12 Best Lancôme Perfumes for Women
Updated January 2023
How We Found the Best Lancôme Perfumes
5 Experts Interviewed
18 Fragrances Tested
Top 12 Picks
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Madison McCord
Diploma in Perfumery Science and Sensory Evaluation
Lancôme is the Parisian cosmetic company that we all know and love. It’s ironic rose logo is recognisable all over the world and the brand has come to define the idea of elegant European chic in the beauty industry. Although Lancôme may be famous for their makeup products, the brand began with fragrances. Armand Petitjean took five perfumes to the 1935 World’s Fair in Brussels, starting the brand as a perfumery. Over the years, Lancôme expanded out to skincare, bringing in celebrity ambassadors like Emma Watson and Julia Roberts.
The first five Lancôme scents were called ‘Bocages Conquete’, ‘Kypre’, ‘Tendre Nuit’, and ‘Tropiques’. In 1964, Lancôme was purchased by L’Oreal, who took over the production of their perfume range. The brand has an impressive 152 perfumes in its catalogue, making it one of the leading labels in the industry, defining the idea of a luxury perfume.
We’re setting out to answer the question of which Lancôme perfume is best. We’ll help you determine the best smelling fragrance by comparing the inspiration behind the scents and the notes that make up their composition.
Summary List
Lancôme Scents Ranked by Cologne Critic
Why we chose it
Idole is our Editor’s choice for the best smelling fragrance by Lancôme, launching in 2019. Adriana Medina-Baez, Nadege le Garlantezec, and Shyamala Maisondieu are the noses behind this scent. Idole is a daytime fragrance that will see you from spring through to fall.
This musky floral fragrance includes sustainably sourced Isparta rose petal essence which is exclusively made for Lancôme in Turkey. Centifolia Rose is also grown for Lancôme in France, giving this fragrance two unique notes.
Idole is described as having “clean and glow” accords. You’ll smell bergamot and pear in the top notes, while the heart notes focus on Indian jasmine, Rose de Mai, and Turkish rose. This fragrance finishes with base notes of vanilla and white musk.
Main Accords
- Rose
- Fruity
- Musky
Our Take
La Vie Est Belle is perhaps the most popular women’s perfume by Lancôme. It’s one fragrance that you’ll see everywhere from television advertisements to fashion magazines. Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion, and Olivier Polge are the noses behind this floral and fruity scent.
Uniquely, La Vie Est Belle is a fall and winter fragrance which opens to top notes of black currant and pear. You’ll catch a hint of iris in the heart notes, along with jasmine and orange blossom. The base notes close out with patchouli, praline, tonka bean, and vanilla. This fragrance is inspired by the idea of seeing life through rose coloured eyes, taking pleasure in the little things and seeing joy in every day.
La Vie Est Belle took three years and 5000 formulations to complete. No woman’s perfume collection is complete without this scent.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Fruity
- Vanilla
Our Take
The original Tresor fragrance was released in 1952, before being given a reformulation in 1990. The 90s version of Tresor is largely considered to be a classic, with Lancôme releasing a 30th anniversary edition of the scent in 2020.
This oriental floral perfume was formulated by Sophia Grojsman and is one of the most popular women’s perfumes in the world. The top notes open with apricot blossom, peach, bergamot, and lilac. This fall and winter scent has heliotrope, iris, rose, and jasmine in its heart notes. You’ll catch apricot, amber, musk, vanilla, sandalwood, and peach in the base notes.
If you’re interested in the history of perfume, Tresor is one fragrance you cannot miss.
Main Accords
- Floral
- Fruity
- Powdery
Our Take
If you want a floral and feminine fragrance by Lancôme, look no further than Poeme. Jacques Cavallier is the nose behind this fragrance, which launched in 1995. It’s a fall and winter scent which will see you from day to night. Poeme has an original structure, not following the classic three-part formula that we see in most perfumes. It contrasts bitter and sweet notes to create a sensual aura that is intoxicating.
You’ll smell Himalayan poppy, plum, bergamot, and peach as some of the top notes. The extensive selection of heart notes include mimosa, vanilla flower, rose, and leather. Poeme closes with base notes of amber, cedar, orange blossom, musk, tonka bean, and vanilla.
Main Accords
- Powdery
- White Floral
- Yellow Floral
Our Take
For a floral fall and winter scent, consider Tresor Midnight Rose. This scent is a seductive twist on the classic Tresor perfume, embracing the idea of Parisian romance and the concept of love at first sight. This sensual fragrance launched in 2011 with Emma Watson as its global ambassador.
You’ll smell raspberry and rose as the top notes, with heart notes of cassis, peony, pink pepper, and jasmine. The base notes of musk, vanilla, and Virginia cedar close out this scent. Tresor Midnight Rose is a sophisticated but sensual fragrance and one of Lancôme’s best smelling perfumes.
Main Accords
- Rose
- Fruity
- Sweet
Our Take
Looking for something a little different? Try Magie Noire. The perfume takes its name from the French for ‘black magic’ and it has earned its place in Lancôme’s hall of fame. Similar to Poeme, it doesn’t follow the three-part structure.
This scent changes direction between the notes to create an exotic scent of Bulgarian rose and jasmine, with ylang-ylang and other oriental notes. You can wear Magie Noire as a winter fragrance for night time.
In the top notes, you’ll catch bergamot, cassia, hiacynth, and raspberry. The middle notes contain cedar, honey, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley. This perfume closes with base notes of amber, sandalwood, spices, and musk.
Main Accords
- Green
- Woody
- Earthy
Our Take
Launching in 2015, La Nuit Tresor was formulated by Amandine Clerc-Marie and Christophe Raynaud. It takes inspiration from the original Tresor fragrance and gives it a darker twist with notes of black rose and natural incense. Penelope Cruz was the face of this perfume, which is shaped like a diamond with a black satin rose.
This is a night-time fragrance for fall and winter with a focus on oriental and vanilla notes. La Nuit Tresor opens with bergamot, pear, and tangerine. You’ll smell black rose, strawberry, passionfruit, and vanilla orchid in the hear notes. Caramel, praline, incense, coffee, papyrus, and coumarin close out the base notes.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Fruity
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
Hypnose is an oriental vanilla perfume which launched in 2005, with Annick Menardo and Thierry Wasser as the nose behind the scent. The fragrance is inspired by the idea of womanhood, with the body replicating the hourglass silhouette of a woman. This is a fall and winter fragrance which will see you from day to night with ease.
The fragrance notes are fairly simplistic for this perfume. It opens with a top note of passionflower, before giving way to heart notes of gardenia and jasmine. Vanilla and vetiver finish this perfume with the base notes.
Main Accords
- Floral
- Vanilla
- White Floral
Our Take
Launching in 2000, Miracle is a revelation of a perfume, focusing on the idea of natural beauty and cherishing the miracle of life. It is a modern and oriental perfume with a flowery heart and powdery base. Alberto Morillas and Harry Fremont are the nose behind this fragrance, which is best kept for daytime wear during the spring and summer.
The top note contains freesia and litchi. The middle notes are a blend of finger, magnolia, mandarin orange, pepper, and jasmine. Amber and musk close out this perfume.
Main Accords
- Floral
- Citrus
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
O de Lancôme is a unique perfume on this list. Launching in 1969, it’s one of the oldest fragrances on this list, with Robert Gonnon as the nose for the scent. The fragrance screams spring and summer with refreshing citrus notes that revitalise your soul.
This daytime perfume opens with bergamot, honeysuckle, lemon, and mandarin orange in the top notes. You’ll smell basil, coriander, jasmine, and rosemary in the heart notes. Oakmoss, sandalwood, and vetiver close out this fragrance.
Main Accords
- Floral
- Citrus
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
The original Tresor Midnight Rose was made as a youthful and contemporary take on the ‘Tresor’ scent. The Elixir took this updated version and gave it an Arabic twist. This oriental perfume is a night-time scent for fall and winter, blending floral notes with sensual twists. This is a fragrance for the modern woman who isn’t afraid of embracing her sexuality.
Black currant, raspberry, and pink pepper make up the top notes. You’ll smell jasmine, rose, and peony and in the heart notes. The base notes are made up of cedar, patchouli, oud, and vanilla.
Main Accords
- Rose
- Fruity
- Floral
Our Take
In 2010, Lancôme released another interpretation of the 90s Tresor scent. Dominique Ropion and Veronique Nyberg are the nose behind this scent, which blends fruity and floral notes with a wood base.
Tresor In Love is a day-time scent for spring. You’ll smell bergamot, pear, pink pepper, and nectarine in the top notes. Peach, jasmine, talf rose, and violet make up the heart notes. The fragrance finishes with base notes of musk and Virginia cedar.
Main Accords
- Sweet
- Fruity
- Powdery
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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.