I have sexy head turning amber perfumes for going out at night, sweet and cosy vanilla scents for staying in, and everyday versatile fresh scents that are as versatile as blue jeans and a button-down shirt.
Fresh Smelling Scents I Like Best
Soapy floral scents, light musk aromas, and sheer woody notes are the kinds of fresh-smelling scents I like best. These are so light and not too strong that they feel like a second skin. Unless someone is leaning in to smell my perfume, you can’t really smell it. If you don’t like flowers the way I do, you might like a light citrus scent, a calm aquatic scent, or a fresh fruity scent that makes you smell like you just got out of an everything shower.
My Eight All-Time Favourite Clean Scents
As someone who loves clean fresh scents, I’ve put together a list of my eight all time favourites. They range from a soft musk fragrance that smells like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy to a bright citrus eau de toilette that reminds me of summers on the coast.
01 of 08 Eau de Parfum by Henry Rose London 1983
A bottle of Henry Rose London 1983 perfume
Thanks to Brands / InStyle, you can get it for $120 at Sephora.
The newest perfume from Michelle Pfeiffer is a sheer musk fragrance with a watery fig note that smells effortlessly sexy and cool. A new, watery fig note opens up on the skin, then it dries down to a soft woody jasmine.
02 of 08 Lake & Skye 11 11 Eau de Parfum
A bottle of Lake Skye perfume 11 11 Eau de Parfum on a white background
Thanks to Brands / InStyle, it’s $105 on Amazon.
This Lake & Skye best-seller smells like freshly washed sheets turned into perfume. You could easily wear it on a plane or during a long commute without bothering the people next to you. It has a lasting fresh scent that you will be able to smell for hours after you spray it. White amber musk wrap you in a close, warm scent bubble.
03 of 08 Nemat Egyptian Musk Scent Oil
A bottle of Egyptian Musk fragrance oil with a pretty golden cap
Thanks to the Brands / InStyle, it’s $21 at Ulta.
This soapy clean fragrance oil is very similar to the Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk Oil that style icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedy used to wear. It smells great on its own or layered under any of the other scents on this list to make them last longer. It has notes of fresh linen scent, lily-of-the-valley, and a warm powdery musk.
04 of 08 Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette
Bottle of the Dolce Gabbana Light Blue scent
Brands / InStyle thanks to Sephora for $116
As part of my job, I’ve tried out more than one thousand perfumes, but Light Blue is one of the few that makes me feel so happy and carefree. The nostalgic citrus mix smells like lemon, apple, and cedarwood, which makes you think of lazy summer days on the beach. It smells clean, pleasant, and not too strong for people with sensitive noses.
05 of 08 No Makeup, No Fragrance, No Makeup
A bottle of perfume with the NFF brand logo on it
Thanks to the Brands / InStyle, you can get it for $75 at Nomakeupmakeup.com.
The great thing about perfume is that it smells different on everyone because of their unique skin chemistry. This is an example of a light sheer scent that can change from person to person. Some will have more of the sweet citrus pomelo notes, while others will have more of the creamy sandalwood, delicate jasmine, or faintly powdery orris notes.
06 of 08 DKNY Be Delicious Eau de Parfum
A DKNY Be Delicious perfume bottle that looks like an apple and has a metallic green colour.
Thanks to Brands / InStyle, you can get it for $100 on Amazon.
This perfume from the Y2K fragrance era smells like green apple shampoo and a shower magnolia buds. I get compliments on how clean I smell almost every time I spray this on. It’s bright sparkly refreshing. It’s also cheap; I’ve had the $100 bottle for two years and still have a lot left.
07 of 08 Santa Maria Novella L’Iris Eau de Parfum
A bottle of LIris perfume Santa Maria Novella
Thanks to the Brands / InStyle $210 at Smnovella.com
People often say that iris smells like soft soap powder, and even a little bit like lipstick. The note is the most beautiful nostalgic scent I’ve ever heard, even though it’s not for everyone. L’Iris is a beautiful version that brings out the green fresh iris, along with the feminine neroli and jasmine petals.
08 of 08 Eau de Parfum for Clean Reserve Skin
A bottle of Clean Reserve Skin Eau de Parfum with a wooden cap and a label on the front
Thanks to the Brands / InStyle, $118 at Sephora
Clean Reserve Skin is like a cashmere sweater scent in perfume form. It wraps you in soft musk vanilla and a second skin praline. The copaiba oil adds a calming woody note that makes me think of relaxing in a steam room at a spa.
