When I think about somewhat niche fragrance notes that always stand out to me in floral perfumes, there’s one that I tend to detect before all others: magnolia. Lately, I’ve noticed that this delicate white flower has been sneaking into a number of my favorite fragrances, from Estée Lauder’s classic Beautiful Magnolia Eau de Parfum ($110) to Aesop’s Aurner Eau de Parfum ($200), each offering a fresh interpretation of the note.
Wondering which magnolia fragrance I’m adding to my rotation? It can be tricky to separate the “just okay” scents from the standouts, but I’m sharing the 15 best magnolia perfumes below to help you shop smarter and upgrade your scent game year-round. Screenshot now, and thank me later!
The Best Magnolia Perfumes, Listed
Estée Lauder Beautiful Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Estée Lauder
Beautiful Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: green florals
Notes: magnolia petals, maté, water lotus, magnolia oil, solar gardenia, rose, cedarwood, sandalwood, musk
A good green floral fragrance can strike the perfect balance between unique notes that transport its wearer to lush, rolling green hills and a blooming garden dripping with morning dew. This one by Estée Lauder accomplishes it with an enchanting blend of magnolia petals combined with maté (a caffeinated, herbal tea–like drink native to South America), water lotus, and solar gardenia.
Customer Review: “This fragrance made me change my opinion towards floral fragrances because I am normally not one to wear floral fragrance. This one is perfectly clean, musky, and floral smelling!”
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Gucci
Flora Gorgeous Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: fruity florals
Notes: dewberry accord, magnolia accord, coconut accord, jasmine sambac absolute, patchouli essence, blond woods, musk
Here’s the ideal gardenia-based perfume for anyone who loves juicy berries in their floral fragrance. This one pairs magnolia accord with dewberries and milky coconut for a sweet, cozy touch. The perfume is rounded out with a woody base of blond woods, musk, and patchouli that keeps it grounded. Of the four perfumes in Gucci’s Flora collection, this is my favorite.
Customer Review: “I’m usually not a fan of floral fragrances because they can be overwhelming and have a powdery scent to them. But this fragrance has a light floral scent with a bit of a berry note to it, which makes it a perfect spring or summer every day fragrance to wear. I will definitely continue to re-purchase.”
Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia Bliss Eau de Parfum
Juliette Has a Gun
Magnolia Bliss Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: fruity florals
Notes: mirabelle plum, bergamot, magnolia, amber, musk
I would definitely describe this one as an elevated, almost grown-up take on the fruity-floral fragrances of your childhood. Juliette Has a Gun’s Magnolia Bliss offers hints of juicy mirabelle plum and fresh bergamot surrounding a luminous heart of soft magnolia-flower essence. Below the soft magnolia is a combination of amber and musk, which lingers all day on my skin.
Customer Review: “I bought another popular fragrance from Juliette Has a Gun and got Magnolia Bliss as a sample. Honestly, I love Magnolia Bliss more than the full size item I bought! It smells SO clean and fresh. I was ready to give up getting fragrances online blindly, but this one is a real winner!”
Molton Brown Lily & Magnolia Blossom Eau de Parfum
Molton Brown
Lily & Magnolia Blossom Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: woody florals
Notes: magnolia, lily of the valley, white tea, green mandarin, pear, sandalwood
One note you’ll notice being paired frequently with magnolia is lily of the valley, which smells slightly sweet, green, and sometimes soapy. In Molton Brown’s Lily & Magnolia Blossom, the dynamic duo is coupled with fragrant white tea that’s set off by zesty green mandarin and ripe pear. The fragrance finishes with a hint of smooth sandalwood.
Customer Review: “I’ve been more into musky scents for a few years now, and I am never attracted to floral scents. But, I received this as a sample and will now be ordering the ODP because I want to smell like this all the time! It’s such a light, airy, clean scent. It’s not overpowering, and it smells like luxury. In love with this scent!”
Loewe Aura Pink Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Loewe
Aura Pink Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: gourmand floral
Notes: pink magnolia, red fruits, vanilla, musk, sandalwood
Loewe’s Aura Pink Magnolia Eau de Parfum mixes powdery, fresh magnolia flowers and zesty red fruits with the warmth of sandalwood and musk to create a ultra-romantic scent. It’s an undeniably uplifting and energizing perfume housed in an eye-catching translucent glass flask adorned with a golden brushstroke and gold particles that I’m always proud to display on my vanity.
Customer Review: “I genuinely believe this is what happiness smells like… at least for me. This is a very uplifting, joyful sweet scent. The red fruits really shine in opening and first few hours, and it finishes off with a luxurious sandalwood lingering on your skin in the final moments. Happiness in a bottle.”
Acqua di Parma Magnolia Infinita Eau de Parfum
Acqua Di Parma
Magnolia Infinita Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: classic florals
Notes: Calabrian bergamot, orange, lemon, magnolia, jasmine sambac, rose, ylang-ylang, musk, patchouli
The brand describes this perfume as the artistic result of combining two “olfactive sensations”: the powdery, fresh scent of magnolias and luminous citrus (a mixture of Calabrian bergamot with orange and lemon). As one of the headier magnolia fragrance I’ve come across during my career as a beauty editor, it’s been a longtime favorite of mine.
Customer Review: “This is such a fun brand of scents and body products! I love how the citrus always shines through—bright and cheery. This was a nice new fusion for Acqua di Parma with the addition of more woody, earthy notes. The magnolia shines through but not cloyingly, or at the expense of the other notes. The product is not particularly long-lasting but certainly pleasant enough.”
Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte Eau de Parfum
Chanel
Cristalle Eau Verte Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: green floral
Notes: magnolia, citrus, jasmine
Sometimes, it can be hard to pinpoint how and why a perfume will read as “fresh” to its wearer, but there’s really no debate when it comes to Chanel’s Cristalle Eau Verte. In it, delicate magnolia takes center stage, and touches of fresh citrus and jasmine play supporting characters to bring the perfume to life. Not only does it pair perfectly with the fragrance in its eau de toilette form, but the perfume also wears well with Chance eau Splendide.
Customer Review: “I’m so glad this scent is back. I first wore it in 2009. I’m very particular about perfume and often try something and after a few hours dislike it. While I typically prefer warm scents, this one is neither warm nor cool. It has a light floral smell that settles on the skin in the most elegant way. It is very easy to love.”
Ormonde Jayne Champaca Parfum
Ormonde Jayne
Champaca Parfum
Scent Type: gourmand florals
Notes: magnolia champaca, neroli, bamboo, rice, green tea
Effortlessly elegant vanilla fragrances may have a reputation of being few and far between, but there are a number of options out there that offer an elevated floral take. Ormonde Jayne’s Champaca, for example, features a blossoming bouquet of magnolia champaca and neroli with fresh bamboo, green tea, and rice. It stands out to me because it has the perfect blend of gourmand, earthy, and floral notes that wear beautifully alone and layers well.
Customer Review: “I love this soft floral fragrance on a bed of aromatic rice and tea. Each spray brings me peace and transport me to a foreign place of beauty.”
Arquiste Flor y Canto Eau de Parfum
Arquiste
Flor y Canto Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: warm florals
Notes: magnolia, marigold, tuberose absolute, Mexican acacia, red and white plumeria, Mexican incense, benzoin, Mexican vanilla bean
With the arrival of summer, I find myself drawn toward tropical fragrances that leave me longing for a vacation (preferably somewhere with white sandy beaches). Arquiste’s Flor y Canto Eau de Parfum checks all my boxes by combining white and yellow florals with warm tuberose absolute, incense, acacia, and vanilla bean from Mexico. It’s one of the best ways to add some escapism to my otherwise busy, action-packed days.
Customer Review: “I love this. It’s the perfect blend of tropical, green, white and yellow florals with a touch of sweetness from acacia, copal, benzoin, and vanilla. Warm and creamy texture. Slightly heady in the opening but soft and elegant in the dry down.”
Aesop Aurner Eau de Parfum
Aesop
Aurner Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: earthy florals
Notes: Roman chamomile, cardamom, pink pepper, magnolia leaf, geranium, cardamom, sandalwood, cedar heart, cypriol heart
I can’t think of a better fragrance to wear year-round than Aesop’s Aurner. Combining magnolia leaf with delicate chamomile, fragrant cardamom, and spicy pink pepper, this earthy, floral scent offers a fresh yet grounding option anyone would appreciate. I like to consider this one as a modernized version of the “traditional” magnolia scent that I grew up experiencing.
Customer Review: “Aurner Eau de Parfum feels like a gentle, dreamlike encounter—where warm resins and delicate florals intertwine in a quiet, lingering rhythm. It carries the scent of aged books in a dusky library, leather-bound stories infused with whispers of smoky woods and amber, leaving behind a soft, elusive trail in the air. Mysterious yet serene, it is like an untold story flowing through the cracks of time, drawing you in with its quiet allure.”
Frédéric Malle Eau de Magnolia Parfum Spray
Frédéric Malle
Eau de Magnolia Parfum Spray
Scent Type: fresh florals
Notes: Calabrian bergamot, magnolia, vetiver heart, patchouli heart, cedar, amber extreme, tree moss
Magnolia can offer a powdery, floral touch to any fragrance, but it can easily lean fresh when combined with the right medley of scent notes, like Eau de Magnolia by Frédéric Malle. In this perfume, magnolia is met with sparkling notes of Calabrian bergamot before making way for a burst of vetiver heart and patchouli heart. Lastly, we’re greeted with an enigmatic combination of cedar, amber, and tree moss.
Customer Review: “I’m trying this fragrance during lockdown in Victoria and it instantly improves my mood. It has lasted 12 hours on my skin with one spray, and smells as wonderful now as it did at first. It’s a beautiful floral/citrus mix with my favourite vetiver as well. Not nearly the type of fragrance I usually like, but so beautiful, so uplifting that I think I’ll be wearing it for some time to come!”
Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile Eau de Parfum
Acqua Di Parma
Magnolia Nobile Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: citrus florals
Notes: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, magnolia, Bulgarian rose, tuberose, jasmine sambac, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, Madagascar vanilla
It’s clear Acqua di Parma can do floral fragrances well, and its Magnolia Nobile Eau de Parfum lives up to the legacy using a jolt of vibrant Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian lemon to add luminosity to a fresh, floral bouquet of magnolia, Bulgarian rose, tuberose, and jasmine sambac. From there, we’re met with warmer, earthier notes of sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver enshrouded in Madagascar vanilla.
Customer Review: “This is a very clean smelling floral, almost soapy. It starts off with strong citrus top notes, but dries to a lovely floral which is surprising tenacious for this brand. Very feminine, very inoffensive, great for spring because it is so fresh and playful. Nothing not to like.”
Santa Maria Novella Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Santa Maria Novella
Magnolia Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: amber florals
Notes: white rose accord, geranium, magnolia grandiflora, magnolia champaca, jasmine sambac, amber, musk
This one is perhaps the closest thing to a pure magnolia fragrance on the market. Santa Maria Novella offers two varieties of magnolia (grandiflora and champaca) in harmony with white rose accord, geranium, and jasmine sambac against an inviting amber-musk base. When applied first thing in the morning to my inner wrists and neck, I notice the fragrance lasts all day without every need reapplication. Plus, how stunning is that vintage-inspired bottle?
Customer Review: “Magnolia is such a beautiful, sensual perfume. It’s elegant yet light, and such a fresh fragrance. I get so many compliments when I wear it. It’s a lasting perfume and I find I get the full day when applied in the morning. Not overpowering either so can be worn during the day.”
Veronique Gabai Ready for Rosé Eau de Parfum
Veronique Gabai
Ready for Rosé Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: solar florals
Notes: magnolia essential oil, rhubarb, greens, jasmine sambac absolute, freesia, rose, orange blossom, ambrox biotech, cedarwood, musk
Don’t let the name of this intoxicating Veronique Gabai fragrance fool you—it’s all about the magnolia! Ready for Rosé captures all the summer vibes you could ever dream of in a bottle by combining magnolia with jasmine, orange blossom, freesia, and a touch of juicy rhubarb for sweetness. It also features amber, cedarwood, and musk, which level up the aquatic nature of this scent.
Customer Review: “This beautiful fragrance reminds me a touch of Sur La Plage in the base with the elegant magnolia holding court throughout the wear. I adore Magnolia and in this fragrance I could smell it throughout the day. Clean, uplifting, sparkly. This is an instant mood enhancer.”
Veronique Gabai Sur La Plage Eau de Parfum
Veronique Gabai
Sur la Plage Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: aquatic florals
Notes: orange blossom, magnolia, jasmine, pink pepper, cedar wood
For an even more aquatic magnolia fragrance, get your hands on the Sur la Plage Eau de Parfum by Veronique Gabai. The best way I can describe the stunning blend of orange blossom, magnolia, and jasmine set against pink pepper and cedar wood is it’s like the smell of your skin after you’ve just spent time in the sea. This one is warm, slightly musky, and familiar with a hint of sensuality lurking just below the surface. Upon first sniff, I could have also sworn there was something citrusy about it…
Customer Review: “It’s the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in a bottle. Its beauty is immeasurable. If only I could buy every bottle and the rights to the formula I’d never share it—I’d only pass it down in my will and final testament.”
Shopping for a Magnolia Perfume
There’s no right way to shop for a magnolia perfume since fragrances can smell completely different from one person to another, but pay attention to how they change with wear. Some magnolia scents smell powdery and fresh with dry-down, while others may transform into a skin scent. In truth, it all depends on the unique blend of fragrance notes and their chemistry!
Which magnolia type smells best?
As you may have noticed, there are many different types of magnolia that are popularly used in fragrances. The most common ones you’ll find are magnolia grandiflora, magnolia champaca, and magnolia liliiflora, which all offer a powdery, fresh finish to perfumes. They’re widely considered to smell the best when blended with anything from saffron and jasmine sambac absolute to sandalwood and pink pepper.
Read the original article here