Top 10 Best Selling Perfumes In The World (The Answer Might Surprise You)

Something as simple as a scent can trigger a memory and transport people to a specific time in their lives, remembering an event or a person who was once special in their lives.

For this reason, fragrances continue to be popular and many people stay loyal to their favorite scent, repeatedly buying it.

This is why many of the same fragrances appear on the bestseller list each year.

In this piece, we look at the top 10 best-selling perfumes in the world.

Some of the perfumes that made the list are old and some are newer to the fragrance market.

If you want to find an iconic scent that will never go out of fashion, check out the list below.

Top 10 Best Selling Perfumes In The World

Below are the top 10 best-selling perfumes, in no particular order.

OUR TOP PICK

Aromatics Elixir by Clinique

This fragrance is one of the oldest fragrances on this list.

Aromatics Elixir was released by Clinique in 1970 but it continues to be one of the best-selling products to date.

This perfume is suited to anyone who likes a deep and strong scent.

The key notes within this perfume’s deep blend are oak moss, patchouli, and light floral notes of jasmine.

EDITORS CHOICE

Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

Black Opium is a top-selling fragrance that comes from the iconic house of Yves Saint Laurent.

It was released in 2014 and has come to be known as a very sensual scent that gives women a sense of confidence when wearing it.

It is a seductive scent with a mostly floral base, topped with notes of patchouli, black coffee, and a rounding scent of warm vanilla.

Even the packaging exudes edginess and sensuality.

BEST VALUE

Chanel No. 5 by Chanel

This perfume is the oldest on this list, first released by the world-known fashion house, Chanel, in 1921.

This perfume is credited as the scent that revolutionized the perfume industry and it remains a best-seller to date.

This fragrance encapsulates classic femininity, with a powdery floral scent.

There are over 80 components that are expertly blended to craft Chanel No. 5’s famous scent, including jasmine, Rose Centifolia, and calming notes of ylang-ylang.

The perfume’s unique blend is what gives it such long-lasting wear.

While the fragrance’s popularity is widely based on the beautiful scent, this perfume also received a celebrity endorsement which drove the numbers of Chanel No. 5’s fanbase to huge numbers.

In 1952 Marilyn Monroe famously responded to an interviewer’s question about what she wore to bed with “five drops of Chanel No. 5”.

This led to a crazy number of sales and to this day this quote is still echoed around the world.

RUNNER UP

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

This perfume is a gorgeous scent for the modern woman, with a feminine base and spicy top notes it was an instant best-seller after being released in 2001.

The feminine base is very different from Chanel’s other best-selling fragrance Chanel No. 5.

You can expect to experience a warm base, with notes of white musk and vanilla, topped with citrus notes and patchouli to ensure this scent stays on your skin from morning to night.

RUNNER UP

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

This scent is the perfect transition scent for young women looking for something more elegant, but still with a hint of fun.

Everything about this fragrance is light and beautiful from the first spray to the chic packaging.

This fragrance burst into the market in a sunny, carefree advertising campaign that perfectly depicted this light fragrance.

This floral, yet woody fragrance is created by a wide base note of vanilla, white woods, and musk, topped with violet leaf, grapefruit, and strawberry and rounded in the middle with floral notes of jasmine, gardenia, and violet.

RUNNER UP

J’adore Dior by Dior

This scent exudes elegance, from the tear-drop-shaped bottle, gold detailing, and Charlize Theron as the face of the advertising campaign this fragrance was always going to be a bestseller.

This perfume has a full-bodied, yet light floral and fruity scent.

Expect notes of jasmine, orchid, plum, and mandarin, topped with musk and blackberry, giving the fragrance a deep trail scent.

Since its release in 1999, this fragrance continues to be one of Dior’s best sellers.

RUNNER UP

Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum

Jimmy Choo was always a renowned shoe designer but in 2011 the brand made its olfactory debut with the suitably named fragrance Jimmy Choo.

This scent was met with instant success as it gave customers access to the luxury brand’s product for a more affordable price.

This fragrance’s distinct scent is a blend of fruity notes and a gourmand aroma.

The blend features notes of exotic tiger orchid while adding a touch of luxury, and this is blended alongside notes of sweet toffee, and patchouli.

RUNNER UP

La Vie Est Belle by Lancome

Anything with Julia Roberts associated with it is sure to be a success, and Lancome knew exactly what they were doing when they chose Roberts as the face of the La Vie Est Belle advertising campaign.

This fragrance is the best-selling feminine fragrance from Lancome’s range of perfumes. It is said to be bliss in a bottle.

The three main notes that most people will ex[erience are notes of orange blossom, jasmine sambac, and patchouli to help the scent linger for longer.

RUNNER UP

Santal 33 by Le Labo

Le Labo is still a relatively new perfumery, established in New York City in 2005 but since then it has created a huge array of best-selling perfumes, but when Santal 33 was released in 2011 it was met with instant success and it continues to be a global best-seller to the time of writing.

Anything with sandalwood is sure to be popular and that scent is at the base of this fragrance.

The perfume is unisex and has a superbly musky, smokey, and leathery scent that is long-lasting and enticing.

RUNNER UP

Shalimar by Guerlain

Last but not least is Shalimar by Guerlain which has been an icon in the fragrance industry since 1925.

This perfume was loved by iconic actors Rita Hayworth and Brigitte Bardot and is a hugely refreshing, feminine scent.

With this fragrance, you will experience an initial refreshing note of bergamot.

As the scent develops on your skin you will notice the scent widens into notes of jasmine and roses and when the scent settles you will experience base notes of iris and powdery vanilla.