It may feel premature to talk about the best new perfumes of 2026 when the year has barely begun; and while I haven’t caught up with mistyping “2025,” the fragrance calendar is already pumping out highly-anticipated formulas. Just two months in, brands are already unveiling releases that set the tone for what promises to be a defining year in scent. For those approaching the Year of the Horse with a renewed sense of momentum and intention, there’s no better time to reconsider what sits on your fragrance shelf—or perhaps just add to it.
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There’s established designer houses are revisiting their icons—YSL Libre has been remixed with burst of raspberry raspberry. At the same time, niche brands are getting inventive: Noyz is experimenting with texture and format, introducing a perfume milk as a softer, more intimate interpretation that blurs the line between fragrance and skin ritual.
Scroll to discover the best new perfumes of 2026 to date—there’s seven and counting, but we’re only just getting started.
Best Neroli: Parfums de Marly Athénaïs Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: Named in tribute to Françoise-Athénaïs de Montespan—the legendary confidante of Louis XIV of France—Parfums de Marly’s latest scent opens with a vivid burst of neroli, unfolding into a bouquet of white florals layered with sparkling citrus. This latest launch feels like a warmer, summery counterpart to the house’s bestseller Valaya. Yet Athénaïs reveals its true allure in the dry down, where the brightness softens into a delicate, powdery veil.
- Key Notes: Neroli, bergamot, yuzu, orange blossom, jasmine, tonka bean, vanilla
- This Smells Like: Taking a bite of a tangerine on a balmy summer’s day
Best Berry: YSL Beauty Libre Berry Crush Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: Libre Berry Twist is noticeably more tart, and as you may have guessed, fruitier. While raspberry bursts to the fore upon first spritz, French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom (a mainstay in the Libre category) are grounding, makign way for its Madagascar vanilla base. Plus, the scent is long-lasting, lingering on clothes and leaving behind a scent trail wherever you saunter.
- Editor’s Experience: “Having just launched this NYFW, Libre Berry Crush made its debut with a super sexy, dimly lit party, draped in red velvet. Where could you find me in the party? Well, near the giant centerpiece decked out in raspberries of course. Upon first spritz, you’ll notice there’s something moodier and nostalgic about this version—like something your cool teen sister would wear in the 2010s when she’s trying to seem grown up.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Notes: Raspberry accord, coconut accord, orange blossom, lavender, vanilla
- This Smells Like: A glass of raspberry liqueur
Best White Floral: Le Labo Violette 30 Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: Those fond of period pieces will appreciate Le Labo’s latest scent, inspired by the romantic secret language of gifting flowers in the Victorian era. The scent is centered around violet, a note that held many different interpretations in that time—ranging from passion to innocence. Here, the scent contrasts subtle white florals and herbaceous white tea, with notes of cedarwood and guaiacwood. In the mix, there’s moody incense too. The result is contrasting, suited for a composition that evades singular meaning.
- Key Notes: Violet, rose, aldehydes, incense, cumin, saffron
- This Smells Like: The cool girl protagonist in a period piece
Best Fruity & Floral: Dior Beauty Addict Rosy Glow Eau de Parfum
- Why We Love It: This is not your grandma’s rosy perfume. Dior recasts the classic bloom in modern fashion—less powder room, more playful. With Damascus rose at its center, the scent is lifted by the juicy brightness of lychee for a crisp burst. Meanwhile, a touch of caramel follows for a bit of confectionary warmth that feels indulgent without tipping into excess.
- Key Notes: Damascus rose, lychee, caramel
- This Smells Like: Equal parts floral, fruity, and confectionary sweet
Best Niche: Henry Rose London 1983
- Why We Love It: Calling all cool kids! With London 1983, Henry Rose captures the restless creativity and underground edge of London’s early ’80s music and arts scene. The scent opens with the green lushness of fig sharpened by black pepper—striking a balance between smooth and subversive. There’s a soft veil of florals to balance sweet with edge, before settling into musk, blonde woods, and bourbon vetiver.
- Key Notes: Fig, black pepper, water lily, jasmine, dry musk, blonde woods, upcycled orcanox, sustainable vetiver bourbon
- This Smells Like: The enodiment of a David Bowie album—on vinyl, of course.
Best Musk: Hermès Musc Padilla
- Why We Love It: Hermès’s latest scent is the embodiment of quiet luxury in a bottle. With just two main notes, the scent features iris padilla, a prestige note in the fragrance world. A true skin scent, the result is something musky, subtly powdery, and sensual. This elegant simplicity makes it a refined choice for those who appreciate understated sophistication.
- Key Notes: Iris padilla, musc
- This Smells Like: Quiet luxury
Best Fragrance-Skincare Hybrid: Noyz Only Human Mylk De Parfum
- Why We Love It: Is it skincare or is it fragrance? It’s both! Here, Noyz transforms perfume beyond the usual spritz to a pourable, creamy milk. The fragrance milk imparts hydration via sunflower seed oil and hyaluronic acid, leaving behind an intoxicating skin hugging scent. The milk is available in three scents: Only Human, subtle gourmand that blends vanilla bean, cedarwood, ambroxan, is a personal favorite. Both sensorial and functional, it reframes scent as something to be layered directly onto the body.
- Key Notes: Vanilla bean, ambroxan, cedarwood
- This Smells Like: A skin-hugging vanilla