8 Extremely Chill Perfumes For When You Want To Smell Like ‘Skin’

Some people want their perfume to fill up a train carriage or remain in the room for hours when they leave. To that, I say all power to you but also RUDE unless you’re wearing something perfect and intoxicating, like Tom Ford Black Orchid.

Other people want their perfume to linger only when people are inside their personal space. I am one of these people (unless I’m going out, in which case brace yourselves). I like perfume that smells like nothing. Like “skin” is the term most beauty folks use for this. Something that seems like it becomes a part of you. I’m not talking about LITERAL skin smell, or B.O. for anyone immature enough to suggest that. I mean that amazing, sexy natural type of scent that’s a little naked and extremely subtle – but still turns heads when you walk past.

The kind that has strangers asking what you’re wearing in the middle of the street, you know?

Spoiler: I’ve found a bunch for you, and bc I’m really nice I’ll share ’em with you even though it’ll now mean I’m ruined for life since you’ll all go buy them.

ESCENTRIC MOLECULE 01

Escentric Molecule 01, 30ml, $56

This fragrance isn’t even really a fragrance – it’s entire point is to react to your body chemistry and create a pheromone-like effect. It has one note – Iso E Super – which is a bit sandalwood/cedar-ish on but in an incredibly muted way. This is one of those scents where you forget you have it on until someone sniffs deeply near you and demands to know what you’re wearing.

GLOSSIER YOU

Glossier You EDP, 50ml, $80

Yes, you can only buy it overseas. But it absolutely warrants a mention because the entire development of this cult scent was built around mimicking the scent of skin. It’s heavy on the base notes which means it feel “worn in” from the moment you spritz it on, and the vibe is kind of fresh laundry/post-sex minus but not gross. If that makes sense. It’s bloody good and I have two bottles I’ve begged/pleaded people who have visited NYC to buy me.

MAISON MARGIELA LAZY SUNDAY MORNING

Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning EDT, 100ml, $160

The best way to describe this scent is CLEAN. It smells like fresh linen, like your towel straight out of the dryer, like clothes after you’ve ironed them. It’s light and airy, full of soft floral notes like iris and lily of the valley. Maison Margiela’s Replica fragrances all nail the scent of a particular “moment”, and this one really feels like rolling around in fresh sheets with someone you love.

JO MALONE WOOD SAGE AND SEA SALT COLOGNE

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, 100ml, $198

An iconic scent for Jo Malone, this is aquatic and almost mineral-like. The sage base keeps things feeling a bit earth and lived-in, while the sea salt note brings the freshness. It’s one for people who want to smell like they’ve been on a deserted beach and then hiked back through the bush before work.

PHILOSOPHY AMAZING GRACE

Philosophy Amazing Grace EDP, 60ml, $65

This fragrance has been around for yonks, and is a go-to for people who love that powdery-fresh type of skin scent. The light musk and bergamot notes soften down to this really subtle day-long scent that you’ll catch a whiff of every now and again. Super feminine and super pretty.

TOM FORD EAU DE SOLEIL BLANC

Tom Ford Eau De Soleil Blanc, 50ml, $185

A lighter take on the extremely lush Soleil Blanc scent, this is bright and a bit citrusy, but in a warm way – not the overly crisp citrus vibe you’d think – thanks to it’s floral amber notes.

ELLIS BROOKLYN MYTH

Ellis Brooklyn Myth EDP, 50ml, $146

Ellis Brooklyn is a newish brand for Mecca, and I’m dying over this subtle, warm scent. It’s quite a strange one – I’ve had plenty of people ask me what I’m wearing because the vibe is unique. The notes are tiger orchid, liquid musks and white cedarwood, but really it just smells sexy and skin-like.

JULIETTE HAS A GUN NOT A PERFUME

Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume EDP, 100ml, $209

Like Escentrics Molecule 01, this fragrance is about NOT being a fragrance – it’s made simply of cetalox, a common base note for fragrances, and the effect is an incredibly subtle, skin-like scent. It really lives up to it’s name and feels like you’re not wearing anything at all, and just smell amazing as is.

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