The 5 Best Marc Jacobs Perfumes, According to an Editor Who Tested Them All

Unfortunately, I wasn’t a Sephora teen growing up, so it took me a while to get my hands on the iconic Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume. It captures the essence of the sweetest time of year—the middle of spring on the brink of summer. It feels youthful with notes of wild berries, white violet, and jasmine flowers, which I like because I enjoy keeping people guessing about my age.

The fragrance is more fresh than floral and is nicely grounded by sandalwood. It almost feels like the perfect choice for someone looking to upgrade from Sol de Janeiro body sprays to something more sophisticated.

Notes: Wild berries, white violet, jasmine, sandalwood

What We Love: Layers nicely, fresh scent, smells different on everyone

What We Don’t: Not a very unisex scent

To me, this fragrance is like the older sister of the classic Daisy—earthier and more versatile. Unlike the other family members, which are very spring and summer-centric, this one can easily transition into fall and winter. Of course, there are no strict rules about wearing scents based on the season. While it retains a hint of that this-could-have-been-a-body-spray-in-another-life quality, it has the staying power of perfume, lingering on the skin for hours. Personally, I love spritzing it on all my clothes; it makes the scent last longer.

Notes: Crystalized cloudberries, daisy tree petals, cashmere musks, driftwood

What We Love: Light and refreshing, earthier version of the signature Daisy, multiple sizes

What We Don’t: Earthier than the other Daisy scents

Fresh as a daisy takes on a whole new meaning with this scent. It’s not the typical floral fragrance that can often be overwhelming (and give me a headache); instead, it offers a delightful blend of fruity notes like pear, apple blossom, and lychee, mixed with jasmine petals, earthy musks, and cedarwood. The result is a sophisticated, fresh mix of fruity and floral elements. Also, the scent lingers throughout the day, so whether navigating the subway or relaxing on the couch, you’ll smell great all day.

Notes: Ruby red grapefruit, raspberry, green leaves, pear, violet rose, apple blossom, lychee, jasmine petals, musks, plum, cedarwood

What We Love: Showpiece of a bottle, not overpowering, only requires one or two sprays

What We Don’t: Leans more spring than fall, feels very young

The design of this perfume bottle brought me Marie Kondo-style joy. However, this might not be the bottle for you if you want to project a minimalist aesthetic. My first impression after spritzing was that it smelled juicy, like biting into a ripe piece of fruit after a long day by the pool. Imagine my surprise when I guessed half-correctly—rhubarb is the top note.

There’s also almond milk in the mix, which I didn’t specifically notice, but I did pick up on a hint of daffodil, which gives a subtle floral twist. It's not overpowering though, which I appreciate since most floral notes are too mature for my taste.

Notes: Rhubarb, daffodil, almond milk

What We Love: Light summer fragrance, sweet yet balanced, multiple sizes including a roller ball

What We Don’t: Not very long-lasting

When I saw banana listed as the top note of this fragrance, I was intrigued—banana is my least favorite candy flavor and I usually only tolerate it in smoothies. However, despite being the top note, it’s beautifully blended with other scents. It smells far more citrus than fruity, like you’ve spent the day picking fresh lemons and limes. The fragrance also features jasmine and sandalwood—two notes I’m typically obsessed with—and they blend together wonderfully. Plus, the bottle itself is quite maximalist, as are all Marc Jacobs perfumes.

Notes: Banana, blossom accord, jasmine, macadamia accord, sandalwood, vetiver des sables

What We Love: Grounding scent, long-lasting

What We Don’t: Feels a bit less elevated than traditional daisy