January’s Must-Try Fragrance & Body Launches: Editors’ Picks

Overwhelmed by a flood of January launches? Here are the editors’ pick-and-try winners.

New year, new fragrances—and an avalanche of elevated body care drops that make choosing the right buy feel impossible. If you’re short on time but still want to discover the standout new fragrance and body launches of the week, this curated launch roundup from our editors (who sniffed, swatched and wore) filters the noise: what to try, who it’s for, and why each launch matters in 2026.

Snapshot: Why these launches matter now

In late 2025 and into 2026 the beauty market doubled down on two clear themes: nostalgia (revivals and reinterpretations) and elevation of body care—the move from “functional” lotions to sensorial, fragrance-forward body rituals. Brands from Jo Malone to Phlur and EOS leaned into both. Meanwhile, skincare innovators like Dr Barbara Sturm continue to cross-pollinate into luxurious body and scent-adjacent realms, while refillables, biotech-derived actives, and limited-edition collaborations define where the category is heading.

Editors’ quick picks — 5 must-try launches this week

• Jo Malone new cologne (a modern take on classic citrus-woody)
• Phlur elevated body oil collection (fragrance-first skincare)
• Dr Barbara Sturm body serum (skin-first luxury bodycare)
• EOS premium hand + body soufflé (viral brand goes luxe)
• Uni textured-body polish (tactile ritual meets clean ingredients)

Full launch coverage — what to try and why

Jo Malone — new Cologne (January 2026)

Who should try: Fans of classic English perfumery, people who prefer light-to-medium sillage and versatile day-to-night scents.

Jo Malone’s latest cologne continues the house’s signature approach—clean, wearable compositions built around a striking central note and a subtle woody base. This release leans into a refreshed citrus-woody axis with a slightly warmer ambered drydown, clearly referencing 2010s citrus trends but polished for 2026’s preference for refined longevity.

Why it matters: Jo Malone’s releases often set retail tones for the season. This cologne is an example of brands answering the call for nostalgia with modernized performance—better staying power and refillable packaging options that reflect the refill movement that accelerated in late 2025.

How to wear: Apply to pulse points and hair (light mist) for lift. Pair with an unscented or subtly scented body oil to create a skin-moisture barrier that enhances longevity without muddying the top notes.

Where to buy: Jo Malone counters, official website, and select luxury retailers. Look for travel sizes or sample programs if you want a week-long wear test before committing to full bottle pricing.

Phlur — New Body Oil Collection

Who should try: Fragrance-forward shoppers who want bodycare that smells like a perfume, and conscious consumers looking for clean ingredient lists.

Phlur’s latest collection blurs the line between fragrance and skincare: concentrated body oils that layer like perfume while delivering skin-softening benefits. Expect transparent notes—citrus, green florals, and a gourmand-leaning amber in one of the blends—formulated with sustainable oligo- and plant oils. The textures are light, absorbent and designed for layering over or under perfume.

Why it matters: Bodycare is being elevated into the same creative territory as fine fragrance. Phlur’s collection demonstrates how scent houses can pivot to skin-first products while maintaining a parfumer’s approach to structure and longevity.

How to wear: Use sparingly—two to three drops rubbed between palms and pressed onto arms, décolleté and calves. To intensify, apply a matching perfume in the same family; to subdue, blend with an unscented face or body moisturizer.

Where to buy: Phlur direct and eco-selected retailers. Consider sample vials or minis—body oils are the easiest way to test fragrance-skin chemistry.

Dr Barbara Sturm — New Body Serum

Who should try: Skincare-first shoppers, anyone treating dryness, crepey skin or looking to add actives to bodycare.

Dr Barbara Sturm’s run into bodycare is a textbook 2026 move: clinical efficacy meets premium sensoriality. The new body serum targets hydration and firmness with stabilized hyaluronic complexes and skin barrier–supporting lipids. The scent profile is intentionally subtle—light botanicals with a clean, modern base—so the formula reads as both treatment and daily ritual.

Why it matters: The serum demonstrates the continued migration of active skincare tech into bodycare, a trend heightened by consumer demand for visible results across the body, not just the face. It’s a good reminder that 2026 consumers want products that perform and feel luxurious.

How to wear: Apply to slightly damp skin after showering; follow with SPF if you’re targeting chest or arms exposed to sun. Use nightly on rough or crepey areas and weekly with a gentle exfoliant for better ingredient penetration.

Where to buy: Official Dr Barbara Sturm channels and authorized retailers; expect higher price points justified by actives and formulation transparency.

EOS — Premium Hand & Body Soufflé

Who should try: EOS fans who want a luxe upgrade, and shoppers seeking affordable everyday decadence with clean claims.

EOS—known for its cult lip balms—launched a premium soufflé that elevates the brand from pharmacy staple to sensorial body ritual. Rich yet whipped, it melts into the skin without stickiness and carries a soft, signature scent that nods to the brand’s playful heritage while aligning with 2026’s more refined aromachology.

Why it matters: EOS’ move shows mass-beauty brands innovating upward to capture the “affordable luxe” shopper. It’s also an example of the democratization of elevated bodycare: professional textures at accessible prices.

How to wear: Use post-wash on palms, heels and elbows. A little goes a long way—warm between palms first then press into skin to maximize glide and absorption.

Where to buy: Drugstores, mass retailers, and EOS online. Watch for limited-edition scents tied to nostalgia-driven collections and the kinds of local retail activation strategies covered in weekend pop-up growth guides.

Uni — Textured Body Polish

Who should try: Ritual seekers and tactile-experience shoppers who want a sensorial exfoliation step that’s also gentle and clean.

Uni’s new body polish prioritizes texture: a slightly gritty, cream base that rinses clean and layers well with serums and oils introduced above. Formulation emphasizes natural exfoliants and plant-based humectants—clean beauty with a satisfying tactile payoff.

Why it matters: Exfoliation rituals are back in focus, but with smarter, skin-friendly abrasives and multi-use textures. It pairs perfectly with the serum and oil launches we’re seeing this season and supports a full-body ritual approach in 2026.

How to wear: Use 1–2 times per week on wet skin; concentrate on rough patches and rinse thoroughly. Follow with body serum or oil to lock in hydration and scent.

Where to buy: Clean-beauty boutiques and Uni’s online store. Try travel sizes for a week of multi-day testing.

Tropic & Dermalogica — Skincare-adjacent body add-ons

Both Tropic and Dermalogica expanded body-focused SKUs this week—Tropic with a vitamin-rich body lotion and Dermalogica with an SPF-friendly body balm. These launches underscore that 2026 product development is about clinical claims plus sensorial delivery.

Who should try: Routine-minded shoppers who want proven actives in body formats.

How to wear: Layer SPF over your treatment products; use Tropic’s lotion under makeup or perfume for a hydrated base.

Amika — Hair + Scent synergy

Amika’s drop this week ties haircare textures to olfactory design—leave-in mists that double as hair fragrances with clean, long-lasting bases. It’s part of 2026’s integrated routine trend where hair, body and fragrance cohere into a single signature.

Who should try: Those who want a lasting hair fragrance that harmonizes with their perfume and body scents.

How we selected these picks (editorial methodology)

Our team sampled launches across counters and press previews in early January 2026. Selection criteria prioritized: fragrance integrity (composition and balance), skin-safe formulations, clear brand transparency (ingredients and sourcing), and innovation—whether in texture, refillability or formulation. We also considered retail impact and cultural timing: which launches will influence shelves and social conversation this quarter.

Editors’ note: We prioritized products that delivered both sensorial pleasure and practical benefits—because 2026 shoppers want results and ritual.

Advanced strategies for buying new fragrances and body launches in 2026

With so many 2026 launches, use these practical steps to avoid filler purchases and find products that work with your lifestyle.

1. Sample everything. Prioritize travel sizes and decants. A week-long wear test tells you more than a counter spray.
2. Layer intentionally. Match family notes or choose complementary textures: serum → oil → cologne for depth; oil → perfume for longevity.
3. Use tech to your advantage. AR scent try-ons and retailer scent profiles improved in late 2025—use them for preliminary filtering, but always confirm on skin.
4. Check refill and sustainability options. Brands that introduced refill systems in 2025 are expanding in 2026—choose refillable formats where possible to reduce cost-per-use and waste.
5. Watch the timing. Perfume reacts to skin pH—test across multiple days and temperatures to ensure it behaves consistently.

Practical application tips to maximize fragrance and bodycare performance

• Hydrate first. Apply serums or oils to damp skin for better absorption and scent lift.
• Pinpoint sampling. Don’t test multiple scents on the same arm—use separate areas to avoid cross-contamination.
• Pulse points = partnership. Apply perfume to pulse points and then mist the body oil on larger surfaces for sillage control.
• Temperature matters. Warmer skin will amplify sweetness and florals; test in both indoor and outdoor conditions if possible.

What these launches tell us about fragrance and bodycare in 2026

Collectively, these drops signal several concrete trends:

• Bodycare elevation: The line between perfumery and body skincare is blurrier than ever—consumers want products that smell great and deliver results.
• Nostalgia, refined: Expect more reinterpretations of past hits, but reformulated for better performance and cleaner sourcing.
• Refillability and reduction of single-use packaging: The refill economy grew in late 2025 and is now a table stake for prestige brands.
• Skin-first scent formats: Oils, serums and soufflés that carry a fragrance are now mainstream strategies to extend scent life and add value.
• Cross-category collaborations: Hair fragrances and skincare brands moving into scent point to integrated signature routines rather than isolated products.

Editor’s case study: How we built one 48-hour scent schedule

We tested a layering routine using three launches: Uni body polish (evening exfoliation), Dr Barbara Sturm body serum (overnight repair), and Phlur body oil with Jo Malone cologne (daytime scent). Results: smoother skin, longer-lasting fragrance projection, and a refined scent evolution from floral-fresh top notes to warm ambered bases by 36 hours. The lesson: smart sequencing (exfoliate → treat → scent) amplifies both skin benefits and perfume behavior.

Practical takeaways — what to buy now

• If you’re after a universally wearable signature: try the Jo Malone cologne first—it's a crowd-pleaser with modern staying power.
• If fragrance is your priority and skincare is secondary: Phlur’s body oils give perfume-like depth plus skin benefits.
• If you want results-driven bodycare: invest in the Dr Barbara Sturm serum for targeted hydration and barrier support.
• On a budget but want luxe feel: EOS’s premium soufflé delivers everyday decadence without luxury pricing.
• For ritualists: add Uni’s polish to your weekend routine to unlock better texture and scent absorption across new products.

Where to go from here

This January’s drops set the tone for the rest of 2026: expect more hybrid fragrance–skincare launches, tech-enabled discovery, and refill systems becoming mainstream. Our recommendation is simple: sample widely, prioritize texture and active benefits, and treat bodycare as an equal partner to fragrance when building your olfactory signature.

Want the full, shoppable edits and exclusive sample codes? Sign up for our weekly Launch Roundup newsletter—curated by editors, updated each Friday with new product picks, in-store tester tips, and discount alerts.

Final verdict

January 2026 proves that fragrance and bodycare are converging into richer, more intentional rituals. From Jo Malone’s elegant cologne to Phlur’s perfume-forward body oils and Dr Barbara Sturm’s clinically minded body serum, this week’s launches give shoppers options for both daily staples and celebratory rituals. Try the samples, follow the layering tips above, and pick the launch that aligns with your skin goals and scent personality.

Call-to-action: Ready to test these picks in person? Click through to our curated product pages to find samples, decants, retailer links and exclusive editor discounts—then tell us which launch becomes your new signature. Subscribe to the Launch Roundup for the next wave of 2026 releases.

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