The Ultimate Wish List Of Top 20 Perfume Brands That Are Timeless

This brand embodies luxe. Kayali is a perfume brand created by Mona Kattan, sister of beauty influencer Huda Kattan. You will spot several influencers using this sister brand of Huda Beauty for their fragrance choice. Their most famous one is obviously their Vanilla 28 scent, which is probably how you've heard of this brand but they have many more unique scents which are really worth a try.  

Such as, their Pistachio-Gelato perfume, that'll literally make you smell like a sweet treat! This perfume is recommended to layer with their various other scents such as Vanilla 28, but even on its own, this is a very irresistible scent made of edible notes including pistachio, voluptuous whipped cream, roasted hazelnut, sweet rum, fluffy marshmallow and fizzy cotton candy. 

Nykaa rating: 3.8/5 out of 32 ratings

Pro tip: Read this for the best tips when buying perfumes online. 

This brand is where classic meets chic! Chanel is a French luxury brand known for its timeless and sophisticated fragrances, making it a top choice for those who appreciate elegance and quality. Yes, to all those of us with Blair Waldorf energy — this is a brand in perfumery which we can never get over and will always be on our wish lists because of the iconic Chanel No. 5, Coco Mademoiselle, and Chance, known for their elegant and feminine scents.

Without a doubt, go for the Chanel No. 5 and drown in those notes of May Rose, Jasmine, Vanilla, citrusy tones and aldehyde. 

Nykaa Ratings: N/A

Where every scent is haute couture is Dior, the French luxury brand renowned for its luxurious and elegant fragrances, making it a go-to choice for those who seek sophistication and style. Another fan-favourite of Gossip Girl and Blair Waldorf watchers, this is a must have for all those who want to exude an "Upper East Side Girl" energy! They have range of perfumes, including J'adore, Miss Dior, and Sauvage, which are all captivating and controlling

Ideally Miss Dior is a classic choice,  with top notes of Floral Bouquet, heart notes of Centifolia Rose and base note of Tender Woods, coming in the cutest pink bottle with a bow on top! 

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 51 ratings

Known for their sweetest scents and sensual vibes, Victoria's Secret is a brand that makes every (s)cent worth it! Known especially for their women centric intimate, loungewear and body care products, Victoria's Secret is the ideal choice for an intimate thing such as perfumes. They have quite the range in their lotions and perfumes, which are long lasting, getting you compliments for smelling good all day long, as is tried and tested! Ideal for those date nights too, as their perfumes are seductive and playful with unique notes. Victoria's Secret offers a variety of perfumes, including Bombshell, Very Sexy, and Love, with very sensual and captivating aromas.

We would recommend their Bombshell Sundrenched, perfect for the summer babe vibe with notes of coral peony, guava blossoms and warm sands.  

Nykaa rating: 4.1/5 out of 12 ratings

This British fragrance brand is known for its unique and luxurious fragrances, making it a top choice for those who want to indulge in a sensory experience. Jo Malone offers a variety of perfumes, including Lime Basil & Mandarin, Peony & Blush Suede, and English Pear & Freesia, known for their sophisticated and exquisite scents. Meghan Markle had reportedly used Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance to scent St. George's Chapel for her wedding to Prince Harry, turning this brand into a go-to for brides! 

A scent we would definitely recommend from this brand is the same one as Meghan Markle used, the Wood Sage Sea Salt Cologne this scent is not overbearing and yet is dark, sensual and sweet. 

Nykaa rating: 4.3/5 out of 110 ratings

This is where fragrance becomes an art form, with the cult-classic Belle de jour using multiple guerlain scents in the movie and since Angelina Jolie became the face of their mon guerlain perfume, this brand has become mainstream. Known for its luxurious and timeless fragrances, this is a top choice for those who appreciate classic beauty. Guerlain offers a range of perfumes, including Shalimar, Mon Guerlain, and La Petite Robe Noire, even used by Queen Elizabeth in the 20th century when the house was established. 

We would recommend their Mon Guerlain EDP, which was inspired by Angelina Jolie that celebrates femininity like none other! The fresh oriental fragrance formed by Carla Lavender, Sambac Jasmine, Album Sandalwood and Vanilla Tahitensis. If you are looking for something more oriental then Shalimar is the ideal choice as it was one of the first oriental perfumes ever. 

Nykaa rating: 4.1/5 out of 71 ratings

Kendall Jenner is a known fan of Estée Lauder's fragrances, often wearing Modern Muse. Largely known for its skincare and make-up products, this brand is a space where beauty and fragrance blends seamlessly. Estée Lauder offers a variety of perfumes, including Beautiful, Pleasures, and Modern Muse, known for their elegant and sophisticated scents.

We would recommend their Modern muse, as it comes with the desirable and complex notes of sparkling jasmine accord and sleek woods accord, which is as sparkly as it is sensual.

Nykaa rating: 4.4/5 out of 154 ratings 

These apothecary bottles are such an indie cottagecore vibe; plus all their perfumes being handmade. A revolutionising brand, this is legit a story waiting to be told! Le Labo is a New York-based fragrance company founded in 2006. This brand is known for its unique and artisanal fragrances, making it a top choice for those who appreciate individuality and craftsmanship. Le Labo offers a variety of perfumes, including Santal 33, Rose 31, and Bergamote 22, known for their complex and distinctive scents.

The Santal 33 which all the top editors and celebrities fawn over is a must-have from this brand’s range. It combines a mix of cardamom and notes of iris and violet, which crackle in the formula. Added to this smoking wood alloy (Australian sandalwood, cedarwood) are some spicy, leathery, musky notes, giving this perfume its signature and addictive comforting scent of the "freedom" as claimed by the brand. 

Nykaa Rating: N/A

Fenty Beauty, the brand by our Queen Riri (Rihanna) has quite an inclusive approach to beauty, offering fragrances that cater to a wide range of preferences, including Fenty Eau de Parfum, known for its bold and empowering scent. Rihanna herself is known for wearing Fenty Beauty fragrances, embodying the brand's message of confidence and self-expression. 

Go with the Fenty EDP, which comes in a "shine bright like a diamond" like bright amber bottle, with only the middle notes of warm floral scent — magnolia, musk, tangerine + Bulgarian rose, which expresses itself uniquely on each wearer, and lasts all day long. 

Site rating: 4/5 out of 3566 reviews

A cover page favourite, Byredo is a Swedish fragrance company founded in 2006. It is minimalistic and understated, while being sophisticated and luxurious. Samantha and Sonam kapoor love this brand so you can be rest assured that it is as simplistic as it is stylish.Their most popular ones are Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Bal d'Afrique, known for their unique and captivating scents which translate emotions into fragrances. 

We would go with the discovery set, to figure out "just the right fit", which has 6 of their top-selling bottles- Bal d'Afrique, Bibliothèque, Blanche, Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost and Rose of No Man's Land.

Very niche and indie, this is a brand that has recently risen to popularity. DS and Durga is a Brooklyn-based perfume house founded by David Seth Moltz and Kavi Ahuja Moltz. This is a house where each scent is a journey, with evocative and storytelling fragrances, making it a top choice for those who want to experience and explore some really cool fragrances. They offer a variety of perfumes, including Cowboy Grass, Burning Barbershop, and Debaser, that have unconventional and artistic scents.

We would recommend their Radio Bombay perfume which smells like a very specific and distant memory of a transistor radio  radiating ragas in the Bandra heat. It's almost like hot copper tubes warming soft wood releasing musk, cream, peach, ambrette, coco and cedar distillates. 

Avant-garde and bold, this is a brand which the icon — Kareena Kapoor Khan loves! Also seen being worn by many other celebrities such as Madonna and Bella Hadid this brand is the perfect 'old money, high society' aesthetic, a must have within your collection. Jean Paul Gaultier has many perfumes in their collection such as Classique, Scandal, and Le Male, which have a very daring yet classic appeal. 

We would recommend their Classique EDT which has ginger, orange blossom and vanilla fragrance which is a strong and clean fragrance. 

Nykaa Rating: 4/5 out of 6 ratings 

If "I love you Richard, but I love me more" had a scent, it would be this. Samantha Jones, (our favourite character from Sex And The City) is always seen Bossgirling around town wearing this exact brand in Sex and the city. This perfume house is as traditional as it is luxurious and elegant, founded in 1760, this brand is truly timeless. Creed offers a variety of perfumes, including Aventus, Silver Mountain Water, and Royal Oud, known for their sophisticated and refined scents. Loved by royalty and celebs alike, this brand is a must have for building a perfume collection. 

We would recommend their Spring Flower, get pretty in pink, that is a playful and unapologetic celebration of feminine energy in the key notes of peach extract, jasmine, white flowers, ambergis and musk, making you feel like you're taking a stroll through an English garden. 

Nykaa Rating: N/A

Carolina Herrera offers a variety of perfumes, including Good Girl, 212, and CH, known for their sophisticated and feminine scents. The cool bottles their perfumes come in make it already worth it, but this higher-end brand is a model's favourite when it comes to fragrances. Their "Good Girl" and "Bad Boy" ranges make you feel like you are a couture model in a house of fashion yourself. Their perfume lasts long, which means lesser frequent usage, thus even a small bottle would last longer. 

You can for sure go for the Good Girl range, especially the supreme, with a beautiful bottle and Carolina A. Herrera, Creative Director of Beauty herself describing it as "so good to be bad." The fragrance features top notes of berries, heart notes of jasmine and tuberose, and base notes of tonka beans and vetiver, belonging to the Oriental fragrance family.

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 57 ratings 

Clinique is recommended for its fresh and clean fragrances, making it a top choice for those who seek simplicity and purity. This skincare brand is perfect for when you're looking for a fragrance for daily wear. A favourite of our Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon and the icon Gweneth Paltrow, this brand offers a variety of perfumes, including Happy, Aromatics Elixir, and Happy Heart, known for their light and refreshing scents.

The Happy Perfume is a blind choice when it comes to Clinique, some even say its a more affordable variant of the Pear and Freesia of Jo Malone, floral and sweet with interplays of fresh, vibrant notes - ruby red grapefruit, bergamot - with soft, sensual ones - Hawaiian wedding flower, spring mimosa. 

Nykaa rating: 4.3/5 out of 391 ratings 

An SRK approved brand, this French luxe brand is where every perfume tells a story. Its unique and artistic approach to fragrances, makes it a top choice for those who appreciate creativity and sophistication. It is a completely canon event that all influencers are raging over this brand on #perfumetok. They have a variety of perfumes, including Do Son, Philosykos, and Eau Duelle, all having complex and evocative scents. Apart from SRK this brand is also Meghan Markle approved, a brand where each scent has a backstory, trust us, you won't ever meet a Diptyque scent you don't like. 

We would recommend their classic, Do Son which has notes tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, ambery wood based on the story of a Vietnamese village and one of the founders of the brand, or Maison as they call it. 

Nykaa Ratings: N/A

Be the Carrie Bradshaw and take control of the narrative that your life is with Lancome perfumes, as this is one of the brands the character is seen wearing most frequently in Sex And The City. With the vibe of naturally stylish, yet slightly messy Lancôme offers a variety of perfumes, including La Vie Est Belle, Trésor, and Idôle, which are super elegant. And incase that isn't convincing enough, it's important to note that Julia Roberts is the face of Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle fragrance. 

Going with the one Carrie Bradshaw wears, try the Tresor EDP of theirs. It comes in a bottle like a precious gem, fitting for its precious notes of an intoxicating floral blend of peaches, apricots, damask rose and leather.

Nykaa rating: 4.7/5 out of 7 ratings 

Tom Ford is an American fashion designer and film director, and wearing a Tom Ford perfume is exactly like that, you feel like the main character in your life. Their perfumes make you stand out and are memorable. Tom Ford offers a variety of perfumes, including Black Orchid, Oud Wood, and Tobacco Vanille all with rich and distinctive scents. If you want to live out Beyoncé's "who run the world" then this brand should allure you as she is a known fan of Tom Ford fragrances! 

Only available on Nykaa, this tactile and sensual scent is deeply textured. With key notes of Black Leather, Violet Flower, Jasmine Flower, this fragrance is warm and spicy, ideal for when you want to feel different and desired. 

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 463 ratings 

With its iconic fragrances, YSL is a French luxe brand where fragrance becomes a fashion statement. The top choice for those who want to make a statement with their scent.They offer a range of perfumes, including Black Opium, Libre, and Mon Paris, which are bold and sensual. Loved by celebrities and influences alike, this is a brand with one of the highest ratings on Nykaa. 

We would recommend their Libre EDP, which has notes of vanilla extract, orange blossom and lavender creating a bold and powerful harmony in its fragrance, perfect for our boss ladies!

Nykaa rating: 4.4/5 out of 1337 ratings     .