8 Perfume Notes Celebrities Love

Perfume is a powerful accessory — the fragrances you wear can become part of your identity and personal brand.

With so many options to choose from, finding your signature scent can be a little bit of a journey. Who better to trust than Hollywood stars? 

Celebrities have access to the finest perfumes and fragrance houses in the world. Some even hire perfumers to create a chic, custom blend. Specially curated to match their distinct personas and illustrious lifestyles, their chosen notes can range from fresh and floral to warm and sensual. The result is a scent that is as enamoring as their star power. 

If you’re on the hunt for a signature scent and need a little inspo, here are eight A-list approved perfume notes that the stars can’t seem to get enough of — and that we think might be your newest obsession.

1. Pancakes and Syrup

There are few scents more comforting than pancakes and syrup. The nostalgic aroma transports you to simpler times when you’d wake up in the morning to sunshine streaming in, mosey on over to the kitchen table, and enjoy a delicious breakfast with your family. 

When you breathe in scent molecules, they stimulate sensory cells in your nose and can affect different parts of your brain. This is why certain aromas can influence your mood, and the scent of pancakes and syrup elicits positive reactions.

You’re not the only one who loves the smell of this sweet treat. Rumor has it, Academy Award-winning Titanic heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio smells just like pancakes with syrup.

Hoping to get a whiff for yourself? Check out Snif’s Hot Cakes, a maple syrup perfume that’ll leave you craving Sunday morning breakfast.

Warmer than a griddle and twice as tempting, Hot Cakes features base notes of berry compote and sugared musk, mid notes of pancake accord and maple syrup, and top notes of buttermilk and melted butter. 

2. Skin and Musk

The natural smell of skin and musk is undeniably sultry. Musk was originally sourced from male musk deer, but today, perfumes use eco-friendly lab-created alternatives. Though synthetic, these notes continue to deliver an animalic smell.

This distinct aroma continues to be a popular genderless option. Its powdery, cleanliness is typically associated with the natural smell of skin. Instead of covering your body with a different smell, it simply amplifies and enhances your own.

According to a fan, musical icon Lady Gaga smells of skin and musk. It makes sense that such a bold artist would wear a fragrance to match.

Want a perfume that makes a statement? Try our Snif Me skin scent. Me’s scent stack includes base notes of white moss, musks, and sandalwood, mid notes of orris, and top notes of peach skin and plum. 

As its name suggests, Me is all about you. Features like body temperature and your pH balance can influence how a fragrance smells once applied, and this shape-shifting scent is designed to reflect your skin’s unique chemistry.

3. Sandalwood

Sandalwood is amongst the most popular perfume notes because it delivers a smooth richness without smelling too sweet or heavy like many other woody aromas. 

In addition to being a popular perfume choice, sandalwood is used holistically for aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the act of diffusing the scent of various plant extracts to improve your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Sandalwood essential oil is sourced from the roots and heartwood of the East Indian sandalwood tree via steam distillation. 

Celebs love sandalwood, too. A fan lucky enough to give Hollywood icon Jennifer Aniston a hug compared her scent to sandalwood. Are we really surprised that everyone’s favorite “friend” smells as warm as she seems on television?

Want to be more like Anison? Instead of getting a “Rachel” cut, try using a sandalwood perfume (or do both). We suggest Way With Woods, a clean, woody scent featuring sandalwood, white tea, mandarin, amber woods, vetiver, and musk. 

More in the mood for a gourmand-leaning sandalwood mix? Try House of 8 instead. This chocolate fragrance delivers a cosmic scent that’s as mysterious as it is luxurious. The clean formula includes a delectable mix of sandalwood, chocolate, sage, heliotrope, vanilla, iris, and lavender flower. 

4. Vanilla 

Vanilla is arguably amongst the most universally adored aromas. Comforting and sweet, vanilla’s popularity also lies in its versatility, and the notes it gets paired with determine whether it feels sophisticated and refined or cozy and familiar.

For many, vanilla stirs up sweet, nostalgic memories — the taste of an ice cream cone on a hot summer day, the scent of vanilla extract in holiday cookie dough, or the softness of your mother’s favorite lotion. 

Although British actress Gwendoline Christie, best known for HBO’s Game of Thrones, tends to take on more serious roles, she is rumored to smell as sweet as vanilla. And if her impressive performance in the Star Wars franchise proves anything, it’s that vanilla is well-loved even in galaxies far, far away.

Take a note out of Christie’s book and try Snif’s Sweet Ash fragrance. Sweet Ash is a down-to-earth and addictive, clean scent. With base notes of white moss, mid notes of fir balsam, tonka bean, and vanilla bean, and top notes of juniper and bergamot, compliments are almost guaranteed.

Or, if you have a soft spot for soft serve, try Vanilla Vice. This vanilla perfume features ice cream accord top notes, vanilla bean and jasmine accord mid notes, and amberwood, musk, and orcanox base notes. Talk about a blend worth melting for. 

5. “Clean”

Former Disney Channel heartthrob Zac Efron is said to wear a fragrance as polished and effortless as his talent. As if we needed any more reasons to love him, the Iron Claw star and High School Musical alum has been described as smelling clean and fresh. 

Everybody loves feeling fresh and polished, so it’s no wonder clean-smelling perfumes are popular across all demographics — but what exactly is a “clean” scent? 

Clean-smelling perfumes typically qualify as anything that brings feelings of purity, clarity, and freshness. They rarely feature heavy fragrance oils and instead opt for light, airy notes of citrus, florals, aquatic accords, soft musks, and light woods.

Get your head in the game and try out a clean fragrance for yourself. We love Suganami. Suganami is a modern, smooth, genderless fragrance that blends natural, woody iris with hints of incense, myrrh, and amber, while finishing with cypress and bright spices like angelica seed and pink pepper.

6. Subtle Florals

Subtle floral perfumes capture the gentle beauty of flowers without feeling overpowering. Instead of bold aromas, they offer a more delicate interpretation of the beloved classic. 

It's the perfect balance of soft and feminine without smelling too sweet — think of it as having a beautiful bouquet of fragrant flowers in your kitchen versus an entire rose garden. 

Every flower has its own unique scent profile. The type of flower used to produce the fragrance oil for a perfume will make a difference in how it smells. For example, rose oil tends to feel more romantic and elegant, jasmine is creamy and seductive, and orange blossom is bright, citrusy, and clean. 

After distilling or extracting the flower absolutes, perfumers will mix together several different florals to form a fragrance’s distinct character. Good news is, regardless of the blend, you can never go wrong with smelling like flowers.

Another strength of subtle floral perfumes is that they deliver classic floral scents without feeling too mature or old-fashioned. In fact, subtle florals are especially popular with today’s young starlets. Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney and singers Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo have all been cited as sporting subtle florals.

You, too, can smell subtly sweet with Snif’s Rose Era perfume. Made in collaboration with Monet McMichael, this rose fragrance is perfect for the modern muse. Its scent stack features ambrette seeds, strawberry, rose, and clean laundry accord for a fresh and sophisticated smell.

7. Patchouli

Patchouli is an iconically rich, earthy fragrance. Its strong smell is natural and raw, and though it’s usually described as dark and woody, the right combination of oils can make it green and bright. In all its forms, the scent is deeply tied to the great outdoors. Its grounded qualities evoke greenery, soil, and other aspects of the natural world. A whiff of patchouli can instantly transport you to a damp jungle after rainfall. 

This is in part because of the tropical climates that patchouli oil comes from. Patchouli oil is extracted from the leaves of the Pogostemon cablin plant, native to Southeast Asia. After undergoing the process of steam distillation, the pure essential oil is used in perfume, incense, and other self-care products.

Patchouli is a long-lasting fragrance. In its natural form, its deep, grounding aroma is highly concentrated. When used as a perfume's base note, the fragrance can be detected for hours. Patchouli’s lasting power allows you to use your perfume sparingly and minimizes the need for reapplication throughout the day.

It’s no wonder one of the busiest ladies in showbiz, Drew Barrymore, is said to wear a patchouli fragrance. The daytime talk-show host and star of iconic films like E.T. has expressed her love of nature in the past. It makes sense that she’d want to keep it with her on set. With a patchouli perfume, you’re sure to live happily Ever After.

Interested in smelling like Hollywood royalty? Reach for Sweet Ash with juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka bean, vanilla bean, and white moss.

8. Tobacco

In perfumery, well-made tobacco fragrances don’t smell like cigarettes. Though sometimes similar to the smell of smoke, it tends to be warmer, richer, and sweetly aromatic. 

There’s a level of class associated with the smell of tobacco. Cigars are commonly linked to important celebrations like weddings or the birth of a new baby, creating a connection between tobacco and luxury. The fragrance is also reminiscent of the leather interiors of vintage cars and the warm smell of old-fashioned tobacco shops.

Though considered a more masculine scent, tobacco can be enjoyed by all demographics, even synth pop musicians from across the pond. Ever wondered what Harry’s House smells like? According to an inside source, Grammy Award-winning superstar Harry Styles smells musky with a hint of tobacco. Swoon.

Hoping to capture a bit of his charisma? We recommend Burning Bridges. Like Styles, our toasted scent knows how to make a statement without ever speaking a word. Infused with tobacco and spices, boosted by rose absolute and iris, and finished with an overdose of Madagascar vanilla, this fragrance is bold and addictive. 

Like all Snif fragrances, Burning Bridges is an eau de toilette. Though still aromatic, eau de toilettes feature a lower concentration of fragrance oils than other types of perfume and cologne. Our products are formulated for optimal performance and long-lasting, daily wear. 

The concentration is enough to provide you with the comforting, smoky smell of tobacco without being overwhelming.

The Smell of Success

From the sweet smell of syrup to the deep allure of musk, these fragrances shine as bright as the stars who love to wear them.

Now it’s your turn to be the star of your own life. Check out these fragrance notes and find the one that speaks to you and your journey. With Snif, your new signature fragrance is just around the corner.

Sources:

What Your Nose Knows | NIH News in Health

What is pH? | US EPA

Aromatherapy | NCCIH

How scent, emotion, and memory are intertwined — and exploited | Harvard Gazette