Building Your Fragrance Wardrobe for 2026

There’s a shift happening in how we think about fragrance. The idea of finding one signature scent and wearing it for life feels increasingly outdated—limiting, even. Instead, 2026 is about building a fragrance wardrobe: a curated collection of scents that reflect different moods, moments, and versions of yourself. It’s about understanding that the fragrance you reach for on a grey Monday morning shouldn’t be the same one you wear on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon. This year, I’m approaching my fragrance collection with the same intentionality I bring to my closet—editing, layering, and choosing pieces that genuinely speak to who I am.

ABEL The Apartment:

ABEL has quietly become one of my favourite fragrance discoveries, and The Apartment is the scent I keep returning to. It smells like journalling at midnight in your favourite notebook—intimate, contemplative, with notes of rum and cherry that feel both indulgent and introspective. There’s something about this scent that makes evening rituals feel more intentional. The brand’s commitment to natural ingredients and sustainable practices only adds to the appeal. Other standouts from the line include Laundry Day, which I think captures that fresh, crisp feeling of doing laundry in the Cotswolds on a spring morning, and Cyan Nori—a salty, sweet, fresh scent that feels like coastal air.

Merit Retrospect:

Merit’s Retrospect is what I reach for when I want to feel like myself—put together, capable, ready. It’s fresh and chic in that effortless way Merit does so well across all its products. This is the scent for working from home but wanting to feel present and professional, or stepping into the office knowing you’ve got it handled. There’s a crispness to it that feels modern and unfussy, which is exactly what I want from a fragrance most days.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Portofino ’97:

If I had to choose one signature scent, it would be this. Portofino ’97 transports you to a yacht in St. Tropez—it’s divine, chic, and elegantly summery in a way that somehow works year-round. There’s a sophistication to this fragrance that feels timeless rather than trendy. It’s the scent I wear when I want to feel like the most polished version of myself, regardless of the season.

Le Labo Santal 33:

Santal 33 has achieved cult status for good reason—it’s the fragrance that made woody, unisex scents ubiquitous. Yes, you’ll smell it everywhere from Brooklyn coffee shops to Mayfair boutiques, but there’s a reason it became the scent of a generation. The creamy sandalwood with violet and cardamom feels both familiar and distinctive. It’s the kind of scent that makes people ask what you’re wearing, even years after its launch.

Maison Margiela Replica Collection:

Maison Margiela’s Replica line excels at fragrance as memory—scents that transport you to specific moments and places. Beach Walk captures salty skin and sun cream, that languid feeling of endless summer days. By the Fireplace is exactly what it promises: smoky, warm, comforting—perfect for cosy evenings. Bubble Bath is clean and intimate, like fresh linens and that peaceful moment before the day begins. The genius of this collection is how each scent tells a complete story.

Building a fragrance wardrobe isn’t about accumulating bottles—it’s about knowing yourself well enough to choose scents that enhance rather than mask who you are. It’s understanding that different moments deserve different fragrances, and that the most sophisticated approach to scent is one of intention and curation. In 2026, I’m wearing fragrance the way I approach everything else: thoughtfully, purposefully, and always authentically.