Top 19 Perfume Brands That Are Timeless As Ever

This brand embodies luxury. Kayali is a perfume line created by Mona Kattan, the sister of beauty influencer Huda Kattan. Many influencers choose this sister brand of Huda Beauty for their fragrance. Its most famous scent is, of course, Vanilla 28, which is probably how you've heard of the brand, but they offer many other unique fragrances that are definitely worth trying.

One standout is their Pistachio Gelato perfume, which will literally make you smell like a sweet treat! While it’s often recommended to layer with other scents like Vanilla 28, it’s equally irresistible on its own. Made with edible notes like pistachio, whipped cream, roasted hazelnut, sweet rum, fluffy marshmallow, and fizzy cotton candy, this fragrance is pure indulgence.

Nykaa rating: 3.8/5 out of 32 ratings

Sizes Available: Three sizes

Preferred For: Female

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

Without a doubt, go for Chanel No. 5 and immerse yourself in its notes of May Rose, Jasmine, Vanilla, citrusy tones, and aldehyde.

Nykaa Ratings: N/A

Sizes Available: Three sizes

Where every scent is haute couture, Dior is the French luxury brand renowned for its luxurious and elegant fragrances, making it a go-to choice for those who seek sophistication and style. A fan favourite among Gossip Girl fans and Blair Waldorf watchers, Dior is a must-have for anyone wanting to channel that "Upper East Side Girl" energy. The brand offers a range of captivating perfumes, including J'adore, Miss Dior, and Sauvage, all exuding timeless appeal.

Miss Dior, in particular, is a classic choice, with top notes of Floral Bouquet, heart notes of Centifolia Rose, and a base of Tender Woods. Plus, it comes in the cutest pink bottle with a bow on top!

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 51 ratings

Sizes Available: Three sizes

Known for their sweetest scents and sensual vibes, Victoria's Secret is a brand that makes every (s)cent worth it! Famous for their women-centric intimate wear, loungewear, and body care products, Victoria's Secret is the perfect choice when it comes to intimate items like perfumes. Their lotions and perfumes are long-lasting, ensuring you get compliments on your scent all day long—tried and tested! Ideal for date nights, their fragrances are seductive and playful, with unique notes. Victoria's Secret offers a variety of perfumes, including Bombshell, Very Sexy, and Love, each with sensual, captivating aromas.

We recommend Bombshell Sundrenched, perfect for that 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 scents, 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, all known for their sophisticated and exquisite aromas. Meghan Markle reportedly used Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance to scent St. George's Chapel for her wedding to Prince Harry, making this brand a go-to for brides!

A scent we’d definitely recommend is the same one Meghan Markle chose: Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne. This fragrance is not overbearing; instead, it’s dark, sensual, and sweet.

Nykaa rating: 4.3/5 out of 110 ratings

Sizes Available: Three sizes

This is where fragrance becomes an art form. With the cult-classic Belle de Jour featuring multiple Guerlain scents and Angelina Jolie becoming the face of their Mon Guerlain perfume, the brand has become mainstream. Known for its luxurious and timeless fragrances, Guerlain is a top choice for those who appreciate classic beauty. The brand offers a range of iconic perfumes, including Shalimar, Mon Guerlain, and La Petite Robe Noire, with Shalimar even worn by Queen Elizabeth in the 20th century, when the house was first established.

We recommend Mon Guerlain EDP, inspired by Angelina Jolie, which celebrates femininity like no other. This fresh oriental fragrance is a blend of Carla Lavender, Sambac Jasmine, Album Sandalwood, and Vanilla Tahitensis. For those seeking something more oriental, Shalimar is the ideal choice, as it was one of the first oriental perfumes ever created.

Nykaa rating: 4.1/5 out of 71 ratings

Sizes Available: Two sizes

Kendall Jenner is a known fan of Estée Lauder's fragrances, often wearing Modern Muse. Largely recognised for its skincare and makeup products, Estée Lauder is a brand where beauty and fragrance blend seamlessly. The brand offers a variety of perfumes, including Beautiful, Pleasures, and Modern Muse, all known for their elegant and sophisticated scents.

We recommend Modern Muse, which features the desirable and complex notes of sparkling jasmine accord and sleek woods accord—an enticing blend that is as sparkling as it is sensual.

Nykaa rating: 4.4/5 out of 154 ratings 

Sizes Available: One size

These apothecary bottles give off an indie cottagecore vibe, with all their perfumes being handmade. A revolutionary brand, Le Labo is a story waiting to be told! Based in New York and founded in 2006, this fragrance company is known for its unique, artisanal scents, 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, each known for their complex and distinctive aromas.

Santal 33, a favourite of top editors and celebrities, is a must-have from this brand’s range. It combines cardamom with notes of iris and violet, which crackle in the formula. The addition of a smoky wood alloy (Australian sandalwood, cedarwood) alongside spicy, leathery, and musky notes gives this perfume its signature, addictive scent—described by the brand as the essence of "freedom."

Nykaa Rating: N/A

Sizes Available: Four sizes

Fenty Beauty, the brand by our Queen Riri (Rihanna), takes 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 for the Fenty EDP, which comes in a vibrant amber bottle that "shines bright like a diamond". With middle notes of warm florals—magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose—this fragrance expresses itself uniquely on each wearer and lasts all day long.

Site rating: 4/5 out of 3566 reviews

Sizes Available: Two sizes

A cover-page favourite, Byredo is a Swedish fragrance company founded in 2006. Minimalistic and understated, yet sophisticated and luxurious, Byredo has become a go-to brand for fragrance lovers. Samantha and Sonam Kapoor are fans, so you can rest assured that it’s as simple as it is stylish. Their most popular scents include Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Bal d'Afrique, each known for their unique and captivating aromas that translate emotions into fragrances.

We recommend the discovery set to find "just the right fit." It includes six of their top-selling scents: Bal d'Afrique, Bibliothèque, Blanche, Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Rose of No Man's Land.

Sizes Available: One size

Very niche and indie, DS & Durga is a brand that has recently risen to popularity. This Brooklyn-based perfume house was founded by David Seth Moltz and Kavi Ahuja Moltz. Each scent from DS & Durga is a journey, with evocative and storytelling fragrances that make it a top choice for those looking to explore unique, artistic scents. They offer a variety of perfumes, including Cowboy Grass, Burning Barbershop, and Debaser, each known for their unconventional and imaginative aromas.

We recommend Radio Bombay, a fragrance that evokes a very specific and distant memory of a transistor radio playing ragas in the Bandra heat. It’s like hot copper tubes warming soft wood, releasing notes of musk, cream, peach, ambrette, cocoa, and cedar distillates.

Sizes Available: Two sizes

Avant-garde and bold, Jean Paul Gaultier is a brand loved by icons like Kareena Kapoor Khan. Also worn by other celebrities such as Madonna and Bella Hadid, this brand embodies the perfect "old money, high society" aesthetic—truly a must-have in any collection. Jean Paul Gaultier offers many perfumes, including Classique, Scandal, and Le Male, each with a daring yet timeless appeal.

We recommend their Classique EDT, which features a blend of ginger, orange blossom, and vanilla. It’s a strong, clean fragrance that leaves a lasting impression.

Nykaa Rating: 4/5 out of 6 ratings 

Sizes Available: Two sizes

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

We recommend their Spring Flower—pretty in pink and a playful, unapologetic celebration of feminine energy. With key notes of peach extract, jasmine, white flowers, ambergris, and musk, it’s like taking a stroll through an English garden.

Nykaa Rating: N/A

Sizes Available: Four sizes

Carolina Herrera offers a range of perfumes, including Good Girl, 212, and CH, known for their sophisticated, feminine scents. The iconic bottles alone make them worth it, but this high-end brand is a favourite among models. Their "Good Girl" and "Bad Boy" collections make you feel like you’re part of a couture house. With long-lasting fragrances, a small bottle goes a long way.

We recommend the Good Girl Supreme, which comes in a stunning bottle. Creative Director Carolina Herrera describes 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, all in the Oriental fragrance family.

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 57 ratings 

Sizes Available: Three sizes

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

Happy is a go-to choice from Clinique. Some even say it’s a more affordable alternative to Jo Malone's Pear & Freesia. With floral and sweet notes balanced by fresh, vibrant accents—ruby red grapefruit, bergamot—and softer, sensual ones like Hawaiian wedding flower and spring mimosa, it’s a delightful fragrance.

Nykaa rating: 4.3/5 out of 391 ratings 

Sizes Available: One size

An SRK-approved brand, this French luxury house is where every perfume tells a story. With its unique and artistic approach to fragrances, Diptyque is a top choice for those who appreciate creativity and sophistication. It’s no surprise that influencers are raving about this brand on #PerfumeTok. Diptyque offers a variety of perfumes, including Do Son, Philosykos, and Eau Duelle, each with complex and evocative scents. Besides SRK, this brand is also Meghan Markle-approved, with each fragrance having its own backstory. Trust us, you won’t ever meet a Diptyque scent you don’t love.

We recommend their classic, Do Son, which features notes of tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, and ambery wood. It’s inspired by the story of a Vietnamese village and one of the brand’s founders, or maison as they call it.

Nykaa Ratings: N/A

Sizes Available: One size

Be the Carrie Bradshaw of your own story and take control of the narrative with Lancôme perfumes, as this is one of the brands she’s seen wearing most frequently in Sex and the City. With a vibe that’s naturally stylish, yet slightly messy, Lancôme offers a variety of elegant perfumes, including La Vie Est Belle, Trésor, and Idôle. And if that’s not convincing enough, it’s worth noting that Julia Roberts is the face of Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle fragrance.

If you want to channel Carrie Bradshaw, try their Trésor EDP. It comes in a bottle like a precious gem, fitting for its intoxicating floral blend of peaches, apricots, damask rose, and leather.

Nykaa rating: 4.7/5 out of 7 ratings 

Sizes Available: Four sizes

Tom Ford is an American fashion designer and film director, and wearing a Tom Ford perfume feels just like that—you’ll feel like the main character in your own life. His fragrances make you stand out and leave a lasting impression. Tom Ford offers a variety of perfumes, including Black Orchid, Oud Wood, and Tobacco Vanille, each with rich, distinctive scents. If you want to channel Beyoncé’s “Who Run the World,” this brand should allure you, as she’s a known fan of Tom Ford fragrances!

Available exclusively on Nykaa, this tactile and sensual scent is deeply textured. With key notes of black leather, violet flower, and jasmine, it’s a warm, spicy fragrance—ideal for when you want to feel unique and desired.

Nykaa rating: 4.5/5 out of 463 ratings 

Sizes Available: Three sizes

With its iconic fragrances, YSL is a French luxury brand where fragrance becomes a fashion statement. It’s the top choice for those who want to make an impact with their scent. YSL offers a range of perfumes, including Black Opium, Libre, and Mon Paris, each bold and sensual. Loved by celebrities and influencers alike, it’s a brand with one of the highest ratings on Nykaa.

We recommend their Libre EDP, which features 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    

Sizes Available: Four Sizes

 Preferred For: Female