Our complete editorial ranking of Ellis Brooklyn’s clean scents, from cult favorites like Myth and Salt to newer launches such as Guava Granita and Vanilla Salt.
Clean fragrance label and Sephora mainstay Ellis Brooklyn was founded by Bee Shapiro in 2015, inspired by her desire to create “luxury fragrance lover who also sought non-toxic formulations.” The brand is known for being paraben-free, phthalate-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted in small batches. It collaborates with high-level perfumers such as Jérôme Epinette, Meabh McCurtin, Honorine Blanc, and Frank Voelkl, among others on its iconic scents.
Critics and users tend to agree: these are fragrances that prioritize wearability and emotion over brute projection. One reviewer described Ellis Brooklyn as “very wearable” with scents that are “easy on the nose.” A Redditor noted that some of its offerings are on the lighter side in terms of longevity: “the alcohol content hits at first spray and it dries down quickly and then disappears.”
With that in mind, the ranking below balances concept, formulation, aesthetic coherence, performance, and the brand’s core identity. Before we get into the picks, though, it’s vital to understand what “clean scent” means to Ellis Brooklyn as a guiding philosophy grounded in intention and constraints.
On the brand’s “Philosophy” page, Shapiro explains that as she was expecting her daughter, she searched for a fragrance that fit with a less toxic beauty routine and found “there were no sophisticated clean options for fragrance.” In her words: “I have always loved fragrance — it’s a powerful, invisible language that can tell a story or conjure a keen memory in one concise sniff.”
That ethos intertwines with how she sources ingredients and defines boundaries. As she told Very Good Light, “What really sets us apart in fragrance is our commitment to clean but also to innovation.” She acknowledges the tension: “Growing a brand is a challenge every day, and then on top of that you add clean ingredient restrictions … Everything is more expensive when we’re creating a new clean, quality product … I personally wouldn’t sleep well at night if I make that choice [to compromise].”
In another interview, Shapiro summarized how Ellis Brooklyn evaluates every component: “We use a blend of naturals and safe synthetics … we always assess each ingredient we use not just for natural or not natural but for their beauty, sustainability, renewability and safety.”
This commitment means some tradeoffs: lighter projection in some compositions, shorter wear in fresh accords, and more careful balancing of notes. Yet the upside is a collection of scents intended to be emotionally evocative, wearable, and respectful of both body and planet.
Given that frame, our picks reflect not just olfactory appeal, but how well each fragrance aligns with Ellis Brooklyn’s clean ideals, concept strength, and real-world versatility.
Ellis Brooklyn scents ranked
Top picks for….
- Best Musky Scent: Myth
- Best Floral: Florist
- Best Neutral / Skin Scent: Salt
- Best For Layering: Blond Musk (Perfume Oil)
- Best for Date Night: Queens Caramel
- Best Signature / Best Overall: Myth
Best Musky + Best Overall — Myth
Myth is widely celebrated for its gentle musk foundation. On fragrance forums, one user comments: “I smell fresh, clean musk … it definitely is a clean-girl scent.” Who What Wear describes it as “complex and absolutely minimal,” marrying musk, white florals, and woods in a restrained way. Shapiro has said she layers Myth frequently and keeps a travel spray close at hand. Because it leans subtle and skinlike, it’s ideal for those who prefer musky sensuality without a heavy punch.
Since signature scent needs to function across multiple moods and settings, Myth again is the standout. Its musky, floral, wood-leaning architecture gives it flexibility and elegance. Shapiro herself calls Myth her favorite and says, “This scent possesses an almost ‘second-skin’ element.” That self-bonding quality is a hallmark of signature selections: a scent you forget you’re wearing until someone else notices.
Best Floral — Florist
Though less frequently spotlighted than gourmand or tropical entries, Florist earns the floral crown by merging brightness and softness. In an Allure review titled “Hate Floral Fragrances? This One From Ellis Brooklyn Might Change Your Mind,” it is celebrated as a “celebration of citrus floral” that won over skeptics. The composition includes gardenia, honeysuckle, pear (via Firmenich’s Firgood extraction), and jasmine — a floral narrative with lift and elegance. Because it bridges citrus and floral, Florist has enough vitality to feel luminous rather than dusty.
Best Neutral / Skin Scent — Salt
Neutral doesn’t mean boring, especially with Salt. While many may first think “sea spray,” it is balanced by gentle florals, musk, and driftwood-like tonality. Salt is definitely a tropical summer scent, but it isn’t overly juvenile or coconuty. And you’ll likely find yourself craving it in the depths of winter. Shapiro herself has used Salt in layering (for example, combining Sun Fruit with Salt) and views it as part of her scent “soundtrack” for vacation moods. Its strength lies in a transparency that adapts to the skin.
Best for Layering — Blond Musk (Perfume Oil)
Though technically not a spray within Ellis Brooklyn’s core eau de parfum line, Blond Musk is outstanding as a base enhancer. Because it is light, clean, musky, and powdery, it often plays beautifully beneath bolder scents to anchor or soften them. For fans of layering strategies, a soft musk oil like Blond Musk gives you control.
Best for Date Night — Queens Caramel
No fragrance from Ellis Brooklyn leans more overtly sensual, indulgent, and attention-grabbing than Queens Caramel. Its dessert-inspired structure (caramel, vanilla bourbon, tonka) blends sweetness with warmth and musk. In stylistic reviews, it is frequently praised as the gourmand that doesn’t feel immature or cloying. Because date nights often call for something emotionally compelling, Queens Caramel brings strength, personality, and an unashamed romantic flourish.
How these picks were ranked
To assemble this ranking, we combined several data points, including Ellis Brooklyn’s “Best Sellers” page, where items like Myth and Salt appear. Salt also maintains a strong review count and is often cited in the press as an editor’s favorite.
Beyond raw popularity, we weighed how well each scent aligns with Ellis Brooklyn’s identity (clean, wearable, story-driven) and how flexible it feels across moods or seasons. We also looked at how these fragrances stack up against their conventional and other clean label counterparts. And of course, we used our own noses.
Here is our (unofficial but data-informed) ranking of Ellis Brooklyn’s fragrances, from top to bottom.
Full ranking of Ellis Brooklyn scents
- Myth Eau de Parfum — Elegant musky floral-wood that reads as a “second skin.”
- Salt Eau de Parfum — Soft sea-salt skin aura with tropical florals and warm woods, praised as an editor favorite, and our founder’s top pick.
- Dear Sky Eau de Parfum — Bright floral with strawberry leaf, peony, galbanum — airy yet grounded.
- Super Amber Eau de Parfum — Warm amber gourmand with a plush, cozy texture.
- Florist Eau de Parfum — (If Florist is separate from Dear Sky) — A rich bouquet of gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine, citrus lift.
- Miami Nectar Eau de Parfum — Lush tropical with pink pineapple, coconut water, salted woods — a perennial warm-weather favorite.
- Vanilla Salt — A new coastal gourmand: vanilla warmed by sea salt, with watery accords, luminous musk, jasmine, ylang-ylang.
- Apple Love Eau de Parfum — Amber-gourmand with crisp apple, peach-skin, and cozy vanilla.
- Queens Caramel Eau de Parfum — Sweet but refined caramel, milky musks, warm vanilla-amber tones.
- Sun Fruit Eau de Parfum — Radiant fruity floral with fig, bergamot, jasmine, creamy vanilla facets.
- Raven — From the vault! Dark floral with depth: peony and lotus over patchouli, woods, and musk.
- Guava Granita Eau de Parfum — Juice-forward tropical with guava, banana, melon, almond milk — fresh and bold.
- Bee Eau de Parfum — Spicy honey and rum gourmand, warmly sweet and cozy.
- Vanilla Milk Eau de Parfum — Creamy gourmand with vanilla, cocoa, florals — soft and skinlike.
- Sci Fi — A citrus-vanilla blend with unexpected green tea and soft woods; “otherworldly… vanilla beans with citrus, florals and the unexpected jolt of green tea.”
- Après Eau de Parfum — Alpine freshness with cardamom, violet, crisp woods; cooler and crisp.
- Sweet Eau de Parfum — Sweet gourmand simplified into a delicate, wearable sugar mouthfeel.
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