The 5 Best Scents for Beginners
Let's take it back to square one.
Welcome to the twenty-ninth issue of Black Girl Perfume Club! Let’s dive right in.
Happy Tuesday, loves. I’m officially settled in Los Angeles full-time and I’ve been awash with feelings about fresh starts. I’m single, freshly moved into a place to call my own and I feel a new lease on life.
In the spirit of new beginnings, I’m often asked what fragrances I recommend for total novices when it comes to perfume. Whether you’re a collector looking to round out your scents or a complete beginner, read on for the fragrances I think every newbie should have in their arsenal.
Side note: We’re coming to NYC! Look here for more info.
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This Week’s Fragrance Diary
Ariana Grande ‘Cloud Pink’ - Worn on a Target run.
Dolce & Gabbana ‘The Only One’ - Worn to Sir Candle Man’s book launch in LA.
Billie Eilish ‘Eilish No. 2’ - Worn to an Infinity Song concert.
New Releases
Maison Margiela REPLICA ‘From the Garden’ - The latest vegetalic aroma from MM, made for #tomatogirl’s.
Fragrance du Bois ‘Voyage à Paris’ - If Paris could be bottled, it’d smell like white florals, rum and honey.
Dita Von Teese ‘Vedette’ - A sexy rose made for your inner showgirl.
The 5 Best Fragrances for Beginners
Kayali ‘Vanilla 28’ EDP
I’m the worst person to ask about vanillas, honestly. I tend to avoid them. But if I had to wear a vanilla fragrance, I’d go with this instant classic. Everyone I know who owns ‘Vanilla 28’ by Kayali has nearly used the bottle all the way to the damn bottom. ‘Nuff said. (Starting at $25, buy it from Sephora)
Maison Francis Kurkdjian ‘Baccarat Rouge 540’ EDP
Some say not to recommend niche fragrances to beginners, but ‘Baccarat’ is a rare niche fragrance that has crossed over into the mainstream, for all the right reasons. It’s unique, unisex and has a scent profile that’s often imitated, but never duplicated (I’m looking at you, ‘Cloud’). The saffron and jasmine in this scent create a memorable combination that will have you coming back for more. (Starting at $205, buy it from Saks)
Eight + Bob ‘The Original’ EDP
This scent is as American as apple pie. In fact, it’s purported that the late President John F. Kennedy inspired and wore the scent. Though it was created to be a men’s cologne, ‘Eight + Bob’ can smell just as beguiling on women as well. Highlighted by lemon, ginger and bergamot, this scent is citrus-y fresh, and a good wakeup for it’s wearer in the warmer months. ($140, buy it from Amazon)
Viktor & Rolf ‘Flowerbomb’ EDP
I thought long and hard about must-have floral scents, and nothing comes close to ‘Flowerbomb.’ Orchid, jasmine, rose and freesia play delicately in the scent, leaving me feeling like my most classically feminine version of myself. ‘Flowerbomb’ is a blind-buy safe crowdpleaser scent that was made for first dates, and will land you a second if you’re lucky. (Starting at $38, buy it from Sephora)
Jo Malone ‘Wood Sage and Sea Salt’ Cologne
I recommend Jo Malone for anyone who simply wants to smell “clean.” And the epitome of clean to me is ‘Wood Sage and Sea Salt’ from the iconic brand. This scent intermingles with your own natural scent to create an ethereal, “windswept” vibe that leaves others wondering more about you. If loud scents aren’t for you, you’d love this one. (Starting at $30, buy it from Sephora)
On the ‘Gram
What We’re Reading
’90s Nostalgia Comes to Fragrance With a New Wave of Vanilla Perfumes (Vogue)
David Beckham Launches New Fragrance Trio Inspired by His 'Journeys Around the World' (Yahoo! via People)
The 13 Best Perfume Advent Calendars for Any Fragrance Lover (Harper’s Bazaar)