We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Style Beauty 10 Classic Fragrances Southern Women Will Never Stop Wearing These signature scents are Southern grandmother-approved. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on May 31, 2024 Getty Images/Kristina Strasunske Scents are some of the subtlest elements of Southern style. Having a signature fragrance is as nostalgic a thing as it is personal to each wearer. There are tried-and-true fragrances loved by generations of Southern women, undoubtedly being passed on through memories of how your grandmother smelled when she hugged you or what your mother would spritz in front of the bathroom mirror, coaxing you to seek it out later in life for your own use. A signature scent that feels rooted in your younger self can mean so much more than a dab on the wrist or spray on the neck. It can capture notice at hellos and linger deliciously after goodbyes. Feminine floral notes, warm earthy hints, subtle citrus touches, and robust musky undertones—these are what make up some the most beloved and reminiscent perfumes. Here are 10 classic perfumes that have adorned Southern vanities for generations, and what makes them special. Chanel No°5 Sephora View On Chanel View On Sephora $108 View On Ulta $172 This iconic scent has been famous since it came out in 1921, and many might remember it sitting pretty in their grandmother's bathroom, or perhaps how the fragrance seems to be traffic-stoppingly memorable. Once you've smelled it once, you'll never mistake it for another perfume again. That might stem from the fact that, while it might seem familiarly floral at base, it is much more complex with citrusy notes and a bourbon vanilla finish that makes it feel more mature and whole-hearted. Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds Amazon View On Amazon $28 View On Macy's $72 View On Fragrancex.com $16 Perhaps because the maker is so iconic—dripping with diamonds and all—White Diamonds has stayed a prevalently popular scent for over 20 years. Elizabeth Taylor admittedly never left the house without two things—her diamonds and her perfume—and her goal was to create something that could make every woman feel fabulous. Per her request, this perfume is packed with fresh flowers like violet, rose, jasmine, and lily. All the makings of an even more fabulous Southern woman, if that's possible. Bvlgari Eau Parfumée Au Thé Blanc Bvlgari View On Amazon $98 View On Nordstrom $115 View On Walmart $81 The best way to describe this incredibly unique scent is that it seems to wrap its wearer in a cloud of je ne sais quoi. It doesn't smell like any other fragrance, and yet still feels familiar—like how your grandmother smelled at a special occasion or what flowers smell like after it rains. It's both clean and intoxicating, somehow striking its own luxurious note. If you want to feel taken back in time, there's no better choice. Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne Saks Fifth Avenue View On Nordstrom $85 View On Nordstrom View On Sephora $32 Jo Malone is the master of creating timeless scents with simple concepts yet incredible complexity. While each fragrance in its collection captures a different mood, occasion, or feeling that might appeal to different people, a universal favorite prevails in the English Pear & Freesia scent. Why? Because instead of harkening to spring as so many perfumes do, it captures the essence of autumn, with notes of just-ripe pears, white freesias, amber, patchouli, and woods. Givenchy L'Interdit Eau De Toilette Amazon View On Amazon $63 View On Ulta $93 View On Givenchybeauty.com This delicate scent with peach and floral notes was created by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn, and it wasn’t even released to the public until years after its debut in the 1960s—until then, Hepburn was the one and only to possess it. The scent of summer and freshness takes you back to peach season and porch sits, reminding Southerners of our beloved simple pleasures. Houbigant Paris Quelques Fleurs L'Original Eau de Parfum Houbigant Paris View On Amazon $220 View On Nordstrom $105 View On Walmart Princess Diana wore Quelques Fleurs on her wedding day, and it's no secret that Southerners have always have a soft spot for the people's princess, whose kind demeanor seems to feel just a bit Southern. The fragrance is a labor of love fitting for anyone who wants the purest floral essence and to smell like a garden incarnate: around 15,000 flowers are said to be curated to make just a single ounce of it. Gucci Perfume Gucci View On Nordstrom View On Sephora $39 View On Ulta $168 If you were walking through New Orleans' Garden District in the spring, you'd see and smell the floaty scent of gardenias all over, and this fragrance captures the mystical nature that gardenias are known for. It fills the nose and harkens back to blooming gardens, which is a reminder we crave in the South once other seasons take over. Jasmine and pear blossom notes make it feel happy and bright. Aerin Wild Geranium Sephora View On Amazon $143 View On Nordstrom $150 View On Esteelauder.com Spring in the South is wildflower season, when the countrysides burst with tufts of brightly colored blooms. This perfume was invented as an ode to wildflowers themselves, as if you're in the car with the window down and smelling the wildflowers in the wind. The scent is rooted in fresh geranium, but made even more enchanting with notes of tuberose and narcisse. Jean Patou Joy Jean Patou View On Amazon $13 View On Walmart $51 Designer Jean Patou first thought to create this ethereal scent during the Great Depression, as a potential revitalization of his business by offering something that could make someone feel rare and treasured with just a spritz. The jasmine notes are unique amongst even most floral perfumes, and the nostalgic rose notes will make you think of your mother at her vanity with rollers on. MARC JACOBS Daisy Eau de Toilette Spray macys View On Macy's This has become one of the most recognizable bottles of circa-2000s perfume for a reason, and it seems to appeal to those who desire something crisp yet punchy. It's meant to be wholly feminine and romantic, reminiscent of bygone times. It stands out amongst floral perfumes by rooting itself in fresh strawberry rather than the expected blooms, something a modern Southern woman could appreciate. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit