There are so many ways to do florals in perfumery, but I always have a soft spot for fresh florals simply because they’re pretty and classic. You can’t go wrong when you mingle the power of the petal with light and crisp notes, making them perfect for daytime wear.
However, I don’t put limitations on the category—there are many ways I enjoy wearing fresh florals. Sometimes I go aquatic for a scent reminiscent of the beach, creamy for something surprisingly rich, or a skin scent for when I’m feeling subtle. They come in plenty of formats, too—from solid perfumes to body mists to hair perfumes. This list—curated by yours truly—has a little bit of everything, so you can wear fresh florals however you’d like.
I’m a sucker for BBC period pieces and whenever I wear this scent, I feel like I’m in one—specifically walking along a windy beach on a desolate British coastline. Perhaps collecting seashells or fossils. The unique blend really is that transportive and feels like salt air and driftwood captured in a bottle. Energizing and uplifting like a fresh breeze, it’s one of my forever favorites.
Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
There’s something about a hair mist that makes any scent more intriguing. Just think about it—with a simple hair toss, you’re leaving a trail of perfume in your wake. I used to love spraying fragrance into my hair, until I learned that alcohol can dry out strands. This is why I now stick to hair perfumes designed specifically for hair. Sisley bottled up their signature scent for that purpose, capturing the bright, fresh citrusy-floral blend in a format that nourishes the hair and scalp. Every time I flip my hair, I feel like I’m giving off olfactive vibes of a sunny road trip along the Italian coastline.
Notes: Lemon, lavender, verbena, mimosa flower, aromatic plant accord, woody amber accord
It’s hard to find a fragrance that straddles freshness and coziness, but this one does exactly that. Its moniker comes from a Brazilian Portuguese expression that describes the sensation of good vibes, happiness and optimism, and it’s fair to say this perfume captures that sentiment perfectly. It oozes Brazilian warmth and sunniness and makes me want to book a trip to Rio.
Notes: Aldehydes, coconut water, incense, jasmine petals, milky musks, sandalwood, cashmere wood, salted amber
Okay, I know what you’re thinking: How could a perfume called “‘Til Death” be a fresh floral? But stay with me here—it really is. Heretic founder, perfumer, and executive creative rirector Douglas Little has a delightfully dark and gothic mind, which is why he was the perfect perfumer to create a scent based on “The Bride!”, a new remake of the 1935 film “The Bride of Frankenstein.” Despite its horror roots, the perfume is complex and romantic, an earthy yet soft scent that smells mysterious and intriguing. Plus, the chic mirrored compact makes me want to show it off as much as possible.
Notes: Cedar, frankincense, jasmine sambac, rose, cypriol, orris, musk
When Glossier You burst onto the scene, it made skin scents a thing. (ICYDK, that’s a fragrance genre known for its subtleties that are meant to smell a little different on everyone and be soft and comforting.) Fleur takes it up a notch with a faint floral touch that is just noticeable enough without straying too far from the category. I adore its cozy softness, like a favorite blanket you love to curl up with.
Notes: Ylang-ylang, apricot skin, ambrox
Yes, this really does smell like a freshly washed T-shirt. Consider it that clean laundry smell but better—and with a lot more personality. It’s a little powdery and soft, but not in your mother’s laundry detergent way. I like to spritz it on whenever I feel like I could use a little freshness.
Notes: Cotton blossom, lily water, soft rose
Every time I whip out this deliciously dainty bottle I think of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Aesthetically, it would fit right in, but it would in the olfactive way as well. It looks and smells fancy with its tasseled topper that puts it a bit over the opulence edge. As for the juice, notes like rhubarb, lychee, and vanilla bring to mind all those decadent desserts the queen is often surrounded by in the flick, plus it has Turkish rose and musk for added romance.
Notes: Rhubarb, lychee, bergamot essence, Turkish rose, peony, vanilla, cashmeran, musk, vetiver
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based journalist who has covered beauty for two decades and has the perfume collection to prove it. (Not to brag, but we’re talking hundreds of bottles.) Her favorite smell is the desert after a rainstorm, which is called petrichor for fragrance nerds like her.
Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in New York, Cosmopolitan, WWD, ELLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Travel + Leisure, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Refinery29 and NYLON, among others.
