Shopping for a new fragrance as the weather warms up gives off the same energy as picking out a first-day-of-school outfit. It’s a mini reset we’re more than ready for, especially when it’s brought to us by Nordstrom’s beauty section. From Monday, May 5, to Sunday, May 11, the mega-retailer is offering 15% off nearly all fragrances.
That means brands like Tom Ford, Byredo, and Phlur are offering rare discounts, both online and IRL, just in time for Mother’s Day. “Last minute” is a mindset, and when you bought the gift has nothing to do with how good it smells.
We rounded up some on-sale editor favorites that cover a lot of olfactory ground: springy gourmands, fresh florals, modern moody notes, and fruity eaus for gifting, keeping, or saving for when the summer solstice hits. Add your faves to cart and enjoy every sniff.
Our Top Nordstrom Fragrance Sale Picks
Tom Ford Lost Cherry
Why it’s worth it: Bright, buzzy, and sexy, Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry is in shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis’s personal hall of fame, as well as Allure’s Best of Beauty Awards. “This is the fragrance I get the most compliments on,” Trakoshis says. “It’s sweet but not cheap-sweet like a cherry scent that’s so sweet it gives you a headache, rather, rich-sweet like a crispy cherry pie in the oven.”
Scent family, key notes, sizes
fruity; cherry, almond; 1 oz, 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
Byredo Mojave Ghost
Why it’s worth it: Byredo’s Mojave Ghost adds a dash of warm petals to the chat. “This floral-woodsy scent has pretty quickly become my go-to,” says senior art director Ingrid Fowler. “It’s got a little bit of everything: mild, sweet notes that balance the earthiness, as one might imagine a desert-inspired fragrance to be. The beautiful, classic Byredo bottle also doesn’t hurt.”
Scent family, key notes, sizes
floral/woody; violet, musk, cedar wood; 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
D.S. & Durga Deep Dark Vanilla
Why it’s worth it: Vanilla for the spring/summer may sound a little uncouth, but we promise there’s very much a time and a place. Said time and place? DS & Durga’s Deep Dark Vanilla—a brooding but bright nighttime vanilla and aural equivalent of a little black dress. “This really smells like the pure vanilla extract you’d use to make cookies: It’s not sweet, exactly, but rather rich and smoky and warm,” says content director Kara McGrath. “I love wearing it when I go out to dinner because I think the gourmand fragrance complements the scent of a nice meal rather than competing with it.”
Scent family, key notes, sizes
gourmand; vanilla, patchouli, orchid; 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
Malin + Goetz Strawberry
Why it’s worth it: Strawberry, but make it über grown up. “It’s much greener than you’d expect—there’s a hint of berry sweetness, but it’s mostly a vegetal, fresh fragrance to me,” commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann says of Malin + Goetz’s Strawberry Eau de Parfum. “Whenever I wear it, I like to think I smell like I spent all morning handling a bunch of farmers’ market strawberries, gently arranging them into some gorgeous, rustic strawberry tart, and the scent of the juices and stems melted into my skin and lingered all day long.”
Scent family, key notes, sizes
fruity; strawberry, bergamot, pink pepper; 1.7 oz
Maison Margiela Replica Under The Stars
Why it’s worth it: Peppery cedarwood, oud, and cinnamon swirl around in Maison Margiela Replica’s Under The Stars—reminiscent of stretching out on slightly warm grass while a campfire crackles nearby. Despite the rich scent profile, it’s still surprisingly light and endlessly sprayable.
Scent family, key notes, sizes
woody; cinnamon, cedar wood, oud; 1 oz, 3.4 oz
Phlur Father Figure
Why it’s worth it: We’re getting figgy with it, thanks to Phlur’s Father Figure. It brings the freshness of a fruit tree with a quasi-candied spirit that leans a bit towards cologne while keeping that femme energy nice and centered. Contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman is a huge fan. “I love a sweet perfume (I’m a vanilla loyalist), and this scent is true to my preferences while subverting my typical gourmand choices.”
Scent family, key notes, sizes
fruity; fig, sandalwood, jasmine; 0.32 oz, 3.4 oz
Dior Miss Dior Gift Set
Why it’s worth it: A little zesty, a little floral, and a lot giftable, Dior’s Miss Dior Eau de Parfum Gift Set is ready to wrap and hand over to mom (or your best friend who’s recently joined the new mama club). She’ll get a bit of blood orange plus rose and patchouli, bottled up into an eau de parfum and a body milk.
Scent family, key notes, sizes
floral; rose, blood orange, patchouli; 1.7 oz perfume; 2.5 oz Body Milk
Parfums de Marly Delina
Why it’s worth it: The sight of the Parfums de Marly Delina bottle on the top of a dresser is a gift enough, but it doesn’t stop there. This Best of Beauty winner is a true, rose-forward floral that attracts compliments like a pink magnet. “There hasn’t been a time I wore Delina and didn’t receive a compliment. Who doesn’t want that?” asked former associate manager of special projects, Talia Gutierrez.
Scent family, key notes, sizes
floral; rose, lily of the valley, rhubarb; 1 oz, 2.5 oz
Prada Paradoxe
Why it’s worth it: Prada’s Paradoxe figured out how to perfectly marry neroli, musk, and amber for an intense, genderless scent that’s as sensual as it is bouncy and bold. The iconic triangular bottle adds to the fun, sitting pretty on your vanity.
Scent family, key notes, sizes
musky; neroli, musk, amber; 1 oz, 1.6, 3 oz
Check out more of our favorite scents: