- Chloe Eau de Parfum
- Flowerbomb Viktor & Rolf
- Daisy Sunshine Marc Jacobs
- Baiser Vole Cartier
- Givenchy Harvest 2007 Amarige Mimosa
Flowers have been a symbol of love, beauty, and life since time immemorial. But besides their visual appeal, flowers are well known for the pleasant fragrances they emit. As soon as you see a flower, your mind immediately tells you that it would probably smell nice. Although some flowers have quite an unpleasant smell, those that have uniquely beautiful aromas are the ones we think about the most.
The Scent of Flowers
Even if they look almost exactly alike, no two flowers smell the same. The scent that flowers release is an invitation. It is a signal that guides pollinators towards the flower itself. The type of fragrance a flower has is determined by the pollinators it wants to attract.
Flower species that attract bees and flies have sweet fragrances. On the other hand, those that are pollinated by beetles have strong, fruity, musty, or spicy scents. The aromas of flowers are their tools for reproduction and we just happened to fall in love with them.
Types of Florals
With over 400,000 flower species out there, the number of possible scents would be overwhelming. But not all of them are used in perfumery.
Jean-Claude Ellena, the French master perfumer and writer of luxury house Hermes, plotted out five main classifications of floral fragrances in his book “Perfume: The Alchemy of Scent”. He based these five subgroups to the common components in the molecular structure of floral scents.
These five categories include rosy, white, yellow, exotic or spicy, and anisic flowers.
Let’s use this to guide our list of perfumes that smell like flowers.
Rosy Florals
Flowers that have a rosy scent are roses, geranium, hyacinth, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen, sweet pea, tulip, magnolia, and peony. They share the two fragrant components: phenylethyl alcohol and geraniol. Phenylethyl alcohol gives roses that citrusy, fruity, and clove-like scent while geraniol has a soapy quality similar to the scent of lavender.
Chloe Eau de Parfum
Released in 2008, Chloe Eau de Parfum is a true rosy floral scent!
The top notes are lychee, freesia, and peony. At the heart, there is rose, lily-of-the-valley, and magnolia resting on an amber and cedar base. These notes create an ultra-feminine perfume that smells just like a fresh bouquet of roses. The bright, somewhat fruity tone is there and there is also a soapy note that comes through.
Performance and Occasions
This is a lovely day scent for spring but it could also work well for summer. It has great longevity and a subtle projection.
The scent is quite soft and safe, though. It is more of a classic fragrance than a unique show stopper.
White florals
The very popular white florals are scents that white petal flowers exude. Flowers such as gardenia, tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine, sweet pea, and honeysuckle are all considered white florals in perfumery. The combination of methyl anthranilate and indole was the basis for this grouping and the scent it brings is a fruity and musty aroma.
Flowerbomb Viktor & Rolf
The stunning fragrance created by Olivier Polge, Carlos Benaim, and Domitille Berthier was introduced in 2005. It has top notes of green tea, bergamot, and osmanthus. The middle notes are an intense mix of sweet florals of jasmine, rose, cattleya, freesia, and African orange flower. The freshness extends further with its musk and patchouli base.
Flowerbomb is seductive, sophisticated, and powerful. It really is an explosion of sweet and sexy florals.
Performance and Occasions
It’s called Flowerbomb for a reason, this has impressive sillage and longevity that sustains for more than 8 hours.
This is more of a cold season fragrance that can be worn day or night. Wear this when you want to impress and expect to grab everyone’s attention.
Yellow Florals
The reason for the vivid yellow shade on flowers and fruits is the breaking down of carotene which produces beta-ionones. Yellow florals are grouped because of their presence. Freesia, osmanthus, azalea, iris, boronia, violet, marigold, and tagetes are all considered yellow florals. Their scent is typically musky, sharp, and somehow pungent yet alluring.
Daisy Sunshine Marc Jacobs for women
Launched in 2019, Daisy Sunshine is inspired by sunny days and a bright, carefree spirit. At the top of its scent pyramid are violets and a sweet and sour strawberry. At the heart of this fragrant is the yellow floral marigold. A base of woodsy notes and wild berries wraps up the delightful scent.
The fragrance is quite fruity and sweet. This caters to those who are young and young at heart.
Performance and Occasions
Daisy Sunshine is a warm-weather day scent that perks you up with a single spritz. It has decent lasting power and would last on your skin for about 4 to 5 hours. The sillage can be a bit heavy and since this is a pretty sweet fragrance, some people may think it’s too much. Easy on the spray.
Exotic or Spicy Florals
Defined by the combination of benzyl salicylate and eugenol, exotic or spicy florals include carnations, ylang-ylang, and lilies.
Baiser Vole Cartier
The nose behind Baiser Vole from Cartier is Mathilde Laurent. Released in 2011, the fragrance is an ode to the elegant lily flower. The scent opens with fresh citruses and lily. The lily never goes away and is at the heart and base of this fragrance. As the scent settles you will get hints of green notes as well.
This is a luscious soliflore masterpiece made for the woman of elegance and grace.
Performance and Occasions
It matches the dewiness of spring mornings perfectly. This is a light and refreshing fragrance. The sillage is subtle but present and it lasts about 6 to 8 hours on the skin.
Anisic Florals
Mimosa absolute, lilac, heliotrope, and wisteria get their scents through the use of anisic aldehyde or heliotropin. They have a nutty, spicy, and fruity sweetness to them.
Givenchy Harvest 2007 Amarige Mimosa
Givenchy Harvest 2007 Amarige Mimosa sharply opens notes of mandarin leaf, neroli, and mimosa. The middle note is a pure mimosa absolute from the Tamil Nadu region in India. The base is a simple but sturdy combination of woodsy notes.
The nutty and slightly spicy mimosa gives a wonderful sophistication to this perfume. This is for the confident woman who is ready to take over the world.
Performance and Occasions
The perfume lasts decently well on the skin, around 5 to 6 hours. It won’t stop anybody on their tracks, but it does leave somewhat of a trail as you move.
This is another springtime floral that is nice to wear during the day.