Best Perfumes for Women

Coconut is kind of a hit or miss ingredient for me. As a man, there aren’t too many colognes that feature it, and none of them do it that well. However, in the women’s space, there are a ton of perfumes that feature this note.

Some good and some really bad. In this post, I want to take a closer look at some of the ‘good’ coconut scented fragrances out there.

By good, I mean, the best of the bunch to utilize this familiar tropical scent. I’ve added 15 perfumes, which should give you a variety of choice, and different pricing points.

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Favorite Coconut Fragrances for Her

Before I get into the exact picks, I just want to point out, that this list isn’t in particular order from best on down. It’s a mix with pricier option to coconut fragrances, which are very affordable.

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Top Floral Coconut Perfume

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc Spray, 3.4 Ounce, Eau de Toilette Spray– Soleil Blanc gets compared to the unisex, Virgin Island Water (listed below), a lot. Yes, there are similarities, but I think that this Tom Ford is actually the better scent. First, Soleil Blanc doesn’t have the boozy elements or as much citrus, as VIW does.

What it does feature, is floral notes: jasmine, ylang-ylang, and tuberose. Also, a unique pistachio, and enough amber to make it inviting.  Soleil opens with that coconut note, and a very juicy bergamot, with an underlying tuberose floral note.

These ingredients pair well and add the sweet creaminess of the perfume, but this is made spicier by the cardamom and just a hint of warm pink pepper.

The dry down becomes more floral and creamier with the coconut. The cardamom sticks around, but this is ultimately a white flower bouquet and coconut experience with a sunny personality.

It has really good performance and delivers that day at the beach vibe to perfection. The sillage isn’t super strong, but Soleil Blanc will last for 10+ hours.  Soleil Blanc Full Review

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Tropical Rice

Moonlight in Heaven by Kilian for unisex – 1.7 Ounce edp spray– Moonlight in Heaven is a great little scent from By Kilian. It kicks off with citrus, coconut, and mango. These ingredients together are fantastic, delivering a juicy, warm weather scent.

Very clean with a dry down featuring vetiver and rice. Yep, rice. Tied together with the coconut and citrus, it can take on a somewhat creamy smell. Very desert-like rather than a hot bowl of steaming rice.

The mango and the coconut really shine once that initial citrus tones down after a while.

Kilian is another one, that’s on the really pricey end of things, but this is a great example of what the brand can bring to the table.

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Best Boozy Beach Coconut Scent

Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Oz– The first fifteen minutes or so of Virgin Island Water are dominated by lime and bergamot citrus notes. Bright, sharp, and juicy. Then, the coconut kicks in, along with sugar and rum.

There is a light floral note, ylang-ylang in the mix, also. I like the opening, as even though the citrus is still sharp, it is held back some by the coconut.

Plus, you get that opening act of the rum, which really helps to bring home the Caribbean feeling. Later, the citrus and rum notes calm down, and this turns much more of a floral/coconut blend like Soleil Blanc.

I actually prefer the floral mix of the Tom Ford, when compared to this. The ylang-ylang, just isn’t as good.

VIW is creamy and boozy, sort of like sitting on the beach with a drink in your hand. Virgin Island Water is a unisex scent, so, it’s not going to be super girly.  The sillage and longevity are decent, but not spectacular.

Other folks are higher on this one, than I am. However, it is still a very good example of the particular note, we are going after. Virgin Island Water Review

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Woody Coconut Fragrance

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce– As the French name suggests, this is a woody vanilla scent. Not completely candy-like sweetness, rather, it has smoky woods with an addition of a coconut note.

Up top and for much of the wear, you get a vanilla pairing with coconut, and hints of black licorice. Licorice in perfume usually gives me a headache, but this one doesn’t bother me.

At the base, you get additional creamy tonka bean, a smokiness from oud and almond, and additional sandalwood. Un Bois Vanille is a very nice addition to the list, from Serge Lutens, and gives you a different take on something usually tropical in nature.

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Citrusy with a Kick

Still Life in Rio by Olfactive– Still Life in Rio is an interesting perfume, that’s fairly different from a lot of the milkier coconut fragrances on the list.

Here, you’re going to get a fresh and spicy burst up top, to go along with citrus. Yes, it has some drink-like fizziness, but that mint, pepper, and ginger trio really starts things off with a bang.

Then, much of that will fade and you will still get the top citrus notes and the coconut which is more of a coconut water type of aroma. Nice mix of sweeter notes, spicy, and the citrus.

This isn’t exclusively a coconut dominant scent, but it’s very much present throughout, and this can be a great pick up for the summer months.

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Super Fresh and Tropical

Aqua Allegoria Coconut Fizz by Guerlain– This one is getting harder to come by, but man, it does give you a nice unique take on the coconut perfume.

Rather than the usual vanilla creaminess. This one has a fresher and watery element to it. Bergamot, coconut fruit, coconut water, and what I think are melon notes? Something akin to watermelon, at least.

Light and airy, freesia delivers the floral aspect and some of the watery elements to this one. It doesn’t go too aquatic for that long and you do get some of the usual creaminess between the coconut and later tonka bean in the base.

I imagine this one will be pretty expensive soon. I wouldn’t pay a very high price for a bottle as it becomes scarce, but if you can find one at a lower cost, it can be worthwhile to pick up.

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Daily Wear Designer Scent

VERSACE Crystal Noir Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3 Ounce– Crystal Noir EDP is a very popular example of a designer use of coconut. Note that, the newer EDT version, isn’t really the same.

Between them, I actually prefer the EDT. Both have coconut, just with a different composition.

Crystal Noir kicks off its life as a spicy scent with floral ingredients floating around the main core. At first, it’s peppery, cardamom, and fresh ginger. Later, the gardenia will come into play along with that lush coconut ingredient.

This Versace perfume brings the performance and gives our target note, a bit of a different style from many of the other scents on this list. Not the juiciest or most tropical version of the note, but a good one.

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Rum Coconut and Tobacco

Fan Your Flames– So, this one from Nishane is technically unisex, but it does lean more traditionally masculine. Especially when compared to the fruitier and floral scents on the list.

However, it is also quite unique and very good. Up top, it’s sort of sweet and boozy with the coconut and rum pairing together. Then, the tobacco will come in adding a cured sort of aroma with a bit of smokiness.

Fan Your Flames is a dry perfume, not sickly sweet, and plenty of woods in the dry down period. Nice performance. But again, one that may only appeal to a certain percentage of women.

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Affordable Tropical Scent

Miami Glow By Jennifer Lopez For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– Miami Glow doesn’t always get the respect that it deserves, but it was always a top seller for JLo’s line of perfumes.

This is a definite tropical use of the coconut note, when it is paired with passion fruit, and grapefruit. These three notes form a triumvirate of strength, so, the coconut won’t be the only star here.

Nonetheless, the coconut shines enough, to make this an awesome affordable pick for this list. Miami Glow also has a good vanilla note, musk, and some light floral notes in the dry down.

The orange blossom, in particular, adds to that South Florida vibe. Finally, you end up with a blend of passionfruit and coconut, with a clean musky scent to it.

The performance is good for the price, but don’t expect an all-day wear, unless you double up on the sprays. That being said, Miami Glow is still a fun and clean perfume, for daily wear in the summertime.

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The Britney Option

Britney Spears Maui Fantasy Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Maui Fantasy is quite a bit like Miami Glow, but still retains enough differences to be mentioned here. This Britney Spears scent, has less musk that Miami Glow, more floral notes, and feels lighter. It still has the passion fruit and coconut combo, with a clean semi-soapy quality.

This one adds hibiscus and tiare flower and these flowers, present themselves in a pretty pronounced way, within the perfume’s composition.

Maui Fantasy, dries down with a creamy sweetness of the tiare, along with the coconut/vanilla combination, and the passionfruit making itself known.

Not as soapy feeling, as Miami Glow can be, and has more of a lotion-like feel. Another good summer cheapie, and the performance, is probably a bit better than the J. Lo perfume.

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Guerlain Goodness

Terracotta Le Parfum by Guerlain– Bright and beautiful, Terracotta Le Parfum gives you some more floral highlights along with the target note.

Sometimes, during the wear, jasmine reigns supreme over the mix. Early on though, tiare flower along with the coconut and some light citrus aroma from the bergamot really kick things off with style.

This is a perfume that screams summertime and moving about the coast. When I tried this one out, I actually got a decent amount of orange blossom in there during the transition to jasmine. Nice vanilla sweetness and not too heavy or creamy.

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Best Milky Coconut Fragrance

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Eau Gourmande for Women Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7 Ounce– This one isn’t a tropical scent or really a suntan lotion-like use of coconut, it is gourmand and really smells like something sweet and edible.

That being said, it won’t be for everyone. It has coconut, almond, vanilla, and milk as ingredients…and those are the stars of the show.

The almond note gives this one a great nuttiness and adds to that gourmand feeling. Add to that a vanilla and tonka bean combination, and you have quite a flavorful mix, sitting underneath the dominate coconut note.

Most importantly, this one comes across as a coconut or almond milk, like an almond-flavored coconut milk. So, that’s going to turn some folks away, while it might just be what some of you are looking for.

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Great Beach Coconut Perfume

Estee Lauder ‘Bronze Goddess’ Eau Fraîche SkinScent 3.4 Oz / 100 ml New In Box– Brings back that tropical vibe, with the familiar combo of coconut and vanilla, but with the added depth of citrus.

It is creamy and lotion-y, however, Bronze Goddess has a great addition of orange blossom and bergamot.

The citrus notes don’t let it get overly heavy, but it sort of has a nice coconut water feel.

Very bright and beachy, there are a lot of variants of this Bronze Goddess title, this one probably has the best coconut.

This not only has different variant flankers, under the Bronze Goddess banner, but it also gets updated an reformulated somewhat by Estee Lauder. So, try to know what bottle you’re buying beforehand.

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Awesome Unique Scent Using Coconut

Comptoir Sud Pacifique COCO FIGUE EDT, 1 fl. oz.– Coconut, milk, vanilla, wheat, with a dash of fig. Kind of an odd duck, Coco Figue, has a warm baked sort of aroma with a butter soft creaminess to it. The fig is a nice touch, but not too powerful in the scent.

The wheat adds a dryness, which takes on a powdery finish. A coconut perfume for those who want something different. Coco Figue is definitely that, while retaining an ability to be deliciously sweet, and sugary.

You get a tropical beach vibe, with the real milky quality of the coconut meat. Not too expensive, but a simple and unique, coco wear.

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Sweet Juicy Coconut Scent

Harajuku Lovers ‘G’ EDP 50ml Gift Set– Another celebrity coconut scent, this time from Gwen Stefani, but Harajuku Lovers G is a fun and underrated coconut fragrance. It is quite sweet and opens pairing the coconut with apple, which is a nice change of pace.

The coconut note itself, is really very good for a fragrance at this low price point. Not much in terms of development, but there is a sandalwood note at the base, and mainly jasmine as a floral ingredient.

This is a light and almost feels like a liquid coconut, sipping out the juice wit a straw. It’s got a girly disposition, so, it’s better suited for younger ladies. However, it’s not overly childish to where an adult couldn’t rock this.

Alien by Thierry Mugler has been a best seller, just like its counterpart Angel, for a very long time. Many folks enjoy the smell of the jasmine laden perfume but either want to find a cheaper alternative that smells comparable or that isn’t nearly as strong as the original.

Or, simply want something that is similar, but gives you a bit of a different experience. In this post, I want to present some potential alternatives to Alien, to help point in the right direction.

Also, I’ve created a page for alternatives to Alien Goddess.

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Fragrance Alternative to Alien by Mugler

Inspired by 1

Ambery Cedarwood by Dossier– There aren’t seemingly too many ‘inspired’ versions of the Alien aroma. I guess because the original isn’t super expensive, in most cases. Nonetheless, Dossier has provided their version of the perfume, currently for under $30 (as of writing).

The top notes bring you some of the sweetness and warmth. Cardamom, mandarin orange, and the initial floral impact of orange blossom.

Then, of course, is going to come the starring jasmine note. That with some amber and the heliotrope in the back end give this one a delightful floral sweetness for the rest of the way. Just like the aroma you get with Alien itself.

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Inspired by 2

Estraneo by Fragrenza– Here’s another one that is inspired by the Alien formula. Estraneo is Fragrenza’s take on the Mugler scent’s aroma and style. Again, I haven’t tried this one out, but I did have a sample batch of some of their other fragrances and they were on point.

As they describe it: “Estraneo is an enchanting perfume that encapsulates the essence of a profound journey into the soul’s depths.”

Same jasmine, amber, and woods structure as the Mugler perfume. All for around $34.99 (as of writing). So, if the Dossier doesn’t work out or you want to try this one instead, here’s a second matching option.

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Cheap Star

Stars by Milton Lloyd– If you want a dirt cheap perfume with a close aroma, Stars by Milton Lloyd is the best you’re going to do. For under $10, you get a very close imitation of our target scent, with the same jasmine, amber, and woody blend…just at a lower intensity and quality.

Nonetheless, Milton Lloyd does come out with very good smell alike fragrances, and Stars is a great example of the brand getting it right.

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Lighter Sacrifice 

Sacrifice for her – Ajmal – EDP 50ML by Ajmal– Sacrifice for Her is a nice approximate of most of what you’re going to get from Alien. It has an interesting semi-aquatic feeling, at the top, and a creamy vanilla finish.

Between that, is musk, ambergris and jasmine. The jasmine is solid, but honestly, not as powerful or as prevalent as in our target scent.

The sillage isn’t to the same level of Alien and the performance overall is a notch below. That being said, for around $30 per bottle Sacrifice can basically fill the shoes, of the Thierry Mugler perfume.

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Less Intense, More Floral Bouquet

Lace by Agent Provocateur– Alien by Mugler is a very powerful and deep sort of scent. Lace, on the other hand, takes the intensity down some and provides a smoother experience.

Also, there are added citrus notes to this one and more of a floral blend than just jasmine. Although, that still is a major factor.

Lace still gives you a good performance, it just isn’t as strong as the Mugler. More of a bouquet, added fruits, and less ambergris…but other than that a close proximation. Usually around $30 a bottle.

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Alien Kumquat

Cashmere Kumquat– This is one that is similar, yet distinct to the Mugler. The citrus notes early on, and how the kumquat hangs around, really give it its own vibe.

The citrus is blended well and kept in check by that cashmere and the vanilla notes. The vanilla isn’t as strong as some of the others on this list that feature it, but that’s fine, because we get lots of jasmine and orange blossom.

After that first 10 minutes or so, this one settles into something much more like Alien. It’s sweeter than our target scent, but not overly so.  Softer, with periods of powder and creaminess dotted throughout the wear.

The price here, makes it one that’s easy to go for (around $30 as of this update), and the smell can keep you coming back for more.

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Lighter, Sweeter/Vanilla Alternative

Her Golden Secret by Antonio Banderas– Her Golden Secret isn’t an exact match, but it is very affordable, and quite close to what we’re looking for. There is a white floral blend up top with a woodiness in the base. The notes aren’t the same, but the smell is a good comparison.

Her Golden Secret finish things off with a rich and smooth vanilla note, which blends with the gardenia to give it a light creaminess. Sweeter than Alien, but a nice alternative.

Zara Alternative

Splendid Bronze by Zara–  This one comes really close to what you get with Alien. There is a vanilla note in the base, which creates more of a distinction between the two. Outside of that, this feels like a lighter version of the Mugler.

Jasmine hits hard immediately upon spraying. Orange blossom and orchid are also noticeably. Later, there is a heliotrope popping in to give it a powdery touch.

Very much a white floral perfume. Yes, powder and some vanilla, but not a sugary kind, and some soapiness involved too.  But, this gives you a great dose of the floral notes with some greenish highlights.

Again, probably not as strong as the original (this one still has good performance), but it really does a great job at coming across like our target perfume.

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Catch Me with Almonds

Catch Me by Cacharel–  You get the notes of Alien with Catch Me, just weighted differently and with the addition of almond and citrus notes. The citrus blends well and the heart of the scent has a nice nutty quality to it.

Not really much amber here, but the jasmine is very well done, and there is a milky almond note that emerges later in the first hour of wear. Plenty of overlap with Alien, yet remains distinct.

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Lighter and Spicier Flanker

Thierry Mugler Alien Fusion Women 2 oz EDP Spray– If you want something close to the original Alien, why not try one of its flankers? Alien Fusion is one of the best of the bunch, yet gives you a lighter experience with some additional spice from ginger and cinnamon.

It opens up with that fresh spiciness and the attractive smell of orange blossom. The vanilla and amber come through and will grow in strength, later on in the wear.

What I like about this one, is that you get plenty of similarities with the original, great performance, and it can venture into the spring and summer months easily and actually shines there. Alien Fusion Review

Aerin Lauder has become a very well-known and well-liked designer on her own, despite having the lofty Lauder name to live up to (granddaughter of Estee). From home décor, to beauty, to fashion the Aerin line has expanding its reach quite a bit…while still under the EL umbrella.

However, the perfumes remain a very popular aspect of this brand to serve as an entry point to luxury. There have been dozens of releases thus far, but in this post I want to narrow down the list to nine that I feel can represent the best of the label.

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Favorite Fragrances by Aerin Lauder

Most Popular Aerin Perfume

AERIN Beauty Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum 50 ml by AERIN – Citrus and honeysuckle delight. Bergamot, orange, and grapefruit open up the fragrance with a lively and zesty scent.

The honeysuckle sits underneath at first, before emerging later on, and fully presenting itself. This is a very clean and juicy citrus scent reminiscent of other Italian citrus fragrances on the market, with the honeysuckle pairing that is awesome.

The opening citrus can be sharp for a little while, but I think that Mediterranean Honeysuckle, has a really great finish that is airy and clean. Once they calm down and play a support role, is when this Aerin best seller really shines.

It is a pretty simple one to go with, but the honeysuckle is pretty darn realistic. May not be the best of the lost, but still among the top Aerin Lauder releases.

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Top Pick for Rose Lovers

Aerin Rose De Grasse Parfum Spray 1.7oz/50ml- The namesake is the rose centifolia note from the Grasse region in France (same place the Chanel No.5 jasmine comes from). However, it is blended with a few other rose notes including Bulgarian.

This is a very straightforward wear. You can expect a surprisingly fresh and dynamic rose aroma that is of high quality and paired with musk, a watery aroma, and a light ambrette.

The sillage is soft with decent longevity, but Rose de Grasse is very versatile and doesn’t get stuck in just one season.

Early on, it will feel more aquatic and fresh. Then, the muskiness gains in strength, as well as a drier aroma.

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The Other Rose

Rose de Grasse Rouge– As an extension of the option below, you can also try the newer Rose line release, this time focusing on the aroma of the red rose.

An elegant and fresh scent mixing the rose note itself with rose water, creating a full bouquet-like effect for the wearer. Ozonic and some stem greenish features in the opening from the violet leaf

Then, it will move into that full-bodied petal of the red rose and a touch of sweet solidity from the honeycomb extra. Nice performance and one of the better red rose perfumes that I’ve come across.

If you like more of a pinkish and slightly more musky fragrance, go with the first Rose de Grasse. Red? Pick up a bottle of this.

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Super Clean for Summer

Aerin Lauder Waterlily Sun Perfume Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– Waterlily Sun is a very nice greenish/aquatic floral fragrance with notes of jasmine, waterlily, and bergamot coming through. This is more of an aquatic feeling scent in totality versus the one above.

It opens up with the fresh bergamot citrus and the waterlily notes. The fragrance is bright and dewy, like a pond in a flower garden.

Yet, Waterlily Sun comes across as a cooling summertime wear and not just an overly juicy fruit salad.

As it dries down, you get more of the jasmine and musk notes, which furthers the theme of it being clean. This is an easy wear for the spring and summer months, not too complicated, but beautiful and upbeat.

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Vanilla Amber for Autumn/Winter

Aerin Lauder Aerin Beauty ‘tangier Vanille’ Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Fluid Ounce– Tangier Vanille starts out with a musky/powdery quality to the vanilla note. It’s the rose, bergamot, and musk notes really joining forces early on which can make this one seem a bit awkward.

However, it does tone down and the vanilla really emerges to take over fully. The bergamot will fade and amber along with sandalwood, start to make Tangier Vanille more of a gourmand experience.

That’s what you get: vanilla, light rose, amber (second strongest note), sandalwood, and some remaining muskiness. It’s smooth with a somewhat spicy kick underneath the shift from powdery to creamy.

Tangier has a nice ability to project and can be worn pretty much whenever, outside of the high heat of summer.

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Underrated Citrus Perfume

Aerin Limone di Sicilia Body Cream– One of the less well known fragrances from Aerin, but Limone di Sicilia is a fantastic citrus fragrance, with a light floral heart that is led by the jasmine note.

The citrus trio here is lemon, bergamot, and mandarin orange. The floral notes are nice in this perfume, but the true highlight is how uplifting and refreshing these citrus ingredients are. Mostly the lemon, along with the sparkling bergamot note.

Beyond that, lily of the valley and pink pepper also play a role to give this one a bit more body. It’s pretty much a summertime play, with a fairly light profile, but a fragrance that is inherently enjoyable to wear.

The latter stages is pretty much a light lemony jasmine perfume. Still, very nice.

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Warm, Sweet Amber and Musk

Aerin Lauder Amber Musk Eau De Parfum for Women, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– I will say that this won’t be a perfume for everyone, as it can be light, and the notes aren’t super bold or attention grabbing. That said, the ambrox/benozin/musk blend here is really attractive.

Warm, a bit sweet with coconut and vanilla, and a tiny bit of rose to add a floral dimension. Most of the wear is going to be the amber and the musk, obviously.

However, I really like the dimension that the benzoin adds to it, shortly after the opening act. That along with the sweetness is fantastic.

It dries down, mostly with the musk some rose, and the amber. This is probably the lightest scent on this list, so avoid if you want a stronger wear, because Amber Musk will stick close to the skin. Amber Musk is something that is more of a low key affair.

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Realistic Lilac Perfume

Aerin Lilac Path Eau De Parfum Spray Large 3.4 Oz– Another greenish flower garden scent, this time with less aquatic tones, and of course a bunch of lilac. As the Aerin website describes, Lilac Path weaves a delicate story of crisp greens, rich blooms and delicate petals.

The lilac here is fantastic and it, along with jasmine, are going to be heading up much of the wear.

So, if you don’t like either of those notes, you can pass on this perfume. While it doesn’t have that waterlily semi-aquatic feeling, this still does have a green sort of dewy freshness.

Most of what I get outside of the title note is jasmine and galbanum. To my nose, there isn’t much else except a general ‘greenish’ scent. Is that enough? Well, yes, if you love lilac this is absolutely a perfume that you should try out.

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Ambrette Uniqueness

Ambrette de Noir– This Aerin fragrance came out back in 2020, but I don’t think that it got too much attention. Though, I do think it deserves to be on the list, even while not being a perfume which will appeal to everyone.

Ambrette, tonka bean, and vanilla are all substantial in this blend. But, you also get floral notes like rose, orange blossom, and freesia.

Somewhat sweet, but warm, musky, rich, and spicy at times. There’s a lot of facets for something that isn’t seemingly so complex. Ambrette does indeed have a darker feel and this is one to wear in the late autumn and winter months.

The floral notes aren’t particularly powerful, but they do often pop through the other notes for periods of time, before falling away again. Interesting.