Sama Farrag I think it’s time we have a conversation about seasonal perfumes. While some people are perfectly happy wearing the same fragrance all year round, I happen to think every season should have its own signature scent. Summer is for fresh florals, citrus and coconut-scented body mists that someone will most definitely refer to as sobya. Fall, on the other hand, calls for something with a little more substance. A little smoke, a lot of spice, and enough vanilla to make you smell like an artisanal pastry.
And then there’s obviously the question of what a perfume says about the person wearing it. Are you the girl who smells like a crackling fireplace and probably has a very impressive book collection? Or are you the one who smells like expensive cognac and a jazz club? Maybe you’re just trying to smell like the rich auntie shrouded in mystery who shows up wearing a fur coat and red lip to die for.
Whatever your fragrance personality may be, I’ve put together eight fall perfumes that make a pretty compelling case for retiring the summer scents. Consider this your seasonal wardrobe change – except the only thing getting a makeover is your scent trail.
By the Fireplace – Maison Margiela
I have stated before that the Maison Margiela’s Replica collection is my absolute favorite. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, this collection recreates familiar moments and places through scent. By The Fireplace takes us to a winter cabin, complete with roasted chestnuts, smoky guaiac wood, clove and vanilla. It has that slightly toasted sweetness that makes you think of marshmallows left over the fire for a little too long. It’s also a little bit nostalgic, even if your closest experience with a fireplace is having one on from YouTube for the vibes. Either way, it’s a very convincing argument for cancelling plans and spending the evening indoors.
Angels’ Share – Kilian Paris
If perfume were a cocktail, Angels’ Share would be the one you’d order after insisting you were only having one drink. Inspired by Kilian Hennessy’s family heritage in cognac making, the fragrance takes its name from the portion of liquor that evaporates from oak barrels during the aging process. I think we’re off to a very promising start. Cognac meets cinnamon, oak and tonka bean before settling into praline, vanilla and sandalwood. It’s warm, boozy and just the right amount of decadent. It’s also famously regarded as Beyonce’s signature scent – and can you think of literally anything better than smelling like Queen B herself?
Tobacco Vanille – Tom Ford
Tom Ford has never struck me as a brand interested in doing things halfway, and Tobacco Vanille is definitely no exception. Inspired by the atmosphere of an English gentlemen’s club, the fragrance combines tobacco leaf, warm spices, vanilla and tonka bean, with cocoa and dried fruit adding to its richness. It’s sweet, but there’s something darker lurking underneath, which is exactly what makes the combination work. I imagine this is what a glamorous femme fatale villain would smell like. It’s a statement in every sense of the word, and probably not the bottle I’d recommend to someone who wants to smell like they’ve just stepped out of the shower.
Crystal Noir – Versace
Can we please bring back the glamour of early-2000s Versace? The campaigns, the dresses, the dramatic eveningwear – we had it so good. Crystal Noir feels like it belongs somewhere in that far away universe. Its spicy opening of cardamom, ginger and pepper gives way to a creamy floral heart of gardenia, peony and orange blossom, with amber, sandalwood and musk underneath. It’s dark, sensual and slightly floral. I love that it doesn’t fall into the usual gourmandy autumn fragrance category. Not everyone wants to smell like a cinnamon bun, after all. Some of us have evening plans and an LBD dying for a night out.
Spice Blend – Dior
There are only so many vanilla-and-caramel perfumes one can smell before getting bored. Dior’s Spice Blend is here to save you. Inspired by the Caribbean and the world of rum, this fragrance brings together rum, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and coriander, with bay leaf adding an aromatic edge. It’s a considerably more grown-up take on the spicy fragrance trend, with the rum accord giving it a warmth that feels suited to cooler evenings. I also appreciate a perfume that doesn’t immediately present itself as a gourmand. Sometimes you want to smell like a mixed cocktail, not a dessert menu. Spice Blend gets the distinction.
Babycat – Yves Saint Laurent
Vanilla has a reputation for being the agreeable one in the fragrance family. Sweet, familiar, generally well-liked and unlikely to cause any controversy at the dinner table. Babycat, however, seems to have missed that memo. Yves Saint Laurent takes Bourbon vanilla and pairs it with saffron, pink and black pepper, incense, cedarwood and suede, creating something smokier and more complex than your average vanilla fragrance. Inspired by the house’s iconic leopard print, Babycat has a personality to match. It’s a little wild, a lot dramatic and not interested in being the fragrance equivalent of the girl-next-door. If vanilla had a rebellious phase, this would be the result.
I’ve always thought choosing a perfume is a little like choosing an outfit. You might have your everyday uniform, your special-occasion favourite and that one ridiculous purchase you can’t justify but refuse to regret. Fragrance is personal, occasionally irrational and, a rather expensive hobby to develop. But there’s something fabulous about finding a scent that feels right for a certain time in your life.
