This year, my goal is to lean heavily into my version of hygge (a Danish and Norwegian word that describes the feeling of deep relaxation and enjoyment of life's quiet pleasures) during the winter months by doing what I can to add a touch of coziness to my days. Of course, as a beauty editor, one of the ways I'm planning on doing so is by tapping into my knowledge of how certain fragrances can influence one's mindset and using a few of them nonstop to get through the dark, cold days and come out on the other size feeling refreshed and ready for spring.
When it comes to which cold-weather scents I'm partial to, I always find myself drawn to warm, deep, and woodsy fragrances that make me want to constantly wear oversize sweaters and sip hot chocolate with an extra helping of marshmallows. It's the familiarity of it all that keeps me coming back for more. Over the course of the past few months, I've stocked up on 20 favorites. Keep scrolling to discover the scents I'll be wearing all season long.
The Best Winter Perfumes, Listed
- Aesop Eidesis Eau de Parfum
- Antica Farmacista Cozy You Eau de Parfum
- Byredo Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum
- D.S. & Durga Coriander Eau de Parfum
- Diptyque Lunamaris Eau de Parfum
- Infiniment Coty Or de Moi Eau de Parfum
- Lake & Skye Saffron Dusk Eau de Parfum
- Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum
- Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette
- Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum
- Aesop Tacit Eau de Parfum
- Antica Farmacista Green Green Eau de Parfum
- Byredo Mixed Emotions Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: earthy woods
Key Notes: petitgrain, black pepper, frankincense, cumin, frankincense, cedar, vetiver, sandalwood
I was introduced to this scent by a fellow beauty editor with an undying appreciation for fragrances that are as warm and rich as they are bright. Described by Aesop as beguiling, Eidesis opens with an energizing note of black pepper before shifting into an inviting blend of smooth frankincense and sandalwood. The scent also includes hints of petitgrain, subtle florals, cumin, and vetiver.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: warm spices
Key Notes: creamy white musk, amber, white florals, heliotrope, ripe peach, tonka bean, cashmeran, vanilla, sandalwood
When I think of scents that are reminiscent of my cozy cashmere sweater–filled days of winter, Antica Farmacista's Cozy You Eau de Parfum comes to mind. Delicate notes of creamy white musk and gauzy florals paired with juicy, ripe peach, smooth tonka bean, and sweet vanilla make for a scent that's familiar and comforting. It's one of my top fragrances to spritz before bed to help me unwind in minutes.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: cool spices
Key Notes: plum, cinnamon, leather accord, violet, birch woods, patchouli, vanilla
I can't tell you how many winter days I've spent curled up in an oversize chair with a book and cup of herbal tea. Byredo's Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum transports me back to those special moments with an aromatic, velvety blend of plum, peach, and vanilla against a base of omnipresent patchouli. Just three sprays of this scent on my wrists and neck are all I need to last me all day.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: cool spices
Key Notes: Russian coriander, pepper, juniper needle, geranium, clove stem, clary sage, musk, magnolia, mace
I don't usually think of coriander as a scent that's reminiscent of the winter months, but this D.S. & Durga perfume has made a fragrance convert of me. With a versatile blend of sparkling leaf, cubeb, green pepper, and Russian coriander, this scent strikes the balance between earthy, green notes and cool spices. D.S. & Durga's Coriander delivers everything I love about wintery fragrances while offering so much more.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: sheer spices
Key Notes: pink peppercorn, incense, amber rockrose
Drawing inspiration from mother-of-pearl, Diptyque's Lunamaris features vibrant notes of pink peppercorn mingling with subtle accords of incense and luminescent rockrose to recall the reflection of the moon on the sea. While it's certainly not your everyday winter scent, it's a second-skin fragrance that feels altogether familiar and new—just like how I tend to look at the new calendar year.
Product Details: 3.4-ounce bottle
Scent Type: floral chypre
Key Notes: tuberose, chypre accord, moss
As much as I adore aromatic wood and gourmand scents over the winter months, I'll always be partial to breaking out a classic floral-chypre fragrance to wear to the chicest events of the season. While it does offer a full-bodied chypre scent, you can also pick up on the presence of warm tuberose and earthy moss at its heart, which I love.
Product Details: 2.5-ounce bottle
Scent Type: warm florals
Key Notes: saffron, Madagascar black pepper, leather, neroli, rose, vetiver, sandalwood, Texas cedarwood
If you're not already wearing saffron scents for winter, what have you been doing? One of my favorite affordable options is Lake & Skye's Saffron Dusk. The scent features a bouquet of warm florals taking center stage with rose, Madagascar black pepper, leather, neroli, and vetiver as the fragrance's supporting characters. Believe me when I say that it's one of the coolest perfumes on the market.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: cool musks
Key Notes: ambrox, musk, woody amber, jasmine petals, moss, ambrette seeds.
If you're on the hunt for a fragrance that will leave a lasting impression on literally everyone you pass, you'll want to try this one. Commissioned as an exclusive scent for Another magazine, it's composed of ambroxide (a synthetic animal musk) and includes notes of jasmine, moss, and amber for a scent that's undeniably cool. It's the ideal fragrance for those who love a musky scent with something extra added.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: woody spices
Key Notes: pink pepper, rum absolute, tobacco leaf absolute
I love scents that can tell a great story, and that's exactly what I get when I wear Maison Margiela's Replica Jazz Club. The eau de toilette is a smoky and spicy cologne that combines notes of vibrant pink pepper with warm rum and a woody tobacco-leaf blend to transport its wearer to a jazz club. I wore this last fall, and it's transitioned flawlessly into winter.
Product Details: 3.4-ounce bottle
Scent Type: fresh florals
Key Notes: bergamot, jasmine flower, lemon
My favorite winter days are the ones that are clear and bright with a fresh blanket of snow. Tom Ford's Soleil Neige is my favorite fragrance to capture them thanks to a brilliant blend of fresh bergamot, powdery-fresh blooms, and second-skin musk to evoke the experience of an alpine getaway. Plus, it's easy to layer with all of your other winter scents, especially those that lean more on the fresh side.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: fresh woods
Key Notes: basil grand vert, yuzu, clove, rosemary, mint, fennel, cedarwood, vetiver, amber
Another Aesop perfume I've been obsessed with lately is the Tacit Eau de Parfum. Vibrant and contemporary, the scent offers an olfactory mix of basil green vert, yuzu, clove, rosemary, and cedarwood that's energizing and captivating. It's the perfect option for those of us who love fresh, warm scents but aren't always the biggest fan of the earthy spices commonly featured in scents that are touted as being perfect for winter.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: aromatic woods
Key Notes: alpine herbs, orange leaf, cypress, elemi, black tea, chamomile tea, juniper, earthy oakmoss, cumin, basil
Botanical and vibrant, Antica Farmacista's Green Green Eau de Parfum will transport its wearer to an alpine forest with notes of dry cedar, cypress, and earthy oakmoss met with a blend of clementine, lemon, and grapefruit. It's part of a perfume collection designed to echo five moods the brand believes best encompass the vision held for its customers as part of its Personal Perfume collection.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: floral woods
Key Notes: black currant, maté, violet leaves, Ceylon black tea, birch woods, papyrus
A longtime favorite of mine, Byredo's Mixed Emotions is the scent I would apply to the hazy, dreamlike days before the New Year. According to the brand, it's designed to "reflect the tumultuous nature of our times," but I also like to think of it as a scent that echoes the possibilities of the future with a familiar blend of Ceylon black tea and violet-leaf synthetics set against maté, black currant, birch woods, and papyrus.
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
More Winter-Worthy Scents I Love
Scent Type: warm gourmands
Key Notes: cabreuva, orchid, pink pepper, vines, green vanilla leaves, cypress root, vanilla absolute, dark patchouli, hay
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: aromatic woods
Key Notes: juniper berry, cedarwood, tonka bean, jasmine
Product Details: 2.5-ounce bottle
Scent Type: floral chypre
Key Notes: patchouli, rose
Product Details: 2.5-ounce bottle
Scent Type: floral woods
Key Notes: bergamot, cardamom, carrot, watery accord, jasmine, violet leaf, sandalwood, amber, musk
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: warm spices
Key Notes: bergamot, bay leaves, black tea, fig, hay, tobacco, cedarwood, vetiver, musk
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
Scent Type: sweet gourmands
Key Notes: clove oil, chestnut accord, vanilla accord
Product Details: 3.4-ounce bottle
Scent Type: warm spices
Key Notes: vanilla, mahogany wood, roasted barley
Product Details: 1.7-ounce bottle
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