When the cold weather comes, it sparks more than just a change in weather. Come autumn, we change our wardrobes, evening plans go from beer gardens to cosy pubs and often reach for a fresh fragrance.
We tend to ditch the sweet florals and spritz on something headier. Think warm woody notes and comforting aromatic blends as master perfumer Roja Dove tells HuffPost, as the season change, so do our olfactory needs.
“In the warmer months it is common to seek a scent that uplifts us, in the winter we tend to opt to be urbanites, tending to enjoy the warmth of spices combined with woods, or to seek the more sensual pleasures that soft vanilla and musk will give us. As the seasons get cooler it is natural to transition from a scent that is fresh and reviving to one that is cocooning and enveloping,” he says.
To expand your wardrobe of fragrances to suit the season, we’ve curated the best of the new perfumes in town to treat yourself to.
“As the seasons change and the nights draw in, adding an enveloping touch to your wardrobe of fragrances is great fun,” says Emma South, the fragrance and lifestyle expert at Jo Malone. The brand’s newest scent, Poppy & Barley, looks to succulent cereal fields, grains and flowers for autumnal inspiration. With added rose and violet, the finished fragrance is a soft and inviting blend of the best the English meadows have to offer.
Before you head to the perfume counter, don’t discount the offerings from some of your favourite high street fashion brands. & Other Stories has an extensive collection of fragrances, from fruity florals to woody oriental scents. This one is our favourite by far though, with notes of moss and amber topped with fresh lemon and ginger for a sharpness in each spritz.
This gold bottle is a dream for luxury lovers.The sumptuously scented blend of iris and sandalwood, along with davana (a herb native to India) and oud (a dark, resinous wood), make for a comforting fragrance that will be a showstopper on your dresser.
The arrival of autumn doesn’t mean you need to give up a touch of sweetness in your perfume. This dark rum blend, made from dry amber, patchouli, plum and leather, is a comforting blend of sweetness. It also comes in a really handy roll on oil.
This is the ultimate investment fragrance, bottled up in a opulent royal blue bottle. A delicate blend of bergamot, mandarin and amber on a base of jasmine and dry woods, it’s a heady mix of lavishness to brighten up your winter.
Take note of All Saints’ range of unisex fragrances, whose minimal packaging and affordable prices make for a no-brainer choice. If you’re new to the range, pick up a bottle of Sunset Riot, with notes of earthy cedarwood complimented by fresh pink pepper and delicate orange flower for a citrus kick.
If you’re looking for something fresh and crisp, like an early morning on the first frost, look no further. A mix of green citrus, herbal and warming spice notes of coriander will keep you smelling sweet all day. Keep by the front door for a spritz to start the day with.
Don’t dismiss the indie beauty brands, which have a range of olfactory offerings to shop. Take Stories for example, a refillable fragrance brand which has two scents to choose from, 01 or 02. Simple. We love 02 for its combination of honey tobacco, bergamot, green tea and Bulgarian rose, a unique and special scent that will have you earning compliments wherever you go.
The beauty section of Zara may not be the first thought when you step into store, but there’s a large selection of goodies to choose from if you’re on a budget. Black amber features notes of vanilla, musk and tangerine so you can still get a fruity kick.
Still clinging on to memories of the summer sunshine? Us too. This fragrance offers a perfect balance between sweet vanilla and fresh violet with patchouli and opoponax. Cult beauty fans are sure to be impressed.
A timely scent to add to your collection, Dark Rain by indie perfume brand Bjork & Berries is inspired by the first rainy day of autumn. While we’re positive there will be plenty more rain to come, this earthy concoction of tangerine, ginger, petitgrain and amber will keep you smelling great even if you’re caught in a downpour. And better yet, all the packaging is made from recyclable materials.
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.