Consider your fragrance shelf like you would consider your wardrobe.
You wouldn’t wear a cashmere jumper in the height of summer, just like a fresh citrussy spritz doesn’t feel quite right for winter. As you dig out your favourite coats, knitwear and boots, it’s time to start thinking about your spray of the season, too.
You don’t need to be a fragrance expert to know a wintry aroma when you smell one. As explained by David Moltz, co-founder of cult favourite fragrance brand D S & Durga, “I think people reach for darker and moodier notes - and cosy things like wood, amber and moss for the colder weather.”
What type of fragrance is right for winter?
First of all, it’s important to understand the lingo - starting with eau de parfum and eau de toilette, which are defined by strength. The former has a higher percentage of perfume oil, meaning it’s more potent and long-lasting than the latter - but EDTs are likely to have a more wallet-friendly price.
For winter, an eau de parfum tends to be the best option. Moltz continues: “An eau de toilette lends itself to warmer weather because of the lower perfume concentration - but an eau de parfum is the gold standard for all perfumes year-round.”
Once you’ve narrowed the selection to EDPs only, start thinking about the blends. As the temperatures drop and you’re going from Christmas parties to festive dinners, your scent of choice adds another layer of sophisticated warmth to your look. Comforting vanilla, spicy oud and masculine musk should all be on the winter wishlist.
But how to choose a distinctive scent for you? With the endless blockbuster blends, independent perfumeries and luxury aftershaves on the market, it’s hard to whittle them down to your favourites. This leads us to...
How to pick a fragrance for you?
A great way to find an aroma that works with your body chemistry is to try them in person. Moltz’s top tips? “Go to a fragrance store. Look around. Decline help. See what intrigues you. Smell as many as you like on blotters. Pick two favourites. Spray two to three sprays of one on the right wrist and the other on the left. Let it settle for 10 minutes. Get the one you like most - or maybe both.”
Or, to save you time and energy, you can simply opt for one of the tried and tested winter winners below.
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Le Labo Tonka 25 100ml
You can always tell a Le Labo scent when you smell one. Rich and long-lasting, the brand’s blends have a unique depth that keeps you coming back for more.
For winter, you can shelve the brand’s herbaceous Baie 19 or sunny Neoli 36 and start spritzing with the comforting Tonka 25 instead. The marriage of cedar, musk and tonka bean will deliver the warm hug you need when the chilly mornings set in.
Buy now £234.00, John Lewis
Jo Loves Cobalt Patchouli & Cedar A Fragrance
Available in 50ml and 100ml, Jo Loves pairs the patchouli with notes of cedarwood to bring out its woody characteristics. For balance, you can also detect vetiver, geranium and grapefruit influences, resulting in a bracing, refreshing spritz that smells scrubbed clean. Think of a forest walk that ends at the ocean.
Buy now £82.00, Space UK
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray - 50ml
An instantly recognisable Tom Ford scent, Tobacco Vanille is one of the most iconic winter scents you can buy. Silky smooth and rich, the spicy notes of vanilla, tonka beans and cocoa balance sweet romance with a spicy confidence. Gentlemanly charm in a bottle.
Buy now £177.60, Sephora
D.S. & DURGA Eau de Parfum Amber Kiso 100ml
Considering the amazing quality of D.S & Durga’s scents, you’d never guess the New York-based fragrance label was founded by self-taught perfumers and architects. Husband and wife duo Kavi Ahuja and David Seth Moltz had no prior experience in the field yet since launching the company in 2007, it has achieved cult-favourite status - and for good reason.
One of our favourites is Amber Kiso, a warm and woody aroma that’s sure to guarantee a compliment or two when party season hits.
Buy now £131.75, Liberty
Byredo Vanille Antique 50ml
Part of Byredo’s Night Veils collection, Vanilla Antique has a higher concentration of perfume oil than the brand’s other concoctions - making it more potent and longer-lasting.
While vanilla is often associated with being sickly sweet, unlike what you’d expect, this scent is dark, earthy and musky, so it’s perfect for winter.
Buy now £280.00, Liberty
Miller Harris Oud Éclat 100ml
The Miller Harris’ fragrances are traditionally defined by a certain British sensibility, yet Oud Eclat has a slightly different feeling. Instead, thanks to the notes of sensual oud, warm leather and spicy nutmeg, it goes beyond the classic English aromas the brand is known for - and it’s one of the best yet.
Buy now £152.00, Miller Harris
Le Sel d’Issey by Issey Miyake
Instead of being a simple scent note, salt takes centre stage in Issey Miyake’s new fragrance for men. Designed to mimic the smell of a fresh sea breeze, this scent will catapult you to the seaside and make you feel as fresh as the ocean air. It is a marine woody aroma that blends natural-origin marine seaweed with natural-origin oak moss – the latter which is a type of algae that migrated inland, resulting in a herbaceous scent.
This transportive ocean aroma is combined with cedarwood and sand vetiver to give it that rugged edge, making it the perfect everyday fragrance – and one that’s set to be a staple in any discerning gent’s morning routine. The top note of ginger further enhances the freshness of the salt and adds a captivating twist to an already intriguing scent.
Along with being inspired by nature, it has also been formulated with eco-conscious practices in mind. Which is why Miyake’s vegan scent is made with up to 95 per cent of ingredients of natural origin, and the alcohol used for blending with the perfume concentrate is also 100 per cent natural – derived from French beetroot, in fact.
Taking the fragrance composition’s eco-friendly credentials one step further, the bottle itself is also made from 20 per cent recycled glass, and the sleek, sophisticated, and minimal style is available in 50ml and 100ml editions, which are both refillable. The box it comes in has been thoroughly considered too, using 10 per cent upcycled seaweed to create it.
Buy now £54.00, John Lewis
Malin + Goetz Leather eau de parfum 50ml
Packed with leathery goodness, Malin + Goetz’s perfume is a modern take on the classic aroma. It’s balanced with fresh florals and rustic woodiness and, like the patina of the fabric itself, the scent only gets better with time.
Buy now £86.00, Space NK
Aesop Hwyl Eau de Parfum 50ml
Anyone familiar with Aesop will know the brand’s knack for crafting deliciously addictive scents, from the body wash to the hand cleanser - and the fragrances are no exception. Characterised by a rich woodiness that’s injected with the smokiness of suede and frankincense, Hwyl certainly lives up to its stellar reputation.
Buy now £115.00, Aesop
Creed Royal Oud
The grand palaces of Persia play muse to Creed’s best-selling Royal Oud fragrance. The perfume is filled with ingredients prized in ancient cultures: think cedar and sandalwood alongside glorious notes of oud. Perfect for making a majestic impression.
Buy now £210.00, Selfridges
Perfumer H Gold - Handblown Perfume
Perfumer H’s Gold is an unexpected winter fragrance. It unites traditionally wintry notes like frankincense with the freshness of lemon and orange for an aroma that’s on the lighter end of the spectrum. If you’re feeling particularly lavish, you can invest in the refillable handblown bottle which will become the star of any fragrance shelf.
Buy now £560.00, Perfumer H
Vyrao Mamajuju
A homage to the richness of the earth, Mamajuju is the eighth fragrance from Vyrao’s Yasmin Sewell. The balance-providing elixir is a tribute to Mother Nature and combines 12 ingredients selected to boost self-esteem, memory and relaxation. These include sandalwood oil, vetiver oil, nutmeg oil and pink pepper.
Buy now £165.00, Vyrao
Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme
For a captivating fragrance that leaves a lasting impression, Gucci’s Guilty Black Pour Homme is ready and waiting to be spritzed. The Fougère fragrance reveals lavender on first whiff but as it evolves, touches of orange blossom appear before leaving a trail of deeper woody patchouli in its wake.
Buy now £69.00, The Perfume Shop
Jo Malone London Amber & Patchouli cologne 100ml
A collaboration between perfume heavyweight, Jo Malone, and Savile Row tailor, Huntsman, this aroma will deliver gentlemanly charm to rival that of Colin Firth in Kingsman - a film based on the iconic tailor.
Spicy, warm and woody, you can expect notes of coriander seeds, smoky guaiacwood and amber, perfect for a summer soirée.
Buy now £150.00, Jo Malone
Armani Acqua Di Gio Eau de Toilette
The Armani Acqua Di Gio Eau de Toilette takes your olfactory on a journey. It’s classified as an aromatic, aquatic fragrance and is masculine in its makeup. While the opener is one of citrus with green tangerine, lime and bergamot, it’s the spice elements that take over with nutmeg and coriander. The fragrance is anchored with the warming notes of amber, patchouli and cedar.
While it was released back in 1996, the brand has not shied away from innovation by transforming the classic eau de parfum into a refillable format and through its selection of sustainably sourced ingredients.
Buy now £55.20, lookfantastic
Gabar No.II Ground Eau de Parfum 50ml
The trio of dynamic scents on offer at Gabar take inspiration from the label’s Southeast Asian heritage and more specifically, its Myanmar home. For winter, the best is No.II Ground. A blend of wood bark, sandalwood, saffron and fig, it’s romantic, warm and comforting - and totally unique.
Buy now £102.00, Liberty
