All-Time Best Scents of Southern Women

“Early on, Suga fell in love with Chanel no. 5, and she still wears it today. As a teenager, she used to wander into department stores to sneak a quick spritz before a date.” Heather Chadduck Hillegas, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” March 2015

“Chanel No. 5 body lotion and perfume were her staples. I’ll never forget having chicken pox and Mom spritzing me with this scent to make me feel pretty.” Candy Devore, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” February 2017

Buy It: $135 for 3.4 oz; neimanmarcus.com

“My mom loves this perfume because it’s soft, feminine, and not overpowering. I wore it on my wedding day.” Katie Sparrow Hedrick, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” September 2015

Buy It: $130 for 3.4 oz.; neimanmarcus.com

“While my mother is too modest to see her likeness to Elizabeth Taylor, she does love the star’s perfume, White Diamonds.” Tippi Polo, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” September 2015

Buy It: $69 for 3.3 oz.; macys.com

“Lancôme cosmetics are my grandmother’s go-to, especially their Magie Noire perfume.” Lindsey Reynolds, “My Grandmother, The Beauty Icon” January 2016

Buy It: $68 for 2.5 oz; nordstrom.com

“Sarah has always loved perfume and had a lot of it—it’s her signature. One of her consistent favorites over the years has been Vera Wang. The soft floral scent always reminds me of her.” Dana Gibson, “My Sister, The Beauty Icon” March 2016

Buy It: $92 for 3.4 oz; macys.com

“I always loved hearing my grandmother’s tales of life in the South Pacific. This essential oil is one of my favorite scents; it’s exotic and reminds me of her travel stories.” Andi Eaton “My Grandmother, The Beauty Icon” April 2016

Buy It: $29.50; uncommonscents.com

“A spicy-scented perfume will always remind me of fancy affairs. Mom spritzed this on generously for Mardi Gras balls.” Lauren Lagarde “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” June 2016,

Buy It: $74 for 3.4 oz.; nordstrom.com

“Like Mom, I sample as many perfumes as possible. My current favorite is Burberry The Beat.” Rachel Sewell, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” July 2016

Buy It: $90 for 2.5 oz; kohls.com

“Scents are very important to my mom—she has the nose of a sophisticated hound dog. She has tried different ones through the years, but I always loved when she wore Halston.” Morgan Hutchinson, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” November 2016

Buy It: $26 for 1.7 oz; kohls.com

“She loved music and Shalimar perfume. I’m a fan of these similarly spicy scents named after songs.” Hannah Hayes, “My Grandmother, The Beauty Icon” November 2016

Buy It: $38; shopnanin.com

“This was my aunt’s signature scent. She was drawn to it, I think, because it smells clean and doesn’t overpower.” Valerie Fraser Luesse, “My Aunt, The Beauty Icon” April 2017

Buy It: $88 for 3.4 oz; macys.com

“We don’t go overboard with perfume, but we do like a light spritz for dressy events. Marsha’s go-to scent is Chanel.” Marion Humphreys, “My Sister, The Beauty Icon” May 2017

Buy It: $102 for 3.4 oz; nordstrom.com

“This perfume suits her perfectly: It’s energetic, exuberant, and fresh. My parents spent 10 years sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, and she always smelled great.” Alison Miksch, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” June 2017

Buy It: $53 for 1.7 oz; bloomingdales.com

“She wore Chantilly, a light musk by Houbigant, which also makes my favorite scent.” Cheri Leavy, “My Grandmother, The Beauty Icon” July 2017

Buy It: $190 for 3.3 oz; neimanmarcus.com

“She is a self-proclaimed perfume junkie. The scent I most associate with her is Shalimar by Guerlain.” Whitney Wise Long, “My Mom, The Beauty Icon” August 2017

Buy It: $82 for 1.7 oz.; sephora.com