I requested nine beauty editors to reveal the nostalgic perfumes that influenced their lives.

      If you asked me to chart my life, I could likely do it solely through perfume. It may sound trite to claim I've been enchanted by fragrance for as long as I can remember, especially since scent plays such a vital role in many of our memories, but it's the truth. Long before I understood what a fragrance note was or could differentiate between neroli and jasmine, I was unintentionally categorizing aromas and the emotions they triggered. Some of my earliest recollections are tied to scent: the clean, reassuring fragrance of the carpets in my great-grandfather's apartment; the rich, salty scent of a stew simmering at my grandmother's house on a Sunday morning; the trace of my mother's perfume lingering in my bedroom as she kissed me goodnight before heading out for a rare evening. Even the sweet, powdery fragrance of my sisters' hair is somehow etched in my memory. Looking back, it's not surprising that my obsession with fragrance intensified as I grew older. While many of my friends were infatuated with boys in our early teens, I was dedicated to exploring scents. The early 2000s were a particularly vibrant time for beauty enthusiasts, and I spent endless hours spritzing, experimenting, and saving my pocket money for the fragrances that defined the era. Glow by JLo, Ralph by Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui Sui Dreams, and DKNY Be Delicious were more than just perfumes; they were snapshots of my teenage years captured in brightly colored bottles that I cherished for years. Even now, a single spray of any of them can instantly transport me back to a specific moment. That’s the allure of fragrance—it has an extraordinary ability to resurrect memories we thought were lost. Moreover, it not only evokes places and people but also reminds us of who we were at that particular time in our lives. A perfume can effortlessly reconnect us with versions of ourselves that may now feel distant. That curiosity is why I wondered if other beauty editors shared similar sentiments. What fragrances take them back? And do those cherished scents still hold up after years or even decades?

      The Best Nostalgic Perfumes:

      1. **Dior J'adore**

       "To me, J'adore represents home. The soft, silky, soapy blend of jasmine and ylang-ylang will always remind me of my teenage years on the south coast. I got my first bottle while on a family holiday in Barcelona, marking my initial step into luxury fragrance. That 100ml bottle lasted until I left for university. I wore it religiously for five years, and even now, when I pass someone wearing J'adore, I feel weak at the knees. It's clean, yet undeniably luxurious—soft on the nose but still captivating. It’s easy to wear while still making every spritz feel special. Although there have been various iterations of J'adore, it's always the original eau de parfum that captures my heart,” says beauty director, Shannon Lawlor.

      2. **Marc Jacobs Daisy**

       "Daisy by Marc Jacobs was among my first perfumes, so each new version evokes a wave of nostalgia. The light, floral scent felt sparkling on my skin, and I saved it for special occasions. I kept the bottle on my bedside table, admiring its ornate lid. Now, I tend to lean towards Daisy Wild, the fruity reinterpretation of the iconic fragrance, featuring notes of banana blossom and jasmine,” shares deputy beauty editor, Grace Lindsay.

      3. **Calvin Klein Eternity for Women**

       "My mom believes in saving the best for special occasions, while I use them as often as possible. Growing up in the '90s, she kept a bottle of Eternity hidden away, reserved for moments she deemed special. I would discreetly steal a few sniffs whenever she wasn't looking. When I started buying fragrances myself, I realized how iconic Eternity is. It's fresh and musky, akin to slipping into your favorite cashmere sweater after a long bath. On the skin, its subtle sweetness from white rose, amber, and creamy sandalwood feels incredibly intimate. It's such a classic that I still wear it today and often recommend it to friends seeking something lightly floral and clean. I’d argue that it’s the original 'clean-girl' scent! Unlike my mom, though, I could never ration it; I love to spritz freely,” notes Refinery29 beauty director, Jacqueline Kilikita.

      4. **Britney Spears Fantasy**

       "I can’t recall the very first perfume I wore, but I remember the one that felt like me. At 16 and 17, I wore Britney Spears Fantasy daily, in the pink round bottle adorned with crystals. I wore it so often that for my 17th birthday, my friends lightly sprayed my card with it. I don’t remember telling them it was my 'signature scent'; they simply figured it out. It didn't take much, as I doused myself in it. Recently, I found