See the full winners of Coveteur's 2026 Beauty Awards: The Insider Edit.
Fragrance is one of the few categories where people are less interested in what’s “best” and more in what feels right to them. Still, certain scents keep coming up—passed between friends, recommended without hesitation, worn down to the last drop before being repurchased again. We polled some of the top names in fragrance who have access to everything and asked them to nominate the scents that lingered (literally). Then, we combed through their nominations, smelled them all, and came up with the tightly-curated list ahead.
Some were an immediate yes. Meo Fusciuni Isola has that kind of bright, lifted quality you notice the second it hits your skin. Others take their time. L’Objet Blindfold sits closer, warmer, revealing itself gradually throughout the day in a way that feels more personal than performative.
What connects all of them is how they wear. Nothing here feels overworked or overly referential. Even the sweeter notes are grounded; the fresher ones don’t disappear in an hour. These are fragrances that settle into your routine naturally—the ones you reach for without overthinking, that linger on clothing, that someone inevitably asks you about hours later.
It’s not about having a signature scent, exactly. It’s about finding the ones that make sense for how you move through your day—and actually wanting to wear them again tomorrow.
Best Floral Fragrance:
D.S. & Durga Debaser In Bloom
A floral that feels modern rather than traditional, this scent from D.S. & Durga—a favorite of fragrance experts and Smell Ya Later podcast co-hosts Tynan Sinks and Sable Yong—layers lush blooms with green, slightly unexpected notes for added depth. The result is fresh, nuanced, and effortlessly wearable—proof that florals can still surprise you.
Best Woody Fragrance:
L’Objet Blindfold
Warm, enveloping, and quietly sensual, this woody fragrance leans into creamy, skin-like notes that linger close. It wears intimately, evolving throughout the day in a way that feels both comforting and addictive.
Best Vanilla Fragrance:
Victoria Beckham Reverie
Vanilla, elevated. This interpretation from Victoria Beckham Beauty softens the sweet note with smoky, nuanced undertones, creating a scent that feels sophisticated rather than predictable. It’s warm, modern, and endlessly wearable—and will earn you endless compliments.
Best Gourmand Fragrance:
Maison d’ETTO I-Dream
A gourmand that strikes the perfect balance between indulgent and refined. The sweet notes are grounded by a more complex base, resulting in a fragrance that feels luxurious, comforting, and never overly saccharine. Both Tynan Sinks and Sir Candleman nominated this scent, with the later calling it “a dense and airy vanilla that feels very luxurious.”
Best Fruity-Floral:
CHANEL CHANCE Eau Splendide
A playful blend of florals and sweetness, this fragrance captures the signature CHANEL balance of playfulness and polish. It feels luminous and uplifting, with enough depth to make it linger long after the first spritz. “It’s a raspberry musk that feels very fun and flirty,” says Sir Candle Man.
Best Fruity Fragrance:
Emporio Armani Power Of You
A bright, juicy top note of passionfruit meets a smooth, sophisticated vanilla base, giving this fruity fragrance a grown-up edge. It’s fresh and energetic without tipping into overly sweet territory, and dries down to a warm, skin-like base.
Best Citrus Fragrance:
Meo Fusciuni Isola
Like a sun-soaked escape in scent form, this citrus fragrance is vibrant, crisp, and instantly uplifting. A favorite of Arabelle Sicardi’s, it captures that fleeting, transportive feeling of being somewhere warm—bottling the golden-hour glow of skin, salt, and sun.
Best Musk Fragrance:
Hermès Hermessence Musc Pallida
Not your grandma’s musk. A masterclass in subtlety, this refined musk from Hermès wears like a second skin. Soft, elegant, and addictive, it enhances rather than overwhelms, with an iris heart note and warm musk base, making it the ultimate understated signature
Best Fresh Fragrance:
Regime des Fleurs Tears
Clean, airy, and slightly ethereal, this cult fragrance evokes that just-showered feeling in the most elevated way. A favorite of Arabelle Sicardi’s, it’s fresh without being fleeting, with a softness that lingers beautifully on the skin.
Best Skin Scent:
Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Champaca
Escentric Molecules has been the IYKYK fragrance brand for over a decade now, offering iterations of its signature Molecule 01 note for scents that becomes uniquely yours. This skin-enhancing formula interacts with your natural chemistry, creating a subtle, intimate fragrance that people notice, but can’t quite place. Champaca adds a luxurious floral quality to the signature skin scent note, with Sir Candle Man deeming it “the most luminous and fruity skin scent.”
Best Body Mist:
PHLUR Cashmere Skin Body Mist
Soft, warm, and effortlessly wearable, this mist wraps the skin in a delicate veil of coziness. It’s perfect for layering as the first step in your fragrance wardrobe, or wearing alone, delivering a warm, lingering scent that feels both modern and timeless.
Best Hair Perfume:
Madame Grey POUR CHEVEUX STRIP-TEASE
A super sexy hair mist. The finishing touch that elevates your entire routine, this hair perfume from Cassandra Grey’s Madame Grey leaves behind a subtle, lingering scent that moves with you. It adds just enough presence to feel intentional, never overpowering, with notes of tuberose, leather and naughtiness.
Best Fragrance Innovation:
NOYZ Only Human Mylk de Parum
Blurring the line between fragrance and skincare, this innovative milky fragrance formula rethinks how scent is delivered and experienced. The result is modern, sensorial, and entirely new—exactly what fragrance innovation should feel like. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it goes on like a body milk, but delivers a vanilla bean and cedarwood fragrance that lasts 12 hours.
See the full winners of Coveteur's 2026 Beauty Awards: The Insider Edit.