“Versace Bright Crystal was the perfume I purchased the day before I started my job at Cosmo because it felt like a Big Girl Scent. Professional and classic, but soft and cutesy. Still to this day—three years later—I wear it whenever I want to feel like the most chic, put-together version of myself. Ya know, before the deadlines and real-life hit of ‘Cosmo beauty editor‘ hit. It being more than 50 percent off right now for Prime Day is actually wild to me. I’ve never seen it at such a low price.”—BG
- Key notes: Yuzu lemon, peony, musk
- Scent family: Fresh floral
“Sticky sweet usually gets a bad rap, but it makes sense for this honey scent. On my skin, this smells like pure honey, but others have told me they get whiffs of the rum and cinnamon as it dries down. I love mixing this with other scents—especially tea-based, perfumes—to give them a little bit of coziness.”—BG
- Key notes: Rum, honey, bran, cinnamon, vanilla, sandalwood
- Scent family: Gourmand
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“Somebody Wood is a straightforward sandalwood and cedar fragrance with some warm amber and uplifting bergamot to give it depth and dimension. It kinda smells like being inside a sauna (in the best way), so it’s no wonder that I find this perfume so soothing.”—LAUREN GRUBER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
- Key notes: Bergamot, saffron, cedar, sandalwood, amber
- Scent family: Woodsy
“If it’s good enough for Olivia Rodrigo, it’s good enough for me—that’s my motto. But actually, I was wearing this O.G. Idôle perfume for a long time before I found out Olivia loved it (and before she partnered with the brand to launch Idôle Power, the warm woody flanker). It lasts such a long time on my skin. One spray on my wrists in the morning, and I can still smell the rosey scent wafting through the air in the afternoon.”—BG
- Key notes: Rose, jasmine, white musk
- Scent family: Fresh floral
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“Beauty editors love to say people complimented their perfume in an Uber. But this one consistently gets ‘you smell so good’ comments from drivers (the highest compliment of all). I get it, though: The fruity notes are ripe and juicy and pair perfectly with some sweetness that lingers on skin for a long time.”—BG
- Key notes: Peach, white musk, black currant
- Scent family: Fruity and sweet
“Everyone needs a quintessential soft vanilla perfume in their collection, whether to wear on its own or for layering, and this is always my go-to pick and suggestion for perfume newbies. The added coconut note creates a creaminess that makes this smell more luxe than just a pure vanilla scent. And it lasts on my skin for hours upon hours.”—BG
- Key notes: Vanilla, coconut, vanilla orchid
- Scent family: Vanilla
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“This smells like eternal summer. When I get kinda sad about the dwindling days of warm weather and salty air, I just spritz on this watery, fresh perfume. It evokes the feeling of spending all day in the ocean and coming home and taking the best everything shower of your life. IDK where Jake’s house is, but I want an invite.”—BG
- Key notes: Neroli, watery notes, musk, honey
- Scent family: Aquatic
“If you like soft, sweet scents that aren’t too foodie, you’ll love this vanilla from Lake & Skye. It’s got a freshness from sea salt that makes the yummy vanilla and marshmallow smell more elegant. I’ve been wearing this nonstop during the day.”—BG
- Key notes: Sea salt, vanilla, marshmallow, musk, amber
- Scent family: Gourmand
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“You know something’s good when they collaborate with Erewhon. This is actually one of my most complimented perfumes. It gives me that Rihanna effect—everyone I cross paths with can’t get enough of my scent.In fact, the first day I wore it, a cab driver immediately asked for the link so he could buy it for his sister—low key wish I had told him to wait until Prime Day while it’s 20 percent off right now, lol.”—SAMANTHA OLSON, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
- Key notes: Bergamot, white musk, amber
- Scent family: Warm and lactonic
“I fully believe this perfume is exactly what Taylor Swift meant when she wrote ‘sexy baby’ in ‘Anti-Hero.’ And sometimes, you wanna smell like a sexy baby, dammit. It smells like a soft, warm vanilla cake. What I love most is how seasonless the scent is. I truly can wear this gourmand all year ’round.”—BG
- Key notes: Candied ginger, marshmallow, coconut milk, vanilla, cashmere wood, musk
- Scent family: Creamy gourmand
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Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and has seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from reviewing Glossier perfumes to Le Labo Santal 33 dupes. She regularly tests and analyzes perfumes while working with the industry’s top fragrance experts to assess new formulas, brands, and trends.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
