Best Perfume: The 2023 List Beauty Awards

"Wow, you smell great!" is definitely on our list of favorite compliments. From first dates to job interviews, finding your signature perfume can help you make that great first impression. According to the fragrance wheel, there are four main fragrance families that the majority of scents fall under: floral, fresh, woody, and amber. The different "notes" in a scent combine to create a unique perfume that keeps you smelling good all day long.

But finding a perfume isn't as easy as discovering what smells good. When hunting for a scent to add to your collection, you may fall in love with the aroma of a perfume, only to turn over the price tag and reluctantly set it back on the shelf. It's true that many high-end and designer fragrances cost a pretty penny — luckily, we have found ways to try out different perfumes without breaking the bank.

If you find an expensive scent you can't stop thinking about, spring for the travel size or mini version. Most perfumes come in smaller bottles at a fraction of the price. Fragrance enthusiasts have found that this is the best way to invest in perfumes: large bottles are not only pricey, but you aren't likely to finish the bottle before its expiration date. Buying small bottles of perfume also allows you to experiment with different fragrances without going over budget. For those looking to find their signature scent, we tested ten different trending perfumes to decide which ones are absolutely worth your money.

Read more about the 2023 List Beauty Awards methodology and all the top picks here.

NEST New York has an incredible lineup of perfumes. The brand may lure consumers in with its gorgeous bottle designs made up of detailed florals and vibrant colors, but the high quality and uniqueness of its scents keep perfume lovers coming back for more. Our favorite scent of theirs is, without a doubt, the Indigo Eau de Parfum. With notes of lemon, orange, and bergamot, the fragrance description calls this perfume "an exploration of the Mediterranean." There are floral elements like Moroccan tea and wild figs that significantly cool down the scent profile, reminding us of a vacation to a European coast on a sunny day.

This fragrance is definitely on the more potent side, so we do not recommend layering with other perfumes. However, it perfectly compliments a floral-smelling body wash and brings out extra levels of complexity to other scented hygiene products. During testing, this perfume was amongst the strongest when sprayed on clothes and skin, with very little fading after a full day of wear. You can find the 8mL travel spray for only $30.

Purchase the NEST New York Indigo Eau de Parfum at Sephora for $30.

Many worthy contenders were fighting for our favorite floral scent, but after much deliberation, the Carolina Herrera Good Girl perfume emerged victorious. This scent is unlike any other floral perfume we have ever encountered, with notes of tuberose, jasmine, and tonka bean. If you are looking for a fragrance that will instantly transport you to a flowering field in the springtime, run to add this delightful perfume to your cart.

The Carolina Herrera Good Girl scent comes in many different forms, including an adorable bottle shaped like a bright blue heel, but our favorite way to wear it is the rollerball. For only $32, you get 10 mL of perfume that you can apply directly to your favorite spots. Rollerball perfumes can be hit or miss depending on the type and strength of the scent, but the Good Girl rollerball is definitely worth your time. The fragrance is subtle enough that applying it directly to your skin won't overwhelm your senses, but it is still fragrant enough to be noticeable and enjoyed as you wear it.

Purchase the Carolina Herrera Good Girl rollerball at Sephora for $32.