The Mall Edit

Giftable Fragrances Worth Revisiting

While niche perfumery is a booming industry, not every fragrance needs to be obscure or hard to find to be great. During my journey into the world of perfume, I came to view Department Store fragrances as lacking depth or imagination due to their need for broad appeal. And, while it is such a joy to discover a new indie brand or rare fragrance note, sometimes you just want what works–especially when it comes to gift giving.

Mother’s Day and graduations are just around the corner, so I’ve curated a list of the best fragrances for women from the department store. These iconic classics were everywhere for a reason, and they are still just as relevant today.

Fragrance is indeed personal, and I’ve no doubt there will be some conflicting opinions on my choices (and I’d love to hear them!), but I truly believe these fragrances are safe blind buys and gifts for just about anyone who appreciates a great olfactory experience. And there’s no need for searching around, because all of them are easy to find at just about any department store or online retailer. I’ve also created an easy TLDR reference list for you to use the next time you are buying gifts–including for yourself!

Created in 2001, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue is a clean, white sundress in a bottle. Fresh and casual, its bright lemon and green apple opening doesn’t lean too masculine, and the light florals keep it from languishing in overly-woodsy territory during the dry down. An extremely wearable fragrance that feels crisp and youthful, Light Blue makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves summer.

Issey Miyake L’eau D’Issey Eau de Toilette was released back in 1992, and could easily be considered the OG ‘Clean Girl’ scent. This watery melon and freesia fragrance had me in a chokehold back in college, and is still relevant as ever–albeit be more floral than I remember. If you’re looking for something a little more recent, Coach Dreams (2020) is a highly underrated fragrance that has a similar 90s-era freshness. With notes of pear, white florals and ambroxyn, Dreams manages to achieve that clean girl vibe without being soapy.

Speaking of clean girl vibes, Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc For Her (2019) is the office, gym, and hiking fragrance dreams are made of. It has the familiar Narciso Rodriguez musk DNA, without the aggressive florals or patchouli present in other flankers from the line. Pure Musc For Her is reminiscent of Body Shop White Musk oil from back in the day–but that’s not a bad thing. An easy, safe blind-buy for uncomplicated clean girlies.

Dior J’adore d’Eau is the 2022 alcohol-free flanker of the famous original J’adore fragrance that I’ve personally never been drawn to. But this newer, milky concoction is a jasmine lover’s dream. I literally swooned upon sniffing the tester and couldn’t get this scent on my body fast enough. The fresh, lemony magnolia note freshens things up and keeps the jasmine from going too powdery or indolic. J’adore d’Eau is the best Jasmin in the department store, hands down. A simply stunning and highly giftable fragrance for anyone who takes tropical vacations, attends fancy luncheons, or just wants to smell amazing.

Someone said, “bubblegum but make it bougie”, and Armani My Way was born. Released in 2020, this tuberose-forward white floral stops just shy of being too sweet with citrus notes giving a lift to the overall composition. The bubblegum opening dissipates after a while, leaving an uplifting and happy scent that makes me feel gorgeous. Somehow My Way feels both vintage and modern at the same time, making it a perfect scent for all the women in your life.

My love for fresh and fruity florals began back in high school with Victoria’s Secret Sparkling Cassis body lotion, but no one at the department store does this category better than Chanel. Released back in 2010, Chance Eau Tendre EDT is a fresh, fruity floral with notes of grapefruit, iris and jasmine that feels joyful, timeless and extremely wearable. Chance Tendre Eau de Parfum, released in 2019, is a little more feminine and rose forward, but evokes the same freshness and ease as the EDT. If you’re gifting, I think either of these are a safer bet than the popular Coco Mademoiselle, which I find to be too, well, perfumey. Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet (2014) is a close runner-up to Chance Eau Tendre though, with mandarin and stone fruits creating a fresh, sparkling floral that is both elegant and youthful.

I typically don’t go for gourmands, but Burberry Her Elixir Eau de Parfum is too special to be denied. Released in 2022, Her Elixir is a sensual strawberry fragrance that warms down to a cozy vanilla-amber scent that lives close to the skin. I’ve heard this compared to a strawberry milkshake, but it is not childlike or cloying as that description suggests. And while I’m not a fan of sweet vanillas, Her Elixir leans more sophisticated than stripper. It is playful, delicious, and perfect for anyone who wants a gourmand that goes beyond cupcake territory. For me, it’s the best fruity gourmand at the department store. It’s also a fragrance men love.

Created in 2019, Yves Saint Laurent Libre Parfum is considered an Oriental Fougere because of the lavender note present at the fragrance’s opening. I did not like Libre at first for this very reason, but this perfume is all about the journey. What begins as a bergamot and lavender blast akin to potpourri and regret, slowly evolves into an addictive orange blossom, warm vanilla and tonka bean sweater you never want to take off. While it wasn’t love at first sniff, Libre has become one of my most cherished fragrances in my collection. I consider this more of a fall and winter fragrance, but the summer-friendly Libre L’Eau Nue has a fresh, citrus opening while maintaining the same stunning dry down as the original. Consider getting (or gifting) both for year-round scent heaven.

I discovered Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT (in the black bottle) after being transfixed by the smell of a friend’s dinner date back in 2010. When she told me the name of the fragrance, I ran to Nordstrom the next morning to buy it. Fifteen years later, it’s still one of my favorites. For Her is a fresh yet sexy floral chypre musk characterized by its bold and aggressive opening. But, oh, the dry down. I swear I smell something watery in this, and no rose to my nose. The EDP is a little more floral and youthful, but I prefer the EDT, even though I have to spray the bottle into the air and walk through (or put it on before bed) if I’m going to be around other people during the day. At night though, I go full hog.

I wore For Her to dinner with a friend recently and she had the same reaction as me all those years ago: “What are you wearing?” she asked, “I can’t concentrate, it’s making me sweat.” Like me, she went out and bought it the next day. Frankly put, Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT smells like a woman who has her shit together. This glorious fragrance has been on the market for over twenty years and there’s still nothing else quite like it. Perfect for all the intelligent, discerning women in your life–including you!

Now it's your turn: What is your most beloved fragrance from the department store? Tell me in the comments!

The TLDR:

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

• Category: Aquatic Floral Citrus

• Notes: Lemon, Green Apple, White Flowers

• TLDR: Your everyday white T-shirt scent; crisp, youthful, and giftable

Issey Miyake L’eau D’Issey

• Category: Floral Aquatic

• Notes: Lotus, Freesia, Melon

• TLDR: The original “clean girl” scent; nostalgic but still relevant

Coach Dreams

• Category: Fruity White Floral

• Notes: Pear, Gardenia, Ambroxan

• TLDR: 90s freshness with a modern twist

Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc For Her

• Category: Floral Musk

• Notes: Musk, Jasmine, Cashmeran

• TLDR: Gym, office, hikes—anywhere you want to smell clean but elevated

Dior J’adore d’Eau

• Category: Fresh White Floral

• Notes: Jasmine, Magnolia, Neroli

• TLDR: Jasmine lovers who want something fresh, luminous, and alcohol-free

Armani My Way

• Category: Tuberose-Citrus Floral

• Notes: Bergamot, Tuberose, Vanilla

• TLDR: Feminine, joyful scent that blends vintage and modern sensibilities

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (EDT)

• Category: Fruity Floral

• Notes: Grapefruit, Jasmine, Amber

• TLDR: A timeless fresh floral that’s joyful and easy to wear

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (EDP)

• Category: Fruity Floral

• Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Grapefruit

• TLDR: A softer, more romantic take on the EDT

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet

• Category: Floral Fruity

• Notes: Mandarin, Peony, Apricot

• TLDR: Youthful, sparkling elegance; a safe, luxe gift

Burberry Her Elixir

• Category: Fruity Gourmand

• Notes: Strawberry, Vanilla, Amber

• TLDR: A grown-up strawberry milkshake that men love too; cozy and playful without being juvenile

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Parfum

• Category: Oriental Fougere

• Notes: Lavender, Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Tonka Bean

• TLDR: Fall/winter warmth with a bold intro and stunning dry down

Libre L’Eau Nue

• Category: Citrus Floral

• Notes: Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Vanilla

• TLDR: A lighter, summer-ready take on Libre with the same addictive base

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT

• Category: Floral Chypre Musk

• Notes: Orange Blossom, Musk, Patchouli

• TLDR: Clean, powerful, and unforgettable

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDP

• Category: Floral Chypre

• Notes: Rose, Peach, Musk

• TLDR: A softer, more floral sister to the EDT; still seductive, slightly more approachable