Mother's Day gift got you stumped? Try one of these universally-appealing perfumes

If I didn't know which perfume to buy my mom, I'd start with this earthy-floral, gardenia-based oil which has legions of famous fans — so many that there's an entire page devoted to them on the brand's website. 

Kai's fragrance launched in 1999 and since then, the light roll-on has become an in-the-know perfume staple for celebs and everyday folks alike. Oprah loved the Kai signature scent so much, she included it in her Favorite Things List of 2007, and even requested the oil be made into a customized body butter, which she raved about on her then-daily talk show. 

More than a decade later, reviewers still can't get enough of it: "The smell of heaven's garden in a bottle," raved one 5-star reviewer.

"Smells amazing," proclaimed another. "I always get compliments when I wear it. Floral scent, really yummy."

If ever there was a 2025 fragrance "it girl," it would have to be Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir. The sought-after, TikTok-famous scent (where it's known as the "French girl perfume") is so popular right now that it's often sold out. Musc Noir's bergamot, rose and vanilla scent is an excellent choice for any mom, especially in spring: It has a pretty floral vibe that's still completely grownup.

I know, this makes two Narciso Rodriguez perfumes on this list — but truly these fragrances are too good and too universally appealing to skip. 

To say this original iconic scent is popular is an understatement: A bottle sells every 15 seconds worldwide, even 22 years after its launch. When asked if she has a "signature scent," Salma Hayek offered up For Her because of its combination of light rose and just a hint of patchouli, which makes it somewhat less dainty than Musc Noir and even a bit woodsy. 

"It's very musky," Hayek shared with Harper's Bazaar.

As far as Mother's Day gifts go, you'd be hard pressed to find a more foolproof one than any of the options from Michelle Pfeiffer's incredible fragrance line Henry Rose. They're all understatedly elegant and sustainably made, and this vetiver-and-vanilla is particularly warm and inviting.

"I have fallen in love with all of the Henry Rose fragrances," Nicole Kidman told People magazine in 2019. "But my favorite is Torn."

Ecstatic reviewers have called this elegant floral scent from iconic French fashion house Dior "rich," "subtle and simple" and the "greatest scent you can find in a perfume bottle."

The gorgeous and feminine packaging makes it an especially luxe-looking treat.

Frédéric Malle crafts some of the world's most luxurious and beautiful perfumes, period. Malle's Portrait of a Lady — a blend of rose, cinnamon and sandalwood — is exceptionally popular among sophisticated older women, including Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter.  

"I used to wear Coco by Chanel. But now I wear Portrait of a Lady," she told New York Magazine in 2023. "It’s one of the most famous scents in the world. I always get compliments: 'Oh, you smell so good.' That’s the key. I don't get as many compliments when I wear other things." 

This Jennifer Aniston-favorite perfume is the ideal scent for any mom, especially those who are exceptionally buoyant and bright. A well-balanced citrus-floral that seems to radiate sunshine, this Jo Malone fragrance is legendary in perfume aficionado circles. It's also the signature scent of multiple stylish celebs, including Katie Holmes. 

Just ask Emma Stone, who, upon running into Aniston at the 2024 Golden Globes and whiffing her Orange Blossom cologne, exclaimed, "Jesus! You smell really good! What is that? Is that what you always smell like?" (Aniston, oblivious to her own super scent, modestly replied, "Yeah.")