As a beauty editor, I've had the privilege to test hundreds of fragrances. When I say hundreds, I mean it. At one point, my personal perfume collection hovered somewhere around 50 bottles, and that didn't even count the tiny, tinkling glass tubes of sample and travel-size scents that lived in my bathroom drawer. Because of this privilege, I consider myself to be a pretty discerning perfume critic. A scent has to stand out for me to wear it, much less remember it.
Somewhere along my fragrance-testing journey, I started to notice a pattern. Perfumes from one particular brand kept popping up in my rotation of favorite fragrances. It started with one, and before I knew it, I had three and then five...now I have all 12. The best part is that this brand is relatively affordable. Unlike other brands that price their bottles at $200, $300, and even $400, this one caps each one at $96 (or less). Keep scrolling to see which perfume brand has me hanging on to every last spritz.
The perfume brand is Phlur—a company that creates modern yet nostalgic fragrances. Each one is crafted by a world-class perfumer to evoke specific "memories, moments, experiences, and feelings." As such, some of the brand's perfumes remind me of specific people or scenarios, and it makes me love them all the more. The brand's owner and creative director is Chriselle Lim, the fashion-forward influencer and entrepreneur, so it makes sense that the packaging is just as noteworthy as the liquid that it contains. Each portly bottle houses a uniquely colored fragrance, and I love displaying the rainbow colors on my vanity. In fact, I treat each perfume bottle as a little trinket or art piece instead of just, well, a perfume bottle. As a beauty editor, I love when my favorite products can double as decor.
Each one of the brand's 12 fragrances is unique, which is why I think there's something for everyone. Do you tend to go for classic floral fragrances? There's something for you. Do you like fresh, androgynous scents? I can recommend one. What about bright and fruity perfumes? Yep. There's one of those too. As for me, I cycle through all 12 depending on what I'm doing each day, how I feel, and honestly, what clothes I'm wearing (does anyone else try to match their perfume to their outfit?). Ahead, see all 12 Phlur fragrances, and learn why I love each one.
Notes: Skin musk, bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine, Australian sandalwood white musk. Let's start with my all-time favorite—a perfume so good that I wrote a love letter to it. It smells warm and slightly sweet, yet also grounded with musky notes. I always say that this is a perfume that makes me smell like myself, but better. It's one of those perfumes that, when I wear it, people compliment me by saying, "You smell so good." They don't comment on the perfume itself or ask which fragrance I'm wearing. As the brand puts it, "If nude were a perfume, this would be it."
Notes: Ginger, tangerine, jasmine, amber. Now, for my second favorite perfume—Tangerine Boy. It's probably the most simple of all Phlur perfumes, but the bright tangerine note gets me every time. Even though it's citrus-forward, the spicy notes of ginger and the grounding note of amber pull it back a bit. It's the perfect summer fragrance, although I plan on wearing it all year long whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Notes: Cardamom, mimosa, vanilla milk, sandalwood. I consider this one to be a traditionally feminine scent. It's soft, sweet, and slightly powdery, which is why I think lovers of perfumes like Marc Jacobs Daisy ($128) or Burberry Her ($123) would love this one. I, for one, am planning on wearing it to an upcoming bridal shower. It's that kind of fragrance.
Notes: Sandalwood, amber, musk, saffron . The brand describes this fragrance as cozy, warm, and undeniably sexy, and honestly, those are better than any other adjectives I could come up with. It's definitely woody (as the name implies) yet there's a softness to it, too. I love wearing this in the fall and winter, although, yet again, there's a timelessness to it that could work for any season.
Notes: Apricot, plum, peony, agarwood. This is the fruitiest fragrance out of them all. It's so fruity, it almost smells sugary, which is why I think people who love fragrances like Tom Ford's Lost Cherry ($395) would love this one. Thanks to a floral note of peony and a warm note of agarwood, though, it doesn't veer too far off into the syrupy-sweet category and maintains an elevated vibe.
Notes: Cassis leaf, Italian bergamot, jasmine, vanilla orchid. To me, this fragrance is androgynous and almost smells like cologne, yet it's subtle too. It reminds me of other marine-inspired perfumes you wear when you want to smell fresh and airy, like Maison Margiela Replica Sailing Day ($160) and Ellis Brooklyn Salt ($108). With that being said, the floral notes of jasmine, bergamot, and orchid soften any sharp edges.
Notes: Bergamot, neroli, driftwood, solar muskThere is one word I'd use to describe this perfume, and that's warm. There's just something about the combination of notes that makes this smell like sunkissed skin (if that even has a smell?). It's basically a warm summer's day, bottled.
Notes: Lush fig, orris root, sandalwood, Vanilla Madagascar. This is the newest scent from the brand. It smells somewhat green and herby, but there's a warmth to it, too, probably thanks to the vanilla note. I swear I'm not just saying this because of the name, but it reminds me of a cologne my dad used to wear when I was growing up (in the best way). If you want an interesting scent that no one will be able to place, this is it.
Notes: Jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, sandalwood . I was trying to figure out why I love this one so much, and it occurred to me that it's probably due to the tuberose note. I love tuberose because I think it lends a nostalgic warmth to any perfume. This one is no different. It's like they took a classic perfume from a department store's fragrance counter and updated it to be slightly more fresh and modern. In other words, it's classic yet not dated. I'm obsessed.
Notes: Rose, pink peppercorn, Italian bergamot, patchouli. Every time I smell this scent, I immediately think that it would be the perfect first-date perfume. I think that's because it uses classic perfume notes like rose and bergamot, but it uses them so well. Instead of smelling boring or outdated, it smells fresh, vibrant, and youthful. It's one of those perfumes that makes people lean in.
Notes: Fig, white florals, hazelnut, sandalwood. This is one of the few Phlur scents I was unfamiliar with, and after smelling it, I had to sit and think about what I was smelling for five minutes. It's like one big oxymoron. At first, it's sharp but then it smells soft and creamy. It's floral, but it's also woody. It's fresh, but it's also warm. To me, it's definitely the most complex scent out of them all, which is why I think true fragrance conneisseurs will love this one.
Notes: Forest air, violet leaves, timur pepper, sandalwood. This one is currently half off, so if it speaks to you, snatch it up. It definitely speaks to me, so I'm counting my lucky stars that I have a fresh bottle on hand. With notes of violet and pepper, it smells dark, moody, and sultry, which is why my first order of business will be to wear it on a night out. I think it would be the perfect late-night perfume. It's intoxicating for sure.
