I used to hate perfume — or at least the idea of perfume — because I thought of it as one singular thing: a giant, cloudy mix of powdery scents that accosted me within every department store. As a child, I’d plug my nose as we walked through the cosmetics department; being young adult, I’d just walk the long way around to avoid getting spritzed. As it gave me an instantaneous headache and scratchy throat, I made a decision pretty early on: no thank you to perfume.

Of course, I later dabbled in the Sunflowers perfume and dipped my toes into the CK One pond as any good child of the 90s did, and even borrowed my sister’s Clinique Happy to try it on for size. They all made my throat a little itchy and I wasn’t even sure I liked the scents…but it just felt like the right thing to do. I later swapped those for bathing in Love Spell by Victoria’s Secret, which smelled like fruit punch and pleasant dreams, and made me feel classy as all get out. Honestly, of all the scents I wore, that is the only one I can still stomach.

I wouldn’t wear it anymore. However, every now and then I’ll catch a lingering waft of Love Spell while in a mall during some last minute holiday shopping. It’s always in a mall, because that’s where that scent thrives in immortality. I always think, “Who is that classy B wearing Love Spell, and should we swap best friend charms?” It’s like a warm hug from only the pleasant parts of my past.

Do they buy Love Spell on the black market or does Victoria’s Secret still sell it?

I have no idea, and I know I could very quickly Google that. I can also check their site and have the answer, but I kind of like to live with the mystery.

These days, I’m less into body sprays and more into perfumes. I still dislike most perfumes I try, because I am pretty sensitive. I am picky about scents, so when I find one I love, I am very loyal. I’d say I have about 5 scents I rotate between the most. One of them, an orange blossom scent from Diptyque, is not yet on this list because it’s a “newer” scent to me (a little over a year) and this is my holy grail list of longtime favorites. So, without further tangential thoughts, here are my top four all time favorite perfumes. Or scents, since some of these are not actually perfumes…but let’s not split hairs.

My All Time Favorite Perfumes

philosophy amazing grace:

The notes for this scent, philosophy’s amazing grace, are listed as “powdery florals.” It has key notes of lily of the valley and musk, but powdery is not what comes to my mind with this scent. To me, it’s light, fresh, clean, and bright. Of all my go-to perfumes (or in this case, eau de toilette and I’ll be completely honest, I do not know the difference), I’d say this one is the most universally worn and loved. It’s a good everyday scent that doesn’t overwhelm.

TOCCA Florence:

TOCCA Florence is probably my personal favorite in my list of all time favorite perfumes. The gardenia is one of my favorite scents in the world. Paired with bergamot and pear, I can only describe this scent as delicious. You can also get this in candle form, which you should absolutely do! I like a lot of TOCCA scents, so it’s no surprise that two of them made it to my list. You can try a bunch with their discovery set. It has mini versions of eight of their scents for just $20. It’s a great way to test them out and see what you prefer.

TOCCA Stella:

You might notice that I featured TOCCA Stella as a rollerball. I do have it in full size, but as it’s the one I reach for the least these days. Also, I started keeping the miniature version more within reach. I love this scent. There is something so nostalgic about it that I can never quite put my finger on. However, I stopped wearing it around Kim because she is sensitive to it, which may have affected my willingness to reach for it as often (I should change that). It’s still one of my all time favorite scents, with notes of Blood Orange, Freesia, and Spicy Lily.

Juliette has a gun NOT A PERFUME:

TOCCA Florence might be my favorite scent, but NOT A PERFUME by Juliette has a gun is my most asked about [not a] perfume. Every time I wear it, someone asks me what I’m wearing, often taking the time to jot it down on a note. The funny thing about it is that it’s not a perfume in that it’s just the base: cetalox. This single note not a perfume smells amazing, fresh, and warm all at the same time. Just be prepared for people jogging after you to ask you what scent it is.

Shop them all below: