The 14 Best Perfumes of 2023, According to Marie Claire Editors

“While *technically* a cologne, I find this fragrance to be perfectly unisex—in fact, I’ve been wearing it on repeat since it launched. It’s fresh at its core with notes thoughtfully selected to remind you of being by the water on a sunny day. Think: A breath of fresh air. The refreshing scent comes together via the combination of Verbena accord, a newly designed note with the intention to illicit the energy of citrus-y green leaves, as well as sweet fennel, and bergamont. It’s been my go-to for casual summer days.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“I’ll be honest: I was skeptical of this scent at first. One of the main scent profiles is cotton candy—and I try to avoid smelling overly sweet. But from the second I got a whiff of the blend in the bottle, I was hooked. It’s not a childish, carnival-esque scent, but rather an elevated and appropriately sweet blend that balanced by warm vanilla and a hint of coconut. It’s right in line with the vanilla fragrance trend, which judging by this new launch, is still going strong through mid-summer.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“I like smelling fragrance as much as the next beauty editor, but very rarely does one make it into my very tight edit of everyday scents. Enter: Dioriviera, my new summer staple. It’s the brainchild of Francis Kurkdjian and takes inspiration from the south of France and Paris. It falls into the fruity floral family, with notes of fig and rose. It’s a light scent, so I find myself spraying on more than I do with other scents. Despite its soft profile, I continuously get stopped on the street by strangers asking what I’m wearing.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“With an aquatic-meets-fruity-meets-amber profile, Loewe’s Aire instantly transports me to a dock somewhere with a clear blue body of water. It feels feminine thanks to notes of pear, peony, sandalwood, and rhubarb, but doesn’t err on the floral side. It’s light, refreshing, and clean to its core, making it perfect for summer. It’s one of my go-tos for days when I don’t want an overpowering or intense scent—it’s one of those options that every single person in your orbit will enjoy.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“This fragrance truly brings me back to my history major roots: Inspired by 18th century French beauty, this scent features a number of sweet top notes including mandarin and white peach, which are balanced out by warmer, woodier base notes like vanilla and akigalawood. I know it’ll be my go-to when I’m in the mood to indulge, or when I’m trying to channel my inner queen.” — Gabrielle Ulubay, E-Commerce Writer 

“When you think of a vanilla fragrance, it’s easy to let your mind go straight to the middle school iteration that was the personification of a cupcake. But per our 2023 fragrance trend report, vanilla is back—and with a major upgrade. Take this Eau So scent, which is one of my new favorites. It definitely has a strong profile, but errs more warm and creamy than sweet. All I need is two little sprays (one of my wrist and one on my neck) and I get stopped on the street all day long.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“I'll get straight to the point: I'm nuts about this scent. D.S. & Durga's Pistachio is a nuanced blend of vanilla, cardamom, and patchouli, with the top note being, of course, the titular little nut. It's untraditional and fresh yet simultaneously familiar and comforting—like eating a big scoop of pistachio gelato while on vacation. Initially introduced as a limited edition, the cult-adored brand recently upgraded the perfume to a full-time forever favorite—which is excellent news for me because I no longer have to ration out my spritzes carefully!” — Emma Childs, Style Editor 

“Historically, most of Ellis Brooklyn’s perfumes have been genderless, unisex, and rode a middle ground in the fragrance world. But their newest launch? It’s anything but—it goes all in on the floral front. Tuberose takes center stage and lays the groundwork for an uber-feminine scent. To make sure the perfume felt modern and not grandma-esque, the heavy floral was balanced out with a bit of citrus and sweetness thanks to Italian bergamot and honeysuckle. Think of it like this: It’s the bottle you want to reach for on a beautiful spring day spent in the sun.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“We launched an incredible new scent that has quickly become my go to: Pause. It is a restorative fragrance created to center, balance, and calm the mind and body during hormonal change. A confident, textured floral scent, violet leaf is mood-stabilizing, mimosa is known to support hormone balance, narcissus promotes deep sleep, and Hay offers tranquility. Pause allows us all to take a moment to reset and restore when we need it most.” — Frances Shoemack, Founder of Abel

“On days when I’m wildly stressed out, this fragrance doubles as a moment of zen. It’s super light and aquatic, quite literally serving as a breath of fresh air. There’s a base of cedarwood and patchouli, but from the second I spray it, I get hyper fixated on the jasmine and hint of basil. In sum: It’s peaceful and refreshing. One of the best facets though boils down to the packaging. Both the box this little guy comes in, along with the bottle itself, are recyclable.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

I’ve been leaning towards fresh and clean scents lately, so Scotch & Soda’s new fragrance addition to the Barfly family, Parklife, was an easy addition to my collection. Notes like cypress, cardamom,  pine, and a hint of gardenia give this eau de toilette a subtle, fresh-smelling appeal that is nearly undetectable on your skin. The only thing I can detect? The fact that I smell good. I’ve been wearing it daily for that very reason. Plus, I love the way it clings to my clothes as I wear it.” — Julia Marzovilla, E-Commerce Editor

“Florals aren’t always my thing, which is why I was wildly surprised by how much I loved this Guerlain drop. It’s heavy on the jasmine—in fact, it’s the star of the show. Perfumers sourced the ingredient from three different regions—India, Calabria, and Grasse—in an effort to highlight the complexity of the fruity floral that almost bears resemblance to orange blossom. That said, jasmine isn’t the sole note; it’s punctuated by a hint of rose, violet, and iris to create a powdery undertone.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“If you haven’t caught on by now, fruity florals are having a bit of a moment this year. And nobody strikes the balances between citrus and sweet better than Jo Malone. The brand just dropped four limited-edition scents, but this particular eau de parfum holds a special place in my heart. It’s light and airy and bears no resemblance to a field of roses, which in my humble opinion, sets it apart from the pack. The woody notes are virtually undetectable and the end result makes me smell fresh and the appropriate amount of tangy.” — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor 

“My ultimate goal in life is to consistently smell like a rich auntie. I’m not talking crisp dollar bills, but rather, a sophisticated woman laced with a scent that's hard to recognize, but yet, so familiar. You know, the smell of a confident, well-traveled human. That's the vibes I get everytime I spritz Guidance. The notes of pear, almond milk, and frankincense are so addictive; I will absolutely wear it for seasons to come.” — Deena Campbell, Beauty Director