Samantha Holender
For the longest time, I refused to wear anything in the floral fragrance family. I feared smelling stale or like an overwhelming cloud of roses. But after diving deep into the world of the best ever perfumes, I’ve concluded that the best floral fragrances are actually supremely chic and sophisticated.
Some floral scents smell light, airy, and are perfect for warmer weather. Others have a subtle sweetness that marries floral notes with hints of citrus or gourmand ingredients. Many, you wouldn’t even think are floral-first, as woody, aquatic, and spicy notes blend together.
“The floral category has been a fan-favorite for a long time, but I think there are cool new iterations and formulations that give florals a new sophistication,” says Ellis Brooklyn founder Bee Shapiro. “We’ve been on a gourmand kick for so long, that fresh takes on florals feel modern." She suggests looking for modern takes on tuberose, rose, and gardenia, three timeless floral notes. Cult classics from brands like Chanel, Gucci, and Diptyque will always have a spot on the list of best floral fragrances but newer innovations from Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch are quickly gaining popularity in the perfume category.
Keep reading to find out which floral fragrances I, along with the rest of the Marie Claire team, deem to be the best of the best.
The Best Floral Fragrances
- Best New Floral Fragrance: Marc Jacobs Perfect Elixir Eau de Parfum
- Best Classic Floral Fragrance: Diptyque Les Essences Rose Roche Eau de Parfum
- Best Leather Floral Fragrance: Tory Burch Sublime Eau de Parfum
- Best Gourmand Floral Fragrance: Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum
This Marc Jacobs scent strikes the perfect balance between cozy and sweet. It kicks off bright and fruity thanks to notes of plum, rhubarb, and orange blossom, then settles into a deep vanilla base for a warm dry down that lasts for hours. The phrase “feels like a warm hug” was invented for this scent.
Fragrance Family: Warm florals
Key Notes: Purple rhubarb accord; Golden amber-woods accord; Vanilla bean extract
Size: 3.3 fl oz.
What I Love: Its sweetness is rounded out with warm vanilla and amber notes that just feels extra cozy
What I Don’t: It’s heavy, which can be a bit overwhelming if you want something lighter
Review for MC: “I like to break fragrance rules (like a true Aquarius) and reach for a floral scent during the colder months to brighten my day. This new Marc Jacobs perfume delivers the best of both worlds with its bright fruity notes and warm vanilla base for a nice balance between two contrasting moods; it brings a ton of energy and settles into something calmer, grounded, and all-around lovely.” — Audrey Noble, Contributing Beauty Writer
Audrey Noble wears Marc Jacobs Perfect Elixir Eau de Parfum
To quote an old adage: "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." Sometimes, all you need is a classic floral scent, and Diptyque’s Rose Roche gives me just that. It opens up with familiar rose notes before bursting into energizing lemon and patchouli. Simple and refined, there’s nothing overly complicated about this scent—and that’s exactly why I love it.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Lemon; Centifolia rose; Patchouli
Size: 3.4 fl oz.
What I Love: It’s a no-frills classic floral scent that’s simple yet refined
What I Don’t: It’s a delicate scent that may not last as long as you’d like
Review for MC: “When I'm a floral purist, I turn to this one. It has a pretty rose top note but keeps the good vibes going with fresh lemon and patchouli to restore that bright and playful energy. It’s a standard—but still very much delightful—floral scent. It's my go-to when I'm looking to simplify at least one aspect of my life.” — Audrey Noble, Contributing Beauty Writer
Audrey wears Diptyque Les Essences Rose Roche Eau de Parfum
A leather floral scent sounds like an oxymoron, but stay with me. It's fizzy and fresh to start, with notes of mandarin and rose, but it dries down to a moody and deep leather-tinged vetiver for an unusual but satisfying dry-down. Intriguing and unexpected, this keeps all my coworkers and friends on their toes.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Mandarin essence; Upcycled rose; Magnolia accord; Patchouli
Size: 1.7 fl oz.
What I Love: It takes two opposing scents—leather and floral—and mixes them together for a really lovely scent
What I Don’t: Not very long-lasting
Review for MC: “Like soulmates who don’t make sense on paper but are just meant to be, leather and floral notes are an unexpectedly perfect match. Fresh rose and magnolia takes a surprise turn into leather territory to create a lusty, lingering scent. I loathe the saying ‘love happens when you least expect it,’ but that has been my exact experience with this Tory Burch scent.” — Audrey Noble, Contributing Beauty Writer
Audrey Noble wears Tory Burch Sublime Eau de Parfum
Gucci’s first foray into gourmand florals has become a new obsession for fragrance lovers. Marine ozonic accord imparts a tropical feel, while a deep vanilla base adds depth and warmth. Creamy and smooth, this scent satisfies any sweet cravings you have for the season.
Fragrance Family: Warm florals
Key Notes: Vanilla duo; Vanilla orchid; Marine ozonic accord
Size: 3.3 fl oz.
What I Love: The lush floral notes don't get lost in the deep gourmand notes
What I Don’t: It could be too sweet for some
Review for MC: “I love a sweet scent to relax my mind—especially when it encourages daydreaming about a piña colada on a beach vacation. Though I'd rather be physically on an island with no access to email, spritzing this at least takes my imagination to the white sands of Turks and Caicos while getting my tan on. " — Audrey Noble, Contributing Beauty Writer
Audrey wears Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum
If you're hoping to find a green, exotic, and not-so-straightforward floral fragrance, this D.S. & Durga perfume is an exceptional option. It's a fruity and earthy scent transports you to the jungles of Central America. Top notes of passion flower and bergamot mingle mingle with middle and base notes of clove, snake plant, and vetiver. Divine.
Fragrance Family: Earthy floral
Key Notes: Water; Passion flower; Bergamot; Jazmín Yucateco; Clove; Vetiver
Size: 50 mL
What I Love: Fresh and floral; Light but earthy; Scent lingers for hours
What I Don’t: More traditional fragrance fans may not find this direction satisfying
Review for MC: “I've always been an ardent florals fan, but sometimes I want to look beyond traditional rose or lavender scents. This exotic and transportive perfume takes me south for the winter, hiking along the rugged landscape of the Yucatan with lush greenery everywhere. The fresh water and passion flower notes are so delicate and sparkling, and the clove base grounds the floral blend perfectly." — Hannah Baxter, Beauty Director
I’ve professed my love for Dioriviera time and again, but I’ll take every opportunity to sing the scent’s praises. Every time I spritz the fragrance, I’m instantly transported to the South of France, where master perfumer Maison Francis Kurkdjian was inspired to create the fig-meets-rose fragrance. It has a light and airy composition with hints of sweetness that have had me spritzing on repeat. Just a note: it does fade pretty quickly, so make sure to spray it on your clothes for extra lasting power.
Fragrance Family: Floral fruity
Key Notes: Fig; Rose; Green notes
Size: 4.25 oz.
What I Love: Sweet but not overwhelming
What I Don’t: Not long-lasting
Customer Review: “The smell takes me straight back to the Riviera. The delicious combination of fig and rose mingles beautifully on my skin, and leaves a subtle but sophisticated scent.” — Dior.com
My go-to for sunny vacations, this fruity floral fragrance smells like summer and sunshine. I find the fruit profile, which is made up of fig and bergamot, to be more predominant, with jasmine offering up a subtle floral infusion. The more it sits on the skin however, the more I notice the warmth brought to the equation by vanilla and coconut. It also comes in a travel version that’s great to have on-hand for midday refreshes.
Fragrance Family: Fruity floral
Key Notes: Fresh fig; Handpicked jasmine; Vanilla planifolia
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: It’s a wonderful mix of sweet floral and warm gourmands
What I Don’t: It may require multiple spritzes for the scent to last all day
Customer Review: “I really love this perfume! Sun Fruit is a very fruity-smelling perfume, so if you don't like sweet-smelling perfumes, I would avoid this. For me, it's my favorite scent, and this is the perfect balance of sweetness. I've been using this daily since I got it and have been getting so many compliments. I can't wait to try more of the Ellis Brooklyn scents because I love this one so much!” — Sephora
Phlur is one of the most coveted fragrance brands around, and with good reason. Its scents stick to skin all day long, but aren’t so strong that they’re overwhelming. Their Not Your Baby fragrance is one of my new favorites. This sweet scent immediately brings up notes of violet and mimosa, but also includes warmer notes like vanilla milk, tonka bean, and sandalwood. It’s distinct and feminine and challenges my long-held aversion to anything vanilla.
Fragrance Family: Florals
Key Notes: Cardamom; Mimosa; Vanilla milk
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: It’s a sweet-smelling floral that’s long-lasting
What I Don’t: It might be too powdery for some
Customer Review: “This perfume smells so amazing. Reminds me baby powder scent. Very light fragrance but I can smell it all day. Also bought bath gel and lotion. I bought 5 of their scents and by far this is best.” — Sephora
This intoxicating scent incorporates wild iris, blackcurrant, and a patchouli heart to create a blend that reminds me to stay calm and grounded—it smells a little like incense in the best way. Because it's a bit smokier, I like it for a nighttime floral moment, especially for date night.
Fragrance Family: Warm floral
Key Notes: Sweet violet leaf; Bulgarian rose damascena; Blackcurrant sandalwood
Size: 50 ml
What I Love: Deep and warm; Can work for everyday use or for a fun night out
What I Don’t: It may be too strong for some
Customer Review: “This perfume smells SO GOOD, and for some reason reminds me of a discotheque of the '80s.” — Amazon
Spicy floral fragrances are some of my personal favorites—it’s an unexpected twist on an uber-feminine flavor profile. Case in point? The Chanel Chance Eau de Toilette, which is a gorgeous classic. The stars of the show are pink pepper, jasmine, and amber patchouli, but rest assured, the combination of ingredients will smell different on your skin at every point throughout the day. Sometimes, you’ll get a whiff of spice, while other times, the fragrance will smell predominantly floral.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Jasmine; Pink pepper; Patchouli
Size: 1.7 fl oz.
What I Love: The hit of spice adds depth to this otherwise very sweet floral
What I Don’t: It’s pretty strong and can be overwhelming for some
Customer Review: “This perfume smells good. It’s a mature scent and lasts a long time. This perfume is good for a date night or a night out with friends. I would definitely recommend this perfume to friends and family members.” — Sephora
What Should I Look For In a Floral Fragrance?
- Specific Notes: Floral notes run the gamut—you’ll find the obvious rose note in some, but you’ll also see geranium, lily of the valley, jasmine, gardenia, violet, neroli—the list goes on. The concentration and depth of each note will vary from fragrance to fragrance.
- Concentration: Pay attention to whether your fragrance is an eau de parfum or eau de toilette—it indicates how long-lasting your fragrance will be. “Alcohol really works as a carrier and disperser of scent, making it the ideal base for perfume,” Abel founder Francis Shoemack tells Marie Claire. An eau de parfum will have more perfume, less alcohol, whereas an eau de toilette will have less perfume and more alcohol, meaning its scent is more fleeting. The former will last longer on your skin, but is typically more expensive.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
How We Tested
Marie Claire is a perfume authority, having tested over 500 fragrances for the Marie Claire 2025 Fragrance Awards. We have reviewed every fragrance family, reported on fragrance trends, and are constantly staying up to date on emerging notes and innovations. Audrey Noble and Samantha Holender have each reported on dozens of fragrance stories, including the best woody fragrances, the best vanilla fragrances, and the best citrus fragrances.
To compile this list of the best floral fragrances, we scoured the internet and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market. We also asked the Marie Claire team to share their holy grail picks and asked independent and staff testers to try a mix of cult favorites and new launches.
For each floral fragrance we tested, we assessed the fragrance's notes, how long it lasts, and its overall scent as the day goes on.
Meet the Expert
Bee Shapiro is a New York Times beauty columnist and feature writer and the founder of fragrance brand Ellis Brooklyn.
