The 20 Best Fall Perfumes to Keep in Rotation This Season
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Unboxing one of the best fall perfumes often feels like a fresh start, sort of like the autumn season itself. And although a number of the best perfumes for women feature timeless blends that can be worn at any time of year, there’s something singular (and even a little sexy) about the combination of warm, earthy, musky, and woody notes, which truly personify the feeling of fall. Think: the crunch of red and orange leaves under your feet and crisp, fresh air—bottled.
We’re making it simple to elevate your go-to fragrances this season, with Bazaar-approved scents like Ellis Brooklyn’s fruity-floral Apple Love eau de parfum, and Diptyque’s nutmeg- and cumin-noted L’Autre eau de toilette. Whether you prefer scents that are spicy and bold or something more lightweight and subtly sweet, the following fragrances are among our top picks to wear right now.
Here, a few of what we consider the best fall perfumes of the year—which you’ll probably want to wear well into winter.
Eleventh Hour Eau de Parfum
Eleventh Hour is one of my personal favorites to wear as soon as the fall season starts. Its combination of warm notes like bergamot, rum, and cashmere woods are as inviting as they are cozy, without being too overpowering. And if you’re into scent layering, the fragrance pairs nicely with just about any vanilla perfume.
Fenty Eau de Parfum
We’re longtime fans of Fenty eau de parfum. If you can manage to get a hold of this spicy, magnolia-forward fragrance this fall, it’s worth celebrating (since it’s known to sell out quickly). The scent is also now available in a body cream ideal for fragrance layering.
Replica Autumn Vibes Eau de Toilette
The name says it all: With notes of red berries, cardamom, cedarwood, and moss, Maison Margiela Replica’s Autumn Vibes eau de toilette channels a stroll through a fancy park on a brisk fall day.
Goddess Eau de Parfum
“If you’re vanilla-obsessed, this is the fragrance for you,” Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein muses about Burberry’s coveted Goddess eau de parfum. “A warm and sweet gourmand, the three notes of vanilla—vanilla infusion, vanilla caviar, and vanilla absolute—make this the ideal fall and winter scent on its own, or the perfect cozy base for layering other scents on top.”
Canadian Tuxedo Extrait de Parfum
Few things signify fall better than denim jackets or a full-on Canadian Tuxedo—which is exactly what this fragrance with notes of coriander, orange flower, patchouli, and tonka bean is inspired by. Crafted from a vegan formula and in small batches, this extrait de parfum (fragrance in its most concentrated form) is made to last.
Apple Love Eau de Parfum
“Bee Shapiro, founder of Ellis Brooklyn, can do no wrong in my book when it comes to creating beautiful scents. While the name of this fragrance brings ideas of sweet, juvenile notes, it actually wears incredibly hot and crisp,” associate beauty editor Katie Intner writes of the brand’s 2023 Bazaar Fragrance Award–winning scent. “The mix of amber gourmand notes and juicy apple gives fruity fragrances a whole new name. This scent will have you craving apple pie and a night out on the town at the same time.”
No. 54 Fragrance
Featuring notes of vetiver, patchouli, musk, this unique fragrance blend from Fischersund was developed by hand in Iceland. It also comes nicely wrapped in a bandana inspired by the scent and designed by one of the brand’s co-founders.
Suede Pony
If you count yourself as a fan of Boy Smells’ cult candle brand, we’re betting you’ll be equally obsessed with this seasonal fragrance from the brand’s collection. Designed as a gender-neutral scent, Suede Pony contains deeper notes of suede (of course), hazelnut, and cardamom, but additions of coconut water and pineapple help keep it smelling light.
Essence of Dreams Layering Oil in Essence of Sandalwood
For those who prefer just a hint of fragrance no matter the season, this perfumed layering oil from Tory Burch is probably right up your alley. Its blend of woody balsamic and cedar notes, along with Australian sandalwood, is a perfect match for cooler weather.
“Tory Burch layering oil in sandalwood is a smooth and elegant scent. The oil allows you to apply a drop for just a hint of fragrance, or more depending on how intense you want it to be,” Nordstrom beauty director Autumne West recently told Bazaar.
Eilish No. 2 Eau de Parfum
Singer Billie Eilish’s Eilish No.2 eau de parfum is a moodier departure from her first fragrance, with apple blossom and palo santo notes perfect for fall and winter. "I wanted to take Eilish the original and play with it, using original notes from that fragrance and make No. 2 feel like it's from the same family, just a little darker and more gray," she previously told Bazaar.
Myrrhe Mystere Eau de Parfum
Tom Ford’s warm and spicy Myrrhe Mystere eau de parfum features the familiar, cozy scents of sandalwood and vanilla accord topped with myrrh essence to give it a little mystery. It’s the kind of fragrance that’s best enjoyed up close.
Orange Smoke Eau de Toilette
This pick from Dries Van Noten Beauty makes it easy to give your fruit-forward fragrance collection a little edge this season. Aptly named Orange Smoke, the eau de toilette combines citrusy mandarin and orange blossom notes with deeper incense and musks for a well-rounded scent.
Libre Le Parfum
YSL Beauty’s warm floral Libre Le Parfum smells how it feels to be on the receiving end of a tight hug. With notes of orange flower, saffron accord, and lavender heart, its blend somehow smells even better once it dries down, and lingers on the skin for hours on end.
Deep Dark Vanilla Perfume
This isn’t a regular vanilla scent, it’s a deep, dark one. Unlike some overly sweet fragrances you may have tried in the past, D.S. & Durga’s is richer and smokier, thanks to notes of dark patchouli, pink pepper, and green vanilla leaves.
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum
Chanel’s floral-woody Coco Mademoiselle eau de parfum is versatile enough to wear every day, but best for only the most special occasions. Plus, a little goes a long way: Its Grasse jasmine and May rose accords expertly blend with vetiver and patchouli for a long-lasting scent.
L’Autre Eau de Toilette
This seasonal Diptyque scent had us at nutmeg. That, plus fragrant notes of cumin and clary sage, make this earthy eau de toilette one of the best fall scents worth adding to your collection.
Smoking Hot Eau de Parfum
There’s a reason By Kilian’s Smoking Hot eau de parfum has a five-star rating from Sephora customers. Not only is the warm and spicy scent infused with Kentucky tobacco absolute, it also contains notes of apple-flavored shisha tobacco and bourbon vanilla.
Cedar Violet Eau de Parfum
Aerin’s woody-floral Cedar Violet eau de parfum is inspired by a crisp autumn hike, and the ethereal magic of the forest. Notes of cedarwood and amber ground the scent, while violet leaf adds a hint of femininity.
Witchy Woo Eau de Parfum
It doesn’t have to be Halloween for you to wear Vyrao’s Witchy Woo eau de parfum (though doing so is especially timely). The fragrance features around 89 percent natural ingredients, with an earthy blend of Moroccan orris, rose, nutmeg, and frankincense notes.
Fall Cashmere Eau de Perfume
Wear a cashmere sweater or wrap with a few spritzes of this fragrance for ultimate seasonal ambiance. Its vegan formula combines notes of roasted almond, spiced ginger, cinnamon bark, and clove for a dreamy fall scent.
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