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The world of women’s perfume is a big, wide one. There are so many categories to choose from, like gourmands, aquatics and citrus scents, to name a few. But an eau de parfum isn’t the only way to get your fragrance fix — perfume oils are another great option. Easy for on-the-go reapplication, perfume oils are an unfussy approach to adding your signature scent to your day.
“A perfume oil is a finished perfume, but it’s in an oil base instead of an alcohol base,” explains David Seth Moltz, founder and perfumer of D.S. & Durga. Most eau de parfums use alcohol as a base because it doesn’t have a scent and is easy to combine with other ingredients.“When you use oil as a base, its cons are that usually most oils have a scent to them and don’t have as much of that blending action. So, sometimes the fragrance has to fight through the scent of fat and wax and the stuff that oil smells like. There are oils that are less smelly — like fractionated coconut oil, apricot, and kernel — which are pretty good for dilutions.”
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As far as the perks, the best perfume oils have plenty. “The positive of an oil fragrance is that it travels well because it’s not flammable,” Moltz says. “It’s easier to have in your bag. Also, alcohol can really destroy clothes.” So choosing a perfume oil will keep your best cashmere sweaters, favorite leather pants, and other wardrobe essentials in top-notch shape. “The actual application of rolling on perfume oil is a very comfortable experience,” Moltz notes. “You can rub it in and it has a softer quality to it. Oils are naturally moisturizing to your skin.” Perfume oils are also great for those who deal with sensitive skin, as they typically don’t contain alcohol, which irritates sensitive skin types.
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Start a new scent journey (or give one of the best beauty gifts to any woman in your life) with the best perfume oils, ahead.
The Best Perfume Oils of 2023
- Best Overall: Nest New York Indian Jasmine Perfume Oil
- Best Overall, Runner Up: The 7 Virtues Santal Vanille Gemstone Perfume Oil
- Best Unisex Perfume Oil: By Rosie Jane Dylan Perfume Oil
- Best Perfume Oil on Amazon: Kai Perfume Oil
- Best Perfume Oil for Layering:
- Best Perfume Oil for Body: YSL Beauty Libre Beautifying Body Oil
- Best Perfume Oil Set: Summer Fridays The Perfume Oils Trio
- Best Essential Oil Perfume: Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball
- Best Subtle Perfume Oil:
- Best Woody Perfume Oil: Byredo Gypsy Water Perfumed Oil Roll-On
- Best Designer Perfume Oil: Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden A Kiss From Violet Perfume Oil
- Best Perfume Oil for Men: Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Perfume Oil
- Best Long-Lasting Perfume Oil: Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Perfume Oil
- Best Cult-Favorite Perfume Oil: Le Labo Santal 33 Perfume Oil
Nest New York Indian Jasmine Perfume Oil
Best Overall
- Size: 1 oz
- Scent profile: Floral
- Base oil: Baobab oil
Dab on the Nest New York Indian Jasmine perfume oil and you’ll instantly be transported to the lush jasmine fields in India. This classic floral is rounded out with red berries, bergamot and pink pepper. Its base of baobab oil lets it sink right into your skin with a scent trail that will last for hours, making it one of the best perfume oils.
Nest New York Indian Jasmine Perfume Oil$98Buy Now AT SEPHORA
Nest New York Indian Jasmine Perfume Oil$98Buy Now AT NORDSTROM
The 7 Virtues Santal Vanille Gemstone Perfume Oil
Best Overall, Runner Up
- Size: 0.67 oz
- Scent profile: Gourmand
- Base oil: Organic jojoba oil
Consider the 7 Virtues Santal Vanille Gemstone perfume oil aspicy, warm hug for your skin. The cozy gourmand scent is a beautiful creamy blend of coconut, vanilla, myrrh and sandalwood. Even better is the fact that the sandalwood is sustainably sourced from Sri Lanka, plus has aromatherapeutic perks, such as helping to improve focus. Additionally, the perfume oil contains jojoba oil to nourish the skin and is packed with 25% fragrance oils, ensuring a lasting effect on your skin.
The 7 Virtues Santal Vanille Gemstone Perfume Oil$69Buy Now AT SEPHORA
By Rosie Jane Dylan Perfume Oil
Best Unisex Perfume Oil
- Size: 0.23 oz
- Scent profile: Warm woods
- Base oil: Coconut and frankincense oils
If warm woods are your thing, then this option from By Rosie Jane Dylan is the best perfume oil for you. With individuality and freedom serving as its muse, the earthy scent mixes soft notes of cedar with frankincense for a touch of spice and a base of white musk. The unisex scent is a pure fragrance oil with concentrated notes.
By Rosie Jane Dylan Perfume Oil$45Buy Now AT SEPHORA
By Rosie Jane Dylan Perfume Oil$45Buy Now AT NORDSTROM
Kai Perfume Oil
Best Perfume Oil on Amazon
- Size: 0.12 oz
- Scent profile: Floral
- Base oil: Chamomile oil
A true cult classic, Kai’s perfume oil has quite the impressive fan club, which allegedly even includes Oprah. Kai founder Gaye Straza created this single-batch perfume in 1999 to capture the scent of her childhood vacations to Hawaii, and it’s been insanely popular ever since. The blend of cedarwood oil, clove leaf oil, geranium oil and rose absolute evokes the dreamy islands.
Kai Perfume Oil$47Buy Now AT AMAZON
Kai Perfume Oil $47Buy Now AT NORDSTOM
D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What
Best Perfume Oil for Layering
- Size: 1.7 oz
- Scent profile: Fresh
- Base oil: Clove oil
D.S. & Durga has earned a cult following for its perfumes that are truly unique. perfume oil fits the bill and is unlike anything else out there. “This is our best-selling fragrance,” Moltz says. “I carry it with me everywhere. I Don’t Know What is really nice because it mixes with everything and layers well.” The pocket perfume can be worn solo or as a fragrance enhancer to boost the scent of whatever you pair it with. Featuring top notes of bergamot essence, a heart of iso e super and vetiver acetate and a base of civetone, firsantol and ambrox super, the earthy perfume is deliciously grounding.
YSL Beauty Libre Beautifying Body Oil
Best Perfume Oil for Body
- Size: 5.07 oz
- Scent profile: Floral
- Base oil: Sunflower seed oil
YSL Beauty’s Libre fragrance has become a bestseller since launching in 2019. This body oil is a way to coat yourself in the sweet floral scent from head to toe — you can use it as a body oil as well as a hair oil to smooth split ends. The notes of lavender, jasmine, and musk come together for an anything-but-basic scent you’ll want to douse on daily.
YSL Beauty Libre Beautifying Body Oil$68Buy Now AT NORDSTROM
YSL Beauty Libre Beautifying Body Oil$68Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Summer Fridays The Trio Perfume Oils
Best Perfume Oil Set
- Size: 0.3 oz each
- Scent profile: Gourmand, warm, citrus
Best known for its popular clean skin-care products, burgeoning beauty brand Summer Fridays has now bottled up a trio of its signature scents so that you can take them on the go. Each mood-boosting fragrance calls to mind warm summer Fridays where you can almost feel the sun on your skin. A tropical vacation in a bottle, Coconut Wave features notes of coconut, eucalyptus and sugarcane. Warm and cozy, Soft Vanilla has notes of vanilla cream, almond blossom and a pistachio blend. And you can pretend you’re in Capri with Crisp Citrus, thanks to its top notes of frozen lemon and lime zest.
Summer Fridays The Perfume Oils Trio$27Buy Now AT AMAZON
Summer Fridays The Perfume Oils Trio$36Buy Now AT REVOLVE
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball
Best Essential Oil Perfume
- Size: 0.34 oz
- Scent profile: Citrus
- Base oil: Peach kernel oil
If you’re looking for a burst of energy, then the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning roller ball is the best perfume oil for you. Tapping into the power of aromatherapy, the revitalizing fragrance features pink grapefruit, rosemary and juniper berry essential oils. Roll it on whenever you need a refresh.
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball$35Buy Now AT BLUEMERCURY
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball$35Buy Now AT NEIMAN MARCUS
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball$35Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Lake & Skye 11 11 Fragrance Oil
Best Subtle Perfume Oil
- Size: 0.33 oz
- Scent profile: Woody
The beauty gurus on TikTok love , and we do, too. The fragrance is rich with white ambers and musk, but it feels fresh and slightly aquatic on your skin once it dries down. That dynamic combination of notes makes it suitable for all genders and all seasons, so it’ll be a hardworking addition to your fragrance collection. The formula is cruelty-free, vegan, and PETA-certified, and the brand plants a tree for each online purchase.
Byredo Gypsy Water Perfumed Oil Roll-On
Best Woody Perfume Oil
- Size: 0.25 oz
- Scent profile: Fresh, woody
- Base oil: Rose oil
The beloved unisex eau de parfum is also available in perfume oil format. An intoxicating blend of fresh and woody notes, Byredo’s Gypsy Water perfumed oilis a riff on campfires and pine forests. One of the best perfume oils out there for its unique, addicting scent, it combines bergamot, amber and vanilla.
Byredo Gypsy Water Perfumed Oil Roll-On$78Buy Now AT NEIMAN MARCUS
Byredo Gypsy Water Perfumed Oil Roll-On$78Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden A Kiss From Violet Perfume Oil
Best Designer Perfume Oil
- Size: 0.67 oz
- Scent profile: Floral
- Base oil: Coconut oil
When you’re looking to make a statement on your vanity, this is the best perfume oil. And Gucci’s The Alchemist’s Garden A Kiss From Violet perfume oil smells just as good as it looks. Created by master perfumer Alberto Morillas for Gucci’s “The Alchemist’s Garden” collection, the romantic scent of iris petal and musk fills the glass apothecary-style jar with a pipette-style applicator.
Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden A Kiss From Violet Perfume Oil$445Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden A Kiss From Violet Perfume Oil$445Buy Now AT NORDSTROM
Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Perfume Oil
Best Perfume Oil for Men
- Size: 0.3 oz
- Scent profile: Spicy warm
- Base oil: Clove oil
Pretend you’re on a tropical vacation sipping a fruity rum cocktail with an umbrella in it when you rub on the Malin + Goetz Dark Rum perfume oil. Just like a libation that’s mixed to perfection, this warm and spicy oil-based fragrance features top notes of bergamot and plum, middle notes of traditional Caribbean rum and leather, and a base of amber, patchouli and milk.
Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Perfume Oil$32Buy Now AT AMAZON
Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Perfume Oil$32Buy Now AT NORDSTROM
Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Perfume Oil
Best Long-Lasting Perfume Oil
- Size: 0.5 oz
- Scent profile: Woody
- Base oil: Safflower seed oil
On the hunt for a scent with serious history? Then Maison Louis Marie’s No.04 Bois de Balincourt is the best perfume oil for you. Maison Louis Marie dates all the way back to 1792 and carries on the legacy of Louis Marie Aubert du Petit Thouars, a pioneer in French botanical history. The line still creates unique floral fragrances following the botanical tradition. This warm earthy and woody scent is one of its most popular, with a blend of sandalwood, cedarwood, a spicy cinnamon nutmeg complex and vetiver.
Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Perfume Oil$59Buy Now AT SEPHORA
Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Perfume Oil$59Buy Now AT AMAZON
Le Labo Santal 33 Perfume Oil
Best Cult-Favorite Perfume Oil
- Size: 1 oz
- Scent profile: Woody
- Base oil: Safflower oil
Any and every fragrance junkie is sure to have a Le Labo scent in their lineup. Le Labo’s Santal 33 is one of the best perfume oils for its standout scent that’s handmade. The unisex Santal 33 fragrance combines cardamom, sandalwood, leather, Iris and ambrox to imitate “an open fire and the soft drift of smoke,” according to its product description. Safe for sensitive skin, it uses safflower oil as its base and is alcohol-free.
Le Labo Santal 33 Perfume Oil$155Buy Now AT LE LABO
What to Look for in the Best Perfume Oils
- Base oils: A perfume’s base oil is the formula’s main vehicle to deliver lasting fragrance. “There’s olive oil, sweet almond, apricot, fractionated coconut and sunflower,” Moltz lists as a few examples. These oils have a subtle fragrance to them, which adds complexity and depth to the overall scent. Many brands are taking steps towards sustainable sourcing these oils, using upcycled materials and organic options when possible.
- Fragrance family: Perfume oils, just like regular eaus, fall into a number of fragrance families. This all boils down to personal preference; you can find options that range from gourmands and florals to woody and fresh oils, to name a few.
- Packaging: You can shop perfume oils in a few different packaging options. Roller balls are the simplest to apply, though they typically hold less juice than a standard eau de parfum. Larger options are also available in glass packaging with a spray nozzle.
How to Apply Perfume Oil
Applying a perfume oil can be more of a sensorial experience than applying spray alternatives, according to Moltz. He recommends rolling or misting a perfume oil onto the skin and then gently tapping it in place till it’s fully absorbed. You can apply the fragrance to pulse points on your neck, chest, inner elbows, and wrists — applying the oil to these areas may help the fragrance last longer throughout the day. Because the oils are more concentrated than eau de parfums, a little goes a long way. Dab it on just after you shower and moisturize and you’ll be smelling good all day long.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News. She’s spent over five years researching, reporting on, and writing about the beauty industry (including perfume oils) for publications like Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie.
