Politicians are not allowed to flip-flop (though, we wish some of them would just flop, already). But beauty editors? Well, it's our job to evolve, to play the field, to change allegiance to certain ingredients or brands, and to admit when we were wrong (um, highlighting caps).But there are some things, like a favorite fragrance, that inspire lifelong devotion. We'll never truly move on from a scent that reminds us of a first love, a semester abroad, or the way our mom would smell after getting ready at her vanity. Yes, we discover new fragrances that express fresh moods and outlooks, but that doesn't mean we part with the originals. The collection just grows.
Ahead, we ask a handful of beauty editors to take a little stroll down memory lane and tell us the first fragrance they ever wore, and what new ones they're currently obsessing over (Hint: It's a lot of Tom Ford). Though we won't be voting on these picks, you can tell a lot about a person from their signature scent.
Jane Larkworthy, beauty director at W
First:"I thought [Cachet by Prince Matchabelli] was the most sophisticated scent. I just googled it and am pleased to see that it contained grassy, galbanum, and jasmine notes, since those remain some of my favorites."
Prince Matchabelli Cachet Cologne Spray, $99.99, available at Target.
Current:"My assistant beauty editor, Mia Adorante, uncovered this Portland-based brand, whose creator, Josh Meyer, replicated a metallic fire in liquid form, and I am obsessed. So is everyone who smells it."
Imaginary Authors A City On Fire, $95, available at Imaginary Authors.
Maria Del Russo, beauty editor at Refinery29
First: "I grew up with a mother who would get a migraine any time she smelled a typical perfume, so my introduction into the world of fragrance was more plant-based than flower-based. Hence my place among the masses of tweens who dug themselves some cucumber body spray. Can we all just be real, though, and admit this stuff did not smell good?"
Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon Fine Fragrance Mist, $14, available at Bath & Body Works.
Current: "In an interesting turn of events, my go-to perfume of today literally has 'flower' in its name. There's something insanely sexy and alluring about this fragrance from Tom Ford. I get an instant mood- and confidence-boost every time I spritz it on."
Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino Eau de Parfum, $220, available at Tom Ford.
Deena Campbell, hair and beauty editor at Essence.com
First: "Whenever I get a whiff of this sweetly scented fragrance, I’m instantly transported to the hallways of my high school. I wore this fragrance every day for the first part of my high school career because it made me feel like an 'adult.' In ninth grade, I read in Seventeen magazine that magnolia and violets make a woman feel 'beautiful,' and I wanted every single part of it."
Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl, $39.50, available at Tommy Hilfiger.
Current: "Traditionally, I’m a floral fragrance girl. But, over the years, I’ve grown to have a deep appreciation for musks. Kedu successfully merges both of my favorites — I’m obsessed with the middle note of rose-peony, and the white musk base note kicks my olfactory sensors into overload. I could bathe in this!"
Memo Fragrances Kedu Eau de Parfum, $250, available at Bergdorf Goodman.
Julie Schott, senior beauty and fitness editor at Elle
First: "My go-to, first-grade fragrance was by Polly Pocket. It looked like a wristwatch, but underneath the face was a perfume solid. VERY chic."
Current: "Today my scent changes throughout the day. I’m obsessed with Dior fragrances. In high school, I wore Hypnotic Poison, which is basically just sex in a bottle — vanilla, musk, jasmine, cinnamon —the least subtle, and I still keep a fresh bottle at home, just because. I wish I had a consistent smell, but as a beauty editor, I can’t commit to one scent.
"Right now, I'm wearing Dior Poison Girl, perfumer François Demachy’s recent addition to the Poison family [which, unfortunately, is not available in the U.S.]. Like my teen fave, it’s VERY sweet and floral, with sugared rose and vanilla tonka bean. Tom Ford’s new Soleil Blanc, inspired by private islands, is also in rotation. It smells like a yacht. Well, I mean, it smells like you live a life of leisure and have access to a yacht."
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum, $220, available at Tom Ford.
Hallie Gould, senior editor at Byrdie
First: "My first-ever scent was gifted to me right before my 13th birthday — wearing it made me feel like a woman. It was Gucci Rush, a bright red offering that smelled like florals, spices, and freedom. I really fell for it and kept it as my signature scent until college."
Gucci Rush, $77, available at Sephora.
Current: "It wasn't until after I graduated and started working in beauty that I began to feel like I needed to age up a bit, and sprung for Dolce & Gabbana's Intense. It has similar flavor profiles to that first one — an intoxicating mix of sweet and spicy — but I moved on yet again when Tom Ford launched Santal Blush. It's less pricey than Le Labo's version and slightly more floral, but the earthiness of the sandalwood is just as warm. And slightly mysterious. I think that's why I'm so taken with it. I've been wearing it for about six months and don't see an end in sight."
Tom Ford Santal Blush Eau de Parfum, $220, available at Tom Ford.
Alexandra Tunell, senior digital beauty editor at Harper's Bazaar
First: "I remember always having a bunch of Clinique Happy samples in my childhood bathroom, but the first fragrance I ever bought was Britney Spears Curious. I think I was in the eighth grade and it had just launched and had a huge display at Sephora, so it was very cool. I’d only spray it on Friday nights before getting dropped off at the mall, so the bottle lasted through high school."
Britney Spears Curious Eau de Parfum, $17.15, available at Walmart.
Current: "Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge has been my signature for the last five years. I wear it all fall and winter, then switch around more in the spring and summer. I love neroli and jasmine, so usually it's Tom Ford Neroli Portofino or Chloé Love Story, but I just fell in love with Nest Fragrances Citrine — it’s so crisp and clean and cheery."
Nest Citrine, $68, available at Sephora.
Lexy Lebsack, West Coast beauty editor at Refinery29
First: "I dabbled with scents in middle school — I think there was some sort of vanilla body mist by Bonne Bell at some point, and I wore Tommy Girl briefly but never really dented the bottle — but it wasn't until high school that I really started wearing perfume. My first real scent was Emporio Armani, and I was obsessed. I wore it nearly every day for years. I recently saw it in a Sephora and the smell brought me back to high school in the most immediate way. I could never wear it again — it was a moment frozen in time."
Emporio Armani She, $68, available at Sephora.
Current: "Now I rotate between a few favorites: Balenciaga Rose, which is light and fresh but still complex, making it perfect for day; Balenciaga Florabotanica, which is appropriate for day or night, but still a little spicy and sexy; and Tom Ford Shanghai Lily, which is sexy, spicy, and rich smelling — perfect for night."
Balenciaga Florabotanica, $100, available at Sephora.
Annie Tomlin, beauty director at SELF Magazine
First: "Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson was Friday nights at the roller rink, MASH notes on the school bus, wanting an Esprit tote bag and settling for the unbranded one. It wasn’t my first-first perfume — that honor goes to Love’s Baby Soft — but it was the first to make me feel 'adult.'"
Current: "I wear Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT all year round — I find its floral muskiness eternally comforting and elegant. For spring, I also like Chanel Sycomore, which is a green, smoky take on vetiver, and Vilhelm Parfumerie’s Dear Polly, which smells of crisp apples and black tea."
Vilhelm Parfumerie Dear Polly Eau de Parfum, $245, available at Barneys New York.
Lauren Levinson, senior beauty editor at PopSugar Beauty
First: "The first fragrance I wore was By by Dolce & Gabbana. The leopard-packaged eau de parfum made me feel grown-up and sophisticated as a teen. Then, it was the OG Marc Jacobs Lola for years. The bottle was just so cool, and the scent musky."
Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Parfum, $68, available at Nordstrom.
Current: "Now, I've moved on to a fragrance wardrobe with some front-runners. Greg Lauren is my go-to in winter because it's warm and sweet in a subtle way. In spring, I love Tom Ford Neroli Portofino for it's peppiness thanks to citrus and florals balanced with amber. Balenciaga B (a.k.a., the one Alexander Wang developed) is my pick for workwear, since I find it to be clean and refined. It's a nice mix of lily of the valley, edamame accord (yup!), and woodsiness — guarantees you really won't smell like anyone else."
Greg Lauren Greg Lauren For Barneys New York Eau de Parfum, $98, available at Barneys New York.
Megan Cahn, senior beauty editor at Refinery29
First: "Sunflowers were such a '90s thing. Donna Martin and Blossom wore them on their hats, and me and every girl in my sixth grade class wore it on our wrists. Well, I’m not sure if I even wore it that often, but I loved how the cheery bottle looked on my dresser. Just owning it made me feel a little fancy."
Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers Eau de Toilette Spray, $39.50, available at Elizabeth Arden.
Current: "The Elizabeth Arden website describes Sunflower as 'Bright. Light-Hearted. Happy' — and now I'm wearing a scent called the Bitter End. Eek. I hope that doesn't say too much about my personality, but more so that my scent palette has evolved. While I used to go for bright florals, I'm now drawn to grassy, more crisp scents. This one is inspired by the west coast of Ireland (often referred to as the bitter end), with notes of wild grass, mint, fig, and thyme. Mmm, doesn't it sound refreshing?"
Roads Bitter End Parfum, $155, available at Barneys New York.
Cat Quinn, beauty director at Refinery29
First: "Basically, the sweetest-smelling candy fragrance you could find. I'd layer on the lotion, then the body mist for maximum impact. I gave myself headaches."
Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Fine Fragrance Mist, $14, available at Bath & Body Works.
Current: "I still gravitate toward sweeter smells, but now my tastes are a bit more refined. I love the rich caramel base of this scent, which smells warm and delicious but not like the inside of a candy wrapper."
Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, $88, available at Nordstrom.
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