I Usually Don't Like Floral Perfumes, But These 15 Have Changed My Mind

Whenever I dream about what my wedding day might be like, this is what I smell. It’s delicate and fresh, like an English garden in the springtime, but it has a deep creaminess to it that makes it stand out from the rest.

I must admit, this perfume has been a favourite since I first bought it a couple of years ago. Exactly as the name would suggest, it smells like orange flower and neroli combined with the familiar, lingering heat of Mediterranean dusk.

Upon the first sniff, this smells absolutely nothing like a floral perfume. In fact, it has been the perfect scent to ween myself off the deep, heady aromas of yesteryear. It’s dark and (believe it or not) incense-like, but it has strong notes of rose that make everything seem perfectly balanced. Trust me, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that smells quite like it.

Again, at first you’ll struggle to get any hint of florals through the warm scent of fresh pastries and musk, but soon enough, the delicate freshness of neroli and orange flower come shining through. If you hate the headiness of sweet scents but appreciate their warmth, this fresh but comforting spritz can’t be beaten. It’s unbelievably expensive, but it truly is one of a kind.

Out of all of the floral perfumes I’ve been reaching for, this is by far the most inoffensive. It’s light, fresh and delicate—like a crisp, blue-skied spring morning.

If there’s one brand that can win me over with florals, it’s Aerin. Not only are the bottles a total work of art, but the floral juices that they hold are equally as special. Intricately unique and alluringly powerful, they’re totally captivating while maintaining a level of freshness. Right now, I can’t get enough of the honeysuckle scent. It’s escapism in a bottle.

You could say I’m cheating just a little by including this in a floral perfumes roundup, but I can in fact confirm it does contain jasmine, which is responsible for its lightweight freshness. Most obviously, it’s woody, but not in the strong, heady way you expect woody perfumes to be. It’s wonderfully crisp and dances on the skin like only a floral fragrance can.

This stuff is set to be my scent of the summer. It’s effervescent and fizzy thanks to notes of lime but is delicately floral at the same time. This is the sort of scent you want to trail behind you as you walk down the street.

Let me first say that I am no fan of Guerlain’s iconic Mon Guerlain. While I appreciate its unique beauty, it’s strong and a little too warm for my liking. However, this update is fresher, lighter and a whole lot more wearable. It’s still set to be an evening scent for me, but it’s totally won me over.

The idea of white rose is usually enough to make me want to run for the hills, but there’s something undeniably comforting and irresistibly likeable about this perfume. The zest of lemon intertwines with a blend of delicate floral notes to create the most wearable everyday perfume.

Hear me out: I know that White Musk is quite literally the stuff that cringy teenage memories are made of, but the iconic scent has had a 2021 refresh and I’m here for it. While the original EDP still holds all of the powdery nostalgia I expected it to, when layered with this new topper, it transforms into a floral, peppery fragrance that will no doubt have people asking what it is you’re wearing.

If you don’t like powerful scents that take over a room, this one isn’t for you. In fact, tuberose isn’t for you, and it’s something this perfume really champions. When I first saw the bottle, I was expecting something sickly sweet and generally nauseating. What you get, however, is a dizzying aroma of jasmine, tuberose and musk. It’s not for the faint-hearted but it’s undeniably romantic.

Marc Jacobs Daisy was one of my go-to perfumes in my younger years. It reminds me of summer breaks from university and all of the youthful joy they brought with them. This new addition to the line is a little bit darker and a whole lot more intense, perfectly in line with my evolving tastes.

Another favourite that I have recently rediscovered, Heartless Helen is one hell of a floral. It champions that unique, creamy note of tuberose that I mentioned earlier, but blends it with woods and zesty mandarin to take the edge off. It’s the only tuberose perfume I’ve ever come across that I would describe as totally wearable. And not only is it wearable, but it’s also one of my favourite perfumes ever.

Next up, and just like that, these six pretty nail colours are suddenly trending.