Fragrance

90% of Cherry Perfumes Are Extremely Polarizing—We Found the 10% That Are Divine

Bianca Lambert  Fri, 23 Sep 2022  Who What Wear

Before I began my hunt for the absolute best cherry perfumes on the fragrance market, I took a hard look at my own collection and thought, This is going to be tough. Cherry scents in the beauty arena are notoriously polarizing—especially when it comes to perfume—and I didn't immediately associate the note as something I'd want to smell like. But, after some digging, I quickly realized a lot of popular perfumes have notes from my favorite summer fruit. (Although some are definitely more "cherry-ish" than others.) All of a sudden, there was a handful of cherry perfumes I immediately wanted—and needed—to smell.

Sweet notes of cherry can unlock precious memories; I can taste the crust of a cherry pie just thinking about it. But, even if you're not a fruity fragrance person, don't worry. I also found less obvious options that are grounded with musk, vanilla, almond... even black leather. Below, you'll find beloved reviewer favorites, recently launched soon-to-be must-haves, and a few cherry perfumes that weren't initially on my list of eventual beauty investments, but certainly are now. From floral to edgy, keep scrolling to discover our top 11 cherry perfume picks.

Key fragrance notes: black cherry, rose damascena, praline, palo santo, guaiac wood, patchouli. If you like sweet, gourmand fragrances, this brand new cherry perfume is a must within your fragrance wardrobe. "Have you ever smelled something so beautiful, so intense and so hypnotic that it instantly lights your soul on fire?" asks Huda Beauty's Global President, Mona Kattan. "LoveFest instantly took me to a beautiful, seductive escape. I chose to focus on the cherry note as the main ingredient but wanted to add a twist and make it smoky, woody, and enchanting." It's rich and juicy, but the antithesis of basic.

Key fragrance notes: cherry accord, jasmine petals, tonka . If you can't take a trip to Tokyo, this limited edition cherry-scented fragrance will use your senses to take you there. If you're someone who likes light and airy scents, this will be one of the best cherry perfume options for you.

Key Fragrance Notes: black cherry accord, bitter almond, griotte sirup scenttrek, rose absolute orpur, Peru balsam, roasted tonka orpur, jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, cedar. Tom Ford fragrances are coveted. And this scent boasting notes of cherry liqueur and almond is no different. (That said, it's definitely one of the most love-it-or-hate-it fragrances on the market.) In fact, it has such a passionate cult following that the brand even offers it in candle and lipstick form; the latter of which is consistently sold out.

Key fragrance notes: cherry accord, oud wood, cardamom, cinnamon, Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose. Housed in a refillable bottle crafted by Pochet du Courval, a historic glassmaker of the House—this unisex fragrance released this year offers an excellent mix of feminine and masculine scent notes. Oh, and if the bottle isn't chic enough already, there are also tons of personalization options making it the ultimate gift to yourself, or a loved one.

Key fragrance notes: almond oil, aniseed oil, rose, jasmine, heliotrope, musk. We know a fragrance worth the investment is A) all about the scent and B) its longevity. But what happens when the perfume in question has all of that plus one of the most stunning bottles we've ever seen? Well, it makes this list, of course! The light, cherry garden fragrance lives in a refillable cupcake-like vessel adorned with 158 hand-placed Swarovski crystals.

Key Fragrance Notes: cherry, bitter almond, rose, ambrette seeds, rose, tonka bean . If the curvy bottle featuring a sky-high pump isn't enough to get your attention, the bold cherry fragrance with notes of upcycled rose water and sustainably sourced vetiver and vanilla bourbon will be your latest olfactory obsession.

Key fragrance notes: raspberry, strawberry, cherry, mandarin orange, black currant, grapefruit, musk, patchouli. If you love Christain Dior designs the way we do, we think this fragrance fun fact will make you fall even more in love with the fruity, floral scent. The aroma is all about celebrating the red designs that sashay their way down the runway of Christian Dior's haute couture fashion shows.

Key fragrance notes: cherry, red peony, vanilla. The sleek red bottle won't only look great on your vanity. The Eau de Parfum featuring a fruity-floral fragrance has staying power as it is Victoria's Secret's most concentrated fragrance. 

Key fragrance notes: cherry, saffron, Sichuan pepper, violet, jasmine absolute, mimosa, patchouli, tonka bean, black leather. Spice is embedded into this spunky scent created by perfumer Jérôme Epinette. Inspired by the woman who, as the brand put it: "[is] always late. Sipping her cherry coke mixed with port, this scent is all about letting your inner rebel shine.

Key fragrance notes: cherry blossom, bergamot, violet. If you enjoy scent layering, this unisex fragrance—that pays tribute to the blooming of the cherry blossoms in Japan—is housed in a refillable bottle made with 15% recycled glass and pairs well with other Allegoria fragrances.

Key fragrance notes: rosewater, morello cherry, violet, orris butter, rice powder. Home fragrance still counts in my book! With a burn time of up to 60 hours, a reusable vessel, and a scent that fills the home with rosewater, violet, and morello cherry—this is an olfactory moment you won’t want to blow out.

Up next, Everyone Deserves at Least One Chanel Perfume—These Are the 5 Best