With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it seems like everyone is in a bit of a frenzy to find a gift. Sure, flowers and jewelry historically get the job done. But if you grew up with a mom that was constantly on the hunt for her next signature scent, perhaps a new perfume is your next foolproof present.
Still, there are thousands of different fragrances on the market, which can be overwhelming. So to make things easier, I decided to put together a list of the top 10 fragrances that are worth all the hype and perfect for the occasion. I also decided to tap a few of my fellow editors to get their top picks as well.
To make your shopping experience even easier, I went ahead and listed out all of the details you need to make the most informed decision, including what kind of notes you can expect from each fragrance. Keep reading for the full list.
Best Overall: BVLGARI Eau Parfumée Thé Impérial Eau De Toilette
BVLGARI
Eau Parfumée Thé Impérial Eau De Toilette
Our top pick is none other than Bvlgari’s Eau Parfumée Thé Impérial Eau De Toilette for its sophisticated blend of citrus and musk. (Yes, you read that right.) In fact, the scent is so well-liked that Who What Wear senior beauty editor Jaime Schneider wrote a deep dive review on how amazing it is. “I don’t normally love citrus perfumes, but this blend doesn’t have that acidic bite like so many other lemon-forward potions,” she says. “It’s zesty and sparkling, but it settles into something refreshingly refined thanks to Sri Lankan black tea’s earthy, woody undertones.”
Notes: Sri Lankan black tea extract, and Italian citrus
Size: 2.5 oz
Best Gourmand Scent: Miu Miu Miutine Eau de Parfum
Miu Miu
Miutine Eau De Parfum
There are some perfumes that smell so good they make you hungry. If your mom gravitates towards sweeter finds, she’ll love this Miu Miu one. The dessert-inspired scent consists of wild strawberry, rich vanilla & brown sugar notes. It’s dreamy and still feels youthful without crossing into juvenile.
Notes: Wild strawberry, rich vanilla and brown sugar
Size: 1 oz
Customer review: “This perfume has become my all time favorite! It’s a good day/night perfume. It’s intense but not in a negative way. It’s enough to turn heads but is also soft. Slightly powdery scent but in a good way. It’s a sophisticated scent for sure.”
Best Rose Scent: Chloé L’eau De Parfum Intense
Chloé
L’eau De Parfum Intense
Rose scented perfume is timeless, so. why not invest in an equally timeless perfume your mom is sure to love. This is one of those undeniably feminine fragrances thanks to notes of rose, raspberry, ambrox, cashmeran, and cedar. It’s both warm and sophisticated, making it a great choice for special occasions.
Notes: Rose, raspberry, ambrox, cashmeran, and cedar
Size: 1 oz
Customer review: “Perfume is my weakness my first bottle of Chloe perfume. I love it and will purchase it again. I wear it every day.!!”
Best Fruity: Diptyque Ilio Eau De Toilette
Diptyque
Ilio Eau De Toilette
If your mom is overdue for a Mediterranean sea-side vacation, consider kicking things off with something that smells just like it. This perfume consists of pear, bergamot, and jasmine, making it a spring and summer must-have. But if you want to go the extra mile, you can pair this fragrance with a matching candle set that comes with five mini candles in new, aromatic scents.
Notes: Prickly pear, bergamot, and jasmine
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: “My favorite summer scent of all time—super light and bright. The pear is unusual which I adore, and it’s floral but not overly so. I always get so many compliments on this scent. It lasts all day on the skin. Definitely my favourite Diptyque fragrance.”
Best Musk Scent: Jo Malone Raspberry Ripple Cologne With White Musk
Jo Malone
Raspberry Ripple Cologne With White Musk
This bottle might look like you’re in for a sweet surprise, but it’s actually more of musky scent. You can expect a fruity floral mix of red currant, raspberry, and white musk. “This is the most feminine scent [my mom] has liked in a while (she leans towards musky scents like me),” says associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia. “I also don’t think you can go wrong with Jo Malone scents for moms.”
Notes: Red currant, raspberry, and white musk
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: “I have so many perfumes literally hundreds and this one is honestly top 3 for me right now. Bought the travel size to try and will definitely be purchasing the full size next!”
Best Woody: Le Labo Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum
Le Labo
Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum
Woody scents are easily my favorite and high on my wish list (and my mom’s) is this perfume from Le Labo. Unlike some other woody options out there, this one is more on the spicy side with notes of black tea leaves, bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedarwood, musks, and vetiver. But if you can’t decide between this bottle and some of Le Labo’s other popular scents, consider gifting your mom a set with smaller versions of their best sellers so she can get a sense of which one is her favorite before fully committing.
Notes: Black tea leaves, bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedarwood, musks, and vetiver
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “I get asked about my perfume all the time since making this my signature scent. It’s inviting, but not overpowering.”
Best Floral: Prada Beauty Paradoxe Eau de Parfum
Prada Beauty
Paradoxe Eau de Parfum
Call me a fragrance snob, but I think it’s actually a bit difficult to get a floral fragrance right. A lot of people crave a fresh scent that almost feels like the real thing, but sometimes it can be too sweet or powdery. This Prada pick from Schneider strikes the perfect balance with a blend of fresh neroli bud, sensual amber, intense musk.
Notes: Neroli bud, sensual amber, intense musk
Size: 3 oz
Customer review: “It is an incredible perfume, featuring fresh, sweet, and floral notes. Its bottle is so lovely and delicate. The quality of this fragrance is perfect—it is long-lasting and easy to carry, even in a handbag. It lasts quite well on both skin and clothing.”
Best Clean Scent: Byredo Blanche Eau De Parfum
Byredo
Blanche Eau De Parfum
Clean scents are right up there for me with woody ones, and this Blanche Eau De Parfum from Byredo is worth all the hype it gets. It’s made several of our other roundups because of the crisp aldehyde that softens into Rose Centifolia. It reminds us of fresh linen sheets on a breezy day and has a medium intensity that isn’t too overwhelming.
Notes: Crisp aldehyde, Rose Centifolia
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “This perfume has a clean floral scent. It projects well, has freshness, and lasts for hours. The scent reminds me of fresh linen, it seems like the perfect fragrance to wear for Spring.”
Best Citrus: Phlur Tangerine Boy Eau De Parfum
Phlur
Tangerine Boy Eau De Parfum
A citrus scent is a great addition to anyone with a perfume collection (especially ahed of summer). This Tangerine Boy Eau De Parfum is a vibrant mix of tangerine, lemon, and amber. It’s bold, playful, and zesty, which is why our editors have recommended it time and time again.
Notes: Tangerine, lemon, and amber
Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “Smells phenomenal. Like you just unpeeled a ripe tangerine. I get compliments every time I wear it.”
Best Vanilla: Replica Coffee Break Eau De Toilette With Coffee Accord & Milk Mousse Accord
Replica
Coffee Break Eau De Toilette With Coffee Accord & Milk Mousse Accord
Finding a vanilla scent can be tricky considering how many are available claiming to be the best. But if you want something that doesn’t feel over-scented or too sweet, consider something like this Replica pick. It’s just the right amount, thanks to the blend of coffee accord, lavender, and milk mousse accord.
Notes: Coffee accord, lavender, and milk mousse accord
Size: 3.4 oz
Customer review: “My signature scent for over a year. Coffee on first spray that settled into a lavender vanilla on dry down. Lovely scent!”
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best fragrances for Mother’s Day, we leaned heavily on first-hand testing and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including key notes and size. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
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