Popular women’s perfumes range from sweet and delicate to sensual and seductive. Fragrances can be classed as woody, floral, oriental or fresh scents. Florals may be fruity or flowery, while oriental scents are spicier. Woody fragrances may smell a bit like oak, cedar or tobacco, while fresh scents are often identified as smelling clean and green.

Classic Choices

Classic fragrances remain popular today, with both the original and new versions of some popular scents available at fragrance counters. Lighter variations on classics like Chanel No. 5 Eau Première make ideal daytime scents, or try heavier and more intense classics for evening, like Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium, a soft oriental scent. Miss Dior offers a woodier option, if you’re not a fan of floral fragrances.

Unisex Fragrances

There are popular women’s fragrances that aren’t designed for women at all, but which can be worn by either gender. Unisex fragrances typically have notes of leather, spice and tobacco. Options include Kilian’s Back to Black Aphrodisiac, Annick Goutal Mandragore Pourpre and Cartier L’Heure Mysterieuse. If you’re not a fan of traditional women’s perfumes, these scents can be an ideal alternative.

Sweet Scents

Some of the top fragrances for women are candy-sweet fragrances like Pink Sugar by Aquolina and the slightly more grown-up Pink Sugar Sensual, Juicy Couture by Juicy Couture and Thierry Mugler’s Angel. These fragrances combine fruity notes with caramel, creme brulee and even chocolate fragrances. Fruity, but less-sweet options, include the perfumes in the DKNY Be Delicious line.

Modern Traditionals

Several of the most popular scents contain classic fragrances, including woodsy notes and floral oriental scents. Sarah Jessica Parker’s lavender and orchid scent is more woody and mossy than flowery with hints of musk and amber. Lacoste’s Touch of Pink is a fresh, flowery oriental scent with fruit, spice, jasmine and amber. Liz Claiborne’s Curve combines fruit and floral notes with sandalwood and cedar for a well-rounded sheer floral scent.