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The 10 Best Solid Perfumes, According to Experts
These expert-loved fragrances are a more intimate scent experience—and perfect for travel
If you already own your favorite perfume in three sizes—and maybe all the variations (called flankers, by the way) too—it might be time to invest in a new format altogether. Solid perfumes are rising again in popularity, and they’re a unique way to expand your world of scent. “Solid perfume is a fun way to discover and apply fragrances. The more intimate feel is quite unique and allows consumers to target zones of the body they want to perfume,” says Alexis Grugeon, senior perfumer at Givaudan. “Solid perfume is, to me, a great way to layer fragrances and increase the longevity of your own olfactive signature.”
The Best Solid Perfumes of 2025
Solid perfumes have two main benefits: The scents tend to last a little longer on the skin, and they’re convenient to throw in a handbag while you’re out and about. “Solid perfumes are great because they’re compact and easy to travel with,” says Robertet perfumer Arielle Le Beau. “They also make re-applying easy in public settings, when you don’t want all the projection of spraying perfume—for example, when riding public transportation or in a restaurant.”
How do fragrance experts wear solid perfumes? “You can either apply the solid perfume of your own favorite fragrance to increase its hours of diffusion, or I like to add a solid perfume on my wrist that’s different from the one I spray on my clothes,” Grugeon adds. “It then becomes a more personal scent you can smell on your wrist when you need some comfort or a fresh whiff of your favorite scent.”
Ahead, 10 solid perfumes that expert perfumers, the president of the Fragrance Foundation, and beauty editors love.
Why I love it: It looks like a lipstick, but this is actually a solid format of Dior’s iconic Miss Dior perfume, which was recently reinvented by Parfums Christian Dior’s perfume creation director, Francis Kurkdjian. The lightweight tube and gorgeous cap are easy to toss into any bag—Dior or not.
Key notes: bright mandarin, starry jasmine, ambery woods
Customer review: “This is a very cute product. It smells lovely, it has super cute packaging, and it’s overall a great item! It has a jelly like texture that makes it even more fun to use!” —Taylor
Why experts love it: “One of my favorite solid perfumes is Diptyque Philosykos for its green fig and apricot notes,” says LeBeau. “I find it to be a great spring scent.” It’s also a favorite of Grugeon and Linda G. Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation.
Key notes: fig leaf, fig, green notes, coconut, fig tree, woody notes, cedar
Customer review: “Somehow this fig solid perfume doesn’t smell fruity. It’s more of a warm, creamy, yet fresh take on figs. It’s the perfect summer scent and lasts surprisingly well. I love the design of the compact, and I love the fact it’s refillable. The compact itself is actually quite weighty and feels very luxurious. Great to pop in your handbag and even better for traveling!” —Harrie1
Why experts love it: Both Grugeon and Levy count Glossier’s You Perfume Solid as one of their favorites. The alcohol-free wax base melts into skin and is the perfect vehicle for Ambrox, the signature skin-scent-enhancing note of You. Pair it with the original fragrance or one of the flankers for a more custom scent experience.
Key notes: pink pepper, iris, Ambrox
Customer review: “Obsessed with the smell of this and the compact design. It’s perfect for a small purse. The payload is fantastic! It packs a punch with scent and lasts all day. Only downside is it’s hard to get out once you hit tin.” —Bethysmith
Why I love it: Fenty Eau de Parfum was created by perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, and it’s unique in that it’s made up of notes traditionally found in the heart of a fragrance. That point of difference is even more apparent in this bolder solid form. It’s an amber floral—warm and inviting, not shy in the slightest—with notes of magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose. Rihanna herself described it as “very vibrant and very spicy and … something you’ll never forget” to Elle UK.
Key notes: magnolia, musk, tangerine, Bulgarian rose
Customer review: “I carry this cute little item around with me. You never know when you will need a touchup. It can go through airport security with me. The container is even a game to keep me occupied while waiting at the airport, doctor’s office, or parent pick-up line.” —Kesia E.
Fulton and Roark Ltd Res No. 21: Ghost Trees Solid Fragrance
Why experts love it: A favorite of Levy, this solid fragrance is not only beautiful to look at, its clean, fresh, ocean-inspired scent smells incredible on just about anyone.
Key notes: juniper, pink peppercorn, ocean ozonics, white cypress, thalassogaia florals, salted sea, ghost wood, elemi, driftwood
Customer review: “Hauntingly beautiful fragrance! I actually put this on when I go to bed. It relaxes me so well that I fall asleep faster. I love it.” —Mindy J.
Why experts love it: “Lush also has quite an extensive line of solid perfumes that are fun and allow the consumer to access a large range of emotions,” says Grugeon. One of my favorites is Vanillary, which blends together the notes of vanilla and jasmine in perfect harmony (and it’s less than $20).
Key notes: vanilla, jasmine
Customer review: “I was a little worried after reading some reviews, and I was worried it might be either way too sweet or too musky. But it’s lovely! A warm, inviting, subtle scent that’s noticeable but not obnoxious. If you’re on the fence, I suggest trying it!” —C
Why I love it: This solid perfume is the same spicy, woody scent of Sidia’s other body-care products, so it can be considered the last step of your skincare routine. It even has skin benefits, thanks to the balm’s moisturizing olea-europaea-fruit oil and jojoba-seed oil formula.
Key notes: juniper, lemon, olibanum, oregano, cypress, cedarwood, amber, leather, sensuous musks
Customer review: “Received my Soaked solid perfume this weekend and am in love. I’m traveling quite a bit so not having to worry about my liquids being confiscated or damaged in my suitcase is one thing, but the scent, and packaging, is another. The vessel is weighted and so luxe, and the fragrance isn’t overbearing, yet it lingers on the skin for a while. I’m so in love. Care and thought were definitely seen through the design.” —Claire C.
Why experts love it: A favorite of LeBeau, Lost + Found by Noyz is a citrus, woody scent that can be layered with the matching spray for a more intense scent experience.
Key notes: Italian lemon, pink pepper, cedarwood, amber, pink sugar
Customer review: “I love lost and found and am thrilled that there’s a solid now! Layering makes the spray last longer.” —Kreon
Why I love it: Not quite a solid perfume, these single-dose capsules of Daisy house an alcohol-free, scented gel formula that’s perfect for dabbing on pulse points. The 30 capsules come in a tin that can be tossed in any handbag to refresh your Daisy scent throughout the day. Honestly, they’re just so fun to use, carry, and share with a friend.
Key notes: wild berries, jasmine, sandalwood
Customer review: “My husband bought this for me for my birthday under recommendation from my daughter. She was right on the money for a great fragrance for me, as I like a fragrance that is light and fresh. I wear Daisy several times a week and have people stop me regularly and tell me how good I smell. I do wish that the fragrance lasted longer, though, as it needs to be refreshed after a few hours.”
Why I love it: Perhaps the most unusual (and delightful) solid perfume on this list, this pink rose ring from Anna Sui opens up to reveal a rose-scented perfume balm inside. The ring size fits most, so it’s the perfect gift for anyone who loves the girlier things in life.
Meet the Experts
- Arielle Le Beau is a perfumer at Robertet
- Alexis Grugeon is a senior perfumer at Givaudan
- Andrew Everett is a junior perfumer at IFF
- Linda G. Levy is the president of the Fragrance Foundation
What is a solid perfume?
Solid perfumes are exactly as the name suggests: scented balms that are physically applied to pulse points, like on the wrists and behind the ears, instead of being sprayed on in an alcohol-based solution. “Solid perfumes are a great choice for portability without the threat of spilling or broken glass from a spray,” Levy says. “Solids also have a bit of a retro vibe as they were used centuries ago as almost jewelry or accessories.” But there’s also a difference in how scent develops with solid perfumes. “The main difference between a solid perfume and an alcohol-based fragrance is that it won’t diffuse the same way because alcohol helps the fragrance lift and trail through the air,” says Everett.
Do solid perfumes really last longer on the skin?
“Yes, they usually do, depending on the fragrance. Because of the nature of the solid base, it releases the fragrance with the warmth of your body, so it will last longer by progressively releasing the fragrance,” says Grugeon. LeBeau agrees: “Solid perfumes do tend to last longer on skin since they have high concentrations of fragrance oil, up to 30 percent,” she adds. “The waxes and oils in the solid base also help the fragrance adhere better to skin.”
But not all solid perfumes are created equal; it’s what’s in the composition that matters most. “What lasts longer generally doesn’t have anything to do with the base or the format, but more with the composition of the fragrance itself,” Everett says. “As perfumers, we are always thinking of ways to help the fragrance last longer through composition or innovation in the materials coming from our R&D teams.”
At the end of the day, how long a scent wears is all in that special magic that takes place between the fragrance notes and your skin chemistry. “Solid perfumes may initially seem to last longer, as their application experience is so direct to skin versus a mist,” Levy says. “However, its longevity is completely dependent on the ingredients and may not be as long-lasting as those fragrances with an alcohol base.”
How should you store a solid perfume?
“Similar to Chapstick left in your car, you should also avoid leaving your solid perfume in the heat,” LeBeau cautions. “You not only risk it melting, but it can also change the character of the fragrance due to the more volatile citrus or fruity notes flashing off. Depending on composition, every perfume has its own shelf-life, but if it’s properly sealed and stored away from heat it should last as long as any regular perfume.”
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