This yummy vanilla fragrance from Ariana Grande’s fragrance line LOVENOTES was the biggest crowd-pleaser of the perfumes in my test, earning the highest score overall while three people chose it as their favorite. My testers picked up on sweet notes of “vanilla cake” and “warm amber” as well more mature woody and spicy notes. One tester raved that it was “gourmand heaven!” This fragrance has strong projection and longevity and leans more youthful, but gourmand vanilla lovers of any age will enjoy it.
Features at a GlanceTypeAmber gourmandNotesVanilla macaron, cashmere woods, amber crystalsSizes0.33 oz., 4.25 oz.
Over 20 years after its debut, the princess of pop’s fragrance is still holding court. The classic celebrity fragrance Fantasy by Britney Spears was the second-most liked scent in my sniff test. “Sweet” and “fresh” were the most common descriptors of this fragrance, with my testers smelling notes of citrus, fresh fruits, and candy. It has moderate projection and lasting power. One person said, “this is a fresh, beachy scent that I would wear in the spring or summer.”
Features at a GlanceCategoryFresh fruityNotesKiwi, lychee, quince, white chocolate, cupcake, orchid, jasmine, musk, orris root, woodsy notesSizes1.0 oz., 3.3 oz.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Jessica Simpson’s Mystic Canyon was an under-the-radar gem for many of my coworkers who had never smelled it before. They praised the scent as “warm and sensual” with notes of amber and vanilla. They also picked up on “light and clean” and floral notes. In contrast to the super-sweet and fruity picks on this list, my testers said this fragrance is “grown up” and “well balanced.” I’ve found that it has great lasting power and moderate projection; a perfect signature scent for those who want something a bit more sophisticated.
Features at a GlanceCategoryAmber floralNotesPink pepper, black currant, plum, jasmine, Turkish rose, iris, vanilla, amber, cedar wood, oakmossSizes1.0 oz., 3.4 oz.
Kylie Jenner’s Cosmic Intense, a bold addition to Kylie’s Cosmic fragrance line which also includes Cosmic 2.0, left my coworkers intrigued and wanting more. Many people couldn’t put their finger on the notes, but described the fragrance as “citrusy, but with some darkness” and “more complex than just vanilla.” This “smooth” feminine fragrance is composed of notes of blood orange, amber, benzoin, and vanilla. I found it had strong projection and lasting power when I wore it, and I was smelling my wrist all day.
Features at a GlanceCategoryCitrus amberNotesStar jasmine, blood orange, golden amber accord, benzoin, vanilla, musk accordSizes1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The bottle is certainly stunning, but what do people think of the fragrance inside? Eilish by Billie Eilish struck my sniff testers as “sweet but also spicy” with notes of “burnt sugar and vanilla.” While most people agreed the scent is an “ultra-sweet” vanilla, they also picked up on some notes not found in your typical gourmand, namely “nice earthy notes,” “nuanced fruitiness” and an “herbal scent.” This fragrance stays close to the skin with moderate lasting power.
Features at a GlanceCategoryAmber gourmandNotesRed berries, mandarin, sugared petals,
vanilla bourbon, soft spices accord, cocoa, musk, woods, tonkaSizes0.33 oz., 1.0 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.
My coworkers and I shared stories about the Paris Hilton scents we loved in the 2000s, and one of those fragrances certainly would have made this list. But rather than rest on her laurels, Paris released a new scent in 2025 called Iconic. My testers said this fragrance is “very bright” and “fresh.” They picked up on “fruity floral” and “citrusy” notes, adding that they would wear this as a spring fragrance. Iconic has moderate projection and longevity, and with notes of pear blossom, raspberry, peach nectar, peony, and lily of the valley, it’s a hit for fans of clean fruity-florals.
Features at a GlanceCategoryFruity floralNotesPear blossom, raspberry, peach nectar, peony, lily of the valley, magnolia, sandalwood, amber, muskSizes0.34 oz., 1.0 oz., 3.4 oz.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
While this floral fragrance didn’t appeal to everyone, those who loved it really loved it. Two people picked it as their favorite in my test. Many said it smelled “nostalgic” and realistically captured specific scent memories. One tester said it smelled like “my mom’s prized lilac bush” while another said it was just like “jasmine tea.” Jasmine Blues is a naturalistic jasmine paired with rose, lotus, and patchouli. Its bi-phase water and oil formula wears close to the skin with moderate longevity, perfect for those who want to carry a memory with them.
Features at a GlanceCategoryWhite floralNotesJasmine, blue lotus, bergamot, clove blossom, rose petals, crystallized moss, musk, cedarwood, patchouli, balsam resinSizes3.4 oz.How we chose the best celebrity perfumes
In my blind sniff test of celebrity perfumes, I gathered 10 celebrity fragrances. I sprayed each perfume on a numbered blotter and set them up in the lab with the bottles hidden away.
I invited my colleagues in the Good Housekeeping Institute to come smell the blotters and write their thoughts on printed questionnaires. I asked them to rate each scent on a scale from one to five and then describe what they smelled in their own words. Finally, I asked them to name their favorite out of the 10 perfumes. Nine people participated in the test. I averaged the ratings for each perfume and counted how many times someone had named a perfume as their favorite.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Chiara Butler
The impressions my sniff testers shared included scent notes they picked up on like vanilla, amber, and citrus, scent categories like “fresh” or “warm,” what time of year they would wear the fragrance, and some surprising associations the scents evoked, like “moth balls,” “Smarties candy,” and “Carmex lip balm.”
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below