The Brides.com office is full of experts on all things bridal. But we know our genius ability to critique the latest products isn't limited to our editorial staff, especially when it comes to something as personal as a fragrance. Production, event planning, design, marketing—everyone has a unique palette.
We held a two-day spray-and-sniff test with our staff to see just how some of the new scents of the season would fare. Before you shop for a new fragrance for yourself or your sweetie, see how these stood up to the test.
Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit
“I have always been a fan of deep, romantic fragrances! I enjoyed this fragrance, although it's not a very young and fresh scent. Badgley Mischka is perfect for someone a bit older, and is definitely an evening or nighttime fragrance.” —Anna Nguyen, Online Project Manager
Eau de parfum spray, 3.4 oz., $90, neimanmarcus.com
Burberry The Beat for Women
“This fragrance is light and airy, with just the right touch of sweetness. I have fallen in love with it because it has just the right amount of scent, unlike many perfumes that are too strong. With Burberry, I carry the scent, not the other way around.” —Sandy Espinosa, Event Planner
Eau de parfum spray, 2.5 oz., $80, neimanmarcus.com
Calvin Klein Eternity
“This scent is deceptively light—not too heavy or overpowering; but it does permeate the surrounding area. The smell is pleasant and not so distinct that it would be distracting or overpowering. My wife says this would be a good thing to spray on every day.” —Aaron Reed, Web Designer
Eau de parfum spray, 3.4 oz., $67, Macy's
Only Calvin Klein Euphoria perfume
“This reminds me of the ocean and freshly-washed laundry. It's a very fresh, light and clean scent that's ideal for the summer, but can also be worn all year long.” —Karyn Lewis, Senior Technical Analyst
Eau de parfum spray, 3.4 oz., $75, Macy's
Christian LaCroix Rouge
“This scent is sweet and floral with hint of spice. It wasn't edgy enough for a 23-year-old friend who tested it for me—the floral scent seems to be a little young and girlish. The scent is a little overpowering at first, but it softens as it stays on the wearer.” —John Vaccaro, Senior Director, Product Development
Eau de parfum spray, 1.7 oz., $32, avon.com
Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker
“This scent is very feminine, but not overpowering. It's very Charlotte York [of Sex and the City]. It's a little more flowery than I usually wear, but I like how light the scent is. I probably wouldn't have picked it up for myself if it wasn't for the testing; but now it's something I will definitely wear.” —Kate Cavanna, Marketing Assistant
3.4 oz., $68.00, hsn.com
Deseo by Jennifer Lopez
“This is a strong, fresh scent with a mixture of citrus and floral notes. It did not stand out from other similar perfumes, but it did have staying power. One spray on my wrists in the morning lasted all day. If I was going out right after work, I would wear this scent and not have to worry about re-applying.” —Karyn Lewis, Senior Technical Analyst
Eau de parfum, 3.4 oz. $59.50, Macys.com
Dream Angels Wish Victoria's Secret
“At first I really liked this fragrance. It had a great scent and wasn't overpowering. But on the second day the fragrance was a little too bubble-gummy and sweet for me. It may be better for someone younger.” —Alyssa Bennis, Senior Marketing Manager, Site Intelligence
Eau de parfum, 4.2 oz., $59, victoriassecret.com
Harajuku Lovers “Love”
“I really like the girly, light scent, but it is a little too fruity for my preference. I think this would be a great scent for tweens and teens. It seems more like a daytime scent. I would wear it to work or on weekends out shopping.” —Leah Ferguson, Local Marketing Coordinator
10 ml., $25/30 ml. $45 each, sephora.com
Jil Sander Scent 79
“Jil Sander Woman's Scent 79 is a very mature scent and quite musky. Unfortunately, for me, it was overpowering. It definitely makes a statement and is not for anyone who is looking a delicate scent. The geometric packaging is very modern, almost bordering on manly, which might have been meant to compliment the bold fragrance. I think this scent would be well-suited for someone getting married outside, particularly in the fall, because it's a powerful scent that could stand up to the outdoors.” —Jen Gaonach, Marketing Director
4.2 oz., $110, neimanmarcus.com
Karl Lagerfeld Floreintia
“Compared to all of the floral scents that were among the perfumes offered on the test table, Floreintia stood out; but seemed like it had too much vanilla in it. On its own, though, I definitely liked it. It's a warm scent that I think would be out of place in the summer, but it is lovely for winter. I like the subtlety it. I think anyone can wear it, but someone who is drawn to floral scents might not be interested in Floreintia.” —Alexa Gill, Technical Analyst
Eau de toilette, 2.5 oz., $110, exclusively at Neiman Marcus
Marc Jacobs Fig
“I really like this scent's ambiguity. It doesn't have an overly feminine or masculine scent. There also is no overpowering floral or musky scent, which I think makes it neutral enough to wear in any setting. I could wear it whether I was a pseudo-hipster artist in the studio or a preppy hedge-fund manager at work.” —Arielle Sachar, Promotion Coordinator
Eau de toilette, 10 oz. $68, neimanmarcus.com
Marc Jacobs Daisy
“Daisy is very sweet and flowery without being too overwhelming. I really like how wearable the scent is—it feels very natural; not a perfume that smells like perfume, but something I can just wear a hint of.” —Cari Wolfert, Associate Editor
Eau de toilette, 3.4 oz., $72, neimanmarcus.com
Marc Jacobs Gardenia Splash
“I loved this scent. I sprayed everything with it. I found the mist refreshing and natural smelling. It's is perfect for a person who wants to step out from mild and go rich and wild...at least for a couple of hours.” —Chaydha Pleasant, Freelance Web Support
Eau de toilette, 10 oz. $68, neimanmarcus.com
Nina Ricci Limited Gold Edition
“I tend to think less is more for perfume application, and even though it is a lighter scent, I was still able to identify it at the end of the day. It is clean and interesting, and it wouldn't be one to set off the 'Ugh, that girl is wearing way too much of the wrong scent' for anyone in the nearby vicinity either. It's definitely a good scent for everyday wear…or on dates when you want to come off as sweet and innocent versus a sultry, sex maven.” —Karen Kopitzke, Promotion Manager
$54, Macy's
Prada Infusion d'Iris
“This earthy scent evokes hints of cedar and orange. Upon first applying the fragrance, the individual notes each stood out strongly; however, throughout the day, they blended perfectly and softened to create a unique, smooth scent that received a lot of compliments.” —Karyn Lewis, Senior Technical Analyst
6.7 oz., $130, saksfifthavenue.com
U by Ungaro
“This scent smelled clean, as if fresh from the shower. It reminds me of a body wash. I like the scent because it isn't too pungent. I'm a fan of wearing perfume every day, so this would be a great scent for me.” —Emily Wood, Ad Operations Coordinator
Eau de parfum, $34, avon.com
Vera Wang Look
This scent is bold, yet feminine. I liked that it wasn't too flowery. I prefer a scent that is a bit bold and definite, and Vera Wang Look is this way. It's a nice distinction from some of Vera's other fragrances, but still with that classic smell that she is known for.” —Pamela Quandt, Senior Executive Director of Marketing and Creative Services
Eau de parfum, 3.4 oz., $90, neimanmarcus.com
For Best Scents of the Season for Him, click here.
