Type: woody-spicy | Key notes: bergamot, nutmeg, orris, black tea, palo santo, cashmere wood, leather, vanilla absolute, milky musk | Sizes: 1 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a bedtime perfume different from your usual perfume?
According to Horowitz-Thran, the difference between a bedtime perfume and a regular perfume comes down to intention. “Applying your fragrance at any time will affect your mood and set the stage for your interactions, but applying your fragrance at bedtime—with intention—is a luxurious daily ritual that can separate the work day from the time that is reserved just for you,” she says. She adds that the best bedtime perfumes serve to heighten the atmosphere of a “safe, sensual place for you to quiet your mind and allow yourself to dream.”
What fragrance notes are considered to be relaxing?
“There are the traditional notes of lavender, sandalwood, and chamomile that have long been used to soothe and calm, but with bedtime fragrances, I love the additional notes that are cozy, creamy, and warm,” Horowitz-Thran says. She adds that notes like vanilla, almond, and tonka bean blended with white wood are ideal for bedtime, as they can also promote relaxation. In general, she recommends opting for “something that feels like a soft, sheer second skin” for the final spritz of the day.
Meet the Experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best bedtime perfumes, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from a fragrance expert. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
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