The fragrance preferences below are based on a 2017 survey commissioned by Showers To You and conducted by Fragrantica covering 3,978 men and 3,743 women. This was not a scientifically controlled study so we should read it as a ‘bit of fun’ however, academic research does back up many of the findings.
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The analysis I’ve done below is also for fun and is meant as an indication of what, if you are playing a numbers game, is likely to be a good present if your aim is for the person receiving the perfume both to like and something that you will find ‘attractive’.
However other data show that the majority of people, most of the time, wear fragrance for themselves not to be attractive to someone else – so treat this all as a bit of fun rather than a buying guide.
While the Showers To You survey assumed heterosexual couples other data can be used to predict same-sex preferences. In short the scent preferences of gay men on other men align relatively well with heterosexual women. Whereas while gay women’s scent preferences partially follow that of heterosexual men i.e. liking florals on other women; gay women’s tastes are broader including musk-spicy notes on other women.
See: Muscarella, F., Arantes, L., & Koncsol, S. (2011). A rose by any other name: scent preferences, gender, and sexual orientation. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 14.
SCENT PREFERENCES ON WOMEN AS VOTED BY MEN
| Floral | 85 per cent |
| Sweet | 81 per cent |
| Fruity | 78 per cent |
| Vanilla | 73 per cent |
| Citrus | 69 per cent |
| Rose | 63 per cent |
| Aromatic | 58 per cent |
| Powdery | 52 per cent |
| White floral | 46 per cent |
| Coconut | 41 per cent |
MOST SEDUCTIVE (ON WOMEN VOTED BY MEN)
Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel
Hypnotic Poison by Dior
Alien by Mugler
Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana
Lolita Lempicka – Lolita Lempicka
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf
Shalimar by Guerlain
Coco Eau de Parfum by Chanel
J’adore – Dior
Euphoria by – Calvin Klein
BEST SELLING
Chanel No. 5 L’Eau by Chanel
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum by Chanel
J’adore Eau De Parfum by Christian Dior
Light Blue (Women) Eau De Toilette Dolce & Gabbana
Angel Eau De Parfum (Spray) by Thierry Mugler
Pleasures Estee Lauder by Estee Lauder
Chaneⅼ Chance Eau Tendre by Chanel
Trésor Eau de Parfum by Lancôme
Chanel Allure Perfume by Chanel
Eternity Summer by Calvin Klein
POPULAR AND SEDUCTIVE
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum by Chanel
Light Blue (Women) Eau De Toilette Dolce & Gabbana
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf
Shalimar by Guerlain
Coco Eau de Parfum by Chanel
J’adore – Dior
MOST SEDUCTIVE
Hypnotic poison by Dior
Alien by Mugler
Lolita Lempicka – Lolita Lempicka
See also
LSY Black Opium
Miss Dior
SCENT PREFERENCES ON MEN AS VOTED BY WOMEN
| Woody | 86 per cent |
| Aromatic | 78 per cent |
| Warm spice | 72 per cent |
| Fresh spice | 64 per cent |
| Citrus | 57 per cent |
| Amber | 51 per cent |
| Powdery | 48 per cent |
| Balsamic | 43 per cent |
| Leather | 38 per cent |
| Musky | 34 per cent |
MOST SEDUCTIVE (ON MEN VOTED BY WOMEN)
La Nuit de L’homme YSL
Terre d’Hermes
Bleu de Chanel
Aventus Creed
The One for Men D&G
Fahrenheit Dior
Aqua di Gio Armani
L’Homme YSL
L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme
Allure Homme Sport Chanel
BEST SELLING
Dior Sauvage
Paco Rabanne 1 Million
Chanel Bleu de Chanel
Hugo Boss Bottled
Paco Rabanne Invictus
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male
Creed Aventus
Diesel Only The Brave
Boss Bottled Night
L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme
SEDUCTIVE AND BEST SELLING
Bleu de Chanel
Aventus – Creed
Paco Rabanne Invictus
L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme
SEDUCTIVE – BEST SELLING
La Nuit de L’homme YSL
Aqua di Gio Armani
L’Homme YSL
Terre d’Hermes
Fahrenheit Dior