10 Fragrance Trends That Will Define Your Personal Scent In 2023
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Whenever January comes around, people tend to opt for major life changes by agreeing upon tons of resolutions for themselves. You might want to travel more so that you can create memories outside of your local area. Maybe you'll choose a new restaurant to expand your taste palate and cuisine knowledge. Or, you could update your entire wardrobe so that people will be able to notice your newfound confidence, beauty, and charm.
These are some amazing changes to make, but figuring out a new fragrance that defines your personal scent in 2023 is just as important. You should be excited to do all of your new activities while smelling absolutely fabulous. One thing to keep in mind is that popular fragrances are constantly changing based on what's on trend (via Yahoo!). In the same way that small hoop earrings and lace chokers are no longer considered the trendiest jewelry staples, there are tons of fragrances that you probably shouldn't bother yourself with in this year.
Beauty Independent explains that there are several perfumes which are totally worth your time based on your own personal interests and vibe. If you're sporty and love athletics but you're trying to go for a more feminine aura, there is certainly a scent for you. If you're a busy professional climbing corporate ladders in your career field, there is an ideal aroma for you as well. Staying up-to-date with ever-changing fragrance trends makes perfect sense at the start of each year.
Fresh and green
When you think of fragrances that are fresh and green, invigorating summer smells might come to mind — freshly cut grass, glistening leaves covered in dew drops, or the perfectly shaped shrubbery surrounding your home. When you spend a little time in nature, you'll notice that any scents which remind you of the color green are actually quite delightful.
The majority of fresh aromas might remind you of mint, herbal, absinthe, tea, or lime. FragranceX notes that Chanel 19 from 1971 is one of the most popular green perfumes to consider due to its creamy base and floral notes. Clinique Calyx is another option to think about due to its delectable blend of grapefruit, apricot, and mandarin. The Perfume Society explains that fragrances which remind you of a fresh and clean smell will create an ambience as if you just opened a window to let the air flow in freely. Jack Covent Garden is an incredible green perfume to consider since it's a unisex fragrance that offers an exuberant aroma.
Grassland should also be considered with its spicy fresh scent fused with tart and uplifting notes. If you're the type of person who can picture yourself laid out flat on top of bright green grass while admiring the floating clouds above you, this is the trend for you in 2023. If walking barefoot through a grassy park or outdoor area sounds enticing to you, then you know that fresh and green fragrances simply make the most sense.
Elevated clean
This year, more people than ever are focused on purchasing beauty products that are as clean as possible. In other words, avoiding beauty products that are filled with random toxins and chemicals is the move to make. Celebrities have been launching beauty lines filled with products that claim to be cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and natural. Kylie Jenner's skincare line, Kylie Skin, is a company that goes out of its way to keep up with elevated clean beauty standards.
It's extremely important to be aware of the ingredients in your fragrances since many options can have very unfortunate impacts on your health (via Healthline). Dealing with skin issues, migraines, respiratory problems, and birth defects are only a small handful of what can go wrong if you're purchasing controversial perfumes. Shopping for clean options means you're checking to make sure everything is as organic as possible without any chemicals added to the mix. Sometimes, you'll have to check the fine print on the side of the bottle to ensure your own health, safety, and well-being.
It's also important to note that tons of scents are made with eco-friendly ingredients and packaging that can ultimately be recycled once you're finished. Organic Beauty Lover explains that one downside with clean perfume is the fact that the aroma disappears way quicker than unhealthier options. At the end of the day, your fragrance having a shorter longevity is definitely an inconvenience, but taking care of your health should always be the top priority.
Nude skin scents
Wearing a fragrance that doesn't actually smell like perfume is another major trend to consider this year. If you're the type of person who appreciates the art of smelling good, but you don't want to come across like you're trying to hard, then opting for nude skin scents might be your best bet. The Perfumed Court explains that perfumes which remind you of the way skin naturally smells typically include ingredients like white musk, peach, and bergamot. According to Huda Beauty, there's something inherently sensual about wearing aromas that smell like your skin.
Personalized fragrances can boost your mood and help you feel more confident. Avoiding artificial smells by opting for natural pheromones can work out for you in the most harmonious ways. There's a way for you to pull off smelling like you, but better. Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 is a bottle of perfume that goes for $100, and it is worth every penny because it consists of one powerful ingredient called Iso E Super.
It works together with your natural pheromones to create an individual scent that only matches you. So, the price point is a little larger because once you use a perfume like this, no one else will be able to replicate or copy it. It simply enhances the natural fragrance of your skin to make you smell even more magical and seductive than you already do. A fun fact about pheromones is that they can make others feel instantly attracted to you.
Sage and sandalwood
Interest in spirituality is at an all-time high in 2023. Thanks to social media, more people are discussing the ways the spiritual world can impact your day-to-day life and shape your reality. For these reasons, a lot of people have been showing interest in scents such as sage and sandalwood. When you think of sage, you might picture someone getting rid of all of the negative energy floating around their home, office, or car. Humble Simple and True explains that sage is an enchanting product that has been used by a multitude of cultures for various reasons.
Over the years, people have depended on sage for spirituality, medicinal cures, and practical necessities. On the other hand, sandalwood has its own ambient power dating back to ancient Indian and Ceylon cultures (via Air-Scent International). Buddhists burn sandalwood incense in order to promote more mindfulness by transforming natural desires. It has been used in rituals for reincarnation, healing, temple worship, and more by the ancient Egyptians.
During the 18th century, it started being incorporated in cosmetics. Sage and sandalwood are both incredibly beneficial since they help relax the central nervous system by reducing stress and calming the mind. There's something powerful, grounding, and purifying about these aromas. If you struggle to focus during meditation, sage and sandalwood can help by clearing your mind from any thoughts you might be fixated on. Keeping these fragrances around you at all times can potentially help you heal from the inside out.
Layering oils and mists
There's no time like the present to start layering your oils and mists. If you thought that dabbing a few drops of oil to your neck or spritzing a few sprays of mist to your wrists would be enough, you've got it wrong this year. Merging them will help you create your own personal fragrance that no one will be able to replicate, despite how hard they might try. Stories Parfums explains that combining your scents starts with choosing complementary, contrasting, or linear fragrances.
You can hone in on this by paying attention to what naturally draws you in the most. Your base layer should be a scented body wash followed by a moisturizing body lotion that keeps you perfectly hydrated. After that, you'll want to add various layers of perfume using the boldest fragrances first with the more delicate ones following. Last but not least, you can add enchanting aromatic accents to the creases of your elbows, behind your knees, behind your ears, to the tips of your hair, or to your physical accessories.
Dabbing scarves, gloves, tights, or midsection belts as part of the layering process can help you create your own custom scent if you go about it without allowing one fragrance to overpower another (via Scentbird). Using a unique blend of body wash, lotion, perfume, and oil will turn you into a goddess with a uniquely intoxicating aroma that forces people to acknowledge your presence.
Transportive candles
Is 2023 the year to dedicate to travel and vacation plans? A lot of people have dreams and aspirations of catching flights and experiencing beautiful and luxurious getaways, but not everyone has the opportunity to actually make that happen. Fortunately, there is something you can do in the meantime that will make you feel like you're enjoying your free time somewhere completely different and new.
Design Milk explains that burning candles in your home that emotionally and mentally carry you away to your favorite places can be helpful when it comes to boosting your mood. All you have to do is breathe in deeply and let your imagination run wild. The best scented ones can evoke some of the most magical memories by reminding you of where you've been before, per Condé Nast Traveller. It's also possible to light wicks around your home that get you prepared to visit places you've never been before.
If you want to imagine that you're spending the summer frolicking through Italy, you can purchase a candle that smells like honey and orange blossom. For those who want to feel like they're vacationing on the tropical islands of Hawaii, choose one that smells like coconut, cloves, and coal to take in the volcanic sands and gorgeously intertwined foliage. If you're envisioning an escape to a cozy winter cabin, you can burn one that smells like pine trees, nutmeg, cinnamon, firewood, and marshmallows in order to feel like you're really there.
Intense florals
There's nothing basic about wearing fragrances that smell like intense florals, even though they have been in circulation for many years now. You might think that intense flowery perfumes are boring or outdated, but 2023 is the year to really start giving them a chance if you've been previously been hesitant. FragranceX notes that when you're wearing floral perfume, you remind people of the enchanting spring season no matter what time of year it is.
In the middle of a blisteringly cold snow storm during the winter, your intense floral perfume might remind people of warmer sunshine days in the middle of May. Wearing intense scents give you the chance to smell like an exquisite bouquet of flowers all day long, reminiscent of nature's greatest highlights such as fluttering butterflies, brightly colored rainbows, the laughter of children, and stunning blossoms.
Dermstore explains that wearing floral fragrances can be incredibly rejuvenating since naturally blooming flowers are known to help wth a slew of health issues. People struggling with digestive problems, fatigue, anxiety, and headaches have leaned on flowery scents in carrier oils and essential oils for many generations now. Spritzing yourself with this type of fragrance only stands to benefit you if you appreciate the notion of smelling like an extraordinary garden in full bloom.
Gourmand vanillas
Some people prefer to steer clear of perfumes that smell edible, but others find perfumes with palatable fragrances to be top-of-the-line. You can't eat a bouquet of flowers, but you can certainly indulge in a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Gourmand vanilla perfumes are the move in 2023 for people who appreciate what it means to smell like a truly delectable dessert. People who are incredibly fond of eating are considered gourmands (via Escentual).
When you think of vanilla in this context, it makes sense to combine it as a base with several other delicious ingredients that come to mind. Gourmand vanillas are paired with notes of juicy berries, decadent chocolate, plump marshmallows, sautéed spices, strong coffee, or salted caramel. There are so many different directions you can take when combining various edible smells with a sumptuous vanilla base.
All Good Scents explains that gourmand vanilla fragrances will entice you with its magic without coming off way too aggressive. If you're the type of person who appreciates treating yourself to a tasty dessert after dinner, simply picture a row of bowls filled with scoops of simple vanilla ice cream laid out before you. Sprinkle each bowl with all of the mouthwatering toppings that come to mind to get you in the mood for gourmand vanilla fragrances.
Travel spray wardrobe
Whether you have one small trip planned in 2023, or your calendar is booked with extravagant vacations all year long, one thing to keep in mind is that you should have a travel spray wardrobe. Taking care of your favorite fragrances while you're jet setting from place to place is key if you want to smell absolutely fabulous everywhere you go. Travel + Leisure explains that it's important to carry the perfect wardrobe for your travels to avoid malfunctions, repeated outfits, or temperature mishaps.
Knowing that you have the right combination of clothing for each event during your trip is vital, but it's equally important to make sure that your fragrances are up to standard before you head on your trip. The same way that you might organize your travel shampoo, conditioner, and lotion bottles, you have to organize your fragrances with care. Keeping them organized, making sure they don't leak, and choosing the right ones to bring with you will take a little bit of time and planning.
According to Michel Germain Paris, you can refill your travel spray bottles before each trip to make sure that you have enough of each fragrance. If your trip consists of one day out on a boat, one evening at an intimate dinner, and one afternoon perusing through a fancy museum, it's possible that you'll opt for three special scents to match each occasion. A special bag dedicated to your travel perfumes will come in handy.
'90s vanillas
There's something truly special about wearing fragrances that smell like '90s vanilla. They're not to be confused with gourmand vanillas, since they stand on their own for being memorable and captivating in their own right. The '90s was a great era of time, even though tons of trends from that decade have been left in the dust such as skinny eyebrows, denim jackets, and slap bracelets.
The '90s vanilla fragrances might have blossomed in popularity back then, but they're certainly making a comeback now. Editorialist explains that vanilla fragrances are liable to remind you of growing up in a very blissful and sophisticated way. There's something transformative about wearing these scents which take you back to your angsty teenage years after you're all grown up.
According to The Perfume Society, delectable vanilla fragrances offer contentment. The sweet scents bring about a sense of nostalgia and remind most people of appetizing desserts such as ice cream or cake. The aroma gives plenty of adults the chance to relive their childhoods for a moment whenever they catch a whiff. Plus, '90s vanilla fragrances are lovely because they not only bring you back in time, but they are perfect for the present with their powerful aphrodisiac qualities and undeniable sex appeal.