Two things make up my entire personality: I’m a beauty writer at Cosmo, and I love to read. And when I (like so many other book lovers) am completely engulfed in a story, I find myself imagining every descriptive detail: what the characters wear, their physical mannerisms, and what the world around them looks like as I turn each page. And because, as we know, perfume has the power to transport us back to a specific moment, memory, or feeling, I started wondering: What would our favorite stories and characters actually smell like? So, I polled Cosmo staffers on their all-time favorite reads, added in some of my own five-star favorites, and tapped into my fragrance expertise to match each book with its signature scent. Whether you want to return to the North Carolina marshes of Where the Crawdads Sing with a single spritz or step into the dragon-filled battlegrounds of Basgiath War College in Fourth Wing, these are the perfumes to wear based on your favorite books. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum With its intoxicating blend of tobacco leaf, creamy vanilla, cacao, and warm spices, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille feels like the olfactory equivalent of Fourth Wing. The rich vanilla brings out the fragrance’s sensual side, while smoky tobacco adds a layer of depth reminiscent of dragon smoke—perfect for a world where desire, power, and survival are constantly intertwined. Strangers by Belle Burden Chanel COCO MADEMOISELLE Eau de Parfum Belle Burden’s NYC and Martha’s Vineyard life is rooted in old money, so I envision her wearing a department-store luxury fragrance. But, Belle’s taste feels more modern, so instead of something classic and powdery like Chanel No. 5, I’d pair her with Coco Mademoiselle. It smells rich yet fresh, thanks to notes of orange, jasmine, and patchouli. The Summer I Turned Pretty PHLUR Beach Skin Hair & Body Fragrance Mist The Summer I Turned Pretty is the ultimate ode to beach days and the summers that stay with you forever, making Phlur Beach Skin a go-to perfume pairing. The body spray brand is a Gen Z favorite (much like the hit series) and the scent captures the feeling of afternoons at Cousins Beach, sandy skin after a swim, and intimate summer memories (with Conrad, of course). The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins ReidMaison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum Evelyn Hugo, Hollywood royalty who captivated everyone she met, would most definitely have a bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540 sitting atop her vanity. With its intoxicating blend of saffron, jasmine, amberwood, and cedar, the allure of the sillage is just as magnetic and mysterious as she is. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionDiptyque Paris L'Eau Papier Eau de toilette In The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion delves into her grief after losing both her husband and daughter in the same year. Writing becomes a ritual of reflection and a way to navigate loss, making this literary masterpiece deserving of a scent that embodies both the physicality of putting pen to paper and the intimacy of memory. With its light notes of rice, mimosa, and musk, L’Eau Papier is soft and skin-like—simple and memory-evoking—capturing the same sense of introspection that defines Didion’s memoir. The Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerKORRES Aegean Blue Eau de Toilette I can’t remember the last time a book made me cry harder than the final page of The Song of Achilles did, and we’re going to honor the eternal love story of Patroclus and Achilles with this fragrance from Korres. Named after the literal Aegean Sea, the location where much of their relationship flourished, this aquatic scent captures the essence of their time together. With notes of bergamot, sea salt, jasmine, and cedarwood, it feels like a memory of sun-soaked shores, ocean air, and mountainous Greek greenery.
