Story time. My all-time favourite lipsticks are the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks, and I can confidently say that they stand out for more than just colour and formulation. It’s the entire experience, and a key part of that experience is the scent. You could smell them while you’re applying them: that delicate, powdery aroma, the blend of subtle vanilla.
It’s what prompted me to ask the question: Are there perfumes that mirror that beautiful lipstick fragrance? The answer, thankfully, is yes! If you’re searching for a scent that smells like a classic lipstick, you’ve come to the right place, as I share with you what I have found on my hunt for fragrances that smell like lipstick.
1. Kenzo Flower EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kenzo |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Floral |
| Notes | Top: Bulgarian Rose, Hawthorn, Black Currant, and Mandarin Orange Middle: Parma Violet, Rose, Opoponax, and Jasmine Base: Vanilla, White Musk, and Incense |
| Release year | 2000 |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Alberto Morillas and Christian Dussoulier |
Kenzo Flower is an amber floral icon. It’s the perfect everyday scent, offering a moderate projection that keeps you subtly fragrant. It is a unique women’s fragrance, but why is it in this list?
Out of all the fragrances mentioned, this is the closest one to resembling the scent of Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. It carries a magical blend of powdery rose, violet, and vanilla. The Bulgarian rose and Parma violet create a classically cosmetic, almost waxy texture reminiscent of a lipstick bullet. Then, the base of creamy vanilla and soft white musk adds a touch of sweetness and warmth, which is what I mostly get from my favourite lipstick.
2. Givenchy Irresistible EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Givenchy |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Fruity |
| Notes | Top: Pear and Ambrette (Musk Mallow) Middle: Rose and Iris Base: Musk and Virginia Cedar |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Fanny Bal, Dominique Ropion, and Anne Flipo |
Givenchy Irresistible is a perfectly balanced blend of juicy pear and delicate rose, grounded by a musky base. It’s the kind of fragrance that’s easy to wear day or night. Its unexpected pairing of rose and iris gives it a subtle lipstick-y feel (in a good way).
While the pear adds a touch of brightness, the creamy rose and powdery iris create a subtle scent that is a lipstick-like fragrance. It’s not a dead-on dupe, but the blend of floral sweetness and powdery depth definitely prompts the familiar and luxurious scent of a tube of lipstick.
3. Cacharel Yes I Am EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cacharel |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Fruity |
| Notes | Top: Raspberry, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot, and Lemon Middle: Gardenia, Ginger flower, Amber, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, and Rose Base: Milk, Caramel, Vanilla, Cardamom, Liquorice, Coumarin, Benzoin, Sandalwood, and Amberwood |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Honorine Blanc and Christophe Raynaud |
Cacharel Yes I Am is one of my favourite lactonic scents. And of course, we can’t talk about this in a list like this without pointing out the shape of the bottle itself! I mean, come on, it is literally shaped like lipstick.
As for the scent, it’s really all about that creamy milk note mingling with the vanilla, caramel, and powdery florals. The milk note gives it a unique, almost lotion-like quality that perfectly mimics the creamy, slightly waxy texture of some lipsticks. The combination of raspberry and rose is what makes it unique in this category, but when combined with the vanilla and milk notes, it hits the spot.
4. Guerlain Insolence EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Guerlain |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Fruity |
| Notes | Top: Violet Middle: Wild Strawberry and Orange Blossom Base: Iris, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, and Sandalwood |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Guerlain |
Last, but not least, Guerlain Insolence. A bold and distinctive fragrance. This powdery scent is not hyped enough, if you ask me. This is the second closest to the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick; The violet gives an intensely powdery, almost chalky quality that perfectly mimics the texture of certain vintage lipsticks.
The vanilla and tonka bean add a touch of sweetness, while the iris deepens the powdery effect, creating a sophisticated and undeniably lipstick-like aroma. Insolence would be the classic red lip of perfumes.
All these incredible perfumes, and so many more, are waiting for you. And if you’re in the UAE, the best place to find them at unbeatable prices, along with a tempting selection of lipsticks to complete the experience, is at V Perfumes.
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