The six chic perfumes that everyone will be wearing this fall
While summer often equals sparkling citrus and floral scents, as soon as those leaves turn orange, we're reaching for altogether cozier aromas like these fall perfumes...
Fall fragrances by their definition have to illicit some sort of warm and comforting vibe—sorry, that's non-negotiable—so think, spices, musks and woody notes that remind you of crackling fires, wool jumpers and cinnamon-sprinkled lattes. And luckily, most of what we'd consider to be the best perfumes, feature a few of these autumn-coded perfume notes.
So, here are our picks of the best chilly-weather scents, plus which notes exactly to look out for when selecting your signature fall scent, according to the experts...
6 of the best fall perfumes
Maison Margiela ’REPLICA’ By the Fireplace
RRP: $85 for 1 fl oz | Notes: clove oil, chestnut accord and vanilla...
Our beauty writer, Naomi Jamieson LOVES this scent: "It's literally the epitome of fall, it's rich, warm and smells like a crackling fire. I feel so comforted and chic when I spritz it!"
Yves Saint Laurent Libre
RRP: $95 for 1 fl oz | Notes: lavender, orange blossom and musk accord...
A cult-classic scent that is both warm and floral and totally irresistible!
Le Labo Santal 33
RRP: $230 for 1.7 fl oz | Notes: cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox and Australian Sandalwood...
This perfume gives luxe fall vibes, with it's musky blend of leathery woods and warm white florals.
Boy Smells Suede Pony
RRP: $98 for 2.2 fl oz | Notes: saffron, cardamom, plum, violet, coconut water, hazelnut, suede and blonde woods...
This scent is warm and velvety, with hints of spiced fruits and musky suede.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’71
RRP: $24 for 3 fl oz | Notes: caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut and tonka bean...
Warm and sweet, this hair and body mist is perfect for fall with its spicy, gourmand notes.
ZARA Ebony Wood
RRP: $39.90 for 2.54 fl oz | Notes: pink pepper, clove and ebony wood
With warm hints of wood and sparkling pink pepper, this Zara perfume is the perfect budget-friendly option.
Our picks of fall perfumes include scents from brands like Le Labo, YSL, Boy Smells and Maison Margiela.
If you're a YSL Libre lover, you can also find a dreamy Libre dupe at Zara, we've also sussed out a few Le Labo Santal 33 dupes too, if you're on the hunt for a 'Quiet Luxury' perfume, that's definitely quiet on the bank account.
Skin scents are also perfect for fall—we'd suggest perfumes like Glossier You, if you want to find your signature, uniquely you scent this autumn. As for the perfume notes to look for, to nail your fall scent game, we've quizzed the fragrance experts...
What are fall perfume notes, exactly?
So, what constitutes a fall fragrance, exactly? Well, according to Rebecca Herd, fragrance expert at The Perfume Shop, it's all about the woody notes.
Herd recommends notes of vanilla, amber, sandalwood, cedarwood and Benzoin...
Herd says: "In the Autumn and Winter months, you may want to choose a perfume with warming ingredients such as Mugler Angel Elixir Eau de Parfum (at ULTA) that includes notes of Vanilla, Amber Xtreme and Sandalwood."
Herd also recommends opting for a parfum vs. a toilette, "As we notice a drop in temperature, we would suggest choosing an Eau de Parfum or Parfum to ensure your perfume lasts longer on your skin, due to them being made with higher concentrates of essential oils.
"These perfumes usually have a woody base note such as sandalwood, cedarwood, or Benzoin."
Natalia Ortiz, CCO at The Fragrance Shop recommends a blend of sweet, spicy and woody aromas, noting: "We find people gravitate more to fragrances which have notes of patchouli, sandalwood, pine, honey, vanilla, and musk."
Ortiz recommends notes of pink pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, patchouli, sandalwood, pine, honey, vanilla, and musk...
Ortiz adds, "When the weather's cold, we look to warmer fragrances than in summer where we want refreshing, cooler scents. Warmer perfume notes tend to have a mix of gourmand, woody and sometimes a spicey blend, as layering these notes creates a maximized feeling of warmth, whilst also extending the wear-time.
"Any fragrance with a note of spice is going to instantly add comfort and the scent can be entirely catered to your spice preference. Whether you want a milder spice like vanilla or nutmeg, or something more powerful like peppers and cardamom."
For a warm and woody, ambrox-centric perfume, Ortiz recommends the Courreges L'Empreinte Eau de Parfum (at SSENSE).
What scent trends will we see this Fall/winter?
If you want to base your fall perfume buy on the trends, Herds says vegan and unisex perfumes are going to be super popular, "we will see notes reminiscent of the 80s and early 90’s as we see more Parfums and Elixirs in the marketplace. The emphasis will still be on sustainability with lots of perfumes suitable for vegans on the market and fragrance will be very gender fluid."
Ortiz also predicts earthy notes will be a big hit this chilly season, adding, "we naturally can feel drawn to these woody, moss, darker leathery scents and essential oil type smells which are grounding and imitate the feeling of this time of year with comfort and warmth."
