Key notes: Bulgarian rose, magnolia, bergamot, musk
Best Fruity-Floral: Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Scent To Go
Why it’s worth it: Jo Malone London’s English Pear & Freesia is a longtime-viral hit with a signature blend of white florals and subtly juicy fruit, and now it’s available in this solid cologne format. Just like the original, it features the mellow mix of freesia, ripe pears, and patchouli, but this time, it’s housed in a beeswax base.
Key notes: freesia, pear, patchouli
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a solid perfume?
It seems self-explanatory, but there’s a bit more to a solid perfume than just, well, being solid. “A solid perfume is a concentrated fragrance blended with a waxy base like beeswax or shea butter,” says Isaac Lekach, cofounder of Flower Shop Perfumes Co. According to Lekach, solid perfume is meant to be applied directly to the skin, leaving behind a subtle, long-lasting scent.
How is a solid perfume different from a liquid perfume?
Daryl Do, senior perfumer at Delbia Do, says one of the biggest differences between solid and liquid perfumes is that the former (usually) doesn’t contain alcohol. “Solid perfumes are an option for those who may be allergic to alcohol or don’t like the vapor from it,” he says. “This is a favorite for people who are concerned about the drying effects of alcohol on their skin.”
Lekach adds that solids usually have a lower concentration than an eau de parfum but that doesn’t significantly affect their performance. “While some may contain a higher oil concentration and have a slightly better performance, the scent itself would smell the same as in other applications,” he says.
Meet the experts
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 review of the best solid perfumes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, and contributors to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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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.
