We write a lot about the fashion choices of NYC and L.A. women here at Who What Wear, but I have a different topic for you today: fragrance. The scent a person wears is obviously something you can’t see with your own two eyes, so I asked a handful of chic Los Angeles-and-New York dwellers myself.
I could’ve asked these women what their favorite perfumes are, but instead, I asked what perfumes they wear the most. If someone asked me today what my favorite perfume is, I’d probably have trouble narrowing it down, and I’m not sure that it would be the one I wear the most at this time in my life. What’s more interesting to me is the scents that are versatile, accessible, and compliment-prone enough for everyday wear. These are the things that are most likely to influence our fragrance purchases.
With that, scroll on to shop the scents that in-the-know L.A. and NYC women wear the very most.
“I recently have taken a liking to Maison Louise Marie No. 4 Bois de Balincourt. It’s earthy, fresh, and smells clean!”
“My go-to perfume is YSL Libre. It’s bold but not too strong. The mix of lavender essence & orange blossom with a hint of musk is a great mix of masculine and feminine making it the perfect scent!”
“Right now I am wearing Le Lion by Chanel. Something about it makes me feel like I’m a queen in my castle. It has a powdery smell, a little peppery..but also is strong and unique. I really have no better words to describe it other than I love it.”
“If I had to describe my fragrance M.O. it would be “pretty.” I tend to like light, floral, semi-sweet scents, but they have to have enough of a base to not lean too saccharine or tween-y. Byredo’s newest perfume Young Rose is pretty much the scent I’ve been waiting for my entire life, and I can’t stop wearing it. I love rose perfumes, and this one balances Damascus rose with spicy Sichuan pepper, and headier hits orfmusk, ambroxan, ambrette seeds, and orris, It’s floral, but far from basic. People always want to know what I’m wearing when they hug me.”
“My go-to perfume is Glossier You. It is the perfect everyday perfume plus it looks super chic on your bathroom counter!”
“I’ve worn this perfume since I was in college. It has become my signature scent. It is warm and sultry but still very approachable for daytime. It smells better and better over time on the skin and lasts forever. I will never part ways with this perfume as it has pretty much become a part of me at this point.”
“These days I almost exclusively reach for Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique. It’s such a rich, warm fragrance that’s actually inspired by African and Parisian culture so it feels like such a perfect representation of myself and my heritage. It’s the perfect balance between masculine and feminine—it’s strong but not overwhelming and sexy but not overstated. I can’t get enough!”
“Most people think of Aesop for hand lotion or soap, but their perfume is where it’s at. Honestly, all of Aesop’s scents are special, but this one is something else. I like anything with sandalwood, so I had the hunch I was going to love Aesop’s Karst perfume. Add juniper (fresh and herbaceous!) and cumin (a little spice!) and I’m completely sold. I have only recently been introduced to it, but I’m already cruising through my little bottle at a nice clip. I can picture it in my rotation for years to come.”
“Le Labo’s Gaiac is quite literally my favorite smell on earth. It’s from their city exclusive collection, you can only purchase it in Tokyo or order it online when it’s available. It’s a sweet and bold scent of cedar coupled with musk, once you spray it onto your skin it becomes magic. Unlike its cousins Santal & Noir no one seems to have this scent which is why I love it most.”
“I love the Byredo Mixed Emotions perfume. It has helped me learn a lot about what scents I like and don’t like because it’s truly the perfect combination of woodsy smells without being too heavy and sweet citrus without being too feminine. It has birch at the base and blackcurrant at the top! I’ve been using it all summer and can’t wait to see how it evolves as we move into the colder months.”
“Described as a scent designed to reflect the tumultuous nature of our times, I’ve been naturally reaching for this as it perfectly describes this sentiment and how I’m feeling these days. The fragrance itself is perfectly woody and comforting with a hint of sweetness, making it a seamless transition scent from summer to fall, and soon fall into winter. It’s unlike any other scent I own!”
“This summer I’ve been wearing Byredo Mixed Emotions—it’s pleasantly fruity at first, but settles so peppery into my skin the scent is totally addicting.”
“Hands-down Byredo’s Bal D’Afrique! There’s something about this warm, spicy vetiver scent that evokes romance—it makes me feel like I should be cozied up in a small Parisian cafe somewhere. And it always feels *right* no matter the season.”
“I wear the Kiehl’s Musk Eau de Toilette Spray! It’s soft, unisex, and lasts super long.”
“I’m currently using Ormaie’s Yvonne fragrance. In addition to loving its unique scent with hints of roses, I am also obsessed with the design of the bottle and the fact that this is a 100% natural and vegan fragrance. Most fragrance houses still use so many toxins, which I am trying to avoid at all costs. Ormaie feels like the future of luxury fragrance!”
“I recently smelt French perfume brand Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady, and it’s my new favorite scent. I love how cozy the scent is—with hints of raspberry, cinnamon, patchouli, amber, and sandalwood, it’s basically fall in a bottle, and I’m not mad about it.”
“I’ve been a longtime fan of Santal 33 (who isn’t, really?) but I recently discovered The Noir and it’s like the chic older cousin of the ubiquitous amber scent—all the spiciness and warmth of Le Labo’s bestseller but a bit softer thanks to the top notes of tea leaves. Suffice it to say, I think it might have just become my new signature scent.”
