The nineties were an era like no other. It was the decade of the supermodel, when Alexander McQueen became the king of fashion and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy secured her place in history as New York’s coolest It-girl.

Back then, the mall was the ultimate shopping destination, filled with fragrance counters where eager teens begged their parents for a bottle of Thierry Mugler’s Angel perfume—the first gourmand scent in history, so fabulous it had Jerry Hall as its muse. If you were lucky, your mom and dad might let you visit Victoria’s Secret for a bottle of sticky-sweet body spray. Or, for a more economical scent fix, you could slyly grab your mom’s latest issue of Vogue and rub your wrists on the perfume inserts.

Today, in an era where everything is digital and algorithms churn out new “trends” by the second, we’re feeling more nostalgic than ever. What better way to step into a time warp than to revisit the perfumes that defined the decade? From Calvin Klein’s iconic Eternity to Lancôme’s Trésor, these are the ’90s fragrances poised for a comeback in 2026.

Mugler Angel
French designer Thierry Mugler captured the essence of Angel better than anyone: “I wanted to have such a sensual contact with this perfume, that you almost want to eat the person you love.” Housed in a refillable star-shaped bottle, this sweet and alluring scent features notes of honey, apricot, plum, peach, and jasmine, blended with sensual hints of patchouli, vanilla, caramel, tonka bean, musk, amber, chocolate, and sandalwood—perfect for any party girl or mysterious woman.

Lancôme Trésor
In 1990, elegant women met their match in Lancôme’s Trésor. Encased like a crystal jewel with amber-colored juice, this delicate fragrance combines rose petals, bergamot, peach, and pineapple with whispers of vanilla, apricot, musk, and sandalwood—a classic, feminine scent.

Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier
The year 1993 changed everything. Jean Paul Gaultier launched a perfume that was impossible to overlook: Classique. Inspired by the busts used in couturiers’ sewing workshops, the crystal bottle housed a provocative and sensual blend of orange blossom, gin, and vanilla. Both the iconic bottle and the fragrance inside became instant classics.

L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci
Although created in 1948, this perfume reached peak popularity in the 1990s. Launched after World War II as an elixir of optimism, peace, love, and freedom, it features notes of jasmine and rose and is considered the first spicy floral fragrance in history. True to its name, “L’Air du Temps,” this olfactory icon is timeless.

Eternity by Calvin Klein
You had to be there to understand. In 1988, 19-year-old model Christy Turlington was everywhere as the face of Calvin Klein’s Eternity—a fragrance that earned the brand $35 million in its first year. An aquatic floral scent inspired by enduring relationships, it defined the 1990s. It opens with notes of pear, bergamot, and black currant, followed by peony, rose, and jasmine, and settles into a base of musk, patchouli, and amber.

Anaïs Anaïs by Cacharel
First launched in 1978, this fragrance earned a special place on every perfume shelf in the 1990s. Light and ultra-feminine, it opens with orange blossom, lavender, bergamot, blackcurrant, lemon, white lily, hyacinth, honeysuckle, and galbanum. At its heart, you’ll find flashes of lily of the valley and Moroccan jasmine.Top notes of jasmine, carnation, honeysuckle, tuberose, ylang-ylang, iris, rose, and lily root. The base features cedar, patchouli, amber, incense, musk, leather, sandalwood, and vetiver.

Cacharel Anais Anais Eau de Toilette
$68 at AMAZON

Amarige by Givenchy
You may remember it for its golden elixir, crystal cap, or iconic red box. One thing is certain: this perfume was—and likely still is—in the vanity of many women. Created by perfumer Dominique Ropion, this floral fragrance unfolds as a sensory journey, opening with plum and mandarin, moving into white flowers like tuberose, jasmine, and gardenia, and finishing with an enveloping base of sandalwood and vanilla.

Givenchy Amarige for Her Eau de Toilette Spray
$150 at MACY’S

Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs 7 90s Perfumes Ready for a 2026 Revival

Beginner General Questions

Q What does it mean for a perfume to have a revival
A A revival is when a fragrance that was popular in the past comes back into style often with renewed marketing slight reformulations or a surge in popularity driven by nostalgia and new trends

Q Why are 90s perfumes coming back now
A Nostalgia is a powerful trend driver People who grew up with these scents are now adults with purchasing power Also the 90s aestheticminimalist clean and sometimes grungeis back in fashion and the scents complement that

Q Are these the exact same perfumes from the 90s
A Not always Due to changes in regulations and ingredient availability some have been subtly reformulated However brands are striving to capture the original essence and feeling of the scent

Q Im new to fragrance Will these smell old
A Not at all While they have a classic character many 90s scents featured clean musks fresh florals and sheer woods that feel surprisingly modern and timeless today

Specific Scents Examples

Q Which 90s perfumes are most likely to make a comeback by 2026
A Based on current trends strong contenders include
1 CK One The ultimate unisex clean citrusandmusk scent
2 LEau dIssey A crisp aquatic floral that defined water freshness
3 Dolce Vita A warm spiced oriental with apricot and vanillaperfect for the cozy trend
4 Angel The groundbreaking gourmand with patchouli and chocolate
5 Romance A soft sheer floral musk representing 90s minimalism
6 Gravity A herbal aromatic fougre for men that feels incredibly current
7 Sunflowers A bright cheerful floral bouquet thats pure optimistic nostalgia