Have you ever wondered what your favorite celebrity actually smells like?
Countless stars have released their own fragrances over the years, but let’s be honest: They’re not necessarily spritzing them on every morning. (Or the ones they’re paid by major brands to endorse, for that matter.)
In fact, a number of megastars have spoken about their love for the same scents over the years, from cult classics like Kai and Le Labo Santal 33 to luxury favorites like Baccarat Rouge 540.
Below, discover (and shop) some of the best perfumes on the market, according to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle, Kate Moss and more.
Pros:
- Luminous and intense
- Luxurious, high-quality ingredients
Cons:
- Heady, may not suit those who prefer lighter fragrances
“I love it so much, I practically bathe in it,” Kathy Hilton told Page Six Style of this “amber, floral and woody” blend — and she’s not alone. Kacey Musgraves told Cosmopolitan the scent was one of her favorite things, gushing, “It’s rich and genderless and not too sweet, and it develops differently on everyone. Plus, the iconic bottle is gorgeous.”
Fellow songstress Olivia Rodrigo told British Vogue it’s her go-to scent, because she likes “perfumes that have a natural musk,” while Swedish actress Noomi Rapace told Vogue she’s “very much in love” with the fragrance and wears it on every red carpet.
Notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, ambergris | Vibe: Floral, amber and woody
Pros:
- Spicy and seductive
- Layers well with other perfumes
Cons:
- Very sandalwood-forward, so won’t suit those averse to the note
Since she stopped selling her signature Wonderstruck perfume in 2014, fans have long wondered about Taylor Swift’s favorite fragrance. And at the 2024 VMAs, the chart-topper finally dropped a major hint during a conversation with drag queen Xunami Muse.
“You smell so good, what is that?” Muse appeared to ask in a clip posted to the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” TikTok, with the pop star seemingly replying, “Thank you, it’s Tom Ford.”
While she didn’t specify an exact fragrance, fans have long theorized that she uses this woodsy blend, featuring key notes of cinnamon bark oil, ylang-ylang and Australian sandalwood. (A bottle even popped up in the background of her 2020 “Miss Americana” Netflix documentary.)
Notes: Sandalwood, cinnamon, ylang ylang | Vibes: Earthy, woody
Pros:
- Made with essential oils for headache-free wear
- Transports you to Hawaii, the scent’s inspiration
- Vegan, cruelty-free
Cons:
- Some people may prefer a spray formula to rollerball
This gardenia-based tropical floral scent has so many celebrity fans, there’s a whole list on Kai’s website. It’s been picked as one of Oprah Winfrey’s “Favorite Things,” and is also a go-to for the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Garner.
“I’ve worn it forever! I put it on every day,” Khloé Kardashian told People in 2016. “Everyone’s like, ‘That’s your scent!’ So now I can’t wear anything else.”
Notes: Gardenia, white florals | Vibe: Floral, tropical
Pros:
- Sweet yet sensual
- Rihanna-approved
Cons:
- May not suit those who don’t care for sweet perfumes
If you believe the rumors, Rihanna is the best-smelling person in Hollywood; fellow celebs, including Jennifer Lawrence, Cardi B and Lil Nas X are among those who’ve been left in awe of her alluring aroma.
And while the Bad Gal created her own perfume for Fenty Beauty in 2021, it’s said that her longtime signature scent is this mix of neroli, orange blossom and marshmallow.
She’s not the only pop superstar linked to Kilian, as a source told Who What Wear Beyoncé picked up a bottle of the brand’s cognac-forward Angels’ Share scent after hours during her “Renaissance” tour.
Notes: Neroli, orange blossom, marshmallow | Vibes: Floral, sweet
Pros:
- Sensuous and magnetic
- Only one spray is needed for all-day wear
Cons:
- May be too heady for those who prefer light or clean scents
Plenty of famous ladies swear by Portrait of a Lady. Julie Bowen told the Strategist it’s “delicious,” while Bethenny Frankel raved to the same outlet that it “smells like musky femininity.”
Lynda Carter went as far as calling it the “most famous scent in the world,” telling the site, “I always get compliments.”
“RHONY” star Brynn Whitfield similarly told us the rose and blackcurrant blend is her signature, while model Paloma Elsesser’s partial to Frédéric Malle’s equally popular Carnal Flower.
Notes: Rose, red fruits, cinnamon, benzoin, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, castoreum | Vibe: Woody, crisp, citrus, fruity
Pros:
- Grounding scent with notes that evoke the outdoors
- Woody and aromatic
Cons:
- Some reviews say it is not as long-lasting as other Byredo perfumes
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley named this as her “all-time ultimate fragrance” in a 2020 YouTube video, while Kate Bosworth told Into the Gloss she’s “really loyal” to the woody spritz featuring notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries.
“I’m dying to meet [Byredo founder Ben Gorham] because I’m really such a massive fan,” Bosworth raved. “His scents are beautiful and complex and sexy and innocent. There are such incredible layers to what he does. I’m a loyalist with my scents.”
Notes: Bergamot, lemon, pepper, juniper berries, incense, pine needles, oris, amber, vanilla, sandalwood | Vibe: Woody, aromatic
Pros:
- Full of fresh aquatic notes
- Great for everyday wear
Back in her “Suits” days, Meghan Markle revealed she’s a huge Jo Malone fan, telling the Daily Express in 2016, “Fragrance is my favorite thing — so much so that if I leave the house and I don’t put any on, I’ll turn around and go back home.”
While the now-duchess said she likes to “alternate between a few scents,” Jo Malone London’s Wild Bluebell and Wood Sage & Sea Salt colognes both made the cut.
Brand ambassador Sofia Richie’s also a fan of the latter blend, while Cynthia Erivo told the Strategist she can’t live without the brand’s “so sweet and smoky” Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense.
Meanwhile, Helen Mirren’s stocking up on the London-based label’s Blackberry & Bay Cologne; “I love all the Jo Malone perfumes, they’re wonderful,” she told Harper’s Bazaar UK. “They’re just nice and light, they don’t overpower anyone.”
Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage | Vibes: Mineral, woody
Pros:
- Smoky and sensual
- Unisex scent works on anyone
Cons:
- Strong scent that might not suit everyone
It’s impossible to walk a few blocks in Los Angeles without catching a whiff of Santal 33, with Justin Bieber, Ryan Reynolds, Alexa Chung and Sophie Turner among the many who rock the smoky mix of cardamom, iris, leather and sandalwood.
“I feel like everyone in the universe wears it now. But it smells different on each person — or so I want to think!” Jodie Comer told the New York Times in 2020.
“I definitely copied off an actress I worked with. We would ride the lift every day, and I would smell it on her, and it would be that amazing smell. But we’re all copying each other. I have no shame in admitting.”
Notes: Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom, leather accord | Vibes: Warm, spicy, woody, rustic
Pros:
- Quiet luxury in a scent
- Has a romantic Parisian history, with a nod to jazz clubs, tobacco smoke and vintage cosmetics
Cons:
- Some users feel the solid version doesn’t last as long as the Eau de Parfum version
While Diptyque’s celeb-adored Orphéon fragrance is also available in a spritzable Eau de Parfum, this solid version comes in beautiful packaging and is perfect to slip into a bag without worrying about spillage.
Gillian Anderson is a fan, saying in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK last year: “I carry a Diptyque solid scent. It reminds me of a mahjong piece and makes me really happy. This one is called Orphéon, and it smells really nice. I had one of these as a kid, so it brings up a lot of memories,”
Orphéon is also Phoebe Bridgers’s signature scent, as she once told Vogue UK that it “smells like autumn to me.”
The perfume house makes many other celebrity favorites, too, like Elizabeth Olsen’s go-to creamy fig Philosykos and Gracie Abrams’s signature floral Olène (not to mention its cult-favorite candles).
Notes: Cedar, tonka bean, juniper berry, jasmine | Vibes: Smoky, sultry, woody floral
Pros:
- Fresh, easy to wear, happy floral
- Not a strong fragrance, which makes it ideal for everyday
Cons:
- Some reviewers wished it lasted longer
Daisy is a fresh floral scent with legions of devotees, including Sydney Sweeney.
The actress told The Cut in 2021 that the Marc Jacobs fragrance is her go-to, saying, “I like that this perfume is not so strong … It’s very dainty, and it’s one of those perfumes that if you want someone to smell it, it means they’re close enough to you.”
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez has been associated with the fruity flanker scent, Daisy Eau So Fresh. (Though, we imagine she’s also wearing her own Rare Beauty scent these days as well.)
Notes: Wild berries, white violets, jasmine, sandalwood | Vibes: Soft, fresh floral
Pros:
- A symbol of classic femininity since 1921
- Aldehydes add layers of complexity
Cons:
- Best for date night, not necessarily everyday wear
It doesn’t get more classic than this famed fragrance that dates back to 1921; Marilyn Monroe famously said she wore a spritz of No. 5 (and nothing else!) to bed.
The abstract blend of aldehydes and florals is still a favorite today, with Eva Mendes, Victoria Beckham, Celine Dion and Lily Rose Depp reportedly among its many famous fans.
“I always have a little bottle of N°5 to travel with, the classic,” the latter star told Vogue.
Notes: Aldehydes, May rose, jasmine, neroli, bourbon vanilla | Vibe: Powdery, floral
Pros:
- Energizing and uplifting
- Made with aloe vera and ginseng to soften, hydrate and tone the skin
Cons:
- Best for daytime or those who prefer skin scents, not a special occasion perfume
Kate Moss told British Vogue she keeps “lots of magic things” in her bag, including this cult-favorite fragrance that doubles as a skin mist, thanks to the inclusion of aloe vera and ginseng alongside its citrusy essential oils.
“My mum used to wear it — it’s just a go-to smell,” the modeling icon said. “It’s a freshener.”
Notes: Citrus, patchouli, rosemary, thyme | Vibe: Refreshing, spa-like
Pros:
- Intoxicating tuberose and jasmine notes
- Addicting and romantic, with many fans saying it’s been their signature scent for decades
Cons:
- A French perfume that can be difficult to find in the States
Martha Stewart, Madonna, Iman, Isabelle Huppert, Courtney Love and Sofia Coppola all adore Fracas, which has been going strong since 1948. The lush blend of tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood and musk was designed to “make its wearer feel like a bombshell,” a mission befitting its massive celeb following.
Stewart is the proud owner of more than 70 bottles of perfume, but swears by Fracas – which she has been wearing since she was 19, per the New York Times.
Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, tuberose, jasmine, gardenia, musk, sandalwood | Vibes: Opulent, lush
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Associate Editor for Page Six. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts celebrities’ brands to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.
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