Usually £66, the designer scent is on offer making it the ideal time to snap it up for Christmas
Health and beauty retailer Boots has revealed its number one top-selling feminine fragrance for 2025 – and it might shock you. The most popular perfume isn’t a new launch, but instead, an iconic noughties scent that’s currently less than £25.
The Versace Woman Eau de Parfum launched in 2000, with Christine Nagel being the nose behind the scent. The perfumer is well known for hits like Narciso Rodriguez for Her and Miss Dior Chérie, as well as 47 perfumes she created for Jo Malone London.
According to Boots, the Versace scent was ‘the bestselling feminine fragrance this year’, which was in line with a rise in Y2K trends on social media. Usually £66, the fragrance is currently reduced to £24 for a 50ml bottle, making for the ideal Christmas present, or new everyday scent.
The perfume is described as a ‘floral-fruity woody’ scent, which covers a lot of bases, explaining why so many people adore it. It features top notes of frangipani blossoms, jasmine and bergamot, with a fruitier raspberry heart, rounding off with woody notes of amber and musk.
But it’s not the only noughties fragrance that has remained popular throughout the decades. Britney Spears’ Fantasy , released in 2005, remains at the top of many Christmas lists (including my mother-in-law’s). Currently £17, it is known for its fruity and gourmand notes, including kiwi, red lychee, golden quince, cupcake accord, white chocolate, and musk.
Versace Woman Eau de Parfum 50ml
Versace Woman Eau de Parfum is said to be for women who have ‘individuality, intelligence and inner confidence.’
Meanwhile, Ghost Deep Night – my sister’s signature scent – is a floral, fruity fragrance for women. Released in 2001, it offers notes of Indian Rose, Night-blooming Cereus, apricot, peach, woodsy notes, vanilla, musk, and amber. It’s now £35 at Superdrug.
At Boots, many fragrance fans and festive shoppers have praised the budget-friendly Versace scent for its ‘elegance’ and price point. One customer hailed it ‘perfect for a daytime scent’, adding: “People always ask me what I’m wearing and although I can no longer smell it, others obviously can.”
Another commented: “Bought them on offer to my friends for Christmas. Once they opened them, I tried a bit on my skin, and I fell in love instantly with the aroma. So I quickly bought another for myself. It is kind of fruity, but with elegance. Everyone loved the fragrance. It lasts average but you do not even need to spray that much on yourself, just a bit.”
Some have noted that the scent is quite subtle, and doesn’t have the staying power of some other perfumes, commenting: “This perfume smells lovely. It’s an ‘Eau de Parfum’, however, it doesn’t last long on the skin. You need to top it up, as the smell wears off very quickly.”
“I have worn this perfume before and loved it, so when my niece mentioned it as a Christmas suggestion, I decided to buy it for her,” another happy customer commented. “Boots had it on offer at half price so I decided to buy myself one too. Two happy recipients for the price of one. Lovely perfume that lasts for hours.”
One buyer, who worked on a fragrance counter, added: “For those who suit/like floral scents this is one of my favourite low budget perfumes to wear. I previously worked with perfume for years and this one was reached for by me and my colleagues too many times to count! Brilliant to get a good quality perfume as opposed to an EDT for such a bargain.”
