42,000 Israelis voted: These are the perfumes that conquered 2025

Every year there are surveys, rankings, and “best of” lists – but most of the time, someone else decides for us what should be considered good. This year, for the first time, something changed. During December, over 42,000 Israelis voted for the perfumes they truly love – not because of advertisements, but because of the scent that accompanies them every day. The results of JR/AWARDS 2025, Israel’s first annual perfume ranking, reveal a fascinating picture of what Israelis genuinely enjoy smelling.

The voting took place throughout December on dedicated screens and on the James Richardson Duty Free website, across five categories: Women’s perfume, men’s perfume, bottle design, niche perfumes, and luxury collections. The number of participants – over 42,000 – reflects the deep connection of the Israeli public to the world of fragrance.

In the women’s category, YSL Libre Intense won 30% of the votes. The perfume, launched in 2020, combines French lavender, Madagascan vanilla, and Moroccan orange blossom, and quickly became one of the most popular worldwide. In second place was Prada Paradoxe Intense, and in third Dior Miss Dior from the iconic series first launched in 1947.

In the men’s category, the results were more dramatic: Dior Sauvage Perfume won 51.4% of the votes – more than half. The concentrated version of the Sauvage series, launched in 2019, has long been considered one of the world’s leading fragrances. In second place was YSL Myself, and in third Creed Aventus, a niche perfume from a 260-year-old heritage brand.

In the bottle design category, over 42% chose Carolina Herrera La Bomba, designed in the shape of a pink butterfly. Interestingly, the brand also took second place with Good Girl Collector Blush, designed as a stiletto shoe. In third place was Rabanne Fame Refillable Intense, with sparkling metallic elements.

In the niche perfume category, 35% chose Creed Aventus Absolu. In second place was Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, a perfume that created a new scent style influencing many fragrances afterward. In luxury collections, 25% chose Tom Ford Private Blend, the unisex series launched in 2007.

The results reveal several interesting insights. First, there is a clear preference for rich and intense perfumes – most of the winners are “Intense” or “Perfume” versions of existing series. Second, there is a growing openness to niche and luxury perfumes, a category that has expanded significantly in recent years. Third, design matters – not just how the perfume smells, but also how it looks.

The voting gap is also noteworthy: While in the women’s category the winner received 30% and the competition was open, in the men’s category Dior Sauvage won more than half – a clear dominance by a single perfume.

Ultimately, the results remind us that perfume is a very personal thing. And when 42,000 Israelis take the time to vote for their favorite fragrance, it says something about how deep the connection to scent and memory really is.