Scent is a subjective preference and fragrances are powerful. A sniff of one can instantly change your mood, transport your senses to somewhere else entirely or invoke happy nostalgia (or all three!). Luckily, there’s an endless variety of notes to create from so there’s an ideal formulation for everyone. And yet, some fragrances are so legendary wearing a spritz (even if it’s not your go-to aroma), becomes a cultural rite of passage.
In a study of 700+ NewBeauty readers, there was one clear fragrance brand that dominated: Chanel, home of Chanel No. 5, arguably the most popular perfume in the world. Not only did 55% of those studied say they’ve worn Chanel fragrances in the past, but 42% said they currently owned a Chanel scent.* Chanel was also the most-cited when participants were asked which brand their “go-to” perfume was.
*Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2024