Fragrance is such a personal and important addition to your overall style and wardrobe. Yes, the smell. How many times have you been out and about and someone has walked by you and left a lingering scent that makes you want to run over and ask them, “What perfume are you wearing?” When you choose the right perfume, the smell matters. Leaves a mark in the most beautiful way, which is why I wanted to share my personal favorite Nordstrom fragrances, but here are some of the best fragrances for women. If you’ve been looking for new fragrances to try, or have been looking for the best summer fragrances, I highly recommend starting with Nordstrom as they have a huge and diverse selection of fragrances!
My Favorite Perfume
How to Buy Perfume Online
Tip #1
Learn and become familiar with the fragrance family (floral, fresh, woody and amber) so you know which ones you are naturally attracted to. This will help eliminate a lot of choices when you’re browsing online.
Tip #2
Learn how Notes works. There are top notes (that is, the fragrance that is obvious when you first spray the perfume), middle notes (that is, the fragrance that appears after 10 to 15 minutes after you spray the perfume), and base notes (that is, the scent that is obvious when you first spray the perfume). A strong scent that makes your perfume stay on your skin longer).
Tip #3
Take a look back at how you smell now and think about what’s missing. You may want scents from each family to create a complete scent arsenal, or you may be loyal to any amber. Test what you already have to decide which path you want to take.
Let’s take a look at my five go-to scents. These five scents cover that. Many people don’t believe in a perfect perfume. It’s good to have a few options to choose from depending on the day, mood, and vibe you want.
rein de nuit
If you’re looking for a night-specific scent, another Byredo called Reine de Nuit Night veil will give you pause. The fragrance is powerful and intoxicating, giving off a sensual, mysterious, rich aroma that will catch your eye as you walk through the restaurant to your table.
Top: black currant, saffron
Middle: Incense, rose
Base: amber seed, patchouli
As the night goes on, the scent changes and that’s what perfume is all about.
mojave ghost
If you are naturally attracted to woody romantic scents with sandalwood, then you will die for this BYREDO fragrance. This is my everyday choice during spring and summer because it combines all the elements I love. The scent of this Mojave Ghost perfume is as follows:
Top: ambrette, Jamaican nesberry
Middle: violet, sandalwood, magnolia
Base note: Shanty musk, crisp amber, cedar wood
The fragrance is named after the ghost flower, which grows in the intense heat of the Mojave Desert, making the scent as rare as the flower itself. This fragrance is not cruelty-free or vegan.
baccarat rouge 540
If you are interested in perfume, you will recognize this name immediately. This is a very popular fragrance among women, you could classify it as a “cult favourite”. Spoiler alert: this show is every bit as good as everyone says it is.
Above: Saffron
Middle: cedar, jasmine
Base: Ambergris
It’s also quite expensive, so I rarely wear this fragrance, mostly in the fall and winter, because it has a warmer scent with a layer of spice. There’s jasmine, saffron, cedar and ambergris, and it smells like a floral, woody breeze wrapped in amber, aka beautiful. People often search for Baccarat Red 540 at Sephora, but I’m here to tell you, it’s not sold there. You can find it at Nordstrom, and you can even pick up a travel-size bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540 to give it a test drive before you fully commit!
rose of no man’s land
Another BYREDO fragrance that I choose all year round is “No Man’s Land Rose”. The scent of this perfume is:
Topping: pink peppercorns, Turkish rose petals
Medium: Raspberry Blossom, Turkish Rose Absolute
Base material: papyrus, white amber
I love how fresh this perfume smells. The scent of white amber and pink pepper gives it a sexy feel, and the rose petals and roses definitely give it a fresh, lively scent. BYREDO is one of my favorite women’s fragrance brands because every scent they make is unique and amazing.
rose 31
I bet you thought you were going to see Santal 33 on this list, didn’t you? While I love this cult classic, I prefer Le Labo’s Rose 31. But the truth is, Le Labo (which is completely cruelty-free, by the way. While not 100% vegan) doesn’t make a bad perfume either. What’s more, while fragrances tend to be more aimed at women, Le Labo is proudly unisex and can be worn by men too!
Top: Absolute Rose, Cumin
Middle: vetiver, cedar
Base Color: Amber, Lemon, Musk
Rose 31 is a complex blend of rose with some other notes you’d never think to put together, including rose, cumin, vetiver, musk, cedar, agarwood, ebony, amber, rewood, and Wolfberry. In short, it’s complex and compelling in the best possible way.
oud & bergamot
I’ve had a bottle of this perfume for years. This is one of my OG fragrances. I’m saving this Jo Malone cologne for fall and winter because of the wood-smoky, mysterious scent (one of my favorite scents by the way).
Above: Bergamot
Middle: cedar
Basics: Oud
Top notes are bergamot, middle notes are cedar, and oud completes the fragrance, making it instantly recognizable. If you’re looking for a signature scent that will make people remember you, this might be the fragrance you really like.
replica jazz club
Although this is classified as a “cologne,” it’s not just for men. This eau de toilette is also my favorite at night. I don’t wear it often, but when I do, it always feels great. Maison Margiela describes the fragrance as “exciting for cocktails and cigars,” and that’s pretty accurate.
Topping: pink peppercorns, lemon, neroli
Middle: Absolut Rum, Sage Oil, Java Vetiver Oil
Base material: tobacco leaves, vanilla beans, styrene resin
Imagine a dark cocktail bar with distressed leather bar stools and a cigar room in the back for a sexy date night with your sweetheart!
santal 33
This wouldn’t be a complete fragrance post if I didn’t mention Santal 33. Like I said above, I prefer Rose, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like Santal. I have a smaller bottle that I don’t use very often, but when I do, I find it to be a talking point because almost every feisty woman can scream this scent a mile away!
Top: Purple accord, cardamom
Middle: iris, phoenix
Base: cedar, leather, sandalwood
It’s rich, woody, yet very feminine at the same time. It’s a cult favorite for a reason!
Instructions on the validity period of perfume:
People often ask whether perfume will expire? The answer is yes, but this “yes” may last 1-10 years! On each perfume box, there should be a PAO label (time after opening), with the letter M (representing “months”) indicates the number of months your perfume will last. Pro tip: Use a marker to write the month and year on the bottom of all your toiletries so you know when they were opened.
