At the tail end of our interview, Paloma Elsesser gently instructs me to feel her arm. I can confidently say she has the softest skin I’ve ever touched, somewhere between velvet and a baby dolphin. But if you were familiar at all with the model’s content, you would know this—in every Get Ready With Me video or “Soft Obsessions” TikTok she films, she stresses her elaborate bodycare routine. You would also already know that she smells amazing, which makes sense as we’re there to discuss her role as ambassador for Miu Miu’s latest fragrance, Miutine.

But it’s not just her love of fragrance that makes her the perfect face for Miutine. Never one to stick to the rules, she perfectly capture’s the brand’s rebellious and playful spirit. Case in point? Her outfit for the Miu Miu show, a gray layered ensemble complete with moto boots and futuristic sunglasses, which flips the brand’s signature girly identity on its head.

“My relationship with Miu Miu is quite close now, they’re very familial,” she tells me in a cozy hotel suite ahead of the brand’s Paris Fashion Week show. “I’m acquainted with every corner of the team, and I feel really connected to who this girl is. Doing the campaign and being an ambassador feels not only like a pivotal and monumental part of my career, but also something that was a really natural organic development. I’m really grateful to be a representative of the brand, and feel very comfortable [in the role].”

Ahead, Elsesser fills me in on everything Muitine, as well as her current favorite reads, Fashion Week essentials, and more.

How Miutine Makes Her Feel

“The fragrance makes me feel really playful. It has a nostalgic tone that I appreciate. It’s really adaptive. That’s important in a scent, that it smells a little different on different people, and the characteristics it brings out. But [there’s] definitely a playfulness, and this kind of exploratory open levity, and a sweetness—I think that’s a fun way that it interacts with my personality.”

On Shooting the Campaign

“I’ll always connect shooting the campaign with the scent. It was such a wonderful day, and it was a predominantly female set. Shooting with Petra [Collins] was such an honor and a privilege, because actually, one of my first editorials ever was with with her for i-D. So it was really full circle, and we both just kept looking at each other like, wow, can you believe that we’re here doing this and have the platform to have freedom and, bring our own creativity to it? I’ll always kind of connote the two, which is really nice.”

Where Miutine Takes Her

“For some reason, the scent kind of reminds me of gentle folk music. I just feel like, I’m in the grass and it’s a beautiful warm summer or spring day.”

On Her Look for the Miu Miu Show

“It’s really fun because the dressing that I do for Miu Miu is charactered, but it’s very authentic to my style. This one feels good in tension with some of the other looks I’ve worn this season, which have leaned further into femininity. This one feels a little tougher, and then there’s a bit of tension with the girliness, with the boots and the more casual cotton layering.

“Working with my stylist, Aly Cooper, we always have a lot of fun whenever we come in for a fitting. They know that we’re going to go a completely different direction than the things that they pulled, but they always let us really honor that. This look particularly represents a nice balance and a tension to the other looks I’ve worn this season at the Mutine launch [in New York] and things like that.”

The One Beauty Look That Makes Her Feel Herself

“It’s always a nice base; some honest skin, a lip liner, some mascara. I always say when I’m getting my makeup done, it’s just pretty. That’s definitely where I’m at, and where I feel the most comfortable.”

Her Paris Fashion Week Essentials

“Vitamin C, a journal, my vapes, eye patches.”

The One Skincare Treatment She Loves

“I think a good face massage will never lead me astray. It just makes me feel good, it’s a nice bit of drainage. Even if a makeup artist is using the brush, I’m like, ‘you use your hands!’ It feels better.”

The One Outfit Formula She Always Falls Back On

“The outfit formula I always fall back on is balance. What is that trend that people are talking about? It’s like tight top, baggy pants? You know, sexy bottom, kind of more masculine top. I’ve been leaning a bit more into sexiness now I’m in my 30s, which feels cool, but it’s always balanced. You always need something to subvert it. I never like to do one note.”

The Latest Addition to Her Vintage Collection

“My favorite piece in my vintage collection, I can’t even think of because it’s so large. But my latest addition is the skirt to a matching top that I have. It’s a zipper skirt and top from Junya Watanabe, and it’s from 2005.”

The One Thing Inspiring Her Right Now

“Something that’s inspiring me right now is rest, the idea of rest. Fashion Month is such a marathon and you don’t really get to prioritize or center rest, so that’s something I’m looking forward to: recentering rest.”

One Thing She’s Read and Loved Recently

“I went to the New York Public Library and they had all of these essays Joan Didian wrote specifically about her daughter who passed. Those are really beautiful to read, and a nice commentary on grief, and the nuances of resentment and love, and how all these things kind of commingle.”

One Thing Living In Her Brain…

“I saw a TikTok about using ChatGPT to create a syllabus for your own class, so I’m quite excited for that. I think I’m going to try and do it after the 15th, which is the VS show. I’ve read some Black Marxist stuff, and I kind of want to test myself.”

… Her Bag…

“Blotting papers and lip balm. I can’t survive without lip balm, I feel so crusty and rusty and dusty without it.”

… and Her Bathroom

“Always lotion and oil. On [my TikTok series] Soft Obsessions, there’s always going to be a new exciting lotion or oil. You should feel my skin, I’m very moisturized.”

September is all about transitions, so it only makes sense that your beauty routine should follow suit. This month, launches from beauty brands like Malin + Goetz and By Rosie Jane blend all the best bits of summer and fall. Whether you’ve already started you autumnal Gilmore Girls re-watch or are holding onto the final weeks of summer, there’s some newness for everyone. Think: citrus-y perfume, pumpkin spiced body-care, and hair tools that do it all.

Read on for our picks for September’s best beauty launches.

Native Vanilla Cream & Pumpkin Body Wash

Pumpkin spice latte season has officially arrived, but the delectable scents don’t have to stop at your go-to coffee shop. Native’s Vanilla Cream & Pumpkin scent is available now, and it promises to add some sweet pumpkin goodness to every step of your self-care routine.

Sidia x Sofie Pavitt Face The Studio Candle

A spa day is always a good idea, but it’s not always that easy to get on the schedule. Now, you can embrace the relaxing vibes of your favorite treatment room from the comfort of your home. Sidia and cool-girl esthetician Sofie Pavitt teamed up to launch The Studio Candle. The scent channels the vibes of Pavitt’s NYC studio with notes of yuzu, rhubarb, neroli, and blonde woods.

Malin+Goetz Niacinamide Restorative Cream

Malin+Goetz’s latest and greatest is a new face cream that addresses signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. With niacinamide and gentle actives (like nameko mushroom and alpha arbutin), this formula works to hydrate your skin while improving its texture and tone.

Sarah Creal Beauty Eyes Up Creamy Kajal Liner

It’s hard to find an eyeliner that lasts, especially on textured eyelids. This new launch from Sarah Creal Beauty aims to remedy that. Created with 40+ users in mind, the creamy liner is formulated for easy application and a smudge-proof finish.

Eighth Day Ultra-Rich Intensive Moisturizer

Some skin-care is worth the investment. This new moisturizer from Eighth Day was developed by dermatologic surgeon Dr. Antony Nakhl to address skin concerns at the cellular level. It’s formulated with three weights of hyaluronic acid and the brand’s signature peptide-rich plasma to restore skin’s volume and boost hydration.

Anastasia Beverly Hills MicroStroke Brow Pen

There was a time when intensely bold brows were all the rage, but now, a more realistic look is dominating beauty trends. This new MicroStroke Brow Pen from Anastasia Beverly Hills makes this so much easier to achieve. The pen has an ultra-fine tip, making it simple to create thin strokes that mimic real hair. The spoolie on the other end helps finish off your brows.

Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Styling & Drying System

Shark’s new Glam Hot Tool Air Styling & Drying System has everything you need to unveil your best hair yet—seriously, feel free to get rid of the rest of your hair tools. It can replace your go-to flat iron, curler, round brush, and hair dryer. All the tools use a combination of ceramic coating and airflow technology for a frizz-free, glossy finish and speedy styling. Plus, you can choose from a Straight/Wavy or Curly/Coily system for your perfect blowout.

Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand in Desert Peach

A slick-back is easier said that done, but this launch from Dae makes touchups easy. Tamp down flyaways and smooth frizz with the brand’s beloved travel-sized styling cream and wand, now available in a yummy peach scent that you’ll want to wear as perfume. 

Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick

Your lips deserve the best. Dior’s new Rogue On Stage lipsticks give your pout some instant color and hydration. The result? Smooth, plumped lips with noticeable pigmentation. Available in 10 long-lasting shades, there’s a lipstick option for everyone.

Estée Lauder Glossy Pout Tinted Lip Oil

Lip oil is always a good idea, especially as temperatures cool down and dry lip season begins. New from Estée Lauder, this oil uses hyaluronic acid, botanical oils, and vitamin E to provide 24-hour moisture. 

Aerin Amber Musk Vanille Eau de Parfum

A change of seasons is the perfect time to find your next signature scent. Start with Aerin’s newest launch, the Amber Musk Vanille Eau de Parfum. This limited-edition gourmand fragrance has notes of vanilla and marshmallow. Orange flower and rose centifolia add a floral layer to the sweet scent.

By Rosie Jane Remi Eau de Parfum

Citrus scents and flavors are everywhere in the summer months, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave that zest behind. By Rosie Jane’s new perfume contains notes of mandarin, cardamom, and white amber for a fresh fragrance that’s warm and citrus-forward—perfect for the final days of summer.

To keep skin glowing from head to toe, dermatologists recommend moisturizing immediately after showering. And if you’re a fragrance fiend like I am, the best-smelling body lotions are the best products for the job. While fragrance isn’t for every skin type, those who tolerate it have an olfactory playground of body-care options that keep the skin soft, luminous, and swathed in irresistible scents. To help you whittle down the selection, we’ve done the legwork for you, testing dozens of options at every price point to bring you this definitive list of the best scented body lotions to uplevel your skin health and smell.

Our Best-Smelling Body Lotions

Whether you prefer to nourish your skin with a drugstore-aisle gem that has a fluffy texture and a vanilla scent, or want to uplevel your skin-care routine with a luxurious French body balm that smells like spicy leather, there’s a body lotion that’s been calling your name in the edit below. Happy moisturizing!

Best Overall: Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Topless Tangerine

Why we love it: From the perfumer behind Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique and Gypsy Water, the scent of Josie Maran’s Oil Body Butter splices tangerine with hints of pink grapefruit and brown sugar. It smells like sipping a rum cocktail under a canopy of citrus trees. Made with argan oil to tighten the skin, the famously lightweight formula—as airy as the foam on that cocktail—also has shea butter and avocado oil to drench the body in moisture that makes every inch of it glow. Pairing this with a bikini and some SPF would be a dream beachside ensemble, though Allure editors find that it also pairs deliciously with an everyday body-care routine.

Best Budget: Eos Cashmere Whipped Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Cashmere

Why we love it: Eos Vanilla Cashmere Whipped Oil Body Butter is that treat that’s way richer than you’d bargained for, in the best possible way. The drugstore-aisle gem has a whipped-cream-like texture that slips silkily into every limb. As it sinks in, the body butter nourishes the skin with a patented blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, and argan oil that cloaks it in creamy hydration. As for the scent, the deceptively affordable salve melds notes of vanilla, soft musk, and caramel for a fragrance that’s luxuriously warm and sweet.

Best Splurge: Diptyque Eau Rihla Body Balm

Why we love it: Eons more luxurious than a typical body lotion, Diptyque’s Body Balm has a melting texture that sinks slowly into the skin, turning moisturizing into a moment of self-care that’s impossible not to look forward to. (Moisturizing will never be a chore to rush through again.) The formula—a blend of mango butter and camelia wax—moisturizes and softens the skin, and perfume plays a starring role in the whole sensory experience. The Rihla scent pairs notes of leather, iris, and cedarwood for an earthy, spicy, and warming scent inspired by travels through the Middle East.

Best Floral: Saltair Santal Bloom Body Butter

Why we love it: Melding notes of sandalwood, rose, and jasmine, Saltair’s body butter smells like a boho-luxe retreat with massages on the beach. And—just like those hypothetical spa services—it pampers and nurtures the skin. The fluffy butter is made with a ceramide complex and sea buckthorn oil that pack a moisturizing punch; it also has a carefully balanced ratio of phospholipids, fatty acids, and phytosterols to support the skin barrier and lock hydration in.

Best for Subtle Shimmer: Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream in Fenty Fresh Shimmering

Why we love it: Fenty’s Whipped Oil Body Cream is not only RiRi-approved and editor-approved, but also dermatologist-approved. “It is a light formulation with powerful natural moisturizing oils such as Kalahari melon, sunflower, and jojoba, which are proven to be beneficial for nourishing the skin and maintaining the proper hydration needed,” Calvin Williams, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Bedford, Texas, previously told Allure. “And with the powerful antioxidant effects of mango butter, this product has helped my patients achieve that soft, supple skin they’ve been wanting all along.” The silky body treatment has since expanded to include a soft-gold-shimmer edition of Fenty Fresh (bergamot, jasmine, and white orchid) that adds extra sheen to your limbs—without looking too obvious.

Best for Layering: D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Body Lotion

Why we love it: In the same ineffable scent as the body wash that won a 2024 Best of Beauty Award, D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What Body Lotion has a fragrance that’s tough to pinpoint, but impossible to resist. With a central note of Iso E Super—the synthetic molecule that hovers close to the skin, adjusting to the body chemistry of whomever wears it—the scent also layers in woody vetiver and ambrox super. The lotion was designed as a fragrance enhancer, so whatever is layered on top of it, from body oil to perfume, will take on a more luminous-smelling quality. Formulated with moisturizing glycerin, coconut oil, and shea butter, the lotion itself has a cushiony texture that’s a dream for dry skin.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Sidia Soaked The Cream

Why we love it: In the same Soaked scent that helped Sidia’s hand serum land a Best of Beauty Award, Soaked the Cream blends musky notes with foresty hints of juniper and cypress. The woody fragrance is but one appealing aspect of the body lotion, which soothes and smooths the skin with antioxidants like vitamin E, shea and avocado butter, prickly pear, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera. Vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, the cream is also well-suited for pampering sensitive skin.

P.S. Shopping director Shanna Shipin, who has very dry skin that’s also prone to eczema, adores the Braless Serum if you’re more into a lightweight spritz situation. “You’re done in mere seconds, smell great, and have already primed your skin with moisture before you’re even fully dry. I love it as a hydration replenisher throughout the day, and the fragrance is so long-lasting I don’t need to layer anything over it,” she says.

Best Firming: Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille Serum Body Cream

Why we love it: Laura Mercier’s Ambre Vanille Serum Body Cream has a rich but nongreasy texture that melts into the skin, leaving a trail of vanilla spiked with sandalwood and amber in its wake. The formula is infused with a serum that has a whirl of ingredients to soothe and restore damaged skin. Starflower oil is packed with antioxidants; French plum oil plumps the skin and lends a touch of glow, and French algae replenishes moisture. The gourmand cream also contains tapioca starch, which smooths the skin while giving it a velvety, blurred look.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best-smelling body lotions, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

A well-stocked fragrance wardrobe typically has several weekend options, with scents for date nights, weddings, and leisurely outings (strawberry picking, anyone?). But the best office fragrances, which can make the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. significantly more enjoyable, deserve a few spots in the lineup, too. That’s where this scent selection, handpicked by Allure editors, comes in. Whether you need a fragrance that calms stress, makes a statement, or pairs perfectly with a power look, these scents—tested at our own desks and cubicles—exceed expectations in every department.

Our Top Office Fragrances

Your Skin But Elevated: DedCool Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum

Why we love it: Every morning, as I finish making the bed, I spritz DedCool Xtra Milk Room + Linen Spray onto my pillowcase. The musky, second-skin scent melds notes of bergamot, white amber, and musk for a fragrance that’s fresh and cozy at the same time. It invokes that feeling you get from pulling warm, cleanly scented towels out of the dryer. Why not bring that fresh-start-to-the-day feeling to work by spritzing on the eau de parfum before reporting to duty? The Best of Beauty Award winner is also made for layering, so if you need a boost of energy midday, top it off with a spritz of my summer fave, the orange-blossom-laced Sunlit Blooms.

Wandering in the Garden: Byredo Bal D’Afrique Eau de Parfum

Why it’s worth it: Inspired by perfumer Ben Gorham’s travels through Africa—where bustling markets and lush, spicy garden scents abound—Byredo Bal D’Afrique is a floral scent that’s anything but staid. The wholly distinctive fragrance wraps a bouquet of African flowers (powdery violet, musky marigold, and fresh, green cyclamen) in a burst of bergamot. The twist of citrus will give you the energy to power through a day of deadlines, and the scent has a medium intensity that won’t overwhelm your coworkers.

Beach Day Vibes: The Harmonist Sacred Water

Why we love it: Occasionally—as in every Monday through Friday—a trip to the beach may sound more appealing than taking another meeting. Enter The Harmonist Sacred Water, which will just about transport you to an idyllic spot in the sand without taking up any of your PTO. Spiked with tropical flowers, seaweed, and earthy notes of amber and cedar, the scent was designed to stimulate and soothe all at once. Its sillage is soft and light, but it will easily last from morning till evening.

Roll With It: Cyklar Vanilla Verve Perfume Oil

Why we love it: Looking for an option that’s more inconspicuous to reapply than engulfing yourself in clouds of perfume? Cyklar perfume oils come with a handy rollerball applicator that delivers a concentrated dose of delicious-smelling oils directly to your pulse points. Our preferred scent goes to Vanilla Verve, a spicy-sweet concoction of green cardamom, vanilla, tonka bean, and amber. For the true vanilla obsessives, this is the scent everyone’s talking about.

Buy Yourself the Flowers: Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum

Why we love it: Like an old friend, this Dior classic tends to invoke fond memories—and it’s almost universally loved, so chances are slim that it will offend someone in a neighboring cubicle. A main character in the perfume department since its 1999 launch, the solar-floral scent is an ode to a fantasy flower. It has notes of solar ylang-ylang, damascus rose, and a delicate blend of two types of jasmine. As a bonus, its gold-dipped bottle can bring a little luster to desktop decor.

Spice Up Your Life: Phlur Not Your Baby Eau de Parfum

Why we love it: Light and playful with a touch of spice, Phlur’s Not Your Baby is like a breath of fresh air for the office. True, the viral scent has a sweet pink hue and a soothing, powdery scent that might signal innocence, but it’s not without promotion-worthy depth. The fragrance melds notes of cardamom, mimosa, vanilla milk, and sandalwood for a scent that’s equal parts soft and sophisticated.

Get Figgy With It: Glossier Body Spritz

Why we love it: Available in two scents, Glossier Body Spritz is a midday reset in a bottle that can also be used on the hair. The only question is, how do you need to feel to make it through the rest of your to-do list? The Orange Blossom Neroli is the more energizing of the scents, with its zippy blend of bergamot, pear water, orange flower, and neroli. To feel grounded and focused, opt for a spritz of Sandstone. The spa-like fragrance has notes of fig leaf, lavandin, clary sage, geranium, sandalwood, and coconut milk.

Boardroom Ready: U Beauty Proem Eau De Parfum

Why we love it: The skin-care company famous for its skin-firming technology lent its flair for innovation to its debut scent. U Beauty Proem launched mere months ago, but already has ardent fans here at Allure. Fruity, floral, earthy, and even a touch gourmand, the perfume’s singular mix of centifolia rose, Chinese peony, Chinese magnolia, vetiver, and pistachio has certainly been a welcome scent around our water cooler. Test it out yourself the next time you want to make a lasting impression—say, for a job interview at an edgy firm or before a big creative pitch.

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More office fragrances we love:

Desk Escape: Liis In This World Eau de Parfum

Why we love it: If you ever find yourself sitting at your desk, staring out the window and longing for a breath of the great outdoors, try gracing your wrist with a spritz of Liis In This World. Earthy but refined enough to be suited for work, the green fragrance channels feelings of forest bathing through notes of eucalyptus, sage, tonka wood, and violet.

Why we love it: If you ever find yourself sitting at your desk, staring out the window and longing for a breath of the great outdoors, try gracing your wrist with a spritz of Liis In This World. Earthy but refined enough to be suited for work, the green fragrance channels feelings of forest bathing through notes of eucalyptus, sage, tonka wood, and violet.

Ground Yourself: Charlotte Tilbury Calm Bliss

Why we love it: From magic creams to mood-altering scents, Charlotte Tilbury infuses her products with a bit of alchemizing stardust. (Or, so it seems.) The brand’s Calm Bliss, offered in an aquamarine-glass bottle that recalls a fantasy potion, is no exception. One spritz of this when I’m under deadline-driven pressure, and I feel my shoulders drop, my attitude mellow, and my senses mollified by the fresh, sweet scent of lavandin oil mixed with watery accord and white musks.

An Expensive Dessert: Henry Rose Dave

Why we love it: There’s a vanilla fragrance for every time and place. And when you mean business, Henry Rose Dave is the way to go. Like the perfectly tailored blazer of gourmand scents, the slightly sweet scent pairs Chantilla vanilla with tonka bean, cocoa shell, and neroli for an utterly polished effect. Expensive-smelling, complex, and long-lasting, it’s the confidence-boosting scent to wear when you’re asking for a raise.

Freshly Freshened Up: Diptyque Fleur de Peau

Why we love it: When your energy starts to lag toward the end of the work week, do yourself a favor and douse your pulse points in Diptyque Fleur de Peau. With notes of musk, iris, ambrette, and pink peppercorn, the scent reminds me of freshly soaped skin. It’s clean, uplifting, and just the fragrance you need to freshen up your outlook till Friday.

Build-Your-Own-Perfume: DS & Durga I Don’t Know What

Why we love it: In perfumery, “transparent” applies to a type of scent that’s radiant, light, and airy, and D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What is a compulsively sniffable case in point. Subtle enough for the most discreet of workplaces, the skin scent is an easy choice for everyday wear. On the weekends, mix it up by layering the base scent with something a little more beachy, like DS & Durga’s marine-floral Rose Atlantic. Or, for something even bolder, try social media manager Bianca Richard’s tried-and-true trio of I Don’t Know What, Sol de Janeiro’s fruity-floral Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor Hair & Body Mist, and Kayali’s ultra-juicy Eden Juicy Apple 01 Eau de Parfum. “[I Don’t Know What] really sets the foundation for how the body spray and fragrance settle into my skin throughout the day for a long-lasting effect,” Richards said.

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On the hunt for more scents? Keep reading:

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Now, watch the cast of A Minecraft Movie react to TikTok trends:

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