by There have always been perfumes that have taken the world (or at least perfume lovers) by storm. Those of us around in the 90s and 2000s might remember the hype around CK One, the world’s first unisex fragrance to market. We might have begged our parents to buy us a bottle of Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers or Clinique Happy or the iconic Gap perfumes. At the time, we got wind of these fragrances through television commercials, magazine advertisements or during visits to the beauty counters of department stores. But these days, all you have to do (apart from reading Who What Wear, ahem) is open your TikTok app and see what’s happening on #PerfumeTok – however, I’m not talking about vabbing.
Granted, there are major differences between the scents that were popular 20 years ago and those that enjoy TikTok virality. One is the price – many famous perfumes from TikTok are niche and have a high price tag, so I’m here to walk you through some of the most popular perfumes on the clock app and help you out. to know which scents are worth it. However, there are also reasonably priced fragrance finds that have made it big. It all depends on what you like. On that note, it’s a good reminder that perfume is subjective, so a certain perfume may be worth the money to me, but not to you, and vice versa!
The concept of this perfume is really cool: it is supposed to remind you of the skin, especially the skin of a lover. Or an ex, perhaps? When I heard that, I was worried it smelled like Cool Water and Taco Bell. Now, let’s read the notes: skin musk, bergamot, jasmine, cyclamen, neroli, orange blossom, sandalwood, blond wood, white musk. To me, it smells like laundry and has a more masculine smell, so I guess it might smell like someone I used to know (cue Adele). Personally, I wouldn’t wear it (foodie queen around here!), but I understand why people would be curious enough for it to sell out repeatedly. Hmm, if all those people wear it, their lovers will think of them in the future when they smell it, and so on, and so on, so the cycle continues. Almost like a setback Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. Brilliant, if you ask me.
I’ve enjoyed every Ariana Grande perfume I’ve tried, and this one is no different. (I had two of its other flavors on my desk at my old job as “afternoon sprays.”) There are people who think it’s an affordable version of Baccarat 540 (which we we’ll talk more about in a second below). Although I don’t completely agree, I will say that there are similarities. But you have to let it settle into your skin to fully enjoy it, because it can be intense at first spurt. The top notes are lavender, bergamot and pear, then it turns into coconut, praline and vanilla orchid, ending with musky and woody notes. I would say if you are on a tight budget but are intrigued by Baccarat 540 and want a good gourmand, start with this one, but know that they are different!
Those Sol de Janeiro sprays suffocated me. They are not for the faint of heart, i.e. people who hate dessert smells. This literally says “pistachio and salted caramel” on the bottle. I will say ’71 is my favorite, but I love this one too, especially at $20 for the 90ml. Although this one is a body spray, you can also get the EDP. It’s definitely something I would have worn a lot more in my youth, but I can still appreciate it now. If you’re looking for more than a standard scent (or haextremely sweet flavors), you might want to skip it, but for caramel lovers, enjoy.
The name of this perfume unfortunately has nothing to do with Penn Badgley. It’s called You because of the way it’s supposed to adapt to your skin, which makes it smell different on everyone, almost like a “custom” perfume. It’s a completely different scent to anything I’ve owned. It is bright and fresh thanks to the note of pink pepper and also contains ambrette, ambrox and iris. I like the clean and fresh vibe of You. Although it’s not my favorite. However, I have worn it several times. For a greedy girl, this is a big deal!
I love Miss Dior. This is a classic floral scent that got a reboot in 2021 by Francois Demachy, and the reboot works, honey. Even though this has hints of rose (Centifolia rose, to be exact), I haven’t had any headache issues with it, thank you Goddess. Other notes include iris, peony and lily of the valley, then apricot and peach, drying with vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood and musk. It smells floral, sweet, powdery and creamy.
Now, that’s not a foodie, so it’s not my usual type of perfume, but there’s something appealing about Gypsy Water. It is initially bright with its notes of bergamot and lemon, but dries up in incense, then in amber and sandalwood. I have a big weakness for incense; it’s sexy! I feel like if you have a thing for this too, or woody scents in general, you need to add this to your cart.
I’m a big fan of Parfums de Marly Oriana ($175) and was thrilled with this sweet floral scent. I understand why it’s so popular on TikTok. It smells divine! There are notes of rhubarb, lychee, bergamot, Turkish rose, peony, vanilla, musk, cashmere and vetiver. Unfortunately, I can be sensitive to heavy rose scents! I am so disgusted. But I still think it’s wonderful. If you love rose scents and have the chemistry for it, I can’t recommend this enough. I’m really heartbroken that I can’t wear it. Did they invent some sort of sting (like allergies) that desensitizes me to the rose? I will do it…
Where are all my lovers of fruity perfumes? This is a fantastic fragrance from Vilhelm Parfumerie that lives in the fruity gourmand category. Although it is called Mango Skin, it is not very simple with the main fruit like, for example, Lost Cherry by Tom Ford. Instead, it’s a combination of fruit and sugar, but doesn’t come across as a fructose overdose. The blackberry note is also present and extends into the dessert: patchouli, vanilla and pink sugar. It’s a dreamy scent, especially for warm clothes.
This new fragrance from the YSL fragrance family was a nice surprise for me. At first you are struck by the lavender note, which I have found to be one of my favorite non-gourmet notes. Then it settles into a warm and woody atmosphere thanks to the vanilla musk. It’s the perfect balance of floral and sweet. It’s elegant and not at all grandma-like, which is what people tend to think of when it comes to lavender. In addition, the bottle is so chic! Definitely a must for gourmet flower lovers.
Baccarat Rouge 540, a collaboration between Maison Francis Kurkdjian and French fine crystal brand Baccarat, is known to TikTok girls as the scent that makes you “feel rich.” And at nearly $350, I can see why! It definitely goes through a journey on my skin – it can be floral, woodsy and even a little medicinal at times, but overall it’s sweet. Although technically not a sweet tooth, it is a very mild and sweet scent, probably due to the ambroxan. There are similar scents (some people claim Ariana Grande Cloud, whom I mentioned above, is a decent dupe) but is definitely in a world of its own. It’s mysterious and complex, but not for everyone.
A longtime favorite of mine (I gave it a Beauty Crush Award when I was at HelloGiggles), Black Opium is a sophisticated fruity, vanilla and amber scent that is to die for. I have it in my “going out perfume” category because it’s the kind of perfume to put on when I know I’m going to have a good time.
When Lost Cherry debuted in 2018, I remember it was a bit controversial because the thought of a cherry-scented fragrance made people think. (A friend was worried it smelled like cough medicine.) Thing is, Lost Cherry isn’t sweet, nor does it remind me of cherry lip balm. While it’s definitely a simple cherry scent, it’s darker, mature, and dries out to a warm, woodsy scent. I love how unique it is. When it first came out, I wore it every day for months and still look for it often. If you don’t like cherries, pass, but if you are, this is a special scent that should be in your scent closet if you’re willing to spend the dough.
I love the smell of being in the woods and sitting around the bonfire, except I hate it when the smoke gets into my hair. Fireside is the answer to my dilemma. It envelops you in a comforting, warm, woodsy cloud that captures the essence of being in a log cabin in the woods without all the dusty smoke. The notes of clove, orange blossom and vanilla are a glorious symphony for my nostrils. No kidding. I am so obsessed with this scent and have been for a few years now. My husband and I even share it.
I will be honest. When I first heard the rumor that Love, Don’t Be Shy was Rihanna’s signature scent, I was immediately intrigued. Who wouldn’t want to know what you are RiRi felt? But then I read the notes (orange blossom, neroli and marshmallow, my favorite) and I knew it was going to be sumthin’ personal. After all, I am a foodie lover! I realized that I will always be looking for a “grown-up version” of Aquolina Pink Sugar, which was my own signature scent from the late twenties, and Love, Don’t Be Shy is currently the one for me. . After getting a sample and using it quickly, I knew this was my perfume soul mate. I bought it as a “me to me” gift (I did the exact same with Rihanna’s current scent, Fenty Eau de Parfum) and have never looked back. If you have the exact same flavor preferences as me: gourmet dessert-y or a fan of marshmallow notes, then it’s definitely worth it.
Then the proof is in the data: the most searched fragrances of 2022, period
