Editors in Beauty Consensus: These 13 Fragrances from Nordstrom Are Most Likely to Attract Compliments.

      (Image credit: Original art by Audrey Hedlund)

      From my perspective, there are two primary categories of perfumes. The first type is what I refer to as a "slow-burn" scent. Initially, you may be uncertain about it, but over time, you find yourself increasingly drawn to it. Eventually, you come to recognize that it has become one of your favorite fragrances. The second type is characterized by an instant connection. You fall for it immediately, possibly adopting it as your signature scent. Recently, however, I’ve come to identify a third type, which I term the "compliment-magnet" category. These fragrances are guaranteed to elicit numerous compliments from friends, family, and even strangers on the street. Whatever you choose to call it—innate charm or universal appeal—these scents possess it. Interestingly, many of the most reliable and attention-grabbing fragrances can be found at Nordstrom. This realization prompted me to compile a shopping guide. Below is a curated list of 13 Nordstrom perfumes that are highly likely to garner compliments, according to five fragrance-enthusiast editors at WWW.

      BYREDO

      Casablanca Lily Extrait De Parfum

      Fragrance notes: Plum, gardenia, carnation, Indian tuberose

      If you spot this perfume on your vanity, we’ll know you have an exceptional taste in scents. Byredo's Casablanca Lily is a hidden gem—an IYKYK fragrance that may not receive the same hype as others like Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost, and Bal d'Afrique, but it truly deserves the compliments. As noted by WWW's beauty director Erin Jahns, it ranks among her top Byredo favorites. Part of the brand's highly concentrated Night Veils line, it evokes feelings of mystery, sensuality, and beauty of the night. Notes like plum, gardenia, carnation, Indian tuberose, rosewood, and honey reveal themselves gradually, akin to petals blooming in the quiet of night. It’s modern, distinctive, and captivating.

      AMOUAGE

      Guidance Eau De Parfum

      Fragrance notes: Pear, frankincense, hazelnut, saffron, rose, jasmine sambac, osmanthus, cistus, sandalwood, akigalawood, ambergris, vanilla

      For those who appreciate rich, elegant, and statement-making fragrances that are not overwhelming, Amouage's Guidance Eau de Parfum is a perfect choice. It features a dynamic blend of fruity, nutty, woody, and floral notes, including pear, hazelnut, vanilla, sandalwood, rose, and jasmine. The brand poetically describes the enchanting scent as one that "reads like a poem, smells like an embrace, and feels like a word of wisdom." Jamie Schneider, WWW’s senior beauty editor, endorses it as one of her favorites and recognizes it on anyone who wears it, which explains its status as a Who What Wear 100 beauty award winner.

      D.S. & Durga

      I Don't Know What

      Fragrance notes: Bergamot essence, iso E Super, vetiver acetate, civetone, firsantol, ambrox super

      While technically a "fragrance enhancer" instead of a traditional perfume, this formulation is intended to be layered with other scents to create a certain elusive quality, or as the French put it, "Je ne sais quoi." Despite its design for layering, the WWW beauty team isn't shy about wearing it alone. It opens with a burst of bergamot (a floral-citrus note reminiscent of an upscale Italian villa), transitioning to a fresh, your-skin-but-better scent upon drying down. It's subtle, perfect for anyone who prefers their fragrance to softly suggest rather than announce.

      Perfumehead

      Cosmic Cowboy Extrait De Parfum

      Fragrance notes: Cinnamon bark, tobacco leaf, cacao blanc, black musk

      Both Jahns and Schneider declare Cosmic Cowboy as one of the most praised fragrances in their extensive collections. It’s smoky, hazy, and seductive—evoking the glitzy atmosphere of the Sunset Strip in the '70s. Described as "glitter and grit in equal measure," it’s an opulent scent with a rebellious edge. The warm notes of cinnamon bark, plush suede, and creamy tonka bean present a flirty charm that helps you bypass queues at venues. Meanwhile, the hazy tobacco leaf, sultry black musk, and boozy whisky notes offer the audacious flair that might just land you backstage with the band. It’s a one-of-a-kind fragrance, or as the brand articulates it, "an invitation to wander through a velvet haze, with neon lights gleaming through smoke."

      Parfums de Marly

      Delina Eau De Parfum

      Fragrance notes: Rhubarb, lychee, bergamot essence, Turkish rose, peony, vanilla, cashmeran, musk, vetiver