Key Takeaways:
- Sweet, light, and floral scents are commonly thought of as feminine.
- Vanilla, rose, and cherry are examples of scents that are popular with women.
- Sweet Ash Super, Vanilla Vice, and Snif Me are great Snif perfumes for women.
With new fragrances being released every day and different scents going in and out of fashion, it can be hard to choose a fragrance. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the nine best perfumes for women.
Although this list is full of our top suggestions, keep in mind that everyone can wear all scents, so if a more traditionally “masculine” scent calls to you, don’t be afraid to rock it. That said, with everything from sweet vanilla scents to subtle lavender fragrances, we tried to include something for everyone on this list.
Why Are Certain Scents Popular for Women?
There are several reasons certain scents tend to be beloved by women, and in this section, we’ll explore some of them.
Just like with clothing, certain scents are popular for women because they’ve been marketed towards women and associated with femininity. Think about how roses are associated with romance and lavender with relaxation. These associations are often tied to femininity, making certain scents more “attractive.”
Another reason certain scents appeal to women is that they’re tied to strong positive associations. Given that the olfactory system is closely linked to memory, if you have a positive memory that’s attached to a certain smell, you’re more likely to seek out that smell when shopping for your new signature scent.
Of course, not all women have the same associations, but, generally speaking, sweet smells like vanilla invoke feelings of happiness and are reminiscent of delicious pastries, baked goods, and maybe even your go-to coffee order.
Last but certainly not least, certain scents are popular for women because they boost feelings of confidence. Much like with memory associations, this is highly subjective. That said, once you find a scent that makes you feel like your best version of yourself, you know you’ve found your signature scent.
For this reason and more, scents have always been popular with women because they’re seen as another form of self-expression and an extension of a woman’s personal aesthetic.
What Are the Best Perfumes for Women?
Now that you know what makes certain scents attractive for women, it’s time to dive into our list of the nine best perfumes for women.
Keep in mind that you can always mix and match fragrances to craft the scent that perfectly captures your essence (or just your vibe for the day!).
1. Sweet Ash Super
First on our list is Sweet Ash Super, a sugar-charged version of Sweet Ash, one of our best-selling fragrances.
Woody, ambery, and perfect for those days when you need to feel comforted and grounded in equal measure, this scent features musk, sandalwood, milk, vanilla absolute, fir balsam, and cedarwood. It’s also the scent for those sleepy Sunday mornings when all you want to do is lounge around home in your slippers and catch up on the book (or Vogue articles) you’ve wanted to read all week.
Given that Sweet Ash Super features even more premium fragrance oil than usual, it’s specifically designed to be worn all day long. This means you can spritz it on in the morning and you won’t have to worry about reapplication, no matter where the night takes you.
The supercharged scents are also formulated to have a more intense expression of the base notes, which means the cedarwood in Sweet Ash Super packs an even more powerful punch than normal.
2. Vanilla Vice
If you’re an ice cream lover with an insatiable sweet tooth, Vanilla Vice is the fragrance for you. Inspired by dripping soft serve on a hot summer day, this scent will have you (and everyone who gets a whiff of you) melting.
Ice cream accord, vanilla bean, jasmine sambac, amberwood, musk, and orcanox are blended to perfection to create a rich, complex fragrance.
Vanilla fragrances are usually considered one-note wonders, but Vanilla Vice will make you do a double-take. The rich base and unexpected floral notes make this fragrance as intriguing as it is delicious.
Beautifully balanced, it never runs the risk of being overly sweet. Vanilla Vice should be the fragrance you wear when you want to feel luxurious without taking yourself too seriously. It’s perfect for girls’ nights, spa trips, and everything in between.
3. Snif Me
Feminine doesn’t have to mean over-the-top, a point that Snif Me illustrates perfectly. This scent is designed to mimic the smell of your warm skin when you’re fresh out of the shower.
The beauty of Snif Me is that it’s made to reflect the unique chemistry of your skin, which means it will smell slightly different on each wearer.
Orris, plum, peach skin, white moss, musks, and sandalwood form the scent profile of Snif Me and give the fragrance its subtle allure. Part of the draw of skin scents is that they are truly fragrances you can wear anytime and anyplace.
When you’re looking for a scent that feels personal, intimate, and addictive, look no further than Snif Me.
4. Tart Deco
Tart Deco should be your go-to fragrance when you want to make an entrance and show off your playful side.
Juicy and luxurious, this scent features a blend of black cherry, rose, jasmine, birchwood, vetiver, and vanilla. If you’re craving a fruity fragrance that still has a rich complexity, then this is your next signature scent.
Much like vanilla fragrances, many women worry that a cherry scent would be better suited for middle school chemistry class rather than the chic new cocktail bar that opened up down the street.
Thankfully, Tart Deco is the kind of fragrance that knows what it means to be fun and fruity while still maintaining a sophisticated edge. This is the scent we’d recommend for a summer night out when you’ve got your dancing shoes on and your drink of choice in hand.
5. Rose Era
Sometimes, classics are classics for a reason. Rose is arguably one of the most iconic feminine smells, and our Rose Era fragrance gives it a modern makeover.
Designed in collaboration with Monet McMichael, this scent gives rose an ethereal edge. Rose Era features rose alongside strawberry, clean laundry accord, ambrette seeds, white moss, saffron, and sandalwood.
The result is a silky, clean-smelling fragrance that you’ll come back to time and time again. Rose Era's floral freshness makes it a great go-to scent for mornings when you need a little more pep in your step.
Even though it’s a lighter scent, the high-quality fragrance oil means that you can rely on it for long-lasting, daily wear that will always make you smile but never overwhelm.
6. Heal the Way
Heal The Way is your invitation to prioritize personal peace and self-love. Designed by mindfulness teacher Alex Elle, this scent is comfort in a bottle. Inspired by Elle’s definition of healing, her hope with this fragrance was to create a scent that brings you peace with every spritz.
Pistachio cream, davana, palo santo, vanilla absolute, musk, and amber make up the scent stack in Heal The Way. Ambery and gourmand, this fragrance has a delicate powderiness and sweetness that make it ideal for gentle and soothing vibes.
We recommend pairing this scent with your favorite cup of tea and a guided meditation to take your healing journey to the next level.
7. Vow Factor
Whether you’re getting ready for a make-or-break third date or whipping up your favorite dinner on a chill night, there’s no denying the joy of adding some romance to everyday life. Doing so has never been easier thanks to Vow Factor.
Floral and lively (just like the burst of energy you get right when you’re falling in love), this scent features green fig, neroli, rose, cedarwood, tonka bean, and ambrette seeds.
Some scents are designed to help you wind down and feel as relaxed as possible. Fragrances like Vow Factor, conversely, feature citrus notes that will help you start your day on the most romantic note possible. It’s clean, fresh, and just the scent you’d want to wake you up in the morning.
8. Honey Suite
Look on the sweeter side of things with Honey Suite. What makes this scent feminine is the use of ingredients that have traditionally been used in feminine perfumes, like crystallized honey and vanilla. However, they’re given a bewitching twist because they’re paired with broom absolute, lavender flower, incense, and havanawood in Honey Suite.
As one of our most distinctive scents, Honey Suite is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a stand-out scent that still has the sweet softness associated with women’s scents.
The different layers of Honey Suite give it a complexity that will keep you smelling delicious and your nose intrigued throughout the day.
9. Gentle Reminder
Gentle Reminder is another scent designed in collaboration with Alex Elle that is made to help you keep in mind her affirmation that you are worthy of ease, joy, and love. By bringing together lavender, purple ube, milk froth, black tea, palo santo, and date sugar, Gentle Reminder can offer you moments of groundedness and tranquility no matter how chaotic your day (or week) may be.
One of the primary notes in this fragrance is purple ube, an earthy yam that’s often used in Filipino cooking. Along with the date sugar, purple ube gives this scent a sweet earthiness that will allow you to lean into your soft side.
We recommend spritzing Gentle Reminder before your favorite yoga class or as you brave rush hour traffic to get groceries. Any time you need a little extra comfort in your life, reach for this scent.
Divine Feminine
With nine scents from the Snif line to choose from, you’re officially prepared to find the best perfume for the women in your life or for yourself. If you want to indulge your sweet side, then Vanilla Vice is the fragrance for you.
Honey Suite will do the trick for those looking for a more intriguing, experimental fragrance. Regardless of which feminine fragrance you choose, remember that you can mix and match until you find a scent that feels deliciously “you.”
FAQs
What scents are associated with femininity?
As one of the biggest branches of the beauty industry, several scents have been specifically marketed towards women and associated with femininity. Generally speaking, feminine scents tend to be softer and sweeter.
For this reason, florals like rose, lavender, and jasmine, as well as sweet gourmand notes like tonka bean and vanilla, are often considered feminine.
Light, powdery notes as well as fruity smells tend to fall into the feminine category as well. However, it’s important to keep in mind that scents aren’t inherently gendered. This means that fragrances associated with femininity in one part of the world might be associated with masculinity in another part of the world and vice versa.
What scents are popular with women?
Traditionally speaking, some of the scents that have been most popular with women include rose, vanilla, sandalwood, and musk. If we had to rank one scent family above all the rest in terms of its popularity among women, florals would take the cake.
That said, in recent years there’s been a move toward genderless fragrance and women have started to scents that were historically associated with men such as rich, earthy fragrances.
Sources:
Lavender and the Nervous System | NIH
The Smelling Principle of Vetiver Oil, Unveiled by Chemical Synthesis | NIH