Victoria’s Secret is an enormous name in women’s lingerie, fashion, and even fragrances. I’m pretty sure that every woman, who I have ever known, has owned some sort of product from this store. It is that deeply ingrained in the culture.
While I have already covered plenty of the top fragrances for women by age group, type, and designer, I haven’t yet tackled the Victoria’s Secret line of best selling perfumes, body mists, and lotions.
I want to use this post in order to cover the best of the insanely large selection of current and past scents. So, it’s a mix here. In the end, I chose 11 ladies fragrances from VS eau de parfum line, which all bring something different to the table, are popular, and of course smell awesome. Also see: Best Bond No. 9 Perfumes
What are the Top Smelling Victoria’s Secret Perfumes?
So, I am going to cover the best VS eau de parfum fragrances for ladies. Of course, some of the EDP’s are also available in body mist sprayers, as well.
Orchid Explosion
Very Sexy Orchid– Orchid is one of the newer Very Sexy flanker fragrances, which there have been a ton of over the years. It actually kind of smells like one of the older ones. Though, I can exactly remember which.
Anyway, the purple coloration fits with this one. Orchid starts off with a juicy black currant note, which isn’t too sharp surprisingly, but the juiciness is definitely there. It’s paired with some light citrus.
The next phase is the floral ingredients. The namesake orchid and some powdery iris. The orchid seems stronger at first, but the iris note comes through more during the dry down.
Patchouli is the glue which holds Orchid together. Adds that woodsy, earthy, spicy, and gourmand qualities to this fragrance. The perfume is warm, dries down woody, with some powder. Less of the fruitiness at the end.
Bare Feeling
Bare by Victoria’s Secret– Bare is a newer release from the brand, debuting in 2022. It’s also a rather simple formula, but one which is absolutely worth checking out.
A powdery and slightly creamy woody perfume. Sandalwood and violet are major players. More of the wood, than a deep purply violet flower. The top has a sparkling citrus which adds some sweetness into the mix.
Warm and clean, not a heavy fragrance at all. It’s not listed, but this does have a vanilla-like finish to the aroma. But again, one that is mostly all about that sandalwood note.
Bare is a good choice for those who want a simple daily wear, that can fit in a wide variety of situations, and isn’t stuck being worn in any one season.
However, the real star of the show is the apricot note, along with a subtle juniper top. The fragrance is fairly light with a great powdery finish. This is a clean and simple scent, that is at times creamy and full of that delightful apricot aroma.
Great Daily Wear Scent
Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce– The name definitely fits in this case, as Very Sexy is a fresh and seductive scent, perfect to wear on dates or an evening out. It is a light and fragrant perfume with interesting bits of pepper and cappuccino.
I know, it sounds weird, but this one totally works. However, it starts off with blackberry and clementine, joined by the vanilla and cappuccino notes.
When Very Sexy dries down, it becomes more musky and that pepper note really starts to shine. I think this one is or has been discontinued recently in the mist, but the EDP is still available. So, pick up a bottle online elsewhere, and stock up if you like it.
Also, this one tends to get changed up every few years. The notes in the composition have their strengths changed a bit or new notes can be added. Notes include: clementine, cactus flowers, vanilla orchid, blackberry, white amber and pimento
Not only is this a beautiful fragrance but one which is also versatile enough to wear on any occasion and always turn heads.
Bombshell has a strong sillage and features plenty of grapefruit and passion fruit, to go along with a powerful peony, for the floral aspect.
At times, the strawberry note takes over, and provides a different type of juiciness versus the citrus notes that dominate the opening. Is this a sexy scent? Yes, but probably not in the way that the name would indicate.
It’s super attractive, but one might expect an in your face and dominate sort of perfume, but Bombshell doesn’t behave like that at all. Regardless, it smells great. Really a clean everyday kind of wear. Notes include: Vanilla Orchid, Sandalwood, Shangri-La Yellow Peony, Watery Jasmine, And Purple Passion
Dream Angel starts with its ‘rainbow’ accord which is a blend of raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, and woods. This is all sitting in a sea of ambroxan with jasmine petals floating in it.
The berries do show up early on, but the vanilla and jasmine will take over. The berries have a bit of sourness to them.
Dream Angel isn’t a heavy perfume. It has more of a light and airy vibe to it. The scent works well from autumn through spring, since it isn’t too ‘thick’. But, you may want to use something else during the summer months.
Top Balanced Floral Fragrance
Victoria ‘s Secret Heavenly Perfume 3.4 oz– This fragrance is light, warm, and elegant. Dream Angels Heavenly is a great perfume for everyday wear for women of all ages, who want a fragrance with a powdery scent, lined with vanilla and floral notes.
Cardamom spice and musk liven up the perfume and give Heavenly, a bit more of a unique profile than some of the rest of the entries on the list.
This is another one which has a few different formulations, some get heavier on the musk note, or ratchet up the sweetness with something like vanilla. All of them seem to have the warm and lightly spicy profile, however. Notes include: quince, cardamom, ivy, mandarin, lotus
Awesome Autumn/Winter Scent
VICTORIA’S SECRET NIGHT by Victoria’s Secret EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3.4 OZ– This entry is a darker, more mysterious, and sultry fragrance than the other ones mentioned so far. encapsulated in deep black bottle, Night combines the warmth of fruit and the rich texture of woodsy ingredients.
It is now known as Very Sexy Night, as it was discontinued for a long time and then brought back. As of this update, it is available again from their website.
The plum note is great here, when paired with the apple, it is both tart and sweet with a crisp watery essence. Later on, it dries down with musk, amber, and wood to give it more depth and character.
This one was popular for a long while and actually does bring a different experience from many other VS perfumes and body mists. Notes include: plum, woods, apple.
This is a simple sort of perfume, for those who want a candy-like fragrance, for certain days. It has a slight spice at first, before settling into that smooth vanilla. It’s more sugary toward the start, but can have a slight powdery element, when it dries down.
Best VS Scent for Teenagers
Victorias Secret Love Spell Lotion and Mist Set– Cherry blossom with peach and a bit of crisp apple. Love Spell starts off with plenty of fruit notes, but are joined and balanced out by a lovely group of floral notes, like jasmine and lilac.
However, Love Spell stays mostly toward that delicious peach aroma.
This one has been popular and a best seller forever, especially among the high school and college set. I think that was more so in the last decade, but it still sells, go I guess a newer generation picked it up also.
It’s a fairly ‘girly’ sort of mist. If you cannot find it or want alternatives, here’s a list of fragrances that smell like Love Spell.
AMore Mature Bombshell
Bombshell Passion EDP– Bombshell Passion is a newer addition to the list. It really is one of the best flankers of the original that has been released. It keeps the peony of the original, but adds a rose and cassis note.
The rose takes the show in this perfume. Passion opens up sweet, fresh, and a bit sharp. It’s a berry aroma from the cassis, adding the sweetness to the mix. The cassis seems pretty strong early on in the wear, but the rose will come to dominate.
Much less of a fruity fragrance than the original Bombshell. This is a sweet and well blended rose concoction with a fresh dewy undertone. Passion isn’t one of Victoria’s Secret’s perfumes that is strictly for teenagers. In fact, it has a mature kind of vibe without being stale or boring.
What is the best Miss Dior perfume? There have been so many releases and variants under this name throughout the years, that it can be tough to sort through them. In this post, I want to present to you, my top four picks. Yes, this list will be in order.
Now, there have been reformulations, and those that are no longer on the market. As such, I will present the list based on available options and that are currently still composed in the same way as when released.
Absolutely Blooming adds juicy red berry notes to the mix, along with the familiar rose and peony. It is bright, upbeat, delicious, and has an interesting blend of fruit and floral notes.
This is probably the strongest of them and one that lasted a few hours longer than the other perfumes.
It’s not even supposed to be all that intense, but I found it to be better than the rest during testing, particularly versus the updated editions of other Miss Dior scents.
Some may prefer less fruit, in their Miss Dior fragrance, and for those this may not be the best option. However, it is one that is immensely popular for good reason. Absolutely Blooming Review
Update: As of 2023, Dior is no longer selling this directly. You’ll have to find it on the secondary market. Maybe, they’ll come out with a new formulation of Le Parfum, but I haven’t seen anything as of yet. It is becoming scarce, however.
It opens up with a sparkling mandarin orange note, which later gets replaced by rose and vanilla. The rose isn’t too involved and the vanilla blends with amber and patchouli.
This is the option for those who want a rich, dark, and deep aroma; that is still quite linear. It has a warm and creamy presentation that offers very nice performance. More of a cold weather fragrance. Miss Dior Le Parfum Review
It starts off with a wonderful opening of bergamot and peony, that is a nice juicy fresh citrus. With the dry down, it is more floral, and there is a light musk note.
Blooming Bouquet is the lightest of the bunch, more of an airy perfume. It’s longevity is solid at around 7 hours, but not as good as the others. However, it’s scent is very beautiful and safe to wear on any occasion. Blooming Bouquet Review
Update: This one did get a newer 2023 version. It’s very similar to the early edition, referenced above. Probably a bit fresher, sweeter, and perhaps the rose and peony balance is a bit different. Nothing too major, however, as it wasn’t a complete do-over of the formula.
Update: Another newer 2021 version has been released, since this was published. This one goes more with the iris, vanilla, and general clean powdery style versus the 2017 edition.
In this post, I am referring to the 2017 version of Miss Dior EDP, as it is the one that is being sold now. You can still find the 2012 version out there, but it’s not being produced anymore.
Anyway, this new Miss Dior, hits with orange and lemon from the start. These citrus notes are joined by patchouli, which is well blended and not too heavy. After the 10-15 minute run of the top notes, it becomes rose and patchouli dominant.
Miss Dior EDP does retain some sweetness, warmth from pink pepper, and a base of rosewood. It’s citrus/floral, then floral/spice with citrus undertones.
The projection is moderate and lasts for about 8 hours on the skin. It’s a very nice perfume, but my least favorite out of all of them.
Essence
Miss Dior Rose Essence– While it’s last on the list, it’s probably about the same overall as EDP and Blooming Bouquet. Rose Essence is just a bit of a different style from the rest, so, it’ll have a smaller audience.
This one isn’t a heavy rose. More like a rose water. A spiced rose water, that’s wholly fresh and shares the stage with a fantastic geranium note. Less of a pure feminine scent.
Early it’s a spicy woodsy kind of aroma, that’ll become a rose and woods smelling fragrance. It’s lighter with the sillage, but the performance is decent. Again, not going to be one for everybody, and I’d try to test it out before buying.
Ermenegildo Zegna has been a long-time player in the menswear arena and has a whole host of fragrances available in its catalog. It creates both affordable and popular scents for guys but also some specialized niche kind of fragrances as well.
For this post, I’m going to mix it up between the two, and have selected seven colognes that I feel are the best of the bunch. Updating this page, some of these have gotten discontinued, and may be hard to find. I’m keeping them on the list, while adding newer releases too.
What are the Best Zegna Fragrances for Men?
Note: There have been some more releases in the past few years from Zegna. Most of which, weren’t released in the US, and had a limited run in Europe. So, I have yet to try them out.
However, it simply isn’t just a light aquatic affair, like so many other summer colognes. It does have a watery aspect to it, with the citrus and violet leaf. Though, that is a ‘greener’ kind of scent versus anything oceanic/salty.
Uomo has a masculine woodsy heart that is tempered by the violet note which reveals itself as the hours pass. The dry down period is a fresh woodsy scent, highlighted by the remaining citrus notes.
Can be kind of bold and too fresh for some. But, I think it is worth checking out. Really good performer as well. My full Uomo Review
As per the name, the main player here is bergamot and is assisted by mandarin. The opening act and middle can come across as quite clean and being akin to a high-end bar of lemon soap.
But that’s not all there is to it. There is a nice salty aquatic note that reminds you of a gentle sea breeze, as well as some floral notes that linger slightly.
So, it starts as a fresh and sweeter sort of soap, that will turn into a floral one. The neroli and saltier aspects really combining with that citrus top. My Full Acqua di Bergamotto Review
Especially, with the heightened cardamom in this one. Intenso is smooth with a solid dark feel that is balanced by a citrus sweet undertone.
Not the best longevity (despite the name), but it can be double sprayed, as it isn’t very expensive. Cardamom, tonka bean, and iris come together to give it a warm, sweet, and slightly powdery quality.
Z has a very lovely rosemary note, which gives it a familiar fresh spiciness. The structure of this one is quite similar to others on the market. However, the lightness and watery/semi-aquatic undertones make Z an enjoyable wear.
The opening can feel sharp as it does contain the citrus note, along with rosemary and pepper. However, it balances out nicely while remaining relatively simple.
There is a certain herbal quality to Bourbon Vanilla but the tonka bean creaminess and bit of cocoa bean make it a special niche scent. Essenze Bourbon Vanilla, does have somewhat of a lotion-like vibe at times, especially early on.
Though it stays sweet and creamy, the latter stages reveal a nice vetiver and woody base, that gives this fragrance a more substantial feeling. It’s been discontinued, but you can find bottles around still.
Hatian Vetiver has a great earthiness, while also having a very bright citrus top and the persistent undertones of iris coming through. It is an interesting combination, giving this Zegna a bit of a distinction when compared to many other vetiver colognes.
Yet, it remains juicy with an addition of bergamot, and an rich woodsy quality provided by the oakmoss. A definite wear for the summertime. Sicilian Mandarin doesn’t have the same level of sharpness versus the other Zegna colognes, which is a nice change of pace.
Also, the mint note here gives it blended freshness and there’s a woodsy sensibility, later on in the wear. This is a different sort of citrus fragrance, not completely abnormal, but it stands apart and is an awesome example of that mandarin orange.
I haven’t covered a ton of celebrity fragrances on this site, at least not in a while, but I figured that I should give some more attention to these popular scents that are usually in the more affordable range versus the high end designers.
Antonio Banderas has actually established himself over the past 20 years or so in this niche, whereas, many other actors will put out one fragrance…Antonio has released dozens. For this post, I wanted to select six from his line which could be considered his best colognes, that he’s released so far.
What are the Best Smelling Colognes by Antonio Banderas?
The Golden Secret is like a more subdued version of 1 Million, with slight differences that become noticeable, once you have worn both colognes. The apple note really separates the two for me. In the Paco Rabanne, it is more about the orange note. Also, 1 Million has more of a warmth and spice versus this one.
Even though it is toned down, the Golden Secret still has good performance when compared to many others in this line. 5-7 hours of wear, is probably what to expect, and that’s pretty excellent when you dip into the cheaper fragrances.
Clean Green Classic
Antonio Banderas EDT Spray for Men, Mediterraneo, 6.75 Ounce– Not sure if this is still in production or not (it sells on Amazon, at least), but Mediterraneo is a simple, masculine fragrance with citrus aromas combined with a slightly spicy mix of ginger and pepper. Good late spring/summer scent.
The dry down period, loses much of the citrus notes, and it is much more of a woody or green-ish type of cologne (vetiver coming through). Quite a bit different than many of the others on the list.
The fresh spices are really nice in Mediterraneo and pretty much make this scent go. The performance is actually solid, for something in this price range.
An Iconic Freshness
The Icon EDP– Icon EDP is probably the best of the Icon series thus far. It’s a fragrance with a fresh start, that will settle into a smooth amber-suede dry down period, and works well as a daily wear option.
Juniper, cypress, black pepper are going to give you a mix of punchy spice and woods up top. This, along with a grapefruit citrus up top make for a bold introduction.
Yet, we still get to the smoother parts of the wear. Very clean and attractive, with a slight creamy undertone, at times. Calming lavender and suede take over for the more aggressive aromas of The Icon.
This is a very versatile fragrance that really doesn’t feel out of place, saving maybe, the hottest days of the year.
A great choice if you enjoy the aquatic/marine type of scent. The melon note here is absolutely great, I think what does make this one distinct from those that it somewhat resembles, is the mint note. Adds a great layer of fresh crispness, on top of the aquatic base.
The opening is a blend of the citrus and melon, but the melon wins out during the rest of the wear. Performance isn’t great, but it can be serviceable. Great smell, though. This is one of the better inexpensive men’s perfumes, as with others on the list. But, this is one I like.
The scent itself smells like a batch of fruits, mainly citrus with pineapple. It is quite juicy and attractive. This is one that you will probably have to overspray, as it’s not really a powerhouse, but you can get some decent amount of wear time with it.
Not particularly unique or original, but it can absolutely be a good pick up.
Most Unique/Under the Radar
The Secret Temptation– This is a low key winner in the realm of affordable fragrances for guys. Now, it’s kind of soft in how it projects, but it does have pretty nice longevity and smells really good.
You might have to experiment and double the sprays to give it an extra boost but the pleasing cardamom, vanilla, bergamot, and pink pepper give The Secret Temptation a very solid formula.
This is kind of an interesting scent, as it feels familiar, but I cannot think of anything that smells quite the same. Cardamom and pink pepper give it a wonderful warmth throughout that is only smoothed out by a nice vanilla. Then, there is the base vetiver note, tying it all together.
Lost Cherry by Tom Ford has pretty quickly become a best seller for the designer. It came out in 2018 and has been one that people seem to enjoy. Maybe it’s the unique use of cherry or the great looking bottle, that it comes in. I recently bought a decant of this perfume to test out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?
What does Lost Cherry by Tom Ford Smell Like?
Notes include: cherry, almond, tonka bean, Turkish rose, jasmine, cinnamon, cedar, and more
Before we get into my review of Lost Cherry, let’s see what Tom Ford has to say about it: “LIKE THE PLUMP FRUIT WAITING TO BE EATEN, LOST CHERRY IS POWERFUL AND INSATIABLE. NOTES OF CHERRY LIQUEUR AND A TOUCH OF BITTER ALMOND DRIP INTO ITS HEART, GLOSSING IT WITH CANDY-LIKE GLEAM.”
The opening of Lost Cherry immediately reveals a warm and sweet blend, naturally led by the cherry note. This opening is very much like a cherry liqueur, but, when combined with the other notes it reminds me of Cherry Dr. Pepper in the syrup form.
Like if you took that soda syrup and then ramped up the cherry aroma, you’d have the start of this perfume. Better yet, like that amaretto mixed drink that mimics the taste and character of Dr. Pepper. But loaded with cherry.
Personally, I dig it. Very sweet and has that gourmand appeal. That will fade away and more of the almond nuttiness will come through, eventually.
The cherry seems to come across in two waves. First, the cherry liqueur. Then, a more naturalistic smelling cherry note. Less overtly sugary sweet and fresher.
This is somewhat different from Lost Cherry, but the La Petite Robe Noire fragrances have a similar aroma to this one, as well. I can’t remember which perfume is the closest to Lost Cherry, but one of them is pretty darn close.
As it dries down, you will be able to better detect the other ingredients beyond cherry. Tonka bean, almond, and some spiciness (cinnamon, mostly) are there and create a delicious aroma. It feels powdery, warm, and with a sweet booziness present throughout.
It stays in that soft and gentle mode from the remainder. Yes, there are some light floral touches from jasmine, and a detectable smokiness…it just doesn’t develop into numerous phases beyond that, on my skin.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The sillage here is pretty light to moderate. It seems like it’s going to have a strong projecting ability at first, then it quickly falls in line as a lighter scent.
Don’t expect a bomb, like so many other Tom Ford scents can be, Lost Cherry is pretty subtle.
For me, it does still seem to hang around in the air. Not reaching across the room, but Lost Cherry has a bit more projection than it gets credit for.
The longevity actually isn’t bad on my skin. I’ve read some reviews, where people said it doesn’t last. For me, it lasts pretty well, just not at a strong level. I can get 7-7.5 hours of use out of this one. Great? No, but not a complete joke, by any means.
Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. It will be great in colder weather, probably up to something more temperate. Anything hotter, I’d pass.
It is a unisex fragrance, but has more of a feminine quality. I mean, one of its strongest comparable scents is a Guerlain perfume for women. But, I’ll still wear it without issue, and it is fine for almost anybody.
Lost Cherry actually has a sexy quality to it. It does grab attention when initially sprayed and is very appealing up close, when it settles. Great for nightlife and casual situations, but not too out of place for something like the workplace.
Overall Impressions of Lost Cherry
Do I like this scent? I do enjoy the smell a lot. Sure, it leans more feminine than most of the fragrances that I usually wear, but it still sits in that unisex category.
I love the smell of cherry and that sort of Dr. Pepper and amaretto aroma, that comes out of the base here. The performance could be better, than what it is. Again, it’s not atrocious, just not a marathon runner.
The question really comes down to price. At $300+ per bottle, is it worthwhile? That’s going to depend on your personal preference. I’d want a bit more strength, if I were going to splurge on a bottle of this.
Update: Instead of Lost Cherry, I went with the ‘inspired by’ Popped Cherry from the Dua Brand, which is a lot less expensive. A very good take, on this fragrance, I reviewed it here: Popped Cherry Review
Plus, this isn’t one I’d wear on the daily. So, I’d have an expensive perfume, with middle of the road performance, and limited use for me personally.
Your case may vary, but I couldn’t justify it. I do enjoy this Tom Ford fragrance, it’s just a bit too much money for one bottle.
– For now, this is the perfume that I think not only smells the best, but also has the best performance and sillage.
– Miss Dior Le Parfum is a very simple fragrance, but one that is still quite captivating, and my number two pick.
– This is one that creates a lot of confusion, due to name changes and reformulations.
– With a very bright and rather sharp citrus opening, Uomo screams to be worn during the warmer months of the year.
– Like some of the other scents on the list, Acqua Di Bergamotto, is a citrus based scent.
– Familiar to Armani Code, yet, different enough to be it’s own thing. To me, the composition is similar, but they come across quite a bit differently.
– A very fresh and woodsy scent with herbal spices and bergamot opening. It’s a clean and casual fragrance with decent longevity but a light touch.
– A sweet and smooth vanilla with hints of spice provided by a ginger note.
– One for the vetiver lovers. It’s got that familiar green aroma with a dry slightly smoky wood. It’s low key great, if you can still find a bottle.
– A really great mandarin note that feels much more like orange peel than the interior of the fruit itself.
– There is a distinct similarity between The Golden Secret and 
– Not sure if this is still in production or not (it sells on Amazon, at least), but Mediterraneo is a simple, masculine fragrance with citrus aromas combined with a slightly spicy mix of ginger and pepper. Good late spring/summer scent.
An excellent summertime blend of sweet fruit and aquatic notes. It smells vaguely familiar to some other colognes out on the market but still a bit different and at an attractive price point.
– Has some similarities with Blue Seduction, Invictus, and a hint of 