There's no compliment quite like being told, 'You smell nice,' or being asked by a total stranger which perfume you're wearing. Some scents are guaranteed head-turners, with compliments piling in each time you spritz it - and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, that's exactly the kind of attention-grabbing fragrance we want to be wearing.
With an extensive fragrance wardrobe to choose from, we asked Best Quality Designer Handbag 's Beauty Collective to share the scent that always gets complimented, making it the ideal date night fragrance. Read on for their picks...
Rare Beauty Layering Eau De Parfum Balm in Amber Vanilla, £18 / $19
"A 'date night' scent after more than ten years in a relationship is very different from a fragrance designed to entice someone into your world. These days, when (a very rare) night out means scheduling a peck on the cheek, my date night fragrance has evolved into something far more subtle. I was pleasantly surprised by (the aptly named given how many dates my partner and I go on) Rare Beauty’s Layering Eau De Parfum Balm in Amber Vanilla, £18.
"A skin-nuzzling, quietly sensual blend that I often find myself wearing by itself, just for me. The tube format makes it easy to keep in my handbag, which is essential when wrestling a four-year-old into submission and dashing out the door before the babysitting bill threatens to outpace a five-course dinner at the Ritz… and I inevitably forget that vital spritz." - Cassie Steer, Best Quality Designer Handbag Head of Beauty
Tom Ford Black Orchid, £155 / $205
"Roll your eyes at my cliche date night choice if you want, but this heady, sexy fragrance is always reserved for the fanciest of evenings, be it a night in a posh hotel, a fancy dinner or a black tie occasion (not that I am invited to many of those!), so every time I spray the iconic black and gold bottle, I'm reminded of the best of times.
"I first fell in love with the scent when a friend of mine was wearing it years ago, and I had to ask her what it was so I could buy a bottle myself and while for many people it's an instantly recognisable fragrance, people still ask me what I'm wearing every time I choose to spray this - a sure sign that it's an incredible scent.
"I try not to 'keep things for best' but I do with Black Orchid and not only does it make the extortionate price seem more reasonable, my brain just knows it’s a special evening if I spray this, setting me up for a good night, no matter where date night takes me." - Melanie Macleod, Best Quality Designer Handbag Deputy Beauty and Lifestyle Editor
Horace Oud Rose, £62 / $82
"Horace is one of the most underrated brands in the fragrance game. Though they started in men's skincare, the perfumes they've been putting out have been a series of brilliant, budget and (mostly) unisex masterpieces.
"If you want to smell and feel expensive without blowing up your wallet, then Oud Rose is the perfect date night scent. I've often found oud scents a little too heavy, and rosy floral scents a little too sweet, but this one finds that perfectly opulent balance of being soft and smoky – just enough to turn heads without knocking out a room.
"I'm quite a liberal sprayer, and this one being on the more affordable side certainly takes away the guilt: it's perfect for any kind of date, from a late-night cinema trip to a fancier meal. - Josh Osman, Best Quality Designer Handbag Junior Lifestyle Writer
Diptyque Orphéon, £170 / $205
"When it comes to date night – or any night out, to be honest – the only answer you will ever get from me when it comes to my scent of choice is undoubtedly Diptyque's Orphéon scent. It is quite the splurge, but one that I justify first with the fact that I've owned it since it launched in 2021, and I still have about a quarter of the bottle left, but even more, so the fact that never have I ever received more compliments on a scent than I have with Orphéon.
"Without fail, from the moment I step out the door, the night out won't end without my getting compliments from friends and dates alike as soon as I greet them; heck, I've even gotten compliments from Uber drivers when I step into their car before I even get to my date night destination!
"The scent is inspired by Paris in the 1960s, specifically the jazz clubs of Saint-Germain and boasts a combination of tonka bean, cedar, jasmine and juniper berries that I promise will leave your date, and everyone else, totally captivated. (Not to mention a little goes a long way, and I'm always pulling out clothes I last wore months ago that still smell of Orphéon)." - Beatriz Colon, Best Quality Designer Handbag US Writer
Byredo Slow Dance, £150 / $330
"My husband bought me this for Christmas and it is my go-to when I go out for dinner and I want to feel sophisticated. It’s like the little black dress of my fragrance wardrobe. It’s sweeter than some of my other favourite perfumes, but after a few minutes, it becomes more musky and intense. It does have a bit of an ‘aftershave’ scent to it and the website says that it 'mixes ideas of the feminine and masculine, bitter and sweet,' and I couldn’t explain it better myself.
"I must admit that I have become a bit of a fragrance snob with age, and I always recommend Byredo if you’re looking for a new scent. They have such a gorgeous selection of fragrances, you are bound to find one that fits your personality and mood." - Donna Francis, Beauty Expert
