I Forced My Fiancé to Share Perfume With Me for 30 Days—These 4 Earned the Most Compliments

At this point, I can assume we've graduated from the belief that fragrance must be gendered. While, yes, some scents lean more traditionally "feminine" or "masculine," the lion's share of potions smell incredible on absolutely everyone, regardless of how you identify. In fact, an increasing number of fragrance houses are shrugging off gender-based perfumes entirely, instead focusing on unique elixirs that celebrate individuality—and are meant to be shared.

There's just something sexy about sharing fragrance with a significant other. Perfume is inherently intimate, as it sits physically close to the skin, and using the same bottle as your partner feels a little bit like holding on to a special secret. Those "You smell so good!" comments may even have a more meaningful impact. So I decided to conduct a little experiment: share unisex fragrances with my fiancé for 30 days to ultimately land on a collab signature scent. We started out each morning with the same exact spritz, then came home and swapped details (how long it lasted, any standout compliments earned, etc.).

I highly suggest this exercise if you're in the market for a new crowd-pleaser perfume; I may be a biased beauty editor, but I honestly thought it was fun! In case you need a jumping-off point, see below for our final four winners.

1. Tom Ford Eau d'Ombre Leather Eau de Toilette

Key notes: Leather accord, ambrofix, vanilla tincture, ginger, coriander, cardamom

If I had to pick just one winner, it would probably be this Tom Ford potion. Imagine sipping a hot toddy curled up in a worn leather armchair situated in a cozy, oak-paneled library—that's the vibe you get with each whiff. "It's like the 'old money aesthetic' in a bottle," my fiancé shares. (Can you tell I've trained him well?)

It's dark and leathery, yet it has sweet vanilla, ginger, coriander, and cardamom notes that keep it from leaning too woody. Interestingly, the cardamom blooms much more on my skin than my fiancé's. (Everyone has a unique pH, which is why fragrances smell different on everyone!) Regardless, we both received countless compliments while wearing it, and friends were always floored to find out we were wearing the same exact scent. We both also commented on how long it lasts; even after a long workday, I could still catch a whisper of Eau d'Ombre Leather on his collar.

2. Jovan I Want You to Want Me Eau de Parfum

Key notes: Cashmeran, pink pepper, rose, gourmand musk

This $16 scent was such a surprise hit. Rose notes typically read more "feminine," but here it's combined with cashmeran, pink pepper, and a gourmand musk for more of a warm, spicy touch. Imagine tangled, sun-warmed sheets in the late morning—fresh, soft, and cozy. Musks are also known for working with your body's chemistry for a unique, subtle skin scent, which I think is just so sexy.

Interesting is the best word to describe it, as a couple people asked me which fragrance I was wearing (and were then pleased to find out it was tagged at just $16 on Amazon!). It doesn't last quite as long as the other options—we both noticed it wear off within a few hours—but you can really give yourself a good spritz without worrying about it becoming too overpowering.

3. Victoria Beckham Beauty 21:50 Rêverie Eau de Parfum

Key notes: Tobacco leaves, plum, vanilla, tonka bean, cedarwood

"If you like a vanilla with a difference, you're going to love this fragrance," Victoria Beckham herself previously told me about her newest perfume. "It's my favorite out of all of our fragrances so far." She also shares it with her husband, David, as it's inspired by a dinner date the pair had in Java, Indonesia. So obviously, I needed to toss it into the mix.

You definitely get whiffs of vanilla, but the fragrance is grounded by a base of smoky tobacco leaves, crisp cedarwood, and tonka bean, which make the sweeter note smell much earthier and more sophisticated. The vintage-inspired emerald-and-gold flacon also resembles a 1920s flask, which just oozes sensuality. My fiancé was quick to point out this "cool-looking bottle," noting that the design makes him want to break it out more frequently. Like the Beckhams, we'll continue to share this one on date nights.

4. Parfums de Marly Althair Eau de Parfum

Key notes: Orange blossom, bergamot, cinnamon, bourbon vanilla, elemi, guaiacwood, ambrox, praline, musk

Okay, clearly, my fiancé and I have a thing for woody gourmands because we also could not get enough of Parfums de Marly's bourbon vanilla scent. It's basically cozy season in a bottle with notes of cinnamon, guaiacwood, ambrox, and praline, in addition to bourbon vanilla. Yet it also features orange blossom, bergamot, and musk, which give the perfume a noticeable warmth. In fact, we both used the word "bright" to describe the fragrance, which just goes to show how strongly those fresher, fruitier notes shine through.

Althair also has the most gorgeous dry-down (most perfumes from the iconic Parisian fragrance house do); on my skin, those fruity notes really shine through before evolving into a rich, slightly nutty base that lasts well over eight hours.

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