For those days when you want to radiate confidence and a touch of allure, these are the nine chic and effortlessly sexy perfumes to douse your skin with...
When it comes to the many long-lasting perfumes at our disposal, there's a genre to suit every mood and setting. Fresh and floral fragrances, for instance, are ideal for the spring months, while a powdery skin scent might lend itself to daily wear. Equally, there are blends of the moodier description, that were made to be worn under ambient lighting and paired with a glass of merlot. These sultry perfumes - with their spicy facets and musky base notes - can spark confidence and like any good hairdo' or swipe of lipstick, really complete a look. Thus making them perfect for a date night - or just went you want to smell like the lead of your own romantic epic.
Of course, we all have our own interpretations of sexy. But where these 9 perfumes are concerned, we think they're like the little black dresses of scent.
9 sexy perfumes that are perfect for date-night wear
Fragrance is very subjective but there are some blends among the best perfumes for women that were formulated to evoke sensuality. Enticing notes of musk and tobacco, along with peppery hints and shots of cognac are just a few of the ingredients that elicit a sense of intimacy and intrigue. All of which, can be found in amongst these date-night signatures.
RRP: £112 for 50ml | Key notes: rose infusion, Taif Rose and coffee.
"This perfume is beautifully seductive," says Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson: "It boasts undertones of rose that are veiled by a rich smokiness, which initially clings onto the skin and hangs in the air. The rose remerges though and melds with that smoky spice and coffee for a very sophisticated and mature scent, minus the heady or stuffiness of other traditional rose perfumes."
Who should buy it: those who love rose and other classical florals but want something edgier and a little moody.
RRP: from £185 for 50ml | Key notes: vanilla bean, pink pepper, cognac and cherry
Described by the brand as a 'A Sensual Shot of Provocation,' this French perfume is Digital Beauty Writer, Sennen Prickett's go-to when she wants to feel and smell sexy. "If I had to pick one fragrance that oozes all things sensual and sexiness in a single sniff, it would have to be INITIO’s Narcotic Delight thanks to its moreish blend of soft vanilla bean, spicy pink pepper, warming cognac, smoky tobacco and a twist of juicy cherry. This true evening scent transports me to being dressed up to the nines, sitting at a swanky dinner table, sipping on boozy cocktails and listening to jazz. What more could you ask for from a sexy scent?"
Who should buy it: those who love cherry perfumes and boozy perfumes all at once.
RRP: from £83 for 50ml | Key notes: bergamot, mandarin, pink pepper, blackcurrant, white amber, cedarwood, lime, suede, patchouli and vetiver
There's just something about a scent that harnesses a vintage feel that screams sexy to us - and Jo Loves' Amber, Lime and Bergamot does just that. It marries an earthy and citrusy burst of bergamot and mandarin with spice and a fruity richness, which then simmers down into its smooth and smoky base of patchouli and suede. It's one of our team's favourite Jo Loves perfumes and is ideal for autumn/winter wear as well as for an evening signature.
Who should buy it: those who favour woody and versatile scents with an overarching warmth.
RRP: from £150 for 50ml | Key notes: bergamot, juniper berries, lemon, pepper, incense, orris, pine needle, amber, sandalwood and vanilla
A favoured date night scent of Beauty Editor, Stephanie Maylor, Byredo's Gypsy Water balances sparkling top notes of bergamot and juniper berries with deeper hints of aromatic pine needle and warming notes of incense, amber, sandalwood and vanilla. It's a lovely unisex perfume that carries an earthy warmth and mystery to it.
Who should buy it: those who want to leave a lasting and individualistic impression.
RRP: £223 for 100ml | Key notes: cherry, amber, almond, ambroxan, Indonesian patchouli essence, saffron and tonka bean accord
Inspired by Paris' vibrant Pigalle district, this perfume has become a favourite of Digital Beauty Editor, Aleesha Badkar's: "I've never been a huge fan of overwhelmingly smokey oudy fragrances, but BDK's sophisticated blend takes the rich wood and mixes it in with sweets, spices and citruses to create a smoke-forward cherry fragrance with a sharp base of ambroxan, benzoin, vanilla, rum and amber. And as an extrait de parfum, rather than an eau de parfum, the 30% concentration means this will last from morning til night, or the other way around... A sultry evening of smudged red lipstick, silky black fabrics and crystal-cut tumblers in a bottle."
Who should buy it: those seeking a sultry elevation on fruity perfumes.
RRP: £165 for 75ml | Key notes: juniper berry, cedar, jasmine and tonka bean
Regarded as one of the best Diptyque perfumes, Orphéon marries juniper berry and jasmine with smooth tonka bean and warming cedar, for a scent that is smoky and delicately powdery all at once. It captures a chic, dimly lit bar setting in its notes, which as we know, lends itself perfectly to an evening and date-like scent.
Who should buy it: lovers of vanilla and woody signatures, seeking something smokier
RRP: from £67 for 30ml | Key notes: pear accord, mandarin essence, vanilla, orange blossom, white flowers, black coffee accord, cedarwood essence, white musk and patchouli
YSL's Black Opium is something of a cult favourite, beloved for its dark and sensual trail. The scent centres around creamy vanilla, while hints of roasted black coffee and musk add depth. It also features delicate white florals and a juicy hint of pear, which just add to the desire to lean in and inhale.
Who should buy it: fans of vanilla perfumes and musks.
RRP: £130 for 100ml | Key notes: black pepper, juniper berry oil, ambroxan, leather, musk, sandalwood and caledonia.
This Charlotte Tilbury scent was formulated to embody sexiness and it has endeared itself to Digital Beauty Editor, Fiona McKim: "I had overlooked this perfume until very recently along with all the brand’s other scents (to my shame) having assumed the best Charlotte Tilbury products were glam, glow-boosting makeup. Then, at the launch of her epic Covent Garden flagship I was personally doused in More Sex EDP by the great woman herself and realised what an oversight I’d made. As the name suggests this is a frisky blend of skin-like musk and leather that’s grown-up and incredibly moreish. It really looks the part on my dressing table and it contains sandalwood oil, known to boost feelings of seduction - who couldn’t use a bit more of that?"
Who should it: fans of skin-like scents and musks.
RRP: From £67 for 30ml | Key notes: jasmine sambac, cashmeran and vanilla bourbon
Another classic go-to for those wanting a scent that feels sexy and luxurious. It blends jasmine with warm and silky soft cashmeran, while its slightly leathery base of vanilla adds a delicious depth and sweetness to the scent.
Who should buy it: lovers of amber perfumes.
What makes a perfume smell sexy
As mentioned, this is subjective, as certain notes might appeal or offer a sense of familiarity to some more than others. That said, there are a few notes that are often attributed to smelling sultry or evening-like.
Hints of spice, like cardamom and pink pepper can be very alluring, as can more heady florals. Rose, for instance, has quite romantic connotations, so you might link the scent with intimacy. Speaking of which, skin-like aromas - aldehydes and musks, for example - can also afford quite a sensual impression.
