I don’t wear the same perfume every day…what I put on depends on the kind of day I’m having, whether I’m running around in jeans or getting ready for dinner, and even what mood I’m in. These are the five I keep reaching for, from Sephora and Ulta, and I’ll tell you why I love each one and what kind of day it suits.
This isn’t a list of what’s new or what everyone’s talking about. If it’s here, there’s a reason I keep going back to it.
1. Tate 01 by Tate McRae (Ulta)
This is the one I grab when I want to smell good without making a big deal of it or having to think about it. It opens fresh and bright with bergamot and a bit of sage, then it settles into something soft and creamy, with orange blossom, tonka bean and woods. I love that it starts clean and ends warm, so it never feels too sweet or too heavy. It suits an easy day, like running errands, grabbing a coffee with a friend or working from home.
This is my pick for the days I want to feel put together. It’s warm and sweet…but not too sweet. The bergamot at the start keeps it from being too much, and underneath you get orange blossom, tonka bean and a bit of amber. It feels elegant to me, and it lasts, so I can put it on in the morning and forget about it. I’d wear it for a workday, a long lunch or a dinner out. It’s the type of fragrance people will stop and ask about.
3. DedCool Xtra Milk (Sephora)
This one is all about comfort and there’s a reason it’s so popular. It’s a soft, warm musk with a bit of amber and bergamot, and it smells like clean, warm skin. It sits close to you, so it’s never overpowering, which is why I love it for the days I’m keeping things low-key. It suits a lazy weekend, a night in, or any day you want something soft and easy.
“I don’t wear one perfume every day. It depends on the kind of day I’m having.”
4. Prada Paradoxe Intense (Ulta)
This is the richer, sweeter version of the original Paradoxe, and it’s the one I’d choose once the weather cools down. It starts with pear and tangerine, moves into jasmine and neroli, and finishes with a lot of vanilla and amber. It’s strong, so I go lighter with it than I do with my other perfumes. It suits an evening out, a dinner, or any day you want to feel a bit dressed up.
5. YSL Libre Le Parfum (Sephora)
This is my night out perfume. It’s the warmest and most dressed up one on the list, with ginger and saffron at the start, orange blossom and lavender in the middle, and vanilla and honey underneath. It smells sweet and a little spicy at the same time, and I find it feels confident without trying too hard. I save it for date night, a party or an event.
Which one for which day
Easy days, I go for Tate 01. Workdays and long lunches, Chloé Le Nectar. Lazy days and staying in, DedCool Xtra Milk. Dinners and cooler evenings, Prada Paradoxe Intense. Nights out, YSL Libre Le Parfum. One tip that works for all five….spray it on moisturized skin, like straight after your body butter, and it lasts a lot longer.
I don’t think you need a huge perfume collection, just a few that fit the different kinds of days you have. For me that’s a fresh and creamy one for easy days, a warm and polished one for work, a soft musk for staying in, and two richer ones for when I’m going out. If you’re picking just one, start with the day you have most often, and build from there.
My Top 5 Body Care Picks To Buy During The Sephora Sale
The Sephora Sale is on, and if you’re planning on picking up a few things, body care is where I’d spend first. It’s part of the routine most of us skip, and it makes a big difference to how your skin feels day to day. These are the five body care products I swear by, and the ones I’m personally topping up on during the sale!