Fall is a time of shifts. We shift into a new season with new holidays, back to school or work and into sweater weather. For some, fall is also a time to switch their fragrance — to leave behind the sweet lightness of summer and deepen into a more sensual or warm autumnal aroma. But what exactly makes a fragrance feel more like fall?
We consulted with fragrance experts to help navigate the massive fragrance marketplace and discovered 18 of the best perfumes and colognes for fall along the way.
What fragrances are good for fall?
If you’re in the mood to adopt a different fragrance for fall, there are some fragrance families you can peruse for a richer scent. “For fall, I always think about two things: I think about texture and I think about spice,” says Bee Shapiro, founder of Ellis Brooklyn Fragrances. “I think we’re so used to just thinking about spicier drinks come fall or colder weather.”
The tie between fall food and fragrance is not coincidental. Many scents typically considered more fall-like belong to the gourmand fragrance family. Gourmand scents are usually familiar notes that create a sense of coziness; like stepping into a house with fresh baked goods or sipping on a spiced chai latte.
“It’s typically like vanilla and cocoa and chocolate,” says Tami Katz, a fragrance consultant at Serendipitee NYC, which she co-founded with fellow “nose for hire” Kathryn Balcerski. “It could be savory like bacon, cookies, anything lickable, edible, kind of delicious.”
Gourmand scents tend to be better suited for cooler weather as well since they’re generally more decadent and heavier, usually making them a little overwhelming for summer. But they’re not the only fragrance family for fall; you could also go for more woody or smoky scents or something in the warm amber realm. More textural notes like cashmere and leather also pop up in fall scents since they help create that feeling of being bundled up in layers of jackets and scarves.
Also keep in mind that air temperature greatly affects how a fragrance holds, so your location can be important when choosing a new scent. “When it is colder, your fragrance doesn’t disperse as much, so you kind of need a stronger scent for you to make the same scent impact,” says Shapiro. “When you’re in hotter weather, your fragrance wears widely and then dissipates quickly.”
If you live in a place that tends to be warm year-round, you might not feel the need to don a heavier scent. Though living in an area with a seasonal climate doesn’t mean you have to switch your fragrance with the season, it does mean you may want to be aware of how scents might change with the weather. We picked out some experts’ favorite fall fragrances as well as a few of our own.
Fall fragrance ideas
Looking for a rich, gourmand fragrance? Smoky vanilla, Italian bergamot, spicy cardamom and a touch of gin come together in this eau de parfum to create a decadent scent that’s also great for layering with other fragrances.
Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian puts a new spin on the classic J'adore fragrance, presenting a warm floral perfect for everyday wear. The "liquid gold" takes a trifecta of favorite florals — orange blossom, Damask rose and jasminum grandiflorum — and blends them into a seamless, sensual scent.
Layering with a sweet amber scent is a great way to warm up the fragrances you already love wearing from your collection. This creamy vanilla and amber fragrance adds a juicy richness with notes of rose and sandalwood.
“Super Amber is literally just a textural scent, and it's been very much focused on cashmere and a bit barer skin,” says Shapiro. Super Amber is another great layer that can help warm up muskier scents. But if you’re looking for something even more decadent and sexy for fall, you can also give the brand’s Vanilla Milk scent a go.
A sultry, rich fragrance, Oh Mon Dieu! layers notes of cognac, incense, caramel and leather, while a touch of lipstick brings a feminine edge to the moody profile.
