No other beauty product can stir up emotion quite like a perfume. It’s hard to picture shedding tears over a piece of makeup — well, except when a mascara formula disagrees with your eyes — but just one whiff of a scent can bring back a flood of memories that hits you right in the feels. (Case in point: Phlur’s Missing Person, the breakout scent that was everywhere last year.)
TikTok in particular is a treasure trove of olfactory discoveries. A viral social media endorsement can turn a perfume into a hot-ticket item overnight. Think Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 and Kayali Vanilla Royale. To help you stay ahead of the curve, we polled our favorite fragrance industry experts and beauty editors on which perfumes are poised for their big moment in the spotlight. Read ahead for the scents that are about to take over your TikTok.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Nette Pear Jam Eau de Parfum
“Maybe it’s because there’s so much heaviness in the world right now, but at the moment, I’m turned off by dark, moody scents. Give me all the uplifting citrus, sweet-smelling floral, and fresh fruity fragrances, please! Nette Pear Jam Eau de Parfum satisfies all of those cravings in the form of one beautiful blend that’s delightfully juicy but not at all sugary. Notes of pear add a tart quality that’s balanced with delicate rose and zingy bergamot.
“Functional fragrances — scents formulated to boost your mood — are going to be big this year, and this one is scientifically-proven to increase happiness. And after conducting a follow-up study of my own, I can unscientifically prove the same.” — Dianna Mazzone Singh, Associate Features Director at Allure
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NETTE Pear Jam Eau de Parfum, $, available at Sephora
Phlur Mood Ring Eau de Parfum
“Ever since Phlur relaunched with Missing Person, each of its fragrances have gone viral. Mood Ring, one of its newest creations, will be no different. First, it’s visually fascinating with a bright green juice. Second, it really plays up that y2k nostalgia that’s had TikTok in a chokehold (who didn’t have a mood ring in the early aughts?). It’s a fruity-floral scent that’s sweet and nostalgic thanks to notes of fruit gummies (yes, like the kind you ate as a kid). Additionally, orange zest and dragon fruit add a bit of tartness to it that wakes you up. Mood Ring smells really joyful and optimistic — something everyone wants a bit of in 2024.” — Kristina Rudolfo, beauty editor and content creator
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Phlur Mood Ring, $, available at Sephora
KAYALI Oudgasm Rose Oud
“I can’t quite believe that this isn’t sold out yet. Nothing like the suffocating rose perfumes of yesteryear, this occupies a space between sweet and spicy thanks to damascena rose, syrupy pear and oud, a fragrant tree resin that has been used in perfumery for centuries. Somehow, though, it smells modern. Whenever I wear this, I receive compliments, mainly from strangers on the street, who chase me down for the name.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
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Kayali Oudgasm Rose Oud, $, available at Sephora
Jo Malone London Musk Memento Cologne
“Jo Malone London releases a small batch of limited-edition perfume every spring, and the most popular scent each year will be added to their permanent product lineup. When I went to the launch of this year’s capsule collection, Scented Mementos, all the beauty editors and fragrance experts in attendance unanimously agreed that Musk Memento will be the breakout favorite.
“Simply put, it is nothing like any other ‘musky’ scent I have smelled: The top note is aldehyde, a fresh and uplifting molecule that reminds me of fresh cotton, while cedarwood harmonizes with the white musk base note to create a lingering woodsy and powdery scent. It is powerful, like a musk fragrance would be, but smells so soapy and clean at the same time. The bottle design is inspired by vintage apothecary. I have been spraying this cologne all over my laundered button-down shirts, and it reminds me of frolicking in freshly made Frette linens at a five-star hotel. Who doesn’t want that?” — Venus Wong, Senior Writer
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Jo Malone London Musk Memento Cologne, $, available at Jo Malone
Initio Parfums Narcotic Delight
“I believe that Narcotic Delight, a new release from Initio Parfums, will steal the hearts of many this year. I have encountered a wide range of cherry fragrances, but there’s something so striking about Narcotic Delight that gets my heart racing. It is a sensual and intoxicating potion that contains a spicy, boozy, cherry, sweetened with vanilla. The addition of hedione (an ingredient reminiscent of jasmine) activates the region in the brain that is linked to pleasure and libido, so if you need a new date-night fragrance, Narcotic Delight is the chosen one.” — Eudora Nwasike, certified fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation
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INITIO Narcotic Delight, $, available at Nordstrom
YSL Black Opium Over Red
“This perfume gets my vote as a slightly more affordable alternative for Narcotic Delight. It doesn’t have the boozy quality that Narcotic Delight has, but there are similar notes of cherry, jasmine and vanilla, which makes it much sweeter and creamier. It’s also perfect for date night as it’s very long lasting.” — Eudora Nwasike, certified fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation
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YSL Beauty Black Opium Over Red, $, available at Ulta
Mugler Alien Hypersenses Eau de Parfum
“If you want to get on the Mugler hype but the original Alien is a little too potent for you, try Alien Hypersenses. It’s equal parts soothing and invigorating thanks to a combination of juicy fruits, heady florals and creamy wood notes. Once it has had time to dry down, it becomes even warmer. That’s all in the amber, which is comforting and intimate. It lasts all day long — on both clothes and skin — and the bottle looks so different atop my dressing table. When I use this, I can’t stop smelling my wrists all day.”
— Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
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Mugler Alien Hypersenses Eau de Parfum, $, available at Ulta
Creed Carmina Eau de Parfum
“Cherry notes are everywhere, from Kayali Lovefest Burning Cherry to Tom Ford Lost Cherry, but nothing has captured my attention quite like Carmina by Creed. The first spritz opens with tarte maraschino cherries accompanied by a dash of pepper and saffron that lends a spicy edge. Unlike other cherry perfumes, the note doesn’t completely fade away. Instead, it grows more intense with help from rich honey, syrupy rose and creamy cashmere wood. I sprayed this on my jacket weeks ago and I can still smell it. I’m calling it now: It’s going to be the next Baccarat Rouge.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director
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Creed Carmina Eau de Parfum, $, available at Nordstrom
Vyrao Witchy Woo
“I’m all for things mystical and magical; I try to incorporate ritual into my everyday routine and who is big on intention. So when I discovered Vyrao, a fragrance brand that infuses energy healing into its perfumes, I was intrigued.
“Witchy Woo caught my attention first: a rich, heady mix of orris, rose, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, patchouli and frankincense designed to amplify courage and creativity. It even has a supercharged Herkimer diamond crystal inside to intensify its powers (every Vyrao scent has its own crystal energized by healer Louise Mita to clear, amplify and raise energy). It’s exactly what I imagine a witch to wear, but also a Seventies rock star à la the white witch herself, Stevie Nicks (I’ll be wearing this to twirl to ‘Rhiannon’ at Nicks’ British Summer Time gig this summer).” — Esther Newman, Affiliate Writer
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Vyrao Witchy Woo, $, available at Net-A-Porter
DedCool Milk Layering + Enhancer Fragrance
“I have a feeling that Milk by DedCool is going to get a lot of attention this year. The brand has already been rumbling around the fragrance industry for a while [per our Dedcool review]. It has a sweet spot price point that’s not absurd like so many brands out there right now. It’s designed to be a layering fragrance that you cloak your skin with before adding another perfume: Imagine the fragrance equivalent of a foundation primer before applying your makeup.
“It adds a soft, sensual, ambrosial and creamy layer of lactonic musky-milky scent to your skin, and helps add a bit of grip and texture to other fragrances that you spray on top. It’s also unigender, vegan and carbon neutral, and can be worn on its own for that ‘little bit of something’ when you don’t really feel like wearing a potent perfume.” — Alice du Parcq, fragrance presenter, expert and host
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DedCool Milk Layering + Enhancer Fragrance, $, available at Dedcool
Jackie Aina FORVR MOOD I Am Her
“After successfully launching a candle business, Jackie Aina just debuted her first fragrances. Considering Jackie is 1) One of the original beauty YouTubers with a massive, loyal following and 2) One of the most trusted voices and the world of fragrance, I predict Forvr Mood perfumes will fly off shelves.
“Like the name suggests, I Am Her is a confidence-boosting, gourmand fragrance with notes of raspberry, red velvet, and pear. I had the chance to smell it at her fragrance launch, and it’s delicious! It’s a good mix of masculine-feminine, and super long lasting. I’d like to think it’s what success smells like.” — Kristina Rudolfo, beauty editor and content creator
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Jackie Aina FORVR MOOD I Am Her, $, available at Sephora
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