If You Thought K-Beauty Skin Care Was Revolutionary, Wait Until You Try the Perfumes

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From skin glazing to hydrating hair masks, Korean beauty trends have taken over. But there’s one area that has so far managed to stay under the radar: Korean perfumes. While K-beauty skin care seems to be everywhere, fragrances have been slower to reach the U.S. markets. Still, there are a few brands that are available to shop stateside–and thankfully so, because these perfumes are just as considered and revolutionary as the best Korean face serums. Brands like Elorea and Borntostandout have adopted–and in some instances, challenged–the historical ties between wellness and fragrance to create scents that are both bold and committed to storytelling.

From water-based fragrances that are safe for sensitive skin and can be used as hair mists to solid perfumes that are perfect for scent layering, there is so much innovation occurring in the Korean perfume space. You can also find familiar formulas and notes–like floral fragrances, vanilla scents, and spicy, warm perfumes–that perfectly fit in with your existing repertoire. If your vanity is already covered with products from the best Korean beauty brands, consider dipping a toe into a new category. Below, we found the seven best Korean perfumes that make the perfect addition to your fragrance collection.

Inspired by the evening sky, this fresh scent contains a combination of sweet and fresh notes. With florals like lily of the valley and jasmine contrasted with sandalwood and musk, it’s a deep fragrance that feels crisp yet soft, just like the flowers themselves.

Key scent notes: Lily of the valley, bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood, musk

For the floral perfume lover, The Rose feels like a fresh bouquet. With geranium and rose absolue, this perfume adds red berries and sandalwood to ground the fragrance, transforming it into a warm yet fresh scent.

Key scent notes: Red berry, geranium, rose absolue, sandalwood

A’ddict uses water as its base rather than alcohol, making it a sensitive-skin safe scent that can be spritzed on the body or the hair. For fans of fruity fragrances, Eat the Peach contains scent notes from peaches and apples, grounded in sandalwood for a creamy base.

Key scent notes: Apple, peach, sandalwood

An Olive Young reviewer says: “Smells so fresh. I really like how it’s alcohol free so I can also use it for my hair.”

Inspired by messy, sensual nights, this perfume is filled with spice and rich, fresh flavors. Combining ginger and pepper with cognac and vanilla, it’s a deep fragrance that's perfect to spritz on for date nights or the winter months.

Key scent notes: Bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, ginger, vanilla

A Borntostandout reviewer says: “Intoxicating, alluring, sweet, and addictive... Makes you feel like a million bucks.”

Slow Humming has created a multi-use perfume balm that can be used in a myriad of ways. Applied alone, it has a fresh, lightweight scent that lingers all day. But the balm can also be used as a base layer for traditional perfumes, or even as a moisturizer on the cuticles or on the ends of the hair.

Key scent notes: Bergamot, lemon, peppermint, ginger, musk

An Olive Young reviewer says: “I like the slight scent and the fact that it’s not too harsh. It’s easy to carry, and convenient to use on the go.”

Inspired by the feeling of coming home to your loved ones after a long day, Overflowing combines contrasting scent notes to create a story. With lemon and pink pepper at the head, the scent settles into florals and wood base notes that lingers all day.

Key scent notes: Lemon, pink pepper, rose, sandalwood, vanilla

Herbaceous and fresh, this scent encompasses the full range of the garden. With basil and vetiver combined with oakwood and soil, it feels lightweight yet poignant.

Key scent notes: Basil, vetiver, oakwood, dirt

An Olive Young reviewer says: “One of my favorite perfumes. I’m buying it for the second time. It has a herbal fresh scent, not sweet, and it’s long-lasting.”

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, Tatjana Freund tested perfumes, read through countless customer reviews, and evaluated each product on its features to land on the best ones.

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