The Best Orange Blossom Perfumes, Ranked By Beauty Editors
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(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
If there is one thing to know about the Who What Wear UK team, it’s that we’re total fragrance enthusiasts. On any given day in the office, you’ll find us spritzing new perfumes that land on our beauty desk, searching in hunt of perfume dupes of our favourite designer fragrances and working out exactly what perfumes celebrities wear. And don’t even get us started on our impressive collections of fragrances in our beauty cupboard and at home. We love perfume, and there’s no gatekeeping here—we want to share our favourite fragrances with you too.
With summer (finally) arriving, we’re looking to switch up our scent for a summer perfume. And orange blossom perfumes have taken our fancy of late. Orange blossom (or fleur d’oranger, as it is sometimes referred to) is a white floral with fresh and sweet undertones, sometimes with an animalic, muskiness that smells sensual. But not all orange blossom perfumes are created equal. You might find it nestled amongst other floral notes in lightweight, springtime scents (such as Parfums De Marly, Valaya) or as the main character in perfumes that dial up the note into its main character, such as Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger (fun fact: Kate Moss wore this scent on her wedding day). Other fragrances, such as Kilian Paris Love, Don’t Be Shy (reportedly what makes Rihanna smell so good) feature the orange blossom with gourmand, good-enough-to-eat notes such as marshmallow and vanilla.
If you’re looking for the best orange blossom perfume for you, you’ve come to the right place. I rallied the Who What Wear UK team to put the best orange blossom perfumes to the test over the past month. Ahead, you’ll find their honest reviews of the perfumes, which ones got us the most compliments and the ones you don’t want to blind buy online. Scroll ahead for our favourites.
The Best Orange Blossom Perfumes, Rated By Editors
(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
1. Parfums De Marly Valaya
Key Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nympheal, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix, musk
Pros: Impressive silage, floral scent, long wearing, received lots of compliments wearing it
Cons: More expensive than others
Rating: 9/10
As a lover of Parfums De Marly (Delina and Althair are two of my current favourites) I was excited to get my hands on Valaya, the fragrance house’s take on orange blossom. On the first spritz, it made me feel as though I was bundled in the fluffiest white robe at a luxury country hotel after an ‘everything shower’, before opening the window to a cool breeze on the first sunny day of spring.
It smells like the most expensive bar of soap, coupled with skin-like musk and white florals, one of which being orange blossom, as well as fruity white peach and mandarin. In short, it smells what I think heaven would smell like. The dry-down has ambery ambrofix and woodsy akigalawood with a musk base, but it’s very subtle.
After spraying it in the office, our copy editor Georgia Seago immediately asked me what the scent was. A couple of days later, a random colleague in our open plan office at work stopped me to say how much she liked my perfume. “It’s really soft and delicate,” she said. Bearing in mind that this was around 3pm, the fragrance was clearly doing its thing long after applying it at 7am—even though it wasn’t present to my nose at that moment. Unlike some floral scents that have disappointing staying power, this still had silage even later into the day despite it having notes that are often fleeting in other perfumes.
Honestly, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve received compliments when wearing it. The subtle musky and woody notes do come later in the day, but I can still smell the floral and fruity notes. However, I find that it definitely lasts better when sprayed on my clothes than it does my skin. If I were going out in the evening, I’d like to do a quick top-up to refresh the scent.
Of course, this one is on the premium end of the scale at £245 for 75ml. That being said, if you want to invest in a luxury perfume that actually lasts well throughout the day and you have the cash to splash, go for it. You can also try a discovery set from the brand which allows you to try the most popular scents, including Valaya. I’m going to be picking it up for my next holiday away.
Shop Now:
Parfums De Marly
Valaya Eau De Parfum
Parfums de Marly
Feminine Discovery Collection
2. Kilian Paris Love, Don’t Be Shy
Key Notes: Neroli, orange blossom, marshmallow, vanilla, honeysuckle, rose, amber
Pros: Impressive silage, gourmand scent, a good evening perfume choice, received lots of compliments wearing it
Cons: More expensive than others
Rating: 8/10
I was so excited to get my hands on this fragrance as rumour has it, it’s one of Rihanna’s favourite perfumes. After reading about the notes online, I already knew that it would be a winner. The scent features sweet marshmallow, fresh orange blossom and citrusy neroli. The fragrance itself was inspired by feelings of first love, and those themes of excitement and innocence definitely come through thanks to the sugary, fruity base. However, warm amber adds a hint of sensuality making this scent so much more sophisticated than expected.
On first impression, I was quite surprised by just how sweet it was. I love a gourmand scent so this wasn’t an issue for me, but if you’re not a fan of sugary perfumes then this might not be the fragrance for you. Once it settles on the skin you definitely get those hints of amber, making it a perfect evening option.
Because of the lighter notes, I wasn’t sure how well this perfume would last throughout the day. Although I couldn’t smell it on myself, I have never received so many compliments on a scent, which just proves that this really does linger on the skin. That being said, I did feel the need to top up my fragrance before heading out in the evening.
Overall, if you’re looking for a sweeter date-night scent for the spring and summer months, I couldn’t recommend this enough. The bottle is a work of art and the fragrance itself is truly captivating . It’s worth noting that this perfume doesn’t come cheap and will set you back £220 for a 50ml bottle, but you don’t need a lot to make an impact, so it will definitely last you a while. If it’s good enough for Rihanna, then it’s good enough for me…
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Kilian Paris
Love, Don’t Be Shy
Kilian Paris
Love Don’t Be Shy 7.5ml
3. Diptyque Eau Des Sens
Notes: Orange blossom, bitter orange, juniper berries, angelica, patchouli
Pros: Long-lasting scent, layered notes, good silage, chic bottle
Cons: Gave me a mild migraine, but hasn’t had the same effect on others
Rating: 7/10
Diptyque’s Eau des Sens truly captured my senses with its unique blend of citrus, floral, and woody notes. From the moment I spritzed it on, the burst of bitter orange and zesty lemon gave me the jolt of energy I needed having spent the last few hours staring at a screen. As the scent evolves, hints of spicy pepper and warm, resinous woods emerge, adding depth and complexity that keeps me coming back for more and that sets it apart from other orange fragrances I’ve smelt in the past. This feels like a very grown-up interpretation in comparison.
I’ve read countless reviews praising Eau des Sens for its elegant composition and long-lasting wear, and I have to agree with them. Unlike other floral- and fruit-blend scents in my collection, I found it seamlessly transitioned from day to night, thanks to its delicate undertone of warmth. It’s a fragrance that’s suitable for any season, with a moderate sillage that never overwhelms.
That said, it would be remiss of me not to mention an unexpected side-effect I had from wearing it for prolonged periods. It took me a while to realise that this perfume was the cause, but after a couple of of wear, I started to develop a sore head. This, however, shouldn’t deter you—I asked a friend to try it to see if she had experienced the same thing, to which she said she didn’t. In fact, she said this might just be her new favourite perfume! Fragrance reactions vary from person to person, so it’s crucial to consider individual sensitivities before committing to a scent. I usually invest in a sample before committing to a full bottle, or seek out the perfume in store first and liberally spritz myself with it. I’d recommend you do the same when trying any perfume—not just this one—in case it gives you an unwanted reaction. Having chatted with my colleague, Eleanor Vousden on the subject, she told me she gets headaches from a perfume I wear all the time without issue—further proof that each fragrance is completely subjective.
Overall, Diptyque’s Eau des Sens offers a sensory journey that delights the majority of its wearers, showcasing the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation in perfumery. If you’re like me and drawn to fresh, citrus-forward scents with a touch of sophistication, Eau des Sens is definitely worth exploring—just be mindful of your own sensitivities along the way. I’ve given it a 7/10 for this reason. My friend? She said 9.
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Diptyque Paris
Eau Des Sens Eau De Toilette
Diptyque Paris
Set Of Five Eaux De Toilette
4. YSL Libre
Key Notes: Mandarin, Petit grain, lavender, blackcurrant accord, jasmine sambac absolute, jasmine grandiflorum, orange flower absolute, Madagascar vanilla, cedarwood, ambergris, musk
Pros: Long lasting, a little goes a long way, more affordable than others
Cons: Orange blossom note can be strong for some
Rating: 8/10
I’m going to be totally honest, for the last 14 years of my life, I’ve had one scent and not once deviated from it. I wore Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, and my friends would smell it on the street and think of me. Saying that, I’ve been on a fragrance journey this year experimenting with different scents and notes, which has been both challenging and exciting! As soon as I spritzed YSL’s Libre eau de parfum onto my wrist, I was thrilled at how it smelt.
It gives a luxurious, grown up essence, springing to life with notes of orange blossom, lavender and vanilla, creating a delicious summer smell. I asked my boyfriend what he thought (he always has something to say about my perfumes), and he was positively enthralled by the scent, saying that it reminds him of being on holiday, and was transported to being far away with the smell of suncream and hot weather.
As the perfume subsides, it transforms into a subtle vanilla/musky smell. You only need to spray once on both the neck and wrist as it is quite strong when you first apply it, but it has great staying power which meant I didn’t feel the need to reapply at lunchtime or throughout the day. If I had dinner plans, I would reapply again for an extra spruce, but I feel like that’s down to personal preference. The scent will be subtle if you’ve been wearing it all day but I feel naked without having that top-up.
I think it is good value for money as the bottle will last a long time if you aren’t frequently topping up, and if you were counting by compliments-per-wear it is excellent value! I wouldn’t say that there are any cons to the perfumes, except if you aren’t a massive fan of orange blossom notes I would avoid it, as these notes are strong.
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Yves Saint Laurent
Beauty Libre Eau De Parfum
5. Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger 27
Key Notes: Orange blossom, bergamot, petit grain, lemon, musk
Pros: A little goes a long way, citrusy, springtime scent
Cons: More expensive than most
Rating: 7/10
Personally, I love to play with new scents depending on the seasons, and with the recent move into spring I was very excited to look to a more floral scent to blend with the changing weather.
With the first spritz we’re introduced to the various notes of Le Labo’s Fleur D’Oranger 27. There’s a floral edge with the orange blossom notes blended with bergamot notes that are quickly underpinned with a sharp lemon edge. Then, the musk grounds the scent as the petit grain notes add to deepen the scent. With the overall floral arraignment its easy to be transported to a wildflower field on a warm summer’s day.
The scent is strong, so I would avoid overapplying it, and found only a spritz or two was enough. Though powerful at the start, the scent does settle into itself after a few minutes and I found throughout the day I would catch a waft of it as I moved. Throughout the wear, the musky undertones become more subtle, but still prevalent to balance the floral notes that come to the fore. The edge of citrus cuts through to ensure the orange blossom isn’t too overpowering.
It does need a top up if you’re planning to be out from the morning to the evening, but I find that with all the perfumes I wear. At £168 for 50ml, its definitely a more premium product, but if an investment perfume is what you’re after, the powerful nature of the fragrance means it would definitely last a long time.
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Le Labo
Fleur D’oranger 27 Eau De Parfum
LE LABO
Fleur D’oranger 27 Eau De Parfum 15ml
6. Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger
Key Notes: Orange blossom, jasmine of Egypt, white rose
Pros: Premium-grade raw materials, long-lasting, high projection
Cons: Can be divisive and smell different on everyone, so smelling first before buying is advised
Rating: 6/10
Fleur d’Oranger is undoubtably the truest orange blossom scent of all the ones we tried. It only has three notes: orange blossom, jasmine of Egypt and white rose. See what I mean? And for this reason, you’re either going to love it or hate it.
Unfortunately, I’m in the latter camp. It’s not for me, but that’s absolutely fine and says nothing about the fragrance’s quality or composition—I can appreciate that it’s a beautiful blend, but just not one I’d wear. Orange blossom is a strong note on its own, and I think its complexity means that softer facets can be bought out depending on the notes that accompany it, but blended with pure jasmine and pungent rose, you get an incredibly bold and intense floral perfume with a capital F.
It’s inspired by Serge Lutens’ time in Morocco in the late ‘60s, and it makes total sense; this is a heady, intoxicating floral that doesn’t quit. Speaking of which, this scent lingers for ages. I tend to find that perfumes generally just don’t last on my skin for some reason, but there’s no getting rid of this once I spritz. It does calm down once it settles on the skin—the jasmine and rose become softer and orange blossom more delicate—but I’d like it to become creamier and more honeyed.
A 100ml bottle costs £182 (probably down to the premium-grade raw materials), and whilst I’d personally never spend that much on perfume, if you’re a lover of strong white floral perfumes it would be money well spent. A bottle would last you ages too, because this definitely doesn’t need to be over-sprayed.
Serge Lutens
Fleurs D’oranger Eau De Parfum (50ml) | Harrods Uk
Serge Lutens
Serge Lutens Collection Noire Discovery Eau De Parfum Set
