Want to smell like the ’90s? Nostalgia is having a moment and nothing captures the grunge-glam vibe of the era quite like its iconic fragrances. With TikTok reviving some of the most memorable scents of the decade, we did some digging to uncover the best ’90s perfumes you can still add to your collection today. But first, let’s dive into why this trend is making such a splash.
TikTok Reignites ’90s Nostalgia
@hllywoodforever Replying to @Joyce how to smell like the 1990s 👢🌃🍸👜 #greenscreen #perfume #perfumetiktok #fragrance #fraghead #90saesthetic #offdutymodel #1990s ♬ Nightmares By The Sea – Jeff Buckley
The most nostalgic ’90s beauty moments are in the spotlight again, thanks to the rise of signature trends like brown lip liner, icy blue eyeshadow and, of course, the revival of the era’s most iconic fragrances. A big reason? Many beauty lovers and content creators are now in their late 20s and early 30s—a prime time to look fondly back on childhood. For this group, the ’90s represent a powerful time period filled with core memories..
“For late boomers, GenXers and early millennials rediscovering these products evokes a time in our lives when we read magazines, watched TV and we were much more in the moment. Smell and sound can bring us right back there,” says acupuncturist and Chinese and integrative medicine doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner. “There are robust studies that show how powerful ‘autobiographical memories’ are elicited by sight and sound.”
Take Elizabeth Arden’s Sunflowers ($35), for example. My mom wore this perfume religiously when I was around two years old and to this day, the scent instantly reminds me of her. While many beloved ’90s beauty products have disappeared, the good news is that plenty of the decade’s best fragrances are still available today. Keep reading to find your new (or old) favorite.
The Best ’90s Perfumes You Can Still Buy Today
