If fashion is a way for you to express yourself without having to speak, we’d like to think your choice of fragrance is a scent-driven ID card of the same nature. Your perfume is actually pretty personal—it can remind you of ocean waves during that memorable summer beach trip, your first sip of coffee at a café in Paris, or even someone close to your heart. But at the same time, your fragrance gives off a lasting impression on others, and people might remember you based on what you spritzed on the moment you met.
Having said that, finding that one bottle you can call your signature scent isn’t an easy task. Whether you’re opting for one that encapsulates your personality best or a perfume that can bring out a different quality you'd like to experience, we’ve enlisted the help of some of our favorite beauty gurus to narrow down your search. Below, they share their favorite scents of all time and why these are a must on their vanities.
Anna Palabyab-Rufino, Dermatologist
“I really love light, fresh scents and my everyday fragrance would be Fresh’s Sugar Lemon perfume.”
FRESH Sugar Lemon Eau De Perfume 100ml, $90 (around P4358), fresh.com
Arabella Racelis, Beauty Vlogger (ThatsBella)
“My favorite perfume is the ‘Bellamazing Scent’ by VV&Co. I was fortunate enough to collaborate with the brand in order to create my own scent and we were able to achieve a fresh, fruity, and sweet fragrance with top notes of pear, pink grapefruit, and berries, heart notes of pink roses and vanilla, and base notes of toasted marshmallow and wood — everything I look for in a perfume! It has since been my favorite scent because it's so me.”
VV & CO Bellamazing Eau de Toilette 30ml, P699, vvandcoph.com
Agoo Bengzon, Beauty Expert and Former Preview Beauty Editor
“My fave scent is Diptyque’s Tempo. I love it because I’m partial to unisex scents, and this one will most definitely suit anyone. It’s also unique. I don’t think I’ve come across anything quite like it. It has notes of clary sage, violet and patchouli.”
DIPTYQUE Tempo Eau de Parfum, P9150, rustans.com
Min Ortiz, Beauty Content Creator (@minortiz on Instagram)
“My favorite scent is Angel by Thierry Mugler. It has a classic feel to it. The smell is distinct and kind of strong, but not annoying.”
THIERRY MUGLER Angel Eau de Perfume, price unavailable, Department Stores
Belle Rodolfo, Former Preview Associate Beauty Editor
“Prada’s Iris Cedré—it’s baby powder, but grown up. It’s sophisticated and not as feminine as usual florals so it goes with whatever mood or outfit I wanna throw on. Plus, it goes well with my body chemistry so at the end of the day I still love how it smells.”
PRADA Iris Cedré perfume 100ml, P6295, perfumes.com.ph
Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, CEO of Happy Skin Cosmetics
“Right now, it’s Acca Kappa’s Sakura Tokyo. Possibly the best Sakura scent out there—sweet but still fresh and really takes you back to being surrounded by Cherry Blossoms. Tokyo was the last trip I took in February before the lockdown and every time I spray this scent, it treats me to a much needed virtual escape! Can’t wait to travel again.”
ACCA KAPPA Sakura Tokyo Eau de Perfume 50ml, P3300, Rustans.com
Ryan Kyle, K-beauty Enthusiast and Content Creator (@ryanxkylee on Instagram)
“My current favorite scent is ZARA Vibrant Leather! I love it because it gives just the amount of fragrance that feels ‘fresh’ yet ‘classy’. I also like the fact that it’s not too overpowering and it’s very gender-neutral as well!”
ZARA Vibrant Leather Eau de Perfume, price unavailable, zara.com
Michelle Dy, Beauty Vlogger and Influencer
“Right now my favorite perfume would be my Paco Rabanne Lady Million, it smells good with my skin, it stays for hours, the scent is very sexy, seductive, feminine yet stull playful.”
PACO RABANNE Lady Million eau de parfum 50ml, P5100, Zalora
Janny Miranda, Beauty Influencer (@jannymrnda on TikTok and Instagram)
“Jo Malone London’s Peony and Blush Suede cologne is everything. It has a fresh, feminine, luxurious, floral, powdery scent to it, but it’s not intense at all. For me, it’s a great everyday and date night scent. To be honest, I get a lot of compliments when I wear this! Been using this for almost 3 years now and I’m now on my 5th bottle (Yes, it’s kind of pricey, but it’s so worth it!)"
JO MALONE Peony and Blush Suede cologne, P8350, rustans.com
JL Crespo, Skincare Enthusiast (@guy.skin on Instagram)
“My favorite scent at the moment is Byredo’s Gypsy Water. Woods are my favorite type of fragrance and this is pretty unique in the sense that it has fresh notes which surprisingly blends well with the other ingredients. It opens up into notes of lemon and pepper and once it sets you can smell more of the sandalwood and vanilla. If I could describe this in a few words it would probably be sheer and refined. Can’t get enough of it!”
BYREDO Gypsy Water 100ml, $ 265 (around P12,835), byredo.com
Anthea Bueno, Celebrity Makeup Artist
"My current favorite scent is the Yuja cologne from Jo Malone London. Eversince quarantine started I’ve been using this because of its fresh citrus scent that always puts me in a cheerful mood."
JO MALONE Yuja cologne 100ml, P8750, Rustans.com
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