These winter fragrances will have you feeling like the belle of the ball
There's something impeccably chic about having a signature scent, but with so many fragrances out there – from sandalwood spritzes to succulent fig perfumes – there's joy in switching up your fragrance with the seasons.
"As soon as there’s a proper nip in the air, I reach for richer, spicier, scents," says perfume journalist and founder of the podcast On The Scent, Suzy Nightingale, which she co-hosts with fellow fragrance enthusiast Nicola Bonn. "I’m endlessly amazed that some perfumes can actually smell ‘hot’, with sultry, sizzling notes like saffron, cinnamon, pepper and even chilli helping beat the chill."
What to look for in winter perfumes
This season is a great time to experiment with a new scent, as perfume generally lasts better in cool weather. "We get to appreciate the nuanced notes far longer," agrees Nightingale. "It’s the more complex scents that warm my soul in winter. I want olfactory opulence! Ingredients like velvety roses, buttery suede, mystical incense, powdery orris, and of course, those aforementioned spices. Spraying something that feels ultra-glamorous matches my mood this time of year – even if I’m actually still in my pyjamas."
It's true. Even if your personal style is minimalist, a great fragrance can take that to the next level. For the dinner party wallflowers, perfume can also serve as a gateway to interesting conversations as it ties so closely to intimate memories.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to perfume. Whether you're someone who loves a clean-smelling skin scent, a zingy citrus to cut through the winter blues, or a romantic lily-of-the-valley fragrance, there is something for everyone in this curated list. For Bonn, she gravitates towards enveloping scents that wear as cosy as a cashmere sweater.
"I'm reaching for richer, deeper fragrances, and warmer notes that hug and embrace me," she tells Bazaar, name-checking Penhaligon's Changing Constance, Jovoy's Fire At Will and Marc Antoine-Barrois' Tilia as firm winter favourites.
How to make your fragrance last longer
While scents do last better in winter, dry skin can make them disappear more quickly. To solve this, exfoliate in the shower to get rid of dry skin, and use a nourishing body lotion. An unscented formula won't interfere with your scent, but a case can be made for a fragranced cream that layers beautifully under your chosen spritz.
For this editor, the Vaseline hack does indeed work. Smear a small amount on pulse points or wherever you normally apply perfume, and spritz it there so it holds on to the scent for longer. Hair perfumes are great too, as they emit a scent with every movement. Tilt your head upside down and spray, or use it on your hairbrush before brushing through.
Ahead, the best winter perfumes to try now
Victoria Beckham Beauty 21:50 Reverie EDP
21:50 Rêverie is a prime example of a fragrance that wears significantly better on the skin that it does on a paper blotter. After the initial smokey opening, 21:50 transforms into a lush, velvety smooth, extra creamy vanilla that only gets better as the hours go on.
Key notes: Tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla bean
Burberry Goddess EDP Intense
This showstopping scent highlights the smoky and sweet facets of vanilla, with a sprinkling of cool lavender to keep things from being saccharine sweet. It's decadent and lasts well until the next morning; the kind of scent that beckons compliments.
Key ingredients: Vanilla, lavender
Armani Privé Gardenia Antigua EDT
If you love a sunny, holiday scent, give it a winter update by incorporating heady white flowers. Transport yourself to the lush beaches of sunny Antigua with this jubilant floral scent. Sweetened petals are balanced with a gentle hint of salt and splash of sunny mandarin.
Key notes: Mandarin, salt, gardenia
Guerlain Shalimar Extrait de Parfum
When in doubt, Shalimar is always a good idea. This revered fragrance was first created in 1925 (with minor tweaks due to ingredient changes through the years) but it remains as elegant as ever. The iris-rose-jasmine composition is pure glamour, and feels as right worn with a white shirt as it does with a taffeta gown. It goes without saying, but this Extrait version is a real showstopper.
Key notes: Tonka, iris, jasmine
Chanel No5 Eau de Parfum Purse Spray
Chanel can barely keep its perfume-on-a-chain in stock this year, but this portable 20ml version is just as useful and equally as chic. Chanel No.5 is a real classic with its overdose of golden aldehydes and high-glamour, powdery florals. With this handy 20ml spritz, you can now take that magic with you everywhere.
Dior J'adore Parfum d'eau Eau de Parfum
The only thing better than receiving a bottle of Dior's J'adore fragrance during the holidays is receiving one that comes in a box illustrated by the Italian artist Pietro Ruffo. This version of J'adore is a more luminous take on the original, with plush jasmine petals and creamy magnolia.
Key notes: Jasmine sambac, orange blossom, magnolia
Boadicea The Victorious Ardent EDP
If it's blousy roses dripping in jewels and gold you're after, Ardent might just be the one. It's unapologetically maximalist, with roaring Turkish rose and wild jasmines guaranteed to turn heads. Feeling a little uncertain about walking into a dinner party? Let Ardent take the lead. You'll feel like the star of the show by the end of the night.
Key ingredients: Rose, oud, saffron
Dries Van Noten Camomille Satin EDP
If you tend to get overwhelmed by rich, opulent scents, take a breather with Camomille Satin. The refined blend of soft lavender, musk and gentle camomile tea is equal parts sophisticated and cosy.
Malin + Goetz Leather Perfume Oil
Far from smelling like a car interior, Leather is impeccably smooth and soft, with undertones of sandalwood and rich, creamy figs. It hugs onto the skin, and packs excellent projection. The roller-ball applicator is especially useful for small evening clutches.
Key notes: Sandalwood, violet, clove
Merit Retrospect L'Extrait de Parfum
A step above a subtle skin scent, Merit's fragrance debut features aldehydic notes that give it a clean-laundry feel along with violets and orris for a touch of soft powder, amplified by musky ambrette which lends a sensuous, second-skin effect.
Key notes: Aldehydes, orris, musk
Chloe L'Eau de Parfum Intense
For something that's unobtrusive for colleagues in close quarters yet has a cocooning warmth that feels right for winter, try this elegant, musky-floral composition. It's velvety brick-red petals swathed in soft cashmere, bottled.
Key ingredients: Rose, raspberries, Ambrox
Strangelove NYC A Fire Within EDP
Founder Elizabeth Gaynes created Strangelove with a strong focus on craftsmanship and sustainable sourcing. With model Helena Christensen as creative director, this niche perfumery looks as beautiful as it smells. A Fire Within balances the decadent sweetness of oud with fiery black pepper and smokey incense. It's all at once haunting and mysterious, a spritz made for hedonistic nights.
Key notes: Vanilla, cypress, oud
Penhaligon's Changing Constance EDP
"I know the seasons are changing when I start reaching for this," says Bonn, who wears this on Christmas Day. "It's a really, really well-made salted caramel fragrance with a lot of nuance. If you combine that with Maison Margiela By The Fireplace, it is the cosiest, most Christmassy, warm, wintery gourmand."
Key notes: Pimento, salted caramel, cashmeran
BDK Tabac Rose EDP
"This makes me feel as though I’m starring in a 1950s film," says Nightingale of this dark tobacco rose. "(It's like) wearing a sumptuous evening gown of the darkest claret velvet, lying on a chaise lounge admiring a huge bouquet of roses from an admirer, while eating expensive chocolate truffles and sipping a glass of Madeira – I can dream!"
Key notes: Tobacco, pink pepper, Turkish rose
Marc-Antoine Barrois Tilia EDP
"Both Nicola and I have made a pact to wear this on New Year's Eve as it’s a celebration we’ve discovered a mutual loathing for, and we adore the hopefulness of the scent," shares Nightingale. "So as we plunge into 2025, we need a burst of optimism. This is linden blossom and the sweet scent of sun-warmed hay, dappled sunlight, bright green leaves, and the sense of longer, brighter days to come. Divine."
Key notes: Jasmine sambac, vetiver, linden blossom
Diptyque Eau Des Sens EDT
When sunshine is scarce and all you need is a little pick-me-up, try Eau Des Sens. "It captures all the parts of the orange tree, and it's just bright, happy, and uplifting," says Nightingale. An undercurrent of earthy patchouli keeps this joyous scent feeling grounded and elegant.
Key ingredients: Orange blossom, patchouli, juniper berry
Discothèque Baise Moi On The Dancefloor EDP
Jessie Wilner, Hanover Booth and Whitney Moulton created the candle and fragrance brand Discothèque inspired by parties, nights out and good times. Baise Moi, with its sandalwood and powdery iris notes, capture that serene feeling one gets at the end of a very good night, when the confetti has settled, you're catching your breath with your skin gently illuminated by the glow of a disco ball.
Key notes: Violet leaf, cassis, sandalwood
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