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The fragrances we choose serve as an aromatic backdrop for our daily lives. A perfectly picked scent can instantly boost our confidence or even make us feel comforted. Over the past year, we explored an extensive array of perfumes and candles, discovering several standouts that truly made us feel something. Ahead, discover the 2026 Beauty Award winners in the fragrance category, from mesmerizing milky scents to luxurious, thoughtfully crafted candles.
Best Overall Fragrance
Armani Beauty Power of You Eau de Parfum
$138 at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com
“This is one of the best fragrances to launch in the last decade, IMO. Power of You is an absolutely rich, decadent, and dimensional fruity-floral scent with notes of passionfruit and vanilla. It’s sweet yet sexy, youthful yet self-assured, polished yet playful, and bottled in the most beautiful vessel.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director
Best Fragrance, Skin Scent
One by Samir Grey
“Dozens of people have reached for my wrist to get a closer smell of One by Samir Grey, and every single one of them has described it as familiar. It’s true; while there’s nothing else quite like this parfum, it’s also indescribably nostalgic. The warm amber, vanilla, and candied peach smell cozy, comforting, and entirely known. The brand puts it perfectly: One by Samir Grey is like smelling a memory.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director
Best Fragrance, Warm
Phlur Cashmere Skin Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
“If I could describe this scent from Phlur in one word, it would be comforting. With notes of almond, vanilla, ambrette, and santal, the fragrance is creamy and cozy like a warm hug. It’s sweet without being overly so, and the musk and balsam notes add a more mature touch. It’s definitely an intimate fragrance that sits close to the skin, and it’s become my go-to bedtime scent when I’m in need of something warm and soothing.” — Shannon Stubbs, associate commerce editor
Best Fragrance, Citrus
Tom Ford Taormina Orange Eau de Parfum
“If you want to channel your inner rich bitch, there’s really nothing like a Tom Ford scent. This one is a lovely mix of fresh citrus, earthy oakmoss, and warm musks. It’s fresh and so summery but still grounded, and it will transport you to the Sicilian seaside, negroni in hand. Que bello!” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor
Best Fragrance, Floral
Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum
“Dior J’Adore is a timeless floral fragrance that feels both elegant and modern. The blend of floral notes creates a scent that is feminine and sophisticated without ever feeling overpowering. What I appreciate most is its versatility—it transitions seamlessly from daytime wear to evening events and always feels appropriate for the occasion. It’s the kind of fragrance that leaves a lasting impression while remaining effortlessly wearable, making it a true staple in any fragrance collection.” — Dhivya Sri, beauty expert and creator
Best Fragrance, Woody
Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense
“Hinoki is a fragrance note that not every fragrance house can master. But this one from Jo Malone London strikes the most delicate balance between aromatic, woody, and airy. Think: a chic little woodland cabin surrounded by wet leaves, misty air, and slightly damp moss-covered trees. There’s an air of mystery to this that feels straight out of a Sofia Coppola dream sequence.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor
Best Fragrance, Milk
Oui the People Island Milk
“The perfume world has lately been obsessed with a lactonic fragrance, but this adds a new layer to that obsession. Atop a creamy, milky base, notes of cinnamon, cashew, and brown sugar add a warm, spiced, and somewhat festive quality to this scent. But not in a ‘holiday candle’ way—more so like you’re in a Hallmark movie and sipping on a chai latte at a cozy neighborhood café with Norah Jones playing.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor
Best Fragrance, Fresh
Glossier You Soie
“A signature summer scent if I’ve ever smelled one. Beachy scents have always been relegated to coconut and citrus, but Glossier has really reinvented the wheel with You Soie. Soie is a solar scent with notes of bergamot, rice milk, Tiare water, and evening jasmine. It’s supposed to smell like that rich, blue color you get from the beach at dusk: cool, crisp, and oceanic. As someone born and raised in a proper beach town, Glossier has absolutely captured that scent and feeling.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director
Best Fragrance, Neutral
Valentino Born in Roma Purple Melancholia Uomo
“Uomo Born in Roma Purple is a deep, textured juice filled with cream and spice. Highly aromatic cardamom immediately hits at first sniff, and then cool, creamy coconut keep it fresh and balanced, offering a nutty sweetness in the middle. Its intensity is enveloping, yet electric, and limited edition, so you better believe I’ll be stocking up. It’s the type of fragrance you can’t quite put your finger on—which, I believe, is exactly the point.” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief
Best Fragrance, Musky
Kiehl’s Original Musk Eau de Toilette Spray
“This ’90s-coded perfume got its moment in the sun this year thanks to its similarities to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s favorite musk oil, but I’ve been wearing it for the better part of a decade. It’s one of my mom’s and my grandma’s favorite scents, so it just smells like comfort to me, but family connections aside, it’s the perfect cozy musk scent that’s warm without frills—soapy but not sterile. Simple, clean, and classic. It doesn’t get any better than that.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor
Best Fragrance, Gourmand
Henry Rose Dave
“Let this be the gourmand that changes your mind about gourmands. Dave is perhaps the most multidimensional, textured vanilla I’ve encountered, pairing a vanilla bean base note with pink pepper, tonka bean, and cocoa shell for a boozy and beautifully balanced gourmand. It blooms as you wear it—I’ve actually started frequenting this as a bedtime scent and find that throughout the night, it transitions from an indulgent, marzipan-y vanilla to a creamy skin musk. I’ve put countless people onto this scent, and they always report back to me that they’ve found their new signature scent. The sweet vanilla fragrance for people who hate sweet vanilla fragrances.” — Derek Deng, associate content editor
Best Fragrance, Amber
Amouage Guidance Eau de Parfum
“I first came across this scent by smelling it on someone else, and I knew I had to make it mine. It’s a mix of frankincense at the top, saffron, rose, jasmine sambac in the middle, and finishes with sandalwood and vanilla. The scent is spellbinding and craveable. I have not stopped getting compliments each time I wear it.” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief
Best Fragrance, Oceanic
Lore Sublimity Eau de Parfum
“There’s a reason this gorgeous bottle looks like sea glass, as the juice inside transports you right to the beach. There’s tons of coconut, but not in a fake, sunscreen kind of way—think more water than milk. Marine musk, ylang-ylang, and sea salt beautifully round out the fragrance and perfectly capture the feeling of saltwater on sun-warmed skin. It’s the perfect summer spritz, but I also keep a bottle on deck during the colder months in case I need an instant whiff of warm weather.” — Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor
Best Perfume Oil
Nest New York Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil
“Vanilla girls, do not sleep on this scent. It’s a sexy, grown-up vanilla balanced with orchid, coconut, and cashmere. I love the oil format—it’s subtler than the traditional eau de parfum but still impressively long-lasting. I add a drop to my wrists and neck and find it’s a scent that people discover, rather than one that introduces itself. People always ask what I’m wearing when I give them a hug or flip my hair nearby.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director
Best Body Mist
L’Occitane Amande Sublime Hair & Body Mist
“If you’ve (rightfully) fallen in love with L’Occitane’s viral Amande Shower Oil, the brand’s Amande Sublime Hair & Body Mist is the next product to try. It’s the same delightfully earthy-sweet scent in a refreshing mist safe for skin or hair, so you can get your South of France fix in or out of the shower.” — Holly Rhue, editorial director
Best Candle
Krigler Pleasure Gardenia
“I am nothing if not a sucker for a fancy candle. Add a backstory steeped in romance—and a citrus, spicy, woody scent—and I’m swooning. Such is the case with Krigler’s Pleasure Gardenia 79 Candle, a scent born in 1914 and inspired by love letters. The notes of lavender, geranium, and black tea hit first, and then you begin to feel the sandalwood, leather and tonka bean. It’s gloriously chic.” — Hallie Gould, editor in chief
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