The rich and sophisticated wintery perfumes our beauty team is cosying up to
From incense-y florals to woody gourmands, our beauty team have an air of winter about them...here's what they're wearing
When the leaves begin to fall and the chill surrounds, it's not just time for your boots and chunky knits, but also a warming, cosy fragrance - and our beauty team has three to suggest.
While you never really need an excuse to invest in a new long-lasting perfume, the shift in seasons always feels like a very convincing one. In our case, we've been drawn towards warmer fragrances that contrast the harsh cold with softness and comfort. Think musky perfumes that cocoon, and woody blends that smell like crispy woodland walks; that's exactly the sort of scent we've swapped our summer signature for. This changing of the proverbial perfume guard, if you will, always helps us embrace and almost reinvent ourselves for the months ahead; such is the power of scent.
As for what fragrances to consider for yourself, our beauty team all have quite different tastes. So, whether you're a fan of gourmand perfumes, seeking one with a woody twist, or you prefer musky florals, one of our picks is sure to hit all the right notes.
Fiona's autumn/winter perfume pick
RRP: From £180 for 50ml | Notes: Cedarwood, hazelnut, co-infusion Calabrian bergamot, musk, cedarwood Atlas, cedarwood Alaska, tonka bean absolute and sandalwood
"My usual shtick, as the nights draw in, is switching to something ultra-powerful, smoky and spicy - a bit of a scent-bomb, basically," says Digital Beauty Editor Fiona McKim. "But this year I’m feeling drawn to softer, more elegant fragrances - and Acqua di Parma’s latest, Cedro Virtuoso, fits the bill perfectly.
"It’s based around two ingredients: hazelnut and Virginia cedarwood, which mingle nicely with several other cedars and a bright little nip of bergamot to create something distinctly creamy, woody and resinous, but not at all shouty. Call it the trend for subtler scents, call it personal growth, but it turns out I don’t need to whack everyone around the nostrils to make an impression with my perfume after all."
Sennen's autumn/winter perfume pick
RRP: From £205 for 50ml | Notes: Musk, bergamot, incense and Damask rose
"It's no secret that I’m a fan of musky perfumes," says Digital Beauty Writer Sennen Prickett. "In fact, most of my favourite blends fall into that scent category. So, it should come as no surprise that I’ve been religiously reaching for Maison Crivelli’s Musc Nurasana Extrait De Parfum this autumn. Boasting notes of musk, bergamot and rose, this sophisticated floral musk scent is full of character and oozes autumn/winter.
"One spritz of this and I feel like a successfully put-together woman ready to take on the day. It’s also one of the most long-lasting scents I own, clinging to any knitwear and jackets I wear – a trait I yearn for in all of my fragrances."
Naomi's autumn/winter perfume pick
RRP: from £176 for 50ml | Notes: Jasmine, ambroxyde and moss
"Iconic but a relatively new discovery for me, Le Labo's Another 13 has been the scent I've found myself reaching for morning after morning since the start of September," Digital Beauty Writer Naomi Jamieson notes. "Usually, the colder months might see you opt for something quite heavy, but personally I want comfort and cosiness. I'm a sucker for a woody or musky floral; I love softness and powderiness combined with a sultry sort of smokiness. Essentially, I want something that settles into the fibres of my favourite woolly jumpers and smells like warm skin and that something is Another 13.
"It opens with this metallic-y muskiness, but soon earthy hints of moss and delicate white florals emerge. It's definitely second skin-like, it lingers close but doesn't overpower you, but even still, I can smell it on my clothes days later, and it's just the perfect sort of everyday smell that feels chic but works for every occasion."
3 cheaper alternatives we're also loving this season
Now, we're aware that our three current favourites are on the pricier side, and while they are blends we're reaching for a lot this season, they're not the only ones we've been loving. Below are a few more affordable options, all approved by our team - plus a very exciting new beauty launch.
RRP: £79 for 30ml | Notes: Pink Pepper, angelica seed, orange flower, ylang-ylang, honey floral accord, benzoin, labdanum, olibanum, patchouli heart, ambrarome, ambroxan, musk, cypriol, vetiver, tobacco, cedarwood heart, oakwood, vanilla bean and tonka bean.
If you're on the hunt for a chic winter perfume for under-£100, Merit Beauty's New Wave scent definitely deserves your attention. It's decadent and rich, with honey-drenched florals layered with smoky notes of tobacco, musk and cedarwood, bringing warmth and sophistication with every waft. Even the bottle feels so apt for this season.
RRP: £22.50 for 100ml | Notes: ISO E Super, ambrette and sandalwood
If you're already a fan of scents like Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, this new addition to M&S' perfume collection is right up your alley. Like Molecule 01, it is said to smell different on everyone, with ISO E Super being its standout note. It's musky and skin-like - ideal if you're on the hunt for a true signature scent. Plus, it's an under-£30 perfume, which also makes it great for gifting.
RRP: £26 for 10ml | Notes: Fig leaf, green mandarin, almond milk, cedarwood, soft musk, tonka bean, jasmine, violet petals and orris root
Fresh, floral and delicately musky, this new blend from Ouai is a favourite of Sennen's and is such a lovely option for everyday wear. The violet petals really sparkle to the surface of this scent, fig and mandarin bring brightness, while musk, orris root and almond milk afford a powdery softness. Sennen says she's had so many compliments on this fragrance in just the last month - a great gift for you or someone else this winter season.
