Every Time I Wear One of These Glossier You Fragrances, People Go Wild

Part of the magic (and mystery) of the Glossier You line is that since each scent is designed to enhance the way your skin smells, not mask it, each variation is a bit more nuanced than you’d expect. So, although Rêve is considered a gourmand scent, you won’t feel like you’ve Augustus Gloop’ed yourself into Willy Wonka’s chocolate river when wearing it. While there are buttercream notes, the plum butter and almond stood out more to me, offering a toasty sweetness with a hint of fruit.

On my colleague, PureWow editorial assistant Courtney Mason, however, the “buttercream note fell flat,” she said, adding that it seemed too artificially sweet, almost cloying for her. “However, I find the toasty almond note to be really pleasant, and I love how you get hints of the iris and sandalwood as you wear it throughout the day.” 

Fast Facts

• Key Notes: buttercream, plum butter, toasted almond, iris, sandalwood, Ambrox

Depending on the day, this fragrance catapults to the top of my list. Designed to be unisex and layerable with other scents, You plays nicely with, well, whatever you’ve got going on. It’s a little spicy (thanks to pink pepper) with warmth from—you guessed it—Ambrox. There’s a softness to it, but it’s not powdery or dainty-floral. It’s earthier than that, with a light saltiness that makes it unlike most scents on the market.

“You definitely lives up to the hype. It's unique, it's inviting and overall, a great fragrance to sport for any occasion. It's also ideal if you're looking for a perfume on the softer side and want to enhance your natural scent instead of hiding it,” Mason said. “Every time I wear it out, it feels brand new to my nose. It also lasts on my skin for hours and hours.”

Fast Facts

• Key Notes: pink pepper, iris, Ambrox

Consider this a very close—and controversial—second pick. It’s actually Mason’s first choice: “I will rave about Glossier's You Fleur to anyone who will listen. It's floral but fruity, salty yet sweet and currently my favorite fragrance to spritz on every day. It never feels too aggressive or overpowering, despite its many floral notes. The apricot skin adds a touch of sweetness (unlike Rêve), and the Cashmeran softens it out in the best way possible. Honestly, I think it's the perfect summer scent.”

That’s the thing: Hardcore floral fans will be let down, because “Glossier You Fleur is purposely constructed as a floral for someone who typically isn’t attracted to a floral fragrance,” as Trillaud says. For the rest of us, it’s refreshing—it taps into the earthy, fresh-petal essence of flowers, not the potpourri vibe you’d traditionally associate with floral perfumes. You expect rose or jasmine; instead, Bagriche developed the scent focusing on blooms with “coppery nuances,” she says, like Osmanthus.

Fast Facts

• Key Notes: ylang-ylang, osmanthus, mineral salt accord, Cashmeran, apricot skin, Ambrox

Doux edged out Fleur as our top choice simply because it was so unexpected—and yet so familiar. It was like bottling nostalgia; as soon as I spritzed the woody, earthy scent, I was reminded of racing through dewy grass as a kid, watching my grandmother don crisp suit sets as she got ready for her job at the bank, the glamour of seeing Princess Diana on TV. It was a little smoky and sultry, yet still soft and inviting. It wasn’t at all what I expected—and at once, oddly comforting.

“I wasn't expecting to like Doux as much as I did,” Mason admitted.” The woodiness of this fragrance—specifically, the blend of Palo Santo and smoky myrrh—is truly my favorite part while wearing it. Cozy and subtle are two words I would use to describe this perfume.”

Our one caveat? The scent is subtle enough that you may need to reapply mid-day, as it doesn’t linger as long as the others. Still, the scent was powerful and surprising enough—and elicited enough compliments from strangers—that it earned our top spot.

Fast Facts

• Key Notes: sweet violet, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, ambrette, Ambrox