Anyone who knows me understands that my love for the best perfumes knows no bounds. My growing collection is nearing 100 bottles and sees no sign of slowing down. I make a habit of being in the know of the latest fragrance trends on PerfumeTok and the wider industry, as well as sniffing as many of the the newest launches as I can manage. That being said, when a buzzy brand like Phlur pops up on my radar, it's instinct for me to want to check it out.
Phlur first came up on the scene in 2022 when its musky fragrance Missing Person went viral on TikTok. Later, the brand had another hit on its hands with the sweet-scented body mist Vanilla Skin and thus began a bona fide hit-maker. It's not too hard to see the brand's appeal, either. Aside from the luxe, aesthetically-pleasing packaging, each scent is meant to evoke a specific memory or feeling, whether it's a bold floral fragrance or an easy-to-layer mist. Phlur's owner and creative director, Chriselle Lim, also uses world-class perfumers behind iconic scents from Byredo, Kayali, Glossier, and more to create rich, long-lasting perfumes.
As you might've guessed, I've tested and collected more than a few Phlur perfumes throughout my fragrance journey, but not every one can be considered a hit. Out of the over 20 different scents, only 10 made the cut out of my list of the best of the best Phlur perfumes. The following fragrances and body mists are the top-rated on the market and the scents I regularly turn to in my own collection. Keep scrolling to see which Phlur perfumes deserve all the hype and my honest thoughts on each.
Best Phlur Perfumes
- Best Overall Phlur Perfume: Missing Person Eau de Parfum
- Best Overall Phlur Body Mist: Vanilla Skin Body Mist
- Best Floral Phlur Perfume: Rose Whip Eau de Parfum
- Best Light Phlur Perfume: Father Figure Eau de Parfum
- Best Sweet Phlur Perfume: Heavy Cream Body Mist
Launched in 2022, Missing Person is undoubtedly what put Phlur on the map—the story behind it is likely part of the reason why. Around the time of the launch, Lim was going through a divorce, so she was inspired to create a perfume that would bring her comfort. What resulted was Missing Person, an intimate scent meant to smell like your lover's skin. It became a viral hit on TikTok, leading to the expansion into body oil, lotion, hand cream, perfume oil, and a candle.
Notes: Skin Musk; Bergamot nectar; Sheer jasmine; Fresh cyclamen; Neroli blossom; Orange flower; Sandalwood Australia oil; Blonde wood; White musk
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: Ideal scent for layering; Great for any season or occasion; Long-lasting; Smells slightly different on everyone; Has a comforting effect
What I Don't: Projection could be better
Review For MC: "Missing Person is one of those scents that makes me sigh and smile in comfort—just like Lim intended. To me, it smells like the biggest hug from my mom and like all is right in the world, which is why I probably wear it so often. It's not too floral or too musky, either, so I find it a great base scent for layering. There's really never a time when this fragrance couldn't work—I wear it going to bed, to the gym, to the office, on flights, and everywhere in between. It's just that good." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Brooke Knappenberger tests and names Missing Person as the best overall Phlur perfume.
There's plenty of reasons we rated this the best-ever body mist on the market. For starters, it's impressively complex for a body mist. At first spritz, it's deliciously sweet like sugar but it develops into a warmer, woodier scent with a tiny touch of spice to keep it interesting. It plays well with others, too—you can layer it on nearly anything to add a touch of warm sweetness.
Notes: Pink pepper; Sugar crystals; Lily; Jasmine petals; Cashmere wood; Benzoin; Vanilla; Sandalwood; Agarwood
Size: 8 oz.
What I Love: Ideal scent for layering; Sweet, but not cloying; Long-lasting
What I Don't: Has a woody dry down that may not be suitable for everyone
Review For MC: "Vanilla is my first fragrance love, so Vanilla Skin is a scent I hold near and dear to my heart. While I have both the eau de parfum and body mist versions, I find myself reaching for the latter more often because of how well it layers with the rest of the scents in my collection. I like to spray it in my hair to catch sweet whiffs throughout the day. Not only that, but I've found that the body spray lasts nearly as long as the EDP, which is a feat in and of itself." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Brooke Knappenberger tests and names Vanilla Skin as the best overall Phlur body mist.
If you think rose perfumes are too mature and outdated, then Rose Whip is the ideal floral scent to try the note. Phlur set out to change rose naysayers' minds with a fragrance that's both feminine and delicate, and strong and bold. The contradiction between its spicy pink peppy opening and soft rose base is what makes this fragrance so unique. Dare I say, after a spray or two, your stance on rose will be changed.
Notes: Pink pepper; Black currant; Rose; Osmanthus; Nutmeg; Amber; Cashmere wood; Musk
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: A bold, unique interpretation of florals; Great for any season or occasion
What I Don't: May not be a safe blind buy for traditional floral fans
Review For MC: "I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of this fragrance back in December 2024, and I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it after my first sniff. I am by no means a fan of florals—I find rose in particular too grandmotherly—but Rose Whip is downright cool. It takes rose and spins it on its head with spicy pink pepper and a warm leathery and floral base. It's the kind of perfume that makes you think whoever is wearing it is the coolest in the room, and for that, I'm obsessed." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Brooke Knappenberger tests and names Rose Whip as the best floral Phlur perfume.
Father Figure gets a ton of hype on social media and it's not too difficult to see why. It's richly layered and smells a little different to everyone—sometimes you may think its lush and green from the fig and orris root notes, other times you may get sweet or even woody whiffs. All in all, though, Phlur fans agree that Father Figure is one of the brand's best thanks to its androgynous-leaning clean scent.
Notes: Waterlily, Lush fig, Cassis buds; Orris root; Iris flower; Jasmine dew; Skin musks; Vanilla Madagascar; Patchouli leaf; Sandalwood
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: A true unisex scent; Great for any season or occasion; A fresh, clean scent; Ideal scent for layering; Smells slightly different on everyone
What I Don't: Projection could be stronger
Review For MC: "There are times when I want my fragrance to be subtle, like when I'm traveling or when I'm at the gym—this is the Phlur perfume I reach for. It has such a crisp and clean quality to it, that I can't help but feel like I'm relaxing in a million-dollar spa while wearing it. It gets even better during the dry down as it develops a subtle creaminess that's simply delicious. I'm looking forward to hot weather just so I can wear this more often." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Brooke Knappenberger tests and names Father Figure as the best light Phlur perfume.
Gourmands can cross over into sickeningly sweet territory fast, but Phlur knows how to do the scent category right. Heavy Cream is a light and airy take on the fragrance family and is reminiscent of a lemon meringue pie. It has a creaminess that isn't heavy, but more so fluffy so it's the perfect sweet scent to layer on during any weather.
Notes: Lemon sugar; Marshmallow; Orange; Jasmine blossom; Coconut cream; Vegan ambrettolide; Vanilla mousse; Salted caramel; Whipped cream
Size: 8 oz.
What I Love: Ideal scent for layering; Sweet, but not cloying; Long-lasting
What I Don't: Name may be misleading
Review For MC: "To know me is to know my love of gourmands—I've tried every variation under the sun, but I love the citrusy sweet combination that is Heavy Cream. I will say it's not as lactonic as the name suggests, but it's more fluffy and sweet like you would expect from a whipped marshmallow dessert. The coconut cream and citrus notes are nice touches, too, as they work to uplift the sweetness." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Brooke Knappenberger tests and names Heavy Cream as the best sweet Phlur perfume.
With this January 2025 new release, Phlur set out to create a fragrance that makes you feel like your most confident self and it did just that with Golden Rule. It's a feminine fragrance through and through with sensual florals and bold fruity notes as the stars of the show. After a few hours, it develops a creaminess that makes it all the more delectable. Just like the bottle and name suggest, this scent will be one of the most radiant in your collection.
Notes: Mandarin splash; Pink pepper; Golden pear; Orange flower water; Jasmine blossom; Coconut milk; Benzoin; Sandalwood; Vanilla cream
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: A bold, youthful interpretation of florals; Great for any season or occasion
What I Don't: May be too fruity for traditional floral lovers
Review For MC: "There was a time when I would stay away from any kind of floral fragrance, but this scent singlehandedly changed that for me. At first sniff, I was blown away by this blend's bold and fun fruity opening, then I was even more impressed as the floral notes developed. Somehow, Phlur managed to make florals sensual, feminine, and energetic all at once with this perfume—something I've never come across in my fragrance journey. I've been reaching for this for every occasion under the sun, but especially during moments when I need a confidence boost." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
As the name suggests, this fragrance is a love letter to juicy strawberries and the scents of childhood—it was inspired by Lim's young daughter and her love of strawberries, after all. The fruit gets a chic twist with the addition of plum nectar, while tonka bean and amber provide a subtle warmth. It has a nostalgic feel, too. If you're a kid from the '90s, you probably remember the Strawberry Shortcake Dolls—this is that scent, but all grown up.
Notes: Cassis leaves; Strawberry gariguette; Plum nectar; Wild lily; Red poppy; Apple blossom; Earthy woods; Tonka bean; Sugared amber
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: A mature fruity fragrance; Sweet, but not cloying; Nostalgic
What I Don't: May be best suited for spring and summer
Review For MC: "I had always thought fruity fragrances leaned too young for my taste, but then Phlur released this absolute win and it changed my mind forever. It smells like fresh strawberry jam with the teeniest touch of florals from plum nectar and lily to give it some added depth. Whenever I'm in the mood for something uplifting and fun, this is the scent I reach for." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
A lot of Phlur's perfumes tend to lean on the floral side, so this recent release is a breath of fresh air. You may already know Vanilla Smoke as a luxury candle, but as a body mist, it makes for the perfect layering scent. The name says it all as it's smokey with a touch of vanilla sweetness so it can add a cool edginess to any of your go-to scents. As with any of Phlur's body mists, it lingers for an impressively long amount of time, too.
Notes: Bergamot; Pink pepper; Birch; Cacao blanc; Cashmere vanilla; Tonka bean; Incense; Peru alsam; Amber
Size: 8 oz.
What I Love: A true unisex scent; Ideal scent for layering; Long-lasting
What I Don't: May be better suited for the fall and winter
Review For MC: "I was first introduced to Vanilla Smoke as a candle, which I was hooked on all throughout the winter. Then when I heard it was being turned into a body mist, I was skeptical about how the scent would translate. I'm happy to report that it works. I'm not a fan of anything too smokey and deep, and this strikes the perfect balance between incense and vanilla. Whenever I don't want to smell too 'basic,' a few sprays of this add a rich smokiness that makes me feel like an It girl." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Fragrance fanatics know that light perfumes are just as important to have in a collection as beast-mode fragrances and Soft Spot is just that: a really good light perfume. Soft, fresh florals blend seamlessly with citrus to create a scent that's intimate and feminine. It's not too complex, which makes it a great choice for a layering scent as you won't have notes competing with each other. If you're Team Floral over Team Musk, I bet Soft Spot will be your number one pick over Missing Person.
Notes: Bergamot peel; Mandarin; Freesia; Jasmine petals; Waterlily; Vanilla orchid; Amber; Sandalwood; Musk
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: A fresh, clean scent; Ideal for layering; Long-lasting
What I Don't: A little similar to Missing Person
Review For MC: "Soft Spot is like Missing Person's sweeter, more floral little sister. They're both similar in the sense that they're intimate and skin-like scents, but where Missing Person is musky, Soft Spot is powdery and fresh. My nose doesn't pick up any one specific note, but instead, I get a blend of clean white florals and a touch of vanilla sweetness. This is another great Phlur fragrance for layering as it wouldn't overpower anything you pair with it." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
You know that feeling of worn-out bliss from spending an entire day out in the sun? That's what Solar Power captures. At first, it sparkles with citrusy mandarin and bergamot before evolving into a jasmine fragrance with a touch of orange flower. Driftwood and sea salt complete this sunny fragrance that's the ideal perfume for hot summer days.
Notes: Italian red mandarin; Sun-drenched bergamot; Jasmine absolute; Neroli; Orange flower; Driftwood; Solar musk; Sea salt
Size: 1.7 oz.
What I Love: Has an uplifting effect; Great for the spring and summer
What I Don't: May lean too floral for some
Review For MC: "This is one of the most aptly-named perfumes I've ever come across because it's like sunshine in a bottle. Phlur took the best scents of summer—salty sea air, sun-kissed skin, and citrus—and wrapped them all into one intoxicating perfume. While this does lean on the floral side, it's warm, bright, and refreshing thanks to touches of mandarin and bergamot. What I love most about this fragrance is that it doesn't rely on coconut or sunscreen-y notes to whisk me away to a summer paradise." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
Why Trust Us
Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire and brings nearly five years of beauty experience to this story. She is a fragrance fanatic, is constantly testing new beauty launches, and has reported on dozens of perfume stories including the best gourmand fragrances, the best coconut fragrances, and the best cherry fragrances.
Marie Claire is also an authority on perfume, having tested over 500 fragrances for the Marie Claire 2024 Fragrance Awards. We continually stay up to date on the latest fragrance trends, innovations, and releases.
How We Tested
To compile this list of the best Phlur perfumes, Marie Claire Associate Commerce Editor Brooke Knappenberger tested over 20 Phlur perfumes and body mists and combed through countless customer reviews to find the top-rated options on the market.
For each Phlur fragrance we tested, we assessed the fragrance's notes, its longevity, and its overall scent as the day went on.
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