One of the best parts about fragrance is its ability to enhance your seasonal experience! Though many opt for a “signature scent,” there’s something to be said about coordinating the notes of your perfume to match the current climate. As someone who personally suffers from frequent scent fatigue, I rarely commit to a full bottle of anything, sticking with sample and travel sizes instead. Winter fragrance (with fall as a close second) is my favorite seasonal category due to its focus on deeper, cozy, notes; gourmands, hints of smokiness, and warm spice. Frigid air leads to less projection of your perfume, so the scent stays closer to the skin and your own nose. Keeping this in mind, testing out a fragrance that aligns with your taste is even more important. In the name of exploring winter’s best-loved and best-suited fragrance options, I visited four NYC niche fragrance stores and asked experts for their insights!
Diptyque (242 Mott St.)
- OrphĂ©onÂ
Top notes: juniper berries
Middle notes: jasmine
Base notes: powder, cedar, tonka
Expert comments: “Smells like a gin and tonic without the lime. The first sniff will be heavy on cedarwood and juniper.”Â
- Eau duelle (EDP)Â
Fragrance notes: bourbon vanilla, incense, nagarmotha, pink pepper
Expert comments: “A musky vanilla. The EDP (eau de parfum) is much deeper than the EDT, (eau de toilette) so I prefer that one in the cold.”Â
- Eau Rihla
Top notes: raspberry, saffron, pink pepper
Middle notes: leather, iris, cedar
Base notes: vanilla, musk
Expert comments: “This is a combo I couldn’t have dreamed up myself. I can best call it a leather raspberry. Just barely fruity, but in a totally edgy and unexpected way.”
Le Labo (233 Elizabeth St.)
- Tonka 25
Fragrance notes: musk, atlas cedar, tonka bean, orange blossom, styrax, vanilla
Expert comments: “For lovers of a classic gourmande. This is a vanilla, woody, scent.”
- Labdanum 18
Fragrance notes: french labdanum, vanilla, musk, resins, tonka bean, balsam, birch, patchouli, cinnamon
Expert comments: “Ambery, floral, powdery. Perfume that smells like what you picture when you hear perfume.”
- Eucalyptus 20
Fragrance notes: olibanum, cedarwood, balsam, eucalyptus, labdanum, thyme, hyssop, musk
Expert comments: “A woody, smoky, medicinal, scent..”
Commodity (113 Crosby St.)Â
- Milk+Â
Top notes: marshmallow, milkÂ
Middle notes: white cedar, musk
Base notes: wood, amber
Expert comments: “A smoky, sweet, vanilla that smells like roasting marshmellows.”
- Gold
Top notes: camphor, juniper, bergamotÂ
Middle notes: amber, benzoin, haitian vanillaÂ
Base notes: vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, musk
Expert comments: “Sandalwood and amber, but not in an offensive way.”
- Velvet
Top notes: cloves, almond, coconut nectar
Middle notes: rose, vanilla, heliotropeÂ
Base notes: white woods, black amber, birch
Expert comments: “Spicy and dense with rose, amber, and almond.”
Scent bar (244 Elizabeth St.)
- Giardini Di Toscana Bianco Latte
Top notes: caramel
Middle notes: coumarin, honey
Base notes: vanilla, musk
Expert comments: “A lactonic vanilla. Bianco latte is milky, creamy, and edible. The picture-perfect gourmande.”
Extra comment from me: I actually own a smaller bottle of this, it’s considered basic in the fragrance world for a reason!Â
- Akro CrushÂ
Top notes: almond, lycheeÂ
Middle notes: rose
Base notes: praline, vanilla
Expert comments: “Another groumande with a rose and macaroon base. Very dessert-coded.”
Oops I have to give some recommendations of my own (both can be found at sephora for your convenience!)
- Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit
Top notes: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg
Middle notes: caramel, hazelnut
Base notes: vanilla, tonka bean
My comments: This is a great unisex fragrance, though it is sadly limited edition. If you are a true gourmande-lover but want to branch out a little, this fragrance adds a spiciness that is so well disguised and balanced. The encapsulation of a freshly baked gingerbread cookie. I feel so festive when I wear this one, but wear-time is definitely limited to around the holidays.
- Kayali Freedom Musk Matcha 45
Top notes: matcha tea, mate, bergamot, green apple
Middle notes: oat, milk, vanilla, praline, coffee
Base notes: musk, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, velvetierÂ
My comments: I just picked this one up at Sephora and I was shocked at its lasting power and uniqueness. Kayali is a very hit or miss fragrance house for me, and matcha fragrances are notoriously difficult to really do right. This is a very creamy and green scent that is just slightly grassy enough to be classified as a cozy winter scent. I love the addition of the oat milk note. Â
Hopefully these blurbs inspired you to pick-up a tester or pop one of these on your holiday wishlist! All fragrance note descriptions came from fragrantica.com– I highly suggest browsing the site yourself for some intense perfume education or just to explore!