Some things stay the same every winter: No matter how prepared you are, your skin will feel the cold the most, you’ll almost always hate the sweaters you bought on sale last year and intend to wear them, and the perfumes that got you through spring, summer, and fall just won’t feel right anymore when the temperature drops.
Luckily, perfumers are busy creating all sorts of winter scents to suit every winter mood, whether you want to feel cozy and confident at parties or refresh yourself on dreary mornings.
Keep scrolling to find the most enticing winter perfume trends and tips for wearing them this chilly season—and beyond.
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Soapy oud
The scent of Oud – a dark, resinous wood – is unmistakable. Equal parts sweet, earthy and rich, it dominates any perfume it is featured in, making it an acquired taste. Perfume expert Aamna Lone, also known as @perfumeconnoisseurz on Instagram, predicts that a new type of oud will take over — and that it’s easier to wear. “There is a rise in soapy, sterile ouds that are softer but still allow for the same projection,” she says. Imagine Oud mixed with clean laundry notes like musk, heliotrope and jasmine. She highlights Mizensir’s Perfect Oud Eau de Parfum, which features a “metallic, clear texture.” Then there’s the cheaper Oud Romancea, which to Lone literally smells like soap and oud.
Also try Tom Ford Oud Voyager Eau de Parfum, which combines oud with a fresh peony accord, and Kayali Oudgasm Milky Musk Oud Eau de Parfum Intense with addictive strawberry cream, skin-like white musk and silver oud.
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Dark fruits
Lee Howes, head of fragrance category at Lush, says we usually associate fruity scents with summer, but this winter it’s time for darker, richer, berry-like scents inspired by the winter harvest to take the spotlight. “Cherry will remain popular, albeit in a more comfortable form,” says Howes. “This season we have our Cherryish Body Spray, which maintains the freshness of the cherry but warms it with notes of chocolate marzipan – it’s a truly festive scent.”
Also try Balmain Cuir Élysèes Eau de Parfum, which combines raspberry with moody leather and enveloping sandalwood. If berries aren’t your thing, consider Jo Malone Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot Cologne, which combines an otherwise summery fruit with rich, dark cardamom.
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Edible nostalgia
Gourmand scents—perfumes with sweet, birthday cake-like notes—aren’t going away, but they are becoming increasingly complex, says Barb Stegemann, founder and president of The 7 Virtues. “The future is about creating a layer cake effect and stacking notes of vanilla, caramel, fruit, buttercream and berries so you smell like no one else in the room,” she says. Gourmand scents sometimes seem a little sugary and youthful, but they also evoke nostalgia, notes Stegemann. To make her even more glamorous, we will combine these sweet notes with deeper ones for contrast, she says. “Think sandalwood, tonka bean and musk,” she explains, calling this the next evolution of personalization. “You are literally baking your own scent – a scent that feels individual, modern, delicious and unique.”
Try layering The 7 Virtues Cherry Ambition (cherry, plum, vanilla marshmallow) with Kayali Freedom Musk Latte Eau de Parfum (latte, chocolate musk and cinnamon). This year we also love Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit Cologne with lemon, roasted hazelnuts and tonka beans with hints of vanilla and tobacco.
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Perfume primer
Lone highlights a burgeoning trend among perfume enthusiasts online: pairing scents with traditional balms. “That could be Tiger Balm, Aboniki [a Nigerian muscle relief balm made from menthol and eucalyptus oil]or even Vicks VapoRub,” says Lone – yes, really.
“The Aboniki layering combination was popularized by certified fragrance specialist Eudora Nwasike and has since gone viral,” she adds. The main advantage of a perfume layer over such a balm is that it serves multiple purposes. “They can relieve stuffy noses, help sore joints, and smell good for longer because it creates a new scent profile,” says Lone. Even better? “The balm helps lock the fragrance ingredients into its emollient base, so the scent bubble lasts longer.”
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Seasonal foodies
Howes again makes the case for gourmand scents, but says they’ll get a seasonal makeover this winter. “Vanilla and tonka notes have dominated the scent for months, but now you can expect them to be mixed with deeper, more nuanced materials,” says Howes. He suggests looking for ginger, black pepper, and cardamom to spice up the typical sweet scents. “Also, try more grounding and calming notes of sandalwood and coffee,” recommends Howes. “Our great winter scents from Lush tend to be the deep coziness of Lord of Misrule Perfume and our soft, powdery Gourmand-Turmeric Latte Perfume,” he adds. “Both are great at wrapping you in a beautiful scent when the weather gets cooler.”
Also try The 7 Virtues Buttercream Haze Eau de Parfum with buttercream icing and tonka bean. According to Stegemann, this “foodie scent” was so desirable that it sold out in more than 60 Sephora stores within 48 hours and immediately became the number two scent on Sephora.com.
We also love Nette NYC Lemon Puff Eau de Parfum with toasted meringue, almond and vanilla.
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Strawberry chypre
Lone calls “strawberry chypre” the next big thing in perfume. For the uninitiated, Chypre is a family of fragrances that combines bright citrus notes with earthy tones like wood and spice. The addition of strawberries adds a sweet touch and makes it wearable for everyday wear. “This was created thanks to Miu Miu Miutine (strawberry, bourbon vanilla, moss and amber) and reflects iconic favorites of the past such as Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum and Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Parfum,” says Lone.
You might also like Burberry Her Elixir de Parfum, which contains strawberry, warm amber and earthy sandalwood. Lone predicts this perfect pairing will remain trending well into next year.
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Fragrant skin layering
“In many (much warmer) parts of the world, it’s popular to wear fragrance in the form of a body powder to keep skin feeling fresher for longer – while smelling great,” says Howes, adding that it’s a clever way to create a “scented base layer.” Think of it as the scent equivalent of a clean cotton T-shirt.
Dusting powders are a new Lush innovation and they’re about to make their big launch. “These soften and perfume your skin and pair beautifully with any scent you mist over it,” says Howes. Luckily, some of the brand’s most popular scents are now available in powder form: Sticky Dates, Let The Good Times Roll and Super Milk. “You can even apply these with your favorite body spray,” recommends Howes.
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