Fragrance AWARDS

MOUTH-WATERING. Juicy. TART. Sweet. ZESTY. Spicy. SMOKY. We TESTED hundreds of PERFUMES, and the BEST NEW SCENTS of the year all had one thing in common: They SMELL GOOD ENOUGH to EAT.

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Legendary perfumer Olivier Cresp, the nose behind Mugler Angel and Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, says there is one category to pay attention to this year: gourmands. “Out of every 10 fragrances launched in the States, six of them are gourmands,” he explains. But there is one emerging scent trend he also has his eye on: “Cleanness, like you’re under a shower. When you’re clean, you feel good. You feel comfortable.” Cresp’s insight points to a larger movement: It’s no longer enough to just smell great; the best perfumes will make you feel that way too. That’s the idea behind the winners of our annual Fragrance Awards. Ahead, our list of the new scents that make us feel cool and confident, clean and fresh, and young at heart.

COOL AND CONFIDENT

Like our favorite pair of jeans or tailored-to-perfection power suit, these eight scents help us slip into a stronger, sexier, more confident persona with just a spritz or two (or three).

1. Ferragamo Fiamma ($140; nordstrom.com) delivers a bold, fruity finish, thanks to white pear, nectarine, jasmine, gardenia, and musk.

2. In Noyz Only Human ($85; noyz.com), vanilla bean, Ambroxan, and cedarwood ground the skin-hugging scent, which also features water lily and Italian bergamot.

3. Phlur Rose Whip ($99; sephora.com) is a sensual blend of rose, black currant, and a leathery base with a cashmere wood note.

4. Kilian Paris Angels' Share on the Rocks ($275; kilian-paris.com) is a more intense iteration of the original scent, with notes of bitter orange, tonka bean and oak absolutes, and cognac essence.

5. Prada Beauty Paradoxe Radical Essence Parfum ($172; sephora.com) is the most concentrated in the Paradoxe family, a bold floral gourmand with neroli, pistachio, and sandalwood.