Well friends, it turns out this group has lots of thoughts and opinions and favorites when it comes to scents. One of you dear readers asked for our favorites over on our Discord channel (you really should join the fun if you haven’t yet) and I am happy to say we are delivering…a lot. Yay! I love when a whole bunch of us play along in these group posts. It makes me happy. And we need some happy these days.

As far as my own perfume journey, well, it all started a long time ago with, and I will be dating myself here, Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson. Lol. I was a major fan in like 6th grade. Then came the time when I worked, for a brief holiday season during college, at Bath & Body Works. Wowza. I still have a headache from that gig. But truly, my first love for an actual perfume was Clinique Happy. My velcro watchband forever smelled like it all through college. I loved that stuff. I toyed with Eternity and a couple others, but none of them worked for me as well as Happy.

Somewhere along the line I then discovered The Body Shop’s White Musk and all bets were off. I was hooked on those kinds of scents that lingered but didn’t overwhelm. Gosh, I still would wear that original White Musk, but they changed it years ago. Eventually, I realized that Kiehl’s Musk Oil was similar and smelled incredible. Then that’s been discontinued. It’s quite a journey, you guys. Who knew.

Our Team’s Most Beloved Perfumes + Scents

As a scent-loving person, my favorite tip is to buy the travel sizes of the ones you want to try that aren’t in-store. I love how that lets me swap things out occasionally without breaking the bank or committing to large bottles. Sometimes a comparison or description of one online or in an ad will totally get me and this is how I justify trying things out, lol.

Hope our little (big) dive into what we all love is helpful for everyone wanting to venture into a new scent for the new year (maybe that will help something?! We should try everything. Sage, perhaps. Lots of it.)

Santal 33 | Missing Person (also, here)

For ¾ of the year, I adore wearing my most favorite scent ever, Santal 33 from Le Labo. You guys, I know it’s pricey, but this bottle I have has lasted for years. I don’t wear it every single day, but I wear it most days. Le Labo scents are really concentrated so you don’t need a lot. I just do two small sprays per application and I always get compliments. Their Discovery Set is really lovely and you can play with mixing scents, too. Santal 33 has notes of Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, smoky wood alloy, ambrox, leather accord and musky notes. It is heavenly, but like if heaven is a gorgeous forest, which it probably is IMO.

During the summer or when I just want to mix it up, I wear Missing Person from Phlur. I’m always drawn to a scent with a white musk essence (thanks Body Shop for introducing me to that fav years ago!) and this one is still woodsy-esque but in a bit lighter form. The description says “if nude were a perfume’ lol. Musk, bergamot and blonde wood are the notes and warm & sheer are other descriptors.

---

Shana’s Favorite Scents

Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic | Kai rollerball

I’m pretty sensitive to scents – the vast majority of them give me a headache. I tend to like scents that are light, bright, and definitely not cloying. Think: windows open, a springtime beach walk, crisp citrus, or a delicate floral you can’t quite place.

While I’m almost constantly trying new fragrances, there’s a few I turn to over and over again (besides that ancient bottle of Sunflower that my husband still loves, haha). The first is from Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria line. I discovered this line of very light perfumes in Paris (in 2003!!), and ended up bringing the pamplemousse (grapefruit) home with me. My current favorite is Mandarine Basilic, whose perfumer notes state, “mandarin, tanned by radiant rays of sunlight” and YES. It’s exactly that. I’ve also found that if you look overseas (or even in the Duty Free stores) you can find other Aqua Allegoria scents not often found locally, like the Granada scent (pomegranate + sage) I’ve been wearing lately. These are so light and fun – definitely easy to wear.

I also never leave home without a Kai rollerball tucked into my bag. It’s a clean perfume oil, with the most intoxifying (yet light) floral. It’s the kind of scent I’ll often just apply in the afternoon for a random pick-me-up. It’s fantastic.

---

Scotti’s Favorite Scent

Angels’ Share by Kilian: Nordstrom | Sephora | Saks

I used to be a total fragrance junkie, constantly rotating perfumes based on my mood or the season. Then I found Angel’s Share and it’s now the only one I wear. I wear it year-round, even though it probably shines most in fall and winter. It’s become my signature, so I just keep reaching for it no matter the season. I get compliments almost every single time I wear it. It was also the first fragrance I ever ordered purely based on the description and reviews, without smelling it first, and I’m so glad I did. I still have a drawer full of older perfume bottles for when the mood strikes, but honestly, it hasn’t in over two years.

---

Jess’ Favorite Scent

J’adore Eau de Parfum by Dior: Nordstrom | Sephora | Ulta | Saks | Macy’s

I’ve been wearing the same ‘signature scent’ for over 20 years now (I mean, before that it was Cool Water, so I could only go up from there). I first discovered J’adore as a senior in high school and I never looked back. Well, that’s not true, I have tried several times over the years to find a different scent that works for me. I’ll go into a store and smell and spray like,15 different perfumes on myself. And all I  leave with is a massive headache and I have never been able to find one I like better. Hey, it may be boring, but at least it’s consistent. And it is, in my opinion, one of the loveliest scents out there. It smells somehow fresh and romantic at the same time, but also rich and elegant, yet not overwhelming. I have been asked many times over the years what perfume I am wearing, so there is also that!

---

Abby’s Favorite Scents

Fiele’s Cedrus | Kelly+Jone’s Mezcal Negra | Replica’s By The Fireplace | Gisou’s Wildflower Honey infused hair perfume

I wouldn’t say I’m a scent snob or anything like that… but I do definitely feel very passionate about the ones I bring into my life. I LOVE something that smells good and transports me. Yanno how scents do that? For me they’re an entire experience and mood-setter. Unique scents (for body or home) are where I like to splurge and treat myself – it’s pretty much my favorite part of my self care/beauty routine. And don’t even get me started on layering scents (something that I understand to be quite an art) UGH it’s all just so fun.

My favorite scent right now is Fiele’s Cedrus. I smelled it in Moon+Arrow – one of my favorite small shops in Philly – years ago, put it on every single time I visited, then asked for it for my birthday this year hehe. It’s magical, or should I say “grounding, restorative, cleansing”, per the scent description. My all-time favorite perfume is Kelly+Jone’s Mezcal Negra. It has the perfect amount of smoke (my favorite natural scent) and bright citrus. One I wear every fall & winter is Replica’s By The Fireplace, because of, well, that affinity for all things smoky. And lastly, Gisou’s Wildflower Honey infused hair perfume has been gracing my locks for months and I just love it. It’s slightly sweet, a little floral, and just feels girly, sophisticated & rich. Definitely a little bit extra but I couldn’t put it down once I smelled it. Aghhhhh so good.

---

Amy’s Favorite Scents

iconic scents without the markups | mojave ghost

Much like me with clothing, I wear perfume based on my mood, which means, I, uh, must be very moody. This antique cabinet from my great grandparents holds multiple shelves of scents I rotate through, and while this is the scent I’m currently wearing today (sweet but woody at the same time, it’s epic), I actually love recommending this perfume house that creates all of the iconic, popular scents without the designer markup (a bit like Quince, but for perfume – also shoppable on Amazon!). It’s my fave place to shop if I’m curious about a scent but don’t want to commit to the price of the name brand bottle before wearing it. I have multiples that I’ve ended up purchasing the “real” thing of, and they do smell identical! The one difference? They wear lighter, which can be a drawback for some, but helpful if stronger perfumes give you a headache.

---

Aliya’s Favorite Scents

Golden Hour: at Sephora | at Josie Maran (I love buying from them directly) | Black Opium: at Sephora 

I originally bought this scent for summer, but it’s quickly become a year-round staple. I love a warm fragrance, and this one feels like being wrapped in a cozy hug, without leaning overly sweet or vanilla-heavy. It’s a blend of amber, white musk, and santal, and the best part is that it’s a mist rather than a traditional perfume. It’s meant to be sprayed on skin and hair, so I always give my hair a little spritz on the way out the door. 

Black Opium is my date-night scent, my “going to a wedding” fragrance AND my never-fail perfume that I’ve loved for years. It’s warm and instantly makes me feel put together. The blend of coffee, vanilla, and white flowers is rich without feeling overwhelming. I always buy the smaller size so I can throw it in my bag when I travel because this is one scent I never want to be without.

---

Danielle’s Favorite Scents

Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne (also at Sephora) | Sol de Janeiro 68

I always tell myself I’m going to walk into a store, smell a bunch of perfumes, and finally discover the one. Until I get about two scents in, start to feel sick, and leave empty-handed. I’ve switched things up plenty, but with my most recent favorites, I’ve landed on a solution: I layer them. Most perfumes read a little too perfume-y for me if yaknowwhatImean. Too floral, too musky, or too warm. So I present to you my own Jo Malone x Sol de Janeiro elixir. And on certain days, I’ll reach for my mom’s signature scent, Clinique Happy, purely because it reminds me of her, and in turn, makes me very, very happy.

The Sol De Janeiro body spray is my hear me out moment. I know teens + college students rant and rave about this brand, but my friends and I still love it, and I don’t see that stopping. My fave is #68, with the key notes: Brazilian Jasmine, Pink Dragonfruit, and Sheer Vanilla. I definitely prefer something a bit lighter and fun, and this is exactly that. After I put on the body spray, I spray one or two light pumps of the Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne…you only need a tiny bit to go a long way. It adds a touch of musk to the sweetness of the Sol De Janeiro spray (and makes it a little more sophisticated). Notes include: Bluebell, Persimmon, and White Musk.

---

Linzi’s Favorite Scents

Shampure Lotion: Nordstrom | Aveda | Shampure Oil: Aveda | Walmart

I’m not a perfume person, but I was completely loyal to Aveda’s Shampure shampoo for years and years purely because of its intoxicating scent. I eventually switched to shampoos that work better for my hair, but I always missed that distinct Aveda Shampure smell (slightly herbal, spa-esque, with just a touch of soft spice). It took me way too long to realize Aveda makes a body lotion and a composition oil in that exact same scent. Now I’ll dab a little of the oil on my skin, use the body lotion, or even smooth a tiny bit or the oil through my hair when I want a subtle throwback to that shampoo I loved forever. 

---

Kat’s Favorite Scents

My current scent stack: 1 | 2 | 3 | the perfume I get the most complements on

---

Em’s Favorite Scent

Le Labo shampoo | conditioner

---

xo,

Laura + Team TME