At this point, TikTok informs most of our beauty purchases—especially when it comes to the best perfumes, with users swearing by the likes of Le Labo and Sol De Janeiro as their ride-or-die, signature scents.
But when it comes to selecting your everyday office perfume or vacation scent, naturally it boils down to opinion and personal preference. For instance, you might be vanilla perfume obsessed, or prefer something a little more unique and complex, like earthy, woody perfume notes. That being said though, it's very easy to be convinced by a rave review or a product's viral status, especially on 'Perfumetok'—more so if you don't have easy access to the scent in question, to get your own whiff. Believe me, I've been burned more than once...
So, to take some of the guessing out of your next fragrance purchase, I've sniffed, spritzed and worn nine of the most popular TikTok perfume recommendations. Here's which ones, in my opinion, you should invest in and which you should avoid...
Amazon Prime Day is here!
And you're in luck because a few of our tried and tested TikTok favorite perfumes are currently discounted...
- Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 68:
was $38now $30.40 (save $7.60) -
Le Labo Santal:
was $219now $132.69 (save $86.31) | Amazon - Kayali Vanilla 28:
was $57.95now $42.50 (save $15.45) | Amazon - Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62:
was $38now $30.40 (save $7.60) - Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum:
was $130now $92.46 (save $37.54) | Amazon - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle:
was $146.30now $136.07 (save $10.23) | Amazon
I tried 9 of the best perfumes from TikTok
For this scent experiment, I sampled perfumes from the following brands; Glossier, YSL, Kayali, Le Labo, Maison Margiela, Sol De Janeiro and Chanel—all of which range from sweet, gourmand scents to beachy florals and warm, complex earthy aromas.
So, in no particular order, here's my verdict on the most viral perfumes from TikTok...
1. Le Labo Santal 33
I just adore this scent. While its $230 (for 1.7 fl oz) price point definitely makes this an investment buy, it's one of the most unique aromas I have ever encountered and has earned me a ton of compliments—even my boyfriend pinches it.
Its musky and leathery blend of cedarwood and sandalwood is warm and rich but not overpowering and perfectly balanced by the soft floral hints. Each spritz blends into the skin like a dream and I cannot even begin to express just how chic I feel when I wear this.
Le Labo's Santal 33 comes in just shy of 5 stars for me, as it did not last as long as I would have hoped on the skin, with that pricetag. That being said though, I have no qualms with spraying as much of this scent as I can get...
2. Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 68
Upon first whiff, I thought Sol De Janeiro's 68 would make a great vacation perfume or summer scent but it's not one I personally would reach for on the daily—despite it having rave reviews on the app.
I've given it three and a half stars because it can be quite sickly sweet at first, though it does mellow out after a while into a creamy musk-like aroma. It is also more on the youthful side, which is great for a sun-soaked getaway but not so much for a workday or date night. However, it is a top pick for My Imperfect Life Beauty Editor, Aleesha Badkar, who wears it on a daily basis.
"I've worn Maison Francis Kurkdjian's famous Baccarat Rouge 540 since 2017, so I loved coming across this last year as it's basically a body spritz version of the expensive EDP," says Aleesha. "Sometimes I'll layer this on top of my clothes to add to the Baccarat Rouge scent or if it's just a casual day I'll wear this on its own for a fresh but sweet scent. A daily fave of mine!"
Personally, I prefer it as a hair mist to a body one, but I do understand why it—like 62—is so beloved for summer, as it's easy to just spritz on and go. For a more mature option, I'd instead opt for something like Chanel Eau Tendre, available at Sephora.
3. Kayali Vanilla 28
This viral favorite was so not what I was expecting. I thought I was in for a very sickly, vanilla perfume but instead, I was met with something quite sultry and musky.
I've given it 3 stars because it's too heady and overpowering for my liking, though it is very popular on TikTok (it has over 19.9 million views to its hashtag) so I felt it definitely deserved a spot on this list.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend it as a daytime scent, but its spicy tones and bursts of vanilla definitely lend themselves well to a seductive evening/night-out type vibe. If you're someone who loves vanilla smells but minus the sugary sweetness, this could be a good, more mature option for you, it just wasn't for me!
4. Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace
This perfume truly sizzles! It's smokey, spicy and irresistibly warm, truly bringing thoughts of a crackling fire with every whiff.
I adore this scent, it's chic and rich enough to be worn as a signature work or event fragrance but also soft enough to spritz for those work-from-home days or a slow Sunday. It's definitely more of a fall-to-winter scent, as yes, it does evoke thoughts of a smokey hearth but personally, I'd wear this all year around because it just makes me feel so comforted.
The one downside of this ever-so-woody number is its longevity. It is an eau de toilette, which vs a parfum is not as strong or long-lasting—so it does fade throughout the day. By the evening I did find that I could no longer smell it on my wrists (which is one of the best spots to spray your perfume.) but, like with Le Labo, I don't mind reapplying to get another burst of that spicy aroma.
5. Glossier You
Designed to smell uniquely yours, this soft but musky perfume is a lovely 'skin scent', it's creamy and warm, with a slight soapiness that just makes me feel so clean and fresh whenever I spritz it.
It's definitely what you would call a signature perfume—and it's no surprise Glossier stans have so many stories of being stopped by strangers, asking what scent they're wearing.
As mentioned, because this perfume seems to wrap itself around your own, natural pheromones, it smells a little different on everyone. On me, those pepper and musky notes come through, with a hint of that floral iris. Overall, it's pretty dreamy but quite understated. Though, if you're looking for the sort of scent that has people lingering after an embrace, it definitely fulfills the assignment.
P.S. If you're looking for a more mature alternative, we've sussed out a number of perfumes like Glossier You.
6. Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33
This perfume was a very pleasant surprise. When I read the name 'Yum Gelato', I thought it would be a sweet and creamy scent but instead, it's very light and fresh.
Embodying one of the biggest spring perfume trends, the pistachio shines through, creating a rich nuttiness that is perfectly balanced against those soft and sweet hints of marshmallow and whipped cream.
It's such an interesting blend that I kept finding myself sniffing at my wrists throughout the day. It lands just shy of 4 stars for me as I did find it a little soapy though, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially if you're a lover of very clean-smelling scents. As someone who leans more towards musky, unisex scents though, it's not one I would wear every day.
7. Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Crush 62
Deliciously summery, that's how I'd describe this viral-fave body and hair mist. After just one spray, you immediately get those vanilla and salted caramel notes, before the woods and florals float through.
This scent, like 68, is perfect for a vacation, especially if you're looking to pack light and just want a fragrance that covers all the bases. However, its sweetness doesn't lend itself to a year-round perfume, in my opinion.
Wearing this mist really did give me that summer, wanderlust feeling but I did find it a bit OTT after I applied it. Again, it's quite youthful and doesn't hold quite the same complexity as some of the other scents on this list. I do, however, love it in my hair—for a waft of summer every now and then especially the next day.
If you're a fan of this scent, or want to explore for beachy smells, these 'Mermaidcore' perfumes could be right up your alley.
8. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
This warm and floral perfume is as timeless and elegant as they come. To me, it's very rich with waves of rose and vanilla, finished with a tang of citrus—and definitely one of the best long-lasting perfumes that I've tried.
I also found that this scent had great staying power but was a tad too mature for me. While it's sweet, there's a depth to it that's very hypnotic.
If you're looking to add a dash of sophistication to your fragrance collection, this is a strong contender and a big favorite on TikTok (in no small part thanks to its seriously aesthetic bottle). For me though, while I can appreciate it as a lovely scent, it's too grown up for me right now...
9. YSL Libre
A deserved fan favorite, this lavender-centric scent makes for a very comforting travel fragrance and does indeed live up to the TikTok hype.
This perfume (which by the way, is also Dua Lipa's favorite perfume) has earned me several good-smelling compliments—with one friend demanding to know what I was wearing. It's so good in fact, that it even made a YSL fan out of my boyfriend, who now owns his own cologne from the brand.
It's long-lasting, warm but ever-so-slightly floral and has become my go-to evening and date night scent. It just melts into the skin so beautifully and wraps me in this ambery and lavender aroma that just makes me feel so confident and dare I say, sexy. I also love how its slightly faded aroma stays on my clothes for days afterwards.
