Best Overall

Aesop Rōzu

View on Selfridges.comView on Fwrd.com$200 at Revolve

Fragrance family: Floral, spicy | Key Notes: Vetiver, patchouli, myrrh, rose, guaiacwood, jasmine, rose, pink pepper, shiso | Size: 1.6 oz 

If anyone knows how to turn a patchouli fragrance and reinvent it into something new, it’s Aesop. Patchouli perfumes don’t just have to be earthy and heady; this Aesop fragrance is the perfect example of a woody and nuanced floral scent. The unisex scent opens to a soft rose aroma, but don’t let that fool you. It quickly intensifies with base notes of vetiver, patchouli, and myrrh (an earthy-smelling resin extracted from trees). If it couldn’t get more inviting, pink pepper, shiso, guaiacwood, and jasmine blend together to give this gem a spicy allure that brings forth a calming and meditative element (think a spa in a rose garden while sipping herbal tea). We love how this fragrance challenges traditional patchouli notes. It’s romantic, musing, and completely intoxicating. It will quickly become your go-to.

Derek Deng, associate content editor: “Upon first sniff, it’s a super strong floral, but it dries down into a woody floral that surprises me every time. It also has this calming presence on the skin that truly grounds me.”

Best Gourmand

Moodeaux PunkStar INTENSCENUAL Eau de Parfum

View on Moodeaux.comView on Scentbird.comView on Urban Outfitters

Fragrance Family: Gourmand | Key Notes: Vanilla, tonka bean, leather, birch wood, patchouli rose, honeysuckle, cedar leaves, moss, apple, black currant, raspberry, incense, saffron | Size: 0.33-1.7 oz 

A gourmand patchouli fragrance may sound contradictory, but Moodeaux nailed the unexpected fragrance combo. Infused with juicy raspberry, black currant, and apple notes, this delectable fragrance strikes the ultimate balance between masculine and feminine. Earthy notes of patchouli rose, saffron, and moss balance the sweeter notes, resulting in an intoxicating perfume. Plus, it contains fragrance oil, which contributes to its long-lasting capabilities. We love how the included incense gives it an almost spiritual and smoky vibe. It smells so enticing, we wish it were edible. Just be mindful that a little goes a long way.

Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor: “It’s become my go-to evening scent because of its edgy, exciting scent profile. Since Punkstar contains 30% fragrance oil, this perfume lingers quite a while on my skin and clothes, which is exactly what I want in a scent.”

Best Musk

Phlur Father Figure

$99

$95 at Amazon$99 at Sephora$32 at Nordstrom

Fragance Family: Musk, Woody | Key Notes: Madagascar vanilla, skin musks, patchouli leaf, sandalwood, orris root, iris flower, jasmine dew, waterlily, lush fig, cassis bud | Size: 0.32-1.7 oz

This woodsy and earthy patchouli fragrance from Phlur is a vibrant green perfume that balances hardy notes of orris root, and skin musks (an accord designed to enhance your natural scent similar to a pheromone perfume) with softer notes of waterlily, fig, iris flower, and jasmine dew. The delicate floral and aquatic notes add a brightening feel that instantly uplifts your mood. As it settles, you’ll recognize the classic patchouli note and relish in the grounding aroma. The scent is bold yet undetectable, exuding quiet confidence. We only wish it lasted longer.

Emily Cieslak, associate editor: “What I love about this one is that it never gives me headaches nor overwhelms my senses. It’s there and lingers all day, but it’s not overpowering or nauseating. I also consider the scent to be universal for all seasons. I wore it in the summer and am still wearing it into fall.”

Best Amber

Guerlain Patchouli Paris

View on Guerlain.com$440 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Fragance Family: Amber, woody | Key Notes: Aldehydes, iris, patchouli, ambergris, vanilla | Size: 3.4-6.7 oz

The Guerlain Patchouli Paris fragrance has gained a following for a reason, as it intensifies the earthy fragrance with warm notes of ambergris and vanilla. Upon first spritz, it opens to a fresh aldehyde fragrance that smells soap-like. As it begins to settle, a delicate iris note emerges, giving this fragrance its softer, flirty aroma. Once dry, the heady ambergris and warm vanilla notes blend with earthy patchouli, creating a sensual, contrasting appeal. It’s light yet powerful, and coy yet sophisticated. The fragrance effectively captures the essence of meeting someone new at a bar. It’s exciting and evokes the ‘butterfly feelings’ of a first date. We only wish it had better sillage (aka how well it lingers).

Best Splurge

Perfumehead Extrait de Parfum

View on Perfumehead.comView on Bergdorfgoodman.comView on Violet Grey

Fragrance Family: Spicy | Key Notes: Coriander, cumin, patchouli, Peru balsam, tonka bean| Sizes: 1.7 oz

Boozy and earthy are two words Byrdie Editor Alyssa Kaplan used to describe this fragrance upon first whiff. “It reminds me of a jazz club or a chic boutique hotel,” she explains, which makes sense, given that neither has much in common except for being synonymous with understated luxury. Perfumehead’s Canadian Tuxedo is opulence in a bottle, and at almost $400, it should be. Top notes of coriander, orange flower, and bay leaf introduce the fragrance before it dries down and highlights the heart notes of cumin, patchouli, and cedarwood, and leaves behind a sillage of tonka bean, Peru balsam, and cistus absolute.

Best Woody

Byredo Bibliothéque

$251

$213 at Amazon$235 at NordstromView on Smallflower.com

Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Plum, cinnamon, leather, violet, birch wood, patchouli, vanilla  | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz

Initially released as a candle, fans of Byredo’s Bibliothèque begged for it to be released in perfume form. They got their wish—and turned this fragrance into one of the brand’s top-selling perfumes. What sets this scent apart from other patchouli fragrances is its unique, can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it notes that create a sexy cross between flowers and leather-bound books. Top notes of plum and cinnamon lend a sweet touch to the otherwise woody and intense blend of leather, violet, birch wood, patchouli, and vanilla, capturing the attention of anyone you pass by. Take our word for it, a spritz or two of this perfume will attract compliments and admirers.

Best Fresh

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne

$90 at Sephora$26 at NordstromView on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Key Notes: King Williampear, freesia, patchouli| Sizes: 1, 1.7, 3.4 oz

Described as a traditional chypre fragrance—one that is warm, dry, and built around a woody, mossy accord (in this case, patchouli)—Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia is great for those who love brighter, fruitier scents. It highlights top notes of King William pear, which offers a mellow yet juicy scent, and crisp, clean freesia. Fresh and invigorating, this fragrance is a lot lighter than the other options on this list and lends itself well to summer, sunshine, time spent outside, and sophistication.

Best Floral

Gucci Perfume

$181 at Sephora$111 at UltaView on Walmart

Fragrance Family: Fruity floral | Key Notes: Italian mandarin, white gardenia, jasmine, frangipani flower, patchouli, brown sugar | Sizes: 0.25, 1, 1.6, 3.3 oz

Encased in a gorgeous (pun intended) new bottle, Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia has received quite the makeover. When former Associate Editor Caitlyn Martyn first sniffed this perfume, she said she was instantly struck by a feeling of Y2K nostalgia. “After a quizzical text to my mom, she reminded me that this is very similar (if not identical) to the brand’s original Flora fragrance that she wore often when I was a child,” she explained. The fragrance is built entirely around the gardenia flower, which has long been admired as a source of elixirs and magic potions. This modern floral features top notes of Italian mandarin, blossom accord, and red berries, along with heart notes of white gardenia, jasmine absolute, and frangipani flower. In terms of base notes, the perfume includes a touch of patchouli and brown sugar accord, adding a subtle sweetness and lots of depth to its sillage.

Best Earthy

Henry Rose Dark is Night

$137 at Amazon$120 at Nordstrom$120 at Nordstrom

Fragrance Family: Earthy | Key Notes: Green grass, vetiver, freesia, patchouli, vanilla bean | Sizes: 0.27, 1.7 oz

With just the right amount of patchouli, Dark is Night from Henry Rose is one of our favorites in this category. This scent leans on the woodiness of patchouli while notes of green grass, vetiver, freesia, and vanilla bean round it out and make it complex yet not overpowering. It smells the best once it’s had time to meld with your skin—doing so makes it feel like the fragrance is tailor-made just for you.

Best Fruity

Tom Ford Eau De Parfum

$230 at Amazon$405 at SephoraView on Sobelia.com

Fragrance Family: Fruity | Key Notes: Peach of the grapevine, blood orange, patchouli | Sizes: 0.33, 1, 1.7 oz

Another great option for those who love sweeter scents, Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach is intoxicating and addictive. Featuring pêche de vigne (aka peach of the grapevine), a very rare type of peach that flourishes during the last weeks of summer in France, plus Sicilian blood orange oil, this perfume is as juicy as it gets. What’s more, notes of rum-infused davana oil, patchouli, and sandalwood offer a sultry, sensual vibe that’s completely unmatched.

Best Smoky

Le Labo Eau de Parfum

View on NordstromView on Lelabofragrances.comView on Saks Fifth Avenue

Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Leather, Patchouli, Birch, Tar, Vanilla | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz

Despite being a key olfactory note, patchouli goes under the radar in this perfume from Le Labo. Instead, a smoky blend of leather, birch, and tar takes the lead, making this a heavier, more sensual scent. But if you’re not into that kind of thing, don’t worry; to sweeten things up, vanilla makes an appearance. This is really one of those scents that surprises you when you first smell it—because yes, you pick up that smoky black tar—but it opens up slowly to this sweet, complex fragrance that you’ll never get tired of. Plus, it comes in two sizes: a standard 1.7-ounce bottle and a larger 3.4-ounce bottle, which we swear lasts forever.

Best Unisex

Diptyque Eau de Parfum

$255 at NordstromView on Diptyqueparis.comView on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Fragrance Family: Woody | Key Notes: Patchouli, maté, clary sage, violet| Sizes: 2.5 oz

Honoring the roots of patchouli, Diptyque’s Tempo contains three different patchouli extracts, giving it an elegant and woody smell that’s hard to ignore. All of that could be intense, but thanks to violet leaf, it’s a little more complex and multidimensional. It has a cool aesthetic that looks great on any vanity or countertop, and each spritz offers a mysterious aura that’s nothing short of inviting.

Best Eco-Friendly

Eau So Vert Patchouli

View on Eauso.comView on Twistedlily.com

$20

$17 at Scentbird.com

Fragrance Family: Woody spicy | Key Notes: Italian bergamot, lemon, pink pepper, neroli, patchouli, Turkish rose, amber| Sizes: 1.7 oz

Powered by patchouli and a squeeze of citrus, this must-try fragrance from Eauso Vert is striking. It’s rich, woody, and spicy while also being incredibly light thanks to a twist of lemon, making it a spectacular starting point for someone looking to dip their nose into the world of patchouli. As if there wasn’t already so much to love, the brand also utilizes a “luxury that gives a damn” philosophy that ensures the formula, packaging, and supply chain practices are done with sustainability in mind. This particular fragrance boasts 97.8% biodegradable elements and a recyclable glass bottle. We’re also huge fans of experiences, so the fact that the brand curates Spotify playlists to suit the vibes of each perfume only makes us love it more.

Best Perfume Oil

Lumira Tobacco Perfume Oil

View on Atelierlumira.com

Fragrance Family: Smoky | Key Notes: Cardamom, clove bud, tangerine, tobacco, patchouli, musk | Sizes: 0.3 oz

In order to truly appreciate this perfume oil, allow me to paint you a picture. Imagine you’re standing in Havana, breathing in smoky cigars, eyeing playful colors, and sensing the ghosts of the area’s glamorous past. If you could bottle that up, it would smell vibrant, intoxicating, and worthy of obsession, right? Well, that’s where Lumira’s Cuban Tobacco Perfume Oil comes in. This sustainable perfume oil captures the energy of Cuba with warm notes of cardamom and clove bud, while tangerine gives it a little tang. Once the oil has had time to mingle with the skin, it mellows down and offers a subtle hint of tobacco, patchouli, and musk. “It has a great balance between freshness and spice,” Kaplan says. “I use it as a nighttime fragrance year-round.”

Best Affordable

Snif Sweet Ash Eau de Toilette

$65 at UltaView on Snif.co

Fragrance Family: Earthy | Key Notes: Juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka, vanilla bean, white moss, Patchouli | Sizes: 0.3, 1 oz

Fragrances are a luxury item, but that doesn’t always equate to spending a ton of money. Sweet Ash from Snif is a fantastic budget-friendly option that smells a lot more expensive than it actually is. The sweet yet rich and woody perfume is one of Martyn’s favorites, and it’s because of how complex the fragrance is. When spritzed, the perfume is inviting and warm thanks to notes of moss, patchouli, and fir balsam, which are balanced by hints of tonka and vanilla bean. As the day progresses, the fragrance becomes sweeter and subtler, she says. The cherry on top is the brand’s free trial period, which allows you to test out the fragrance in your own home before buying it.

Best Sweet

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

View on Sephora$143 at UltaView on Chanel.com

Fragrance Family: Floral | Key Notes: Orange, patchouli, Turkish rose | Sizes: 1.2, 1.7, 3.4 oz

Coco Mademoiselle is like the cooler little sister of Chanel No. 5. It’s fun and flirty while being simultaneously grown-up and sophisticated—a quality the brand sums up as “spirited.” If you prefer a sweeter fragrance, Mademoiselle won’t disappoint. It opens with a bright note of juicy orange, followed by a bouquet of florals including patchouli and Turkish rose that lingers for hours. This fragrance really shines on hot and humid summer days thanks to its light, clean, and perfectly sweet dry down.

Best for Evening

Tom Ford Noir De Noir

$423

$267 at AmazonView on Jomashop.comView on Realry.com

Fragrance Family: Warm floral | Key Notes: Black rose, black truffle, patchouli | Sizes: 1.7, 3.4 oz

Looking for the ultimate date night fragrance? The search ends here. Tom Ford’s Noir de Noir is a sophisticated, seductive perfume that smells warm and inviting on the skin—the kind of scent that will make your companion lean in. Like many of Ford’s fragrances, it has a gender-neutral vibe that blends a powdery soft floral touch with a hint of black truffle before drying down to a dark, leathery finish. A spritz of this perfume is perfect for a dimly lit cocktail bar but comes across as a little too intense for casual daytime wear.

Best for Daytime

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

$182

$140 at Amazon$145 at Sephora$145 at Ulta

Fragrance Family: Floral | Key Notes: Vanilla, jasmine, orange blossom, patchouli | Sizes: 0.33, 0.68, 1, 1.7, 3.4, 5 oz

Viktor&Rolf’s Flowerbomb is a classic floral fragrance that’s been a bestseller since it launched in the early 2000s. Light and feminine, it starts with a gentle herbal note of green tea before evolving to soft florals, including jasmine and rose. Base notes of patchouli, musk, and vanilla come through at the end, giving Flowerbomb a sophisticated feel (although it’s undeniably a youthful-smelling perfume). If you’re looking for a soft and pretty scent, you’ll want to spritz on most days before leaving the house; this is a great choice.