"Growing up, my perfume “collection” was actually just one single perfume: Juicy Couture’s Viva La Juicy. The bottle sat proudly on my night stand, and I didn’t leave the house without a spritz (or 10) of my signature scent. Nowadays, as a beauty editor, my fragrance experience is a little different. Rather than having one perfume I repurchase over and over, I’ve found myself with a drawer of scents that I’m constantly rotating through and putting to the test in the name of science. But over the past year or so, I’ve noticed that when I’m not testing something new, there’s a 99% chance I reach for a perfume from Phlur.
Phlur, which originally launched in 2015, then re-launched in 2022 by influencer Chriselle Lim, has become an industry favorite for modern fragrances inspired by memories, moments, experiences, and feelings. You might be familiar with Missing Person, their cult-favorite fragrance that went viral for its nostalgia-inducing scent that somehow feels inherently recognizable. While I too was on the Missing Person bandwagon for quite some time, my vanity now consists of an army of Phlur fragrances that I’ve been rotating between for years.
Whether you’ve been considering trying Phlur out for the first time or want to add another Phlur perfume to your stash, these are the best eight Phlur fragrances I’ve tried.
The Best Phlur Fragrances
- Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum
- Phlur Soft Spot Eau de Parfum
- Phlur Father Figure Eau De Parfum
- Phlur Vanilla Skin Eau De Parfum
- Phlur Golden Rule Eau de Parfum
- Phlur Strawberry Letter Eau de Parfum
- Phlur Solar Power Eau de Parfum
The Best Your-Skin-But Better Phlur Perfume: Missing Person
Key notes: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Blonde Wood
Inarguably Phlur’s most talked-about perfume, Missing Person went viral for its nostalgic, your-skin-but-better scent that you can’t quite put your finger on, but feels undeniably familiar. Perfumer Constance Georges-Picot, who worked on Missing Person, wanted the scent to encompass the clean-skin scent of just getting out of the bath. The result is a fragrance that’s perfect for anyone who considers themselves someone who doesn’t like an intense perfume.
Missing Person is one of my favorite day-to-day perfumes for its understated scent that never overwhelms me. To me, a couple spritzes feel less like a perfume, and more like maybe just naturally smell really good. If I ever pick up a coat or sweater I’ve worn with lingering Missing Person on it, it makes me want to wrap myself in immediately. I also swear by the body oil version of this scent, which I use straight out of the shower almost every day. While it’s enough to give me a subtle fragrance that lingers until the next time I shower, I also find that it’s the perfect base for whatever perfume I spritz on later, Missing Person or not.
Best Nighttime Phlur Perfume: Father Figure
Key notes: Lush Fig, Jasmine Dew, Sandalwood
Phlur’s Father Figure perfume is vivid and creamy, but still manages to smell light and intimate. While designing Father Figure’s scent profile, Lim worked with Frank Voelkl, the perfumer responsible for creating Le Labo’s Santal 33. Voelkl created Father Figure to smell like “hidden gardens,” and to “have a contrast between vivid gardens and something more skin-like.”
To me, Father Figure is the ultimate nighttime perfume. It has a sexiness to it that smells like you might have just been in an Uber with a boyfriend whose scent subtly rubbed off on you. Its base of skin musks and patchouli makes it feel totally intimate; like anyone who’s near you would want to lean a little closer to get a better whiff.
Best Warm Phlur Perfume: Vanilla Skin
Key notes: Sugar Crystals, Cashmere Wood, Vanilla
One of my all-time favorite scents, Phlur’s Vanilla Skin is warm and sweet and totally addicting. Perfumer Clement Gavarry, who created Vanilla Skin, wanted the fragrance to “play with contrasts” against vanilla. He used spice, airy florals, and warm woods to create a multidimensional take on vanilla, rather than one that’s entirely sweet.
To me, Vanilla Skin is the embodiment of a cold-weather scent. It smells cozy and warm, and is what I imagine a cottage in the woods would smell like if a fresh batch of cookies were in the oven. I ordinarily don’t love gourmand scents, but this one is complex enough that it encompasses the warmth of vanilla without smelling too overwhelming or sweet.
Best Soft Phlur Perfume: Soft Spot
Key notes: Vanilla Orchid, Sandalwood, Musk
Soft Spot is another your-skin-but-better scent that’s memorable, but not overbearing. Perfumer Honorine Blanc describes Soft Spot as “an unexpected duality of softness and strength,” which perfectly encapsulates its unique scent. Soft Spot combines skin-like, musky notes with soft citrus and watery florals for a fragrance that’s inviting and intimate.
Soft Spot’s skin-like scent makes it a year-round staple for me, which I can’t say about other musky perfumes. While its warm notes make it sound like it might make it a fall and winter fragrance, Soft Spot’s scent is both timeless and season-less to me—like a warm hug you want to linger in a second longer. Much like its name, its soft, addicting, and the perfect day-to-day fragrance.
Best Floral Phlur Perfume: Golden Rule
Key notes: Mandarin Splash, Jasmine Blossom, and Coconut Milk
As someone who usually avoids floral scents at all costs, Golden Rule completely changed my opinion on them. Perfumer Frank Voelkl wanted the scent to “capture the magnetic, alluring energy of a person with confidence and ownership of themselves.” By mixing “energetic, youthful notes with sensual undertones,” he created a scent that manages to be both fresh and warm.
Golden Rule is the first floral fragrance that has managed to weasle its way into my perfume rotation. While floral perfumes usually lean quite mature, Golden Rule incorporates fruity notes for a take on florals that’s totally fresh. Its scent is very feminine, but the notes of mandarin and coconut make it energetic and youthful. I don’t find any one note to be too overbearing—instead, they all work together to leave a memorable scent that’s bound to make Golden Rule one of 2025’s most popular perfumes.
Best Sweet Phlur Perfume: Mood Ring
Key notes: Fruit Gummies, Orange Flower, Glazed Musk
If you’re someone who gravitates toward sweet perfumes, look no further than Mood Ring. Perfumer Frank Voelkl describes Mood Ring as “a fragrance that will make you think you’re smelling in color,” which describes its vibrant effect to a T.
I think of Mood Ring as the grown-up version of one of the body sprays that lived on my dresser in high school. While the notes of fruit gummies could have left Mood Ring smelling juvenile, the combination of orange flower and glazed musk make it clear this is an adults-only fragrance, with the added nostalgia of the scents we grew up loving. This scent is bright, energetic, and perfect for anyone who wants a signature scent that’s a little out of the box.
Best Fruity Phlur Perfume: Strawberry Letter
Key notes: Strawberry Gariguette, Cassis Leaf, Apple Blossom
Phlur’s Strawberry Letter captures the feeling of the first warm, spring day and bottles it up to sit on your vanity. Perfumer Gabriela Chelariu aimed for Strawberry Letter to deliver “a high-definition, ultra-saturated strawberry essence that transports you through time.”
While Strawberry Letter is a sweet, gourmand fragrance, it’s actually one of the sexiest perfumes I own. The strawberry and apple notes work with amber and tonka bean for a crisp, bright, fruity scent that’s playful and chic. Something about its fruity fragrance gives me the same feeling of nostalgia that the first warm days of the year always bring, and it’s become one of my most reached-for spring and summer scents.
Best Beachy Phlur Perfume: Solar Power
Key notes: Sun-Drenched Bergamot, Orange Flower, Solar Musk
You know the salty-skin smell after a long day at the beach? That’s Solar Power. Perfumer Greg Husar created Solar Power to be “inspired by the diffusive glow of sunlight” by combining golden floral musk and citrus notes like orange flower and bergamot.
I’m someone who absolutely loves a scent that embodies the summery smell of sunscreen, which Solar Power does in a way that isn’t totally obvious. The citrus notes pair with warm scents of neroli, musk, and driftwood for fragrance that literally smells like a summer’s day. I love it so much that I also got the travel version to bring with me on any and all beach trips I find myself going on. Solar Power has been my #1 summer fragrance for years, and I literally count down the days until I can work it into my fragrance rotation every spring.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline has been covering fashion at The Everygirl since 2018. She edits all fashion content, writes in-depth trend reports, and curates the direction of the fashion and beauty sections. She’s worked with top brands like Nordstrom, & Other Stories, Sézane, and Everlane.
Products included in graphic linked within the article. Feature graphic images credited to Phlur.