I never thought my most worn fragrances would actually come in a pocket-sized balm, until I discovered the best solid perfumes. But it makes sense, considering these potent solids are so easy to carry everywhere for reapplication. As someone who commutes into the office four days a week and runs around the city for work events, I love (read: need) a midday scent refresh.
That's where these come in handy. Unlike liquid perfumes, I'm not afraid to trigger anyone's smell sensitivities or allergies since they're more subtle and don't project everywhere. I can also build up the scent as I go. “I always recommend applying it first, directly to pulse points, because it creates a soft, skin-hugging base," says Octavia Morgan, fragrance expert and founder of Octavia Morgan. “From there, you can layer a spray fragrance on top or around it. The solid anchors the scent to the skin, while the spray adds lift and diffusion. This approach allows for more control and helps prevent a fragrance from feeling overpowering, especially for those with sensitive senses.”
While they're nothing new, they've been trending in the beauty space even more recently. (Seriously, every fragrance-obsessed editor has a favorite that they whip out of their bag.) So, to help you find your next signature scent, I tested a dozen options and landed on these top-rated picks below.
Our top solid perfumes
- Best Overall: NOYZ Patchouli Solid Frangrance Love Club, $42
- Best Budget : Lush Pansy Solid Perfume, $18
- Best Warm: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Jelly Perfume Balm, $26
- Best Musk: Diptyque Fleur de Peau Solid Perfume, $76
- Best Long-Lasting: Fenty Eau de Parfum Solid Perfume, $68
- Best Fresh Scent: Fulton and Roark Cloudland Solid Fragrance, $65
- Best Skin Scent: Glossier You Solid Perfume, $35
Best Overall: NOYZ Patchouli Solid Frangrance Love Club
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- Pros: Stick formula is easy to apply; unisex; available in bag charms; magnetic cap
- Cons: Not refillable
Our review: NOYZ is the fragrance brand that got me obsessed with solid perfumes in the first place. I'm actually on my second tube now and gift these to all my beauty-obsessed friends. They look like an oversized lip balm, and the packaging is practical. It's the best overall pick thanks to its functional design, long-lasting performance, and value. The price for the 0.24 size is a nice middle ground compared to pricier options. The Sh**ty Day fragrance, in particular, has a warm, woody scent with a eucalyptus and citrus opening. I never get tired of the fresh, clean scent. (I can literally put it directly on my nostrils and take a whiff—it's that addictive—and something I can't do without sneezing when it comes to sprays.) It reminds me of a fancy hotel or spa resort, so it always lifts my mood. I also appreciate that it's a true genderless scent. Some brands say they are unisex, but will have overpowering masculine or feminine notes. Trust me, you're going to want to add this one to your spring fragrance rotation.
Fragrance notes: Eucalyptus leaves, cedarwood, and fig | Size: 0.24 oz
Best Budget: Lush Pansy Solid Perfume
- Pros: A little goes a long way; brand carries a variety of solid perfume options; budget-friendly; vegan; unisex
- Cons: Thicker texture can be messier; tube is hard to pack away; not as long-lasting as others
Our review: The fragrance Reddit community really loves Lush products, and that's true for their solid perfumes as well. The brand offers a variety of affordable options, making it a great choice if you want to test the waters without breaking the bank. Of the many Lush solid perfumes I tried, the one that stood out the most to me was Pansy. It has an herbal scent with some floral notes, which has me excited for spring. The ingredients are all natural, so I'm not afraid to apply this everywhere. Pro tip: You can use this as a hair perfume by rubbing it into the ends of your hair. Just be aware that you might need to layer it with other products because its staying power isn't as strong.
Fragrance notes: Bergamot, orange flower, rosemary | Size: 0.3 oz
Best Warm: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Jelly Perfume Balm
- Pros: Budget-friendly
- Cons: Jelly-like consistency means you have to be careful when applying
Our review: As a long-time fan of Sol de Janeiro scents, I was excited to see that the brand now has its signature perfume mists in balm form. “This jelly formula has completely sold me on solid perfumes," says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. "It has a bouncy, gel-texture that slides onto skin and leaves behind the long-lasting signature Cheirosa ’62 scent. It's gourmand and warm with notes of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla. The Cheirosa ’68 is also available in balm form and has become a new favorite in this format, thanks to its slightly more fruity, flowery notes. I've actually been loving to mix both for a combination scent that's sugary and powdery. Both are so long-lasting, too. I applied them to my wrists before bed and could still smell them by morning.”
Fragrance notes: Pistachio, almond, vanilla, salted caramel, sandalwood | Size: 0.14 oz
Best Musk: Diptique Fleur de Peau Refillable Solid Perfume
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- Pros: Great for layering; sturdy and refillable case; glides on easily
- Cons: Expensive; needs a heavy application to get a stronger scent
Our review: This is the type of perfume that makes me feel like a sophisticated, chic French girl in Paris. It smells clean—not laundry-product clean, but subtle, powdery clean—with gentle musky notes. It's a great skin scent because it's not overpowering, but you do really have to rub on a lot to get a decent scent.
Fragrance notes: Iris, magnolia, musk, and ambrette | Size: 0.11 oz
Best Long-Lasting: Fenty Eau de Parfum Solid Perfume
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- Pros: Unique weighted case design; feels hydrating; alcohol-free
- Cons: Sells out fast; pricey
Our review: If you love Rihanna's Fenty Eau de Parfum but want a softer take, the balm version is for you. The floral musk is warm and leans more to citrus in the solid version. While some describe it as a winter scent, you can wrap yourself in its cozy vibe all year round. Personally, it's become my latest obsession. It's sophisticated, long-lasting, and brings me joy whenever I smell my wrists. It also comes in a gorgeous metal case with the Fenty signature logo, making it a perfect beauty gift.
Fragrance notes: Magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose | Size: 0.11 oz
Best Fresh Scent: Fulton and Roark Cloudland Solid Fragrance
- Pros: Airy, clean scent
- Cons: Pricey
Our review: Picture this: You're fresh out of an “everything shower” wearing a warm robe, towel on your head, and about to jump on your bed with fresh sheets. This is the scene I jump into when I smell this solid perfume. The combination of warm, citrusy, and floral is gentle enough that you get your own unique skin scent when you apply it. The only downside is that you really have to rub in a lot to get a significant fragrance on you.
Fragrance notes: Citrus, jasmine, and cashmere | Size: 0.2 oz
Best Skin Scent: Glossier You Solid Perfume
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- Pros: Super compact; great for everyday wear; alcohol-free;
- Cons: Not as strong as its spray perfume
Our review: The coveted Glossier You needs no introduction. Similar to its liquid counterpart, the bright, woody scent with notes of pink pepper and floral melts on your skin and smells different on everyone. Glamour editors have been recommending this skin scent for years, so you can't go wrong with the solid perfume. Use it to layer on for everyday wear, or as a base with other perfumes for a date-night scent with your SO.
Fragrance notes: Pink pepper, iris, and ambrox | Size: 0.11 oz
Frequently asked questions
Why are solid perfumes trending right now?
Fragrance pros say it's because of their practicality and intentionality. Octavia Morgan, fragrance expert and founder of Octavia Morgan, says we're seeing a shift to solid fragrances because they're adaptable to different lifestyles. “They allow consumers to engage with scent in a quieter, more customizable way. As fragrance wardrobes become more layered and ritual-driven, solids will continue to have a meaningful place alongside traditional sprays,” she says.
What are the benefits to solid perfumes?
Some of the benefits of solid perfumes include:
- Travel-friendly: The compact, smaller size means its portable, mess-free, and you won't have to worry about TSA liquid guidelines
- Sensitive skin-friendly: Many solid perfumes are made of natural ingredients and don't contain alcohol
- Sustainability: The packaging for solid perfumes are usually refillable
What’s the best way to layer solid perfumes?
Every fragrance pro recommends applying solid perfumes by warming it up with your fingertips and then rubbing it on to the pulse points, meaning areas like the wrists, neck, and inner elbow.
They're also ideal for layering. "Solids can be used on their own, for a more intimate approach, or layered with traditional perfume. In each case, it becomes a natural extension of the fragrance ritual—one might apply an Eau de Parfum in the morning and carry the matching solid perfume throughout the day to revive the scent as needed, always with discretion. It also allows for layering [of different scents], creating a truly personal and unique olfactory signature,” says Laurence Semichon, CEO of Diptyque.
Do solid perfumes last longer compared to sprays?
Unlike sprays, solid perfumes don't have as much coverage, so it may be limiting. “Many people who spray their perfume in the air tend to walk through the mist for even coverage on the hair and clothes. This is probably the best reason people tend to lean in favor of spray perfumes,” says Darryl Do, a senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances & Flavors in the Bronx, NYC.
However, there's something to be said about the type of longetivity they provide. “Instead of announcing themselves, they remain present, subtle, and consistent throughout the day. It’s more of a slow, intimate wear rather than a dramatic one,” says Morgan.
How we tested
As a shopping editor of over 7+ years, I've been researching, testing, and writing about products to bring readers the very best options. For this perfume story, I scoured online customer reviews, polled beauty editors, and reached out to fragrance experts for input on solid perfumes. After evaluating the top-rated solid perfume options in the market, and consulting experts, I tested about a dozen myself. I evaluated each solid perfume by applying it each morning for a couple days to see how long the scent lasted, sniffing pulse points every hour, and noting how well they layered with other scents.
Meet the experts:
- Darryl Do, a senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances & Flavors in the Bronx, NYC
- Octavia Morgan, fragrance expert and founder of Octavia Morgan
- Laurence Semichon, CEO of Diptyque
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