Fall, which kicks off with Libra season, aka my most powerful time of the entire year, has arrived (cue the symphony of witches’ cackles!), which means I’m embracing everything cozy and warm (especially now that the weather in L.A. finally seems to be cooling down). As I begin to transform into my true self as a fall goth with my wardrobe, I also start to transition my own personal scent story from summer spritzes to autumnal fragrances. While I’m pretty much a gourmand girlie all year round, I really love leaning into the spicier, smokier perfumes when the leaves begin to turn brown (well, elsewhere, not so much in Los Angeles).
There are tons of new fall-friendly fragrances that smell so amazing I honestly don’t even know if I’ll be able to pick just one signature scent for the season. (Also, because I am a Libra, it’s my nature to be indecisive.) Ahead, see 16 of my must-have perfumes for fall, from brand-new scents to older ones that are too good to miss. Keep scrolling!
Launched just last year by the brilliant Daniel Giles, Perfumehead is already one of my all-time-favorite fragrance brands. Who What Wear's beauty director, Erin Jahns, introduced me to the brand and knew that I’d love Cosmic Cowboy and Canadian Tuxedo (hello, those names!), and I immediately fell in love with its scents. The newest is Xanaboud, a floral, woody, spicy, sweet work of art. Cardamom is a note that my husband and I both share a love for, so whenever I see it in a fragrance, as it is in Xanaboud, I’m already on board. But among the spiciness is a hint of vanilla—it's sexy, mysterious, and a little sweet.
One of my go-to everyday fragrances is Oriana by Parfums de Marly, a floral, fruity gourmand. But I’ll be switching things up this fall with the Parisian fragrance house’s newest offering, Althair. With Bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, spicy and woody notes, the scent is practically autumn in a bottle.
I love everything that Eauso Vert is about, from the scents (Purple Noon!!!) to its safe and sustainable ingredient ethos. Vanilla Embers kicks off with that cardamom note I love, flows into jasmine and orange flower, and ultimately settles into cozy spices and vanilla bean.
The über-feminine clothing brand LoveShackFancy speaks to my affinity for all things pink, girly, and floral, so I was super excited to hear it was launching perfume. All three of the scents are divine, and as one would expect, they are all floral-based and nice for any time of year. For fall, in particular, however, I suggest Moondance. With velvet rose, magnolia, and dreamwood, it is the warmest and "fall-feely” of the three. And can we get some commotion for these vintage-inspired bottles? Just gorgeous.
If you want something sweet, warm, and cozy for fall, but something that's not necessarily gourmand, try Faces of Francis. It has notes of saffron, pistachio, driftwood, oud, and ambergris that together compose a smoky, woody, slightly sweet amber scent. Divine.
Dangerous yet sweet is how I’d describe the new Oud Maracujá. When I take a whiff, I close my eyes and fantasize that I’m driving a motorcycle wearing a leather jacket tinged with a sweet fragrance. Fruity notes like passionfruit play alongside Turkish rose, agarwood, patchouli, vanilla, and amber. It's a fantastic unisex leather scent.
A perfume called Apple Love might initially bring to mind thoughts of apple picking and other fall festivities, but it’s actually founder Bee Shapiro’s love letter to New York City. The fragrance brings together apple, peach skin, plum blossom, vanilla, sandalwood, and sugar cane for a truly irresistible amber gourmand.
For me, this fragrance is truly all in the name. This vanilla is so deep, so delicious, and so pure, I feel like I can almost drink it. (Don’t worry, I won’t.) Vanilla can get a bad wrap as a perfume note because there are so many cloying, sickly sweet ones out there (I still love ’em), but this real vanilla is far from that and just reads as sophisticated and luxurious.
Out of all of my perfumes, the one that gets the most action is Love Don’t Be Shy by Kilian Paris—you know, the rumored Rihanna perfume. But the fragrance house has tons of additional celebrity-loved scents that shan’t be slept on! The newest is Smoking Hot, which has notes of tobacco, bourbon vanilla, and signature cognac—a smoky, alluring combination that will have both my husband and me fighting over it!
This new fragrance from Hermetica Paris is my gourmand dream in a bottle. Caramel candy, tonka bean, and vanilla bean rendezvous with geranium and cinnamon, creating the perfect balance of sweetness that is lovely enough to be worn as a year-round scent.
Is something nice and spicy on your fall fragrance wish list? This woody fragrance has notes of bergamot, cypress, jasmine, vanilla, and tobacco. Thus, I think you'll love it.
This delicate scent smells fruity and floral at first sniff but eventually settles into a sweet and woody concoction via raspberry, florals, and amber. It's a sweet, dessert-inspired fragrance sure to please anyone who has a sweet tooth when it comes to perfume.
I find myself being drawn to incense-inspired fragrances lately, and Trudon’s spicy Mortel is really doing it for me. It features frankincense, myrrh and benzoin. (This is another one I already know my husband will try to steal.)
The singer is clearly a gourmand gal like me, as her debut fragrance, Sweet Tooth, looks like a literal candy bar (and is pink!). Caramel Dream, the new flanker, is just as delicious, as it features sugared lemon, dark chocolate beans, caramelized amber, almond milk, and musk.
Dulce, the ’90s-inspired gourmand from By/Rosie Jane came out last year and was an instant winner for me, and it just released a body milk version of the fragrance. This lightweight lotion hydrates skin with organic cucumber, aloe, and sunflower oil while making it smell like vanilla-musk heaven!
Now is the time to invoke thee Billie Eilish with her namesake perfume, as it is the perfect amber gourmand for fall. With notes of sugared petals, warm berries, cocoa, vanilla, tonka bean, and musk, it is sweet, but not overly so, and has a great deal of spice. Spritz it on and curl up with a good book.
