15 Best Fragrances to Obsess Over This Spring

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When springtime comes around, it’s only natural that you might want to change up your usual fragrance. Warmer weather, longer days, and blooming flowers call for springier scents to match. Don’t worry—no matter what your preferred fragrance family is, there’s a spring scent out there to match.

Your mind may automatically flit to classic florals, but spring’s best scents are so much more interesting and complex. This spring, we’re still wearing floral fragrances, but we’re saying goodbye to the more traditional flower-forward perfumes of the past and opting for spicy and unexpected florals. Spring is also the perfect season to try an airy, fresh scent, or even lean into lush greenery with earthier, woodsy scents. Regardless of your specific scent profile, there’s a springy, long-lasting perfume that’s perfect for you out there.

I’ve been meticulously testing spring’s best new launches as well as revisiting some old favorites. I also asked other ELLE editors to weigh in on the best spring fragrances—keep reading for our favorite picks.

Cappadocia Eau de Parfum

Every Memo Paris fragrance has roots in a landscape or raw material. Inspired by Cappadocia, Turkey, this scent draws from the region’s unique terrain and abundance of hot air balloons. Saffron gives the fragrance an airy quality, while myrrh and sandalwood add warmth. “Saffron gives fragrance a unique, hot, smell. This fragrance is delightful and always leads to many compliments from strangers. I’m running low on my sample, so I layered it with a pure rose scent—and wow! What a lovely mix,” says our digital beauty director, Danielle James.

Key scent notes: Saffron, sandalwood oil, myrrh resinoid

Fragrantica rating: 4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I love saffron and truly think it should be used more in perfume. It’s soft but still spicy, and sweet without being cloying. Cappadocia is the best saffron-spiked scent I’ve tried. The last time I wore it, someone on the subway asked me what perfume I was wearing. If someone is willing to make eye contact with you on the subway to write down the scent you have on, that’s how you know it’s good.” —Katie Berohn, beauty editor

Do Son Eau de Toilette

Diptyque’s crowd-favorite Do Son is now available in limited edition packaging that honors the Vietnamese craftsmanship that inspired the scent. The perfume itself is tuberose-forward, paying homage to the summers founder Yves Coueslant spent in Vietnam as a child. A marine accord evokes a seaside breeze.

Key scent notes: Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, marine accord

Neiman Marcus rating: 5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Whenever the first hints of spring come around, I always pull out Diptyque Do Son. I’m not a big tuberose person—I often find it to be too powdery—but the orange blossom and marine accord help balance this fragrance perfectly.” —Katie Berohn

Lavande 31 Eau de Parfum

You might think you know what lavender smells like. In Lavande 31, however, Le Labo completely reinvents the flower. At the top, bergamot and neroli add a fresh twist to the grounding scent, while deeper, muskier notes help it take on a new complexity.

Key scent notes: Lavender, bergamot, neroli, amber, musk, tonka

Nordstrom rating: 3.8/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I love the scent of lavender, iWhenever the first hints of spring come around, I always pull out Diptyque Do Son. I’m not a big tuberose person—I often find it to be too powdery—but the orange blossom and marine accord help balance this fragrance perfectly.” —Danielle James

Valaya Eau de Parfum

Parfums de Marly Valaya is pretty much the definition of a fresh floral. Orange blossoms blend together with soft woods, musks, and citrus notes for an impossibly easy-to-wear scent that's perfect for spring.

Key scent notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nymphea, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix musk

Saks Fifth Avenue rating: 4.2/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I’d be lying if I said that the gorgeous bottle wasn’t a selling point for this perfume, but the scent itself is just as amazing. It’s a personal favorites and is one of the most complimented fragrances in my collection. Valaya has the fruity florals that I love with notes of white peach and orange flower. But it’s grounded with a woody musky finish that feels so sophisticated. The scent also lasts all day long, no joke. All. Day. Long.”—Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant

In This World

Liis' latest fragrance is practically a spring day in a bottle. Juicy fig and blood orange meet invigorating notes like eucalyptus, sage, and lavender, which lend a fresh, unexpected twist to the fruity scent.

Key scent notes: Blood orange, eucalyptus, fig, violet, lavender, tonka wood, sage

An ELLE editor says: “If you could combine an edible arrangement (sans chocolate) and a bouquet of flowers, it would birth Liis’ latest sent. It’s stimulating, yet airy, but when it dries down, the sage shines through in a delightful way.” —Danielle James

Sunlit Blooms Eau de Parfum

Dedcool’s latest scent is the brand’s take on a warm floral. Sunlit blooms is bursting with white florals and orange blossoms, but it’s not strictly floral. Salty vanilla and benzoin resin add intrigue to this springy scent.

Key scent notes: Orange blossom, white florals, salty vanilla

Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I’m not a California girl, but this scent transports me straight to L.A. It’s the fragrance equivalent of walking through an orange grove on a sunny day, which makes it perfect for the gray days that are sure to come with a New York City spring.” —Katie Berohn

Daisy Wild Eau de Parfum

Marc Jacobs’ latest iteration of the Daisy collection finds inspiration in wildflowers. It also features banana blossom, a note that isn’t often used in high-end fragrances, which lends a summery, tropical edge to the scent.

Key scent notes: Banana blossom, vetiver, jasmine

Sephora rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “This Daisy Wild fragrance is a nice spring or summer scent that really perks up your senses. It definitely is a perfect day scent to wear when out with friends or a on coffee date with someone. It’s fun and isn’t potent, but I wouldn’t say it’s light either. It honestly captures what it smells like to run through the wild flowers when they’re in full blossom.”

Queen of Silk Eau de Parfum

Creed’s latest fragrance pays homage to silk. If the majestic purple bottle doesn’t convince you that this scent is practically fragrance royalty, the notes will—white florals are blended with passion fruit, amber, patchouli, woods, and vanilla for a truly interesting floral.

Key scent notes: Osmanthus, magnolia, saffron, tuberose, passion fruit, agarwood, javanese patchouli, vanilla, incense, myrhh, ambroxan, cedar, musk

Fragrantica rating: 3.2/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Creed’s Queen of Silk feels like a warm embrace from your favorite loved one (we all have one). The opening notes are soft and inviting, with patchouli and magnolia caressing the skin like a silky body oil. Queen of Silk’s warmth is anchored by seductive agarwood (oud) that turns a seemingly bright, daytime scent into one you can wear deep into the night.” —Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor

Gris Dior

Picture the color grey: What do you think it smells like? With Gris Dior, Dior turns the shade into a unique fragrance. Gris Dior falls squarely into the chypre category, and it perfectly balances florals and woods for a statement scent.

Key scent notes: Bergamot, rose, jasmine, patchouli, moss, cedar, sandalwood, amber

Dior rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “This scent smells like how I feel about Central Park. In the middle of a bustling urban terrain, you find yourself amid delightful greenery. Gris Dior is like this, but instead, you’ve crashed into a powdery bed full of roses. This genderless scent is perfect for men who want to smell like the popular floral without sacrificing a masculine aroma. You can read my entire review, here.” —Danielle James

You

Glossier You is said to be missing an ingredient: you. This skin scent smells just a little bit different on everyone, and that’s by design—soft notes of iris, pink pepper, ambrette seeds, and ambrox work together to enhance your natural scent.

Key scent notes: Iris, pink pepper, ambrette seeds, ambrox

Glossier rating: 4.2/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “If you want that ‘just stepped out of the shower’ smell to last all day, opt for this scent. It smells like you…but better. It’s unique, yet recognizable to Glossier fans. It also makes a great base scent for layering.” —Danielle James

Electric Cherry Eau de Parfum

No one does cherry scents quite like Tom Ford. Part of a trio of scents, including the iconic Lost Cherry and the sultry Cherry Smoke, Electric Cherry is light, airy, and perfect for spring, thanks to sparkling notes like ginger, jasmine sambac, and pink peppercorn.

Key scent notes: Morello cherry, ginger, jasmine sambac, pink peppercorn, ambrettolide

Sephora rating: 4.5/5

A Sephora reviewer says: “Waited for this, blind purchased instantly. I love Lost Cherry, but it doesn’t last. Electric Cherry seems brighter, more vivid. Smells similar but with an added cherry zing or punch.”

Steamed Rainbow Eau de Parfum

Yes, this scent is as colorful as it sounds. D.S. & Durga’s Steamed Rainbow is meant to smell like the colors of the rainbow in humid air, and it achieves just that, taking scent notes that represent every color and blending them together into a scent that perfectly captures the air after a rainstorm.

Key scent notes: Red mandarin, orange, yellow elemi resin, green cedar, blue almond flower, indigo grass, violet, vetiver, vapors

Fragrantica rating: 4/5

An ELLE editor says: “The name sounds sort of like a mad lib, but if you sniff this perfume, you’ll find yourself thinking, ‘Wow.’ Sometimes when you’re walking about NYC, you’ll cross the street and have the experience of walking through or on top of a closed manhole cover. You’ll smell wet steam and that, combined with the idea of a sunny rainbow—clear, bright, slightly “humid” smelling, is what you get with this perfume. It sounds strange, but you just need to smell it to really believe it.” —Kathleen Hou, Beauty Director

724 Eau de Parfum

Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s 724 is influenced by the city, and the electric, frenetic scent notes give the scent an inspiring energy. White florals and musks are joined with an undefinable, slightly metallic urban accord that makes this scent unique.

Key scent notes: aldehydes, bergamot oil, white floral accord, jasmine, sandalwood accord, white musks

Nordstrom rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “The most boring thing about me is that I love the smell of laundry detergent. This musky scent from perfumer Francis Kurkdjian is a more robust take on “smelling clean.” Meant to evoke the feeling of being on-to-go, 24/7 and city life, it’s citrusy, fresh scent and I prefer it for days when I want to smell good and polished, like a clean crystal glass in a luxury hotel.” —Kathleen Hou

Eau De Parfum

It’s not every day that you see a fragrance with fruit gummies listed as one of its scent notes. Mood Ring manages to expertly incorporate this candy note without being overpoweringly sweet. Mood Ring is fruity, sweet, and floral, but amber and musk ground it out.

Key scent notes: Pitaya pulp, sweet orange, fruit gummies, orange flower, jasmine sambac, marigold bloom, patchouli prisma, glazed musks, transparent amber

Phlur rating: 3.5/5

An ELLE editor says: “TikTok is all about Swedish gummy candy right now and Mood Ring should be the scent to accompany that. This perfume smells like sweet, tangy, fruity, gummy candy. If I want to be really specific, as a candy connoisseur, I think it smells like a tube of hi-chew, specifically the green apple flavor. But I love the nostalgia that this perfume brings.” —Kathleen Hou

Rouge Chaotique Eau de Parfum

As daylight savings comes and the nights start getting longer, it’s a good idea to opt for a fragrance that can take you from day to night. This fruity oud gourmand scent makes sense of chaos—the scent notes might not seem like they go together at first glance, but they come together perfectly for a unique fragrance.

Key scent notes: Saffron, cassis, lemon, bergamot, praline, oakwood, plum, patchoud, papyrus

Nordstrom rating: 4.9/5

An ELLE editor says: “This Byredo scent is my go-to for a night out. It’s an incredibly unique gourmand—the more sultry ingredients like oakwood and patchoud play nicely with the more effervescent ones like bergamot and saffron.” —Katie Berohn

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