New data by Cult Beauty reveals the top 10 fragrances that get you the most compliments

Who doesn’t love it when someone asks what perfume you’re wearing, but which ones get us the most compliments?

Well look no further, new research from Cult Beauty has uncovered the fragrances that get you the most compliments. To analyse the findings Cult Beauty looked at the 50 bestselling fragrances and read through every single one to see how many mentioned getting a compliment.

This isn’t about the fragrances that are trending on TikTok, but the scents people have actually worn, repurchased, been stopped on the street for, and refuse to gatekeep.

So without further ado, here are the top 10 fragrances that get you the most compliments:

1. Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 33.04% (38 of 115 reviews)

Topping the list is the Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady Eau de Parfum, a dark, velvety rose that trades delicate for downright commanding. Blackcurrant and cinnamon meet a heady dose of patchouli and incense, creating something rich enough to fill a room and linger long after you’ve left it.

One lovely review noted, “Prepare to be stopped by strangers and asked about your parfum! A well-defined rose scent, truly a classic.” and no one can argue with that.

Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady Eau de Parfum 

2. Le Labo THÉ NOIR 29 Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 25.86% (15 of 58 reviews)

Warm, spiced and smoky, the Le Labo THÉ NOIR 29 Eau de Parfum reads more like an evening beside an open fire than a cup of tea. Black tea leaves meet cardamom, cedarwood and a whisper of tobacco for something cosy without tipping into sweet, ideal for anyone who’d rather their fragrance feel like a signature rather than something that is just trending.

It’s a sentiment echoed throughout the reviews, from “I wore this perfume for the first time this weekend and received compliment after compliment, with strangers asking me what perfume I was wearing” to “This fragrance is absolutely gorgeous and lasts all day. Huge compliment getter!”

Le Labo THÉ NOIR 29 Eau de Parfum 

3. Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 20.19% (21 of 104 reviews)

If you’ve ever caught a waft of something clean, musky and magnetic on a stranger and wondered what it was, there’s a good chance it was the Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum. Ambroxan and musk create that “your skin but better” effect, layered with citrus and jasmine so it never tips into soapy territory. Unisex, long-lasting and quietly obsession-worthy.

Another reviewer said, “I get the most compliments from this than any other perfume and it lasts all day.”

Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum 

4. Le Labo SANTAL 33 Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 20.00% (21 of 105 reviews)

The fragrance world’s most-imitated scent needs little introduction. The Le Labo SANTAL 33 Eau de Parfum blends sandalwood, cardamom and leather into something smoky, unisex and instantly recognisable, which probably explains why strangers keep asking what you’re wearing. A modern classic that’s earned every one of its compliments.

Le Labo SANTAL 33 Eau de Parfum 

5. BYREDO Animalique Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 18.71% (26 of 139 reviews)

Skin-close and a little bit feral, in the best way, the BYREDO Animalique Eau de Parfum leans into musk and orris root for a scent that feels intimate rather than announced. It’s the kind of fragrance people lean in for, rather than catch from across the room, which might be exactly why it racks up so many compliments.

BYREDO Animalique Eau de Parfum 

6. Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette

Compliment rate: 18.52% (10 of 54 reviews)

Rum, tobacco leaf and vetiver make the Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette smell like a smoky bar at midnight, in the most flattering way possible. It’s warm, slightly boozy and hard to place at first sniff, which tends to be exactly the reaction that gets a compliment out of people.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette 

7. BYREDO Mojave Ghost Absolu de Parfum

Compliment rate: 16.67% (9 of 54 reviews)

This is the richer, more concentrated sibling of one of BYREDO’s most-loved scents. The BYREDO Mojave Ghost Absolu de Parfum takes the original’s jasmine, sandalwood and musk and turns the volume up, giving it more staying power and, evidently, more compliments to match.

BYREDO Mojave Ghost Absolu de Parfum

8. Kilian Angels’ Share Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 14.89% (14 of 94 reviews)

Named after the portion of whisky that evaporates during barrel ageing, the Kilian Angels’ Share Eau de Parfum is a warm, boozy gourmand built on cognac, oak and tonka bean. It smells expensive because, in fairness, it is, but reviewers seem to agree it’s worth every compliment it earns.

Kilian Angels’ Share Eau de Parfum 

9. BYREDO Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 14.57% (51 of 350 reviews)

With over 350 reviews to its name, the BYREDO Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum is one of the brand’s bestselling fragrances, and the compliment count backs it up. African marigold, neroli and violet meet vetiver for something fresh, floral and just woody enough to feel grown-up. Proof that a cult classic doesn’t need to be new to keep getting noticed.

BYREDO Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum 

10. Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy Eau de Parfum

Compliment rate: 14.46% (36 of 249 reviews)

Marshmallow, orange blossom and vanilla make the Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy Eau de Parfum one of the sweetest scents on this list, and with 249 reviews behind it, one of the most talked-about too. It’s soft, cosy and a little nostalgic, the fragrance equivalent of a hug, which might explain why it’s so quick to earn a compliment.

Kilian Love, Don’t Be Shy Eau de Parfum 

You may have noticed how often the same names crop up. Le Labo alone claims three of the 10 spots, THÉ NOIR 29, Another 13 and SANTAL 33, with BYREDO close behind on three of its own, Animalique, Mojave Ghost Absolu and Bal d’Afrique. It seems reviewers keep returning to the same handful of brands; once a compliment comes your way, it shows that we all want more of the same.