The Best Fresh Floral Perfumes According to Editors

They're perfect for daytime

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Celia Shatzman, a Brooklyn-based writer and editor, shares her top picks for fresh floral perfumes that are perfect for daytime wear. She highlights a range of scents that blend floral notes with other elements like aquatic, creamy, or skin-like accords, and are available in various formats like solid perfumes, body mists, and hair perfumes.

Why it matters

Fresh floral perfumes are a classic and versatile fragrance category that can be worn in many different ways. Shatzman's recommendations provide readers with a curated selection of high-quality, editor-approved options that capture the power of floral notes in a light and crisp way, making them ideal for daytime use.

The details

Shatzman's picks include a scent that transports her to a windy British coastline, a hair mist that evokes a sunny Italian road trip, a fragrance inspired by Brazilian warmth and optimism, a complex and romantic perfume based on 'The Bride of Frankenstein,' a cozy skin scent, a fresh laundry-inspired spritz, and a decadent, fancy-feeling perfume reminiscent of Marie Antoinette. Each perfume is described in detail with its key notes.

  • The article was published on February 26, 2026.

The players

Celia Shatzman

A Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has covered beauty for two decades and has an extensive perfume collection. She is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in various publications.

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What they’re saying

“There are so many ways to do florals in perfumery, but I always have a soft spot for fresh florals simply because they're pretty and classic. You can't go wrong when you mingle the power of the petal with light and crisp notes, making them perfect for daytime wear.”

— Celia Shatzman (cosmopolitan.com)

“I'm a sucker for BBC period pieces and whenever I wear this scent, I feel like I'm in one—specifically walking along a windy beach on a desolate British coastline. Perhaps collecting seashells or fossils. The unique blend really is that transportive and feels like salt air and driftwood captured in a bottle. Energizing and uplifting like a fresh breeze, it's one of my forever favorites.”

— Celia Shatzman (cosmopolitan.com)

“It's hard to find a fragrance that straddles freshness and coziness, but this one does exactly that. Its moniker comes from a Brazilian Portuguese expression that describes the sensation of good vibes, happiness and optimism, and it's fair to say this perfume captures that sentiment perfectly. It oozes Brazilian warmth and sunniness and makes me want to book a trip to Rio.”

— Celia Shatzman (cosmopolitan.com)

The takeaway

Celia Shatzman's recommendations showcase the versatility of fresh floral perfumes, which can transport the wearer to different settings and evoke a range of emotions, from the breezy and uplifting to the cozy and optimistic. Her curated selection provides readers with a starting point to explore this classic fragrance category and find the perfect fresh floral scent to suit their personal preferences and lifestyle.