carribean cocktail. Mixing rum with plum, anise and milk (yes, really), it offers whiffs of a warm, spicy drink, conjuring up images of a sun-soaked beach. Though we loved the initial few whiffs, it can get a little sickly after a while, so less is certainly more. As it’s an eau de parfum, you really don’t need more than two or three sprays to leave you nicely scented for the whole day. So, if you’re a cocktail fan or simply want to feel like you’re on holiday, we’d certainly recommend giving this one a go.

Another popular pick, this scent was launched in 2007, so it’s been around for quite an impressive number of years, without feeling dated.

Offering a sweet floral scent, it combines white violet and jasmine for a flowery fragrance, berries for sweetness and sandalwood to make it seem deeper and warmer, it has a little bit of everything while still staying nice and light.

This YSL perfume is a hugely popular choice, so it’s perhaps one to avoid if you’re hoping to find a signature scent. However, this also points to it being one great fragrance, with a sweet and zesty pear accord, mandarin essence and vanilla made much deeper and more sensual with black coffee, cedarwood and white musk. We’ve found it the perfect pick for evenings out, and, as it’s an eau de parfum, it lasts an incredibly long time. Plus, you can often pick it up on sale.

For those after a lightweight perfume that can be thrown in a gym bag without risk of smashing, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian crush cheirosa 62 perfume mist should certainly be on your radar.

It’s included in our best bargain perfume guide, with our tester raving about its scent and easy of use, thanks to a handy plastic bottle. “If you love the bestselling Sol de Janeiro bum bum cream (£21, Lookfantastic.com) you’re sure to fall for this fragrance,” shared our reviewer. “Food-like scents make up the main proportion, with pistachio, salted caramel and almond sitting as the key notes, so trust us when we say it will make your mouth water,” they added. Although, as it’s only a perfume mist (a lower concentration than an eau de toilette or eau de parfum), it won’t last as long, so regular top-ups are necessary throughout the day.

Also included in our best bargain perfume guide was this & Other Stories find. “Matching the mysterious name, this sharp yet sweet fragrance transported us back to an almost forgotten holiday,” shared our tester. “Sandalwood sits with papyrus, fig and carrot to create an earthy scent that strikes us of driving through farmers’ fields while on a hot holiday,” they added, making it a great option for those who aren’t a huge fan of sweet, floral fragrances. Plus, at just 50ml, it’s also travel-friendly – a huge plus, if you’re looking to carry it in your gym bag or are a frequent flyer.

You may be thinking that perfume is pretty straightforward but Floraïku’s scents make it much more of an experience. Inspired by Japanese culture, each perfume comes hidden inside a bento box, complete with a 50ml fragrance and a long, hand-painted leather lid that doubles up as a removable travel case that houses 10ml of scent.

On the back of each bottle, you’ll also find a haiku, which the brand encourages you to repeat to yourself each time you spritz. While we don’t imagine many people will actually do this, the attention to detail really stands out, making the whole thing much more of an experience than your everyday basic bottle.

So, we’d say this is best as an extravagant gift or for those who really have a penchant for perfumes, as its price point reflects more than just the scent, which is soft and floral with notes of woody musk, ylang ylang and petitgrain oil.

Viktor & Rolf’s flowerbomb is arguably one of the most recognisable perfumes around, but the brand’s latest addition, flowerbomb tiger lily, offers a warmer, softer take on the fan-favourite. While, from the outside, it may look very similar – it’s housed in the same style of bottle – this scent steps away from the classic floral fragrances, thanks to the addition of mango and coconut milk. These unique additions make it perfect for those who like floral fragrances yet want something a little more unique or something that reminds you of the summer holidays. It’s sweet yet incredibly interesting and lasts a long time.

Jusbox has carved out a niche for itself by simulanteously appealing to fans of fragrances and music. Each of the brand’s scents has been created with a musician in mind – this visionary eye eau de parfum is inspired by David Bowie, combining iris, musk, bergamot and cinnamon for a unique aroma.

The bottle itself leans into the world of music, too, with a vinyl-record-like cap, CD-box packaging and a lyric book describing each scent. Plus, to truly immerse yourself in the experience, you can listen to the perfume’s playlist on the Jusbox website while applying the scent.

If you’ve yet to come across solid perfumes, allow us to introduce you to Tenth Muse. Turning traditional sprays into small, compact, lip-balm-like forms, these scents can be smoothed onto the skin as you would a balm, offering an impactful punch of scent.

By removing irritating ingredients, such as alcohol, they’re said to be gentler on the skin as well as being more sustainable, due to minimal packaging. The innovative formula is great for travelling, can be easily re-applied throughout the day and can be placed inside a refillable holder (£24, Tenthmuselondon.com), to make it feel a little more luxe. Although, as you can’t apply it to your hair or clothes, the scent is only really noticeable to those who get quite close to you.

While there are a number of scents to choose from, date night is one of our favourites. Offering a fruity floral blend of peony, peach, vanilla, rose and vetiver, it’s sweet, punchy and quite addictive to sniff.

Launching earlier this year, comète is the latest addition to the Chanel perfume family, and we here at IndyBest were among the first to try it. Falling under the “les exclusifs” collection, the brand’s most exclusive and expensive fragrance range, it goes above and beyond your typical luxury label scent.

Inspired by the stars, one of Gabrielle Chanel’s biggest inspirations, it’s designed to smell like stardust – abstract, we know. What it really smells like is a very powdery combination of Iris, cherry blossom accord and heliotrope, which has a feminine feel without being sickly sweet. Plus, it develops throughout the day, subtly changing as different notes take over. Although, at this price point, it’s one for those who truly love their luxury fragrances.

Picture an old-school jazz club and combine it with a level of luxury reminiscent of The Great Gatsby, and you’ll have Maison Margiela’s replica jazz club eau de toilette. Slightly spicy, thanks to a blend of pink peppercorn, yet deep and sultry with scents of rum and tobacco, it’s an earthy mix that’s ideal for evenings out. Although, of course, you could wear it during the day – being an eau de toilette, it’s slightly lighter than the eau de parfums in this guide.

Yes, M&S may be home to great microwave meals and fancy picky bits but the high street store’s fragrance range is not to be missed, either. Coming in at less than £15, this eau de toilette is a firm favourite of ours. In fact, we even often use it as a room spray as well.

Not only is it a bargain, it’s a great all-rounder for those not too sure of what fragrance family to go for. Mandarin makes it slightly fruity, neroli slightly floral, and sea salt adds a note not found in too many other scents. Plus, musk is also added to give it that deeper, darker smell that’s incredibly moreish. So, why not pop one in your basket next time you’re picking up something for dinner?

Plenty of perfume adverts come and go, but there’s one that sticks in our minds: Charlize Theron dressed in a gown that looks just like the J'adore bottle being advertised. The perfume certainly lives up to the ultra-luxury marketing hype. Combining floral notes of ylang-ylang, damask rose essence and jasmine sambac, it’s soft, sweet and typically feminine yet not overpowering in any way. Plus, as it’s an eau de parfum, only a few spritzes are needed to make it quite striking. We’re dubbing it a timeless classic for good reason.

Charlotte Tilbury’s latest perfume launches took the beauty world by storm earlier this year, and we here at IndyBest were among the first to try them all. Claiming to include emotion-boosting ingredients backed by neuroscience and 40 years of research, each one of the six new formulas is said to have an impact on your mood. Joyphoria, as the name suggests, is designed to amp up feelings of joy and happiness (something we could probably all benefit from). Combining notes of neroli, coconut water and vanilla bean, it immediately reminds us of hot holidays and sunshine, while powdery musk adds warmth that we find incredibly comforting. Did it immediately make us happier? We couldn’t say for certain but we’d like to think so.

If you’re yet to try Rabanne’s rather futuristic fragrances, please take this as your sign to give them a go. Housed in a robot-like bottle, “phantom” has a deep, daring scent. Described as “masculine” by the brand, cardamom, lavender, vanilla, vetiver and tolu balsam work as the key ingredients to make it warm, spicy and aromatic, like an incredibly sensual aftershave.

As we believe all scents can be for anyone, no matter their target market, we’re naming this the best woody perfume for women. After all, some of our favourite perfumes are traditionally tailored towards men, giving them a rather seductive spin.

You can also purchase refills, to avoid throwing away the sculptural bottle.

Tom Ford scents seem to fall into their own category of luxury fragrances, in terms of price points and reputation. Famous for being incredibly long-lasting, strong and of standout quality, the brand is one of the more luxurious, and black orchid is one of its bestsellers.

The scent offers a soft floral base that’s striking and delicate, while black truffle lends it a zesty whiff, and spicy patchouli notes come through, too. So, although it’s a top buy for floral fans, you’ll find much more than the gentle smell of freshly cut flowers in this option, which also makes it ideal for those on the hunt for a scent that’s also dark and alluring.