For an elegant and sophisticated scent, the best Dior perfumes are often the first to spring to mind. For good reason too, having been crafted from the finest ingredients, these blends are complex, refined and established icons in their own right.
Founded in 1946, the House of Dior made its first foray into the fragrance field with Miss Dior. A green, chypre scent, this fragrance was designed to "leave a trail of desire in a woman’s wake." Many of its blends are now ranked amongst the best long-lasting perfumes, for their similarly lingering notes. Of course, with the French maison having become a cult classic and releasing a lineup of premium scents since - from Dior Addict to J'Adore - it can be hard to pinpoint just one to call your signature.
Lucky for floral fragrance lovers, many of Christian Dior’s perfumes feature a bouquet of blooms but there are also chic celebrations of vanilla, amber and musk to be found. Thus, to help with your search, we've rounded up 12 options - both iconic and perhaps lesser-known - all tested and loved by our team...
The 12 best Dior Perfumes of all time, as tested by our beauty team
From Miss Dior to timeless Dune, we've spritzed and worn Dior's most popular and luxe-smelling scents and, in no particular order, these are our 12 favourites...
RRP: £68 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Fruity floral | Standout notes: Ylang ylang, damask rose and sambac jasmine
Dior J'Adore is an iconic fragrance that continues to be one of the brand's best-sellers and has been for over 20 years. An ode to Christian Dior's love for florals, the carnal blend, which launched back in 1999, celebrates different flowers from around the world, with ylang-ylang and Damascus rose from Turkey, Indian jasmine sambac, and jasmine grandiflorum from Grasse, aka France's fine fragrance mecca. Together, these blooms create a pillowy, soft scent that's classy and modern.
Wear it if: You want to feel polished and put together.
RRP: £68 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Fresh floral | Standout notes: Peony, lily-of-the-valley, apricot, rose, musk, sandalwood
Miss Dior EDP is a timeless classic that has to be ranked highly on this list of best Dior perfumes of all time. It’s fresh and floral and exudes femininity with its striking bouquet of delicate rose perfume, fresh lily-of-the-valley, powdery iris, and apricot-tinged peony accord. At its base, comforting musks, sweet vanilla and creamy sandalwood leave a lasting impression.
Wear it if: You want a sophisticated take on florals.
RRP: £82 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Fruity floral | Standout notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, freesia, pomegranate, white musk and woods
This fun, fruity and fresh fragrance is guaranteed to put a spring in your step with its zingy bergamot and grapefruit, delicate florals and woodsy notes. While the crisp fruits cut through the white florals – the lasting scent is a powdery one that smells sophisticated, not unlike the best lavender perfumes. The only downside? The longevity is weak compared to other Dior fragrances we've tried (and listed here), lasting a few hours at most. Mist onto hair and clothes too, for a longer-lasting scent.
Wear it if: You love more traditional floral fragrances.
RRP: £97 for 50ml| Olfactory family: Amber vanilla | Standout notes: Liquorice, almond, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, vanilla and tonka bean
If you like the original Hypnotic Poison Eau de Toilette, then you’ll love this Eau de Parfum iteration. Landing on our shelves in 2014, this has quickly become one of the brand’s best-sellers. Darker and more mysterious than the original, the EDP packs a punch with its intoxicating blend that contrasts white florals (think jasmine sambac and orange blossom) with sharp liquorice and creamy vanilla. It’s sweet yet sophisticated and gets better with every sniff.
Wear it if: You want a comforting but striking fragrance, with major #shelfie appeal and impressive staying power.
RRP: £125 for 40ml | Olfactory family: Amber vanilla | Standout notes: orange, pink pepper, lemon, rum, cacao, cardamon, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli
Searching for the best vanilla perfume? Turn your nose to this gourmand fragrance from Dior. Inspired by Christian Dior’s favourite pastry, this scent smells good enough to eat (in the best way possible). It’s creamy, comforting, and oh so moreish with its luxurious blend of Madagascan vanilla, rich cocoa, and boozy rum. And while many vanilla fragrances fall into the sugary sweet camp, conjuring up the aroma of freshly baked cookies, this vanilla perfume is far more refined.
Wear it if: You want something rich and woodsy that gets you lots of lots of “you smell amazing” compliments.
RRP: £99 for 50ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Standout notes: Neroli, bergamot, jasmine, rose, vanilla, tonka bean, musk and sandalwood
A mood booster in fragrance form. Bright and breezy, the sunny scent combines zesty bergamot and mandarin with delicate florals and creamy sandalwood. As it dries down on the skin, we detect the soft scent of rose, which lingers long after spritzing. Ideal for everyday wear (and for anyone who adores florals), this is not a ‘look at me’ fragrance – instead, it’s a delicate, sophisticated number that lingers quietly in the background.
Wear it if: You want a mid-afternoon mood booster.
RRP: £68 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Standout notes: mandarin leaf, orange blossom, jasmine sambac absolute, bourbon vanilla
Addictive by name, addictive by nature – Dior Addict EDP is an intoxicating, seductive scent that will have you coming back for more (in our case, much more). Not for the faint-hearted, this fragrance demands to be noticed with its lingering blend of fresh mandarin leaf, floral jasmine sambac, and creamy bourbon vanilla. If you’re yet to smell it, we’d describe it as warm, comforting, and sweet with the stars of the show being vanilla, sandalwood and spice.
Wear it if: You want a bold, confident, comforting, and nostalgic scent that will last all night long when you're out dancing.
RRP: £115 for 35ml | Olfactory family: Floral | Standout notes: orange blossom, jasmine grandiflorum and centifolia rose absolutes
As with the rest of Dior's J'adore iterations, L'or radiates timelessness and luxury. Its floral notes of orange blossom and centifolia rose envelope you immediately but there's also a sunny and inviting warmth that plays on the surface of your skin. The golden tint to the formula really hints at the fragrance within. It's classic but not heady like some traditional florals can be and really lingers in the air, for a long-lasting but delicate signature.
Wear it if: you love warm florals and are seeking a summery scent that truly smells like flowery, sun-warmed skin.
RRP: £125 for 40ml | Olfactory family: Amber floral | Standout notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, Damask rose, pink pepper, ambergris, guaiac wood, cedar and patchouli
An amber floral fragrance, this perfume is all about contrast and “the encounter between two extremes,” says Dior perfumer-creator François Demachy. “It is, in a way, the olfactory expression of Beauty and the Beast,” he continues. Honeyed amber is warm, while Turkish rose is soft and velvety. Together, these starring notes smell sweet, musky, spicy yet fresh – making it a great year-round fragrance.
Wear it if: You're after velvety, smooth and sensual opulence perfect for evening wear.
RRP: £68 for 30ml | Olfactory family: Floral | Standout notes: Neroli, jasmine sambac, magnolia, rose, honeysuckle
Dior's alcohol-free rendition of its iconic J'adore fragrance is the epitome of a crowd-pleaser. It's light (much lighter than the original), creamy and refreshing with a soft petal scent that combines delicate white florals (including neroli, jasmine sambac and magnolia) with refreshing green notes. Not at all overpowering, this doesn't have the alcohol back-note you might be used to with other scents. Instead, you're hit with a floral freshness that lingers on the skin for around three to four hours before evolving into a clean skin scent.
Wear it if: You want something elegant, sophisticated and that conjures up that fresh-out-the-shower feeling.
RRP: £114 for 100ml | Olfactory family: Amber woody | Standout notes: Brazilian rosewood, mandarin orange, bergamot, peony, lily, ylang-ylang, wallflower, jasmine, rose, amber, sandalwood, benzoin, oakmoss, vanilla, patchouli and musk
Launching back in 1991, Dune is a timeless classic that challenged the typical aquatic scents of this era. The brand wanted a marine fragrance unlike any other, free from the usual notes used to conjure up an oceanic scent (like melon and cucumber). Instead, the three perfumers behind this fragrance turned to zesty citruses, white florals and warm woods to create a ‘marine’ number that, to me, smells like hot sand as opposed to ocean air. Completely unique, it’s hard to put Dune into words.
Wear it if: You want a warm, soothing and earthy summer scent that conjures up hot desert sands with a hint of salty air.
RRP: £125 for 40ml | Olfactory family: Woody floral | Standout notes: sea salt, citruses, mineral notes, jasmine, coconut, pine tree and labdanum
It may sound cliché, but this really is summer, bottled. Inspired by the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, this aquatic perfume calls upon sea salt and mineral notes to mimic the scent of warm, salty air. As it develops on the skin, you'll start to notice a suntan lotion scent that's thanks to jasmine and coconut. The dry down is green and a little herbaceous, which is an ode to the hotel's beautiful gardens. Overall, it's an elegant fragrance that's sunny yet chic.
Wear it if: You want to transport yourself to a glamorous hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean.
How we tested the best Dior perfumes?
A selection of the best Dior perfumes tested for this buying guide, including Dior J'Adore, Miss Dior, Vanilla Diorama, Dune and Dior Addict, all displayed on a wooden shelf
Like with all our best perfumes for women guides, we sampled a selection of the best Dior perfumes first-hand. Some blends, like Miss Dior and J'Adore, were already long-standing favourites but the rest, we wore for an entire day each (often more just because they smelt so good), to see how their notes fared and changed throughout the day. We also took note of compliments received and the way each fragrance made us feel, to deduce which of the many chic scents were our 'best.'
Of course, fragrance is subjective, so there's no one best for everyone but amongst our beauty team, the nine above made the most impact on our noses and hearts.
What is the oldest Dior perfume?
If you're looking to add the oldest Dior perfumes to your collection, Miss Dior Original is the very first fragrance by Christian Dior that launched back in 1947. Described as an ‘avant-garden green chypre floral’, this iconic fragrance is laced with sambac jasmine, patchouli and galbanum. "I created this perfume to clothe every woman in exquisite femininity, as though each of my gowns were emerging, one by one, from the bottle,” says François Demachy.
Is Dior perfume worth the money?
It really depends on what you’re after. If you want to have a signature scent that’s carefully crafted with the finest ingredients from around the world then yes, Dior perfume is worth the spend. All the fragrances we’ve listed here are beautifully balanced and manage to tell a story as they evolve on the skin.
At Dior, you’re not just buying a fragrance, you’re also buying into the bigger picture - the Dior woman who’s elegant, chic and ever so sophisticated. These fragrances are designed to make you feel like the best, most sophisticated version of yourself.
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