7 delectable perfumes which are good for winter

No, it’s not just you. Perfumes do smell different in the winter. So, if you’re looking for a scent which is good for cold weather, read on…

Fragrance stays closer to the skin during chilly weather, so your preferences might change during a cold snap.

Here are 7 stunning perfumes which are good for winter and early spring, to help you stay cheerful, confident and smelling fabulous during these dark and dreary months.

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Warm and cosy perfumes which are good for winter

Sometimes we crave spicy and comforting fragrances in winter. Warm and soothing, but not sweet, you should definitely consider these if you’re looking for perfumes which are good for winter.

1. Esprit du Tigre – Heeley Parfums

Imagine…

Walking into an antique shop on a sharply cold and ferociously windy day. The ting of a tiny bell as you nudge open the polished wooden door. A warm breath of beeswax furniture polish reaches you, along with subtle peppery spices. An elegant china cup of steaming ginger tisane perches on a shelf near some leather bound books, a wisp of steam gently curling. A dainty home baked biscuit nestles in the saucer. You gently touch a satin smooth ancient globe with your fingertip and the antique dealer smiles.

The storm rages outside. Inside this shop, all is calm.

Wear this if you want to feel: 

Comforted, cosy and reassured. 

Perfume notes:

Camphor, peppermint, spearmint, winter green

Cardamom, clove, black pepper

Vetiver, cinnamon

2. 1740 – Histoires de Parfums

Spicy, warm and inviting, 1740 soothes and comforts with reassuring hints of vanilla and old leather. A perfect scent to wear on a dark, damp day when you need an olfactory hug.

Bright bergamot gently lifts and balances the warmth of 1740. Fresh green davana offers an enticing bitterness.

Tantalising cardamom emerges next, playfully blended with a citrus breath of coriander. 

All the cosy warmth is here now. A chorus of rich woody aromas; cedar, sandalwood and birch. A smack of vanilla leather, but not sugar-sweet. 

Imagine…

An old-fashioned gentleman’s club with an inclusivity policy. 

Shelves groaning under the weight of cherished leather bound books.

Smoothly polished club fenders and curls of aromatic pipe tobacco.

Warm, murmuring voices.

Crackling wood fire oozes golden beads of fragrant sap. Sizzling. Steaming.

A soft chuckle.

Wear this if you want to feel…

Nurtured, comforted, enriched

Perfume notes:

Bergamot, davana

Patchouli, coriander, cardamom

Cedar, birch, labdanum, leather, vanilla, elemi, imortelle

3. Santal 33 – Le Labo

Imagine…

You’re strolling along a snowy street in Austria, pink cheeks glowing, footsteps crunching and breathing in the crisp air.

In the distance you can see a Christmas market; golden lights glowing, children laughing and the tantalising scent of gluhwein reaches your nostrils.

As you near the rough wooden cabins, with all their beautifully crafted wares decorated with glittering snowflakes, you spot the source of the spiced wine.

A burly chap wearing an old, but supple leather apron is gently stirring a burnished copper cauldron with a smoothly carved wooden spoon. Billowing puffs of fragrant steam scent the frosty air. 

You lean against the polished counter, closing your eyes and breathing in the delicious wafts of sugared clove, ginger, treacle, cardamom, orange peel, pepper and a beguiling hint of…

Could it be rose? You wonder.

As you open your eyes and watch the man ladling his fragrant brew into a gleaming copper mug, and scatter rose petals into the steam.

Wear this if you want to feel:

Adventurous, open-minded, excited

Perfume notes:

Cardamom, iris, violet

Sandalwood, cedarwood

Spice, leather, musk

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Fresh and woody perfumes which are good for winter

These fragrances are still warm, but drier and crisper than the previous ones. They’re a sensational compromise if you’re looking for a balance of refreshing and comforting perfumes which are good for winter.

4. Incense Extreme – Tauer Perfumes

Incense Extrême draws you in immediately. An austere and invigorating sensory adventure of woodsmoke and crisp air – you’ll need to have another sniff.

With coriander and fresh petitgrain lifting this masterpiece of scent up to the peaks of distant mountains. Revitalising citrus notes with a tangy backbone intrigue as you let it settle on your skin.

The restrained power of Incense Extrême is evident as it evolves. Fleeting thoughts of libraries with mountain views through open windows. The scent of woody incense; rich and beguiling. Softened by the lightest touch of orris root to stop this bewitching scent becoming too serious. 

The woody notes sing confidently as it warms further on your skin. Hints of sandalwood and cedar float enticingly in the air. Ambergris offers a rich tobacco layer as the glories of Incense Extrême meld to your skin.

Imagine…

Climbing up a creaking wooden staircase in an ancient church.

Hazy lingering smells of long ago burned incense. 

Bracing, sunlit mountain air. 

Wear this if you want to feel …

Invigorated, comforted and uplifted

Perfume notes:

Coriander, fresh petitgrain

Incense, orris wood

Dry woods over ambergris

5. A walk in the forest – 4160 Tuesdays

Imagine…

Going for a walk on a chilly spring day, layered up with scarves over your coat. The sun is glinting through the still-bare branches, but there is a hint of fresh green in the air. The promise of spring is near. Birds chirrup joyously from a fallen branch. Wandering past slender birch and sturdy cedar, treading softly on the springy mossy ground under the trees.

You arrive home, peeling off your woolly layers to find that someone has been making your favourite spiced biscuits. Toasty vanilla mingles with caraway, as the oven breathes its buttery goodness into the heart of your house.

Wear this if you want to feel:

Energised, comforted and optimistic

Perfume notes:

Linden blossom

Soft musk

Tree moss absolute, Virginian cedar

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Bright and uplifting perfumes which are good for winter

I can understand if you automatically reach for warm, spicy and woody scents to wear when it’s cold. But why not try one of these brighter fragrances? You might find them surprisingly revitalising, and good perfumes for winter too. 

6. Coccobello – Heeley Parfums

Imagine…

You’re reclining on a teak sun lounger under a gently rustling palm tree. The sun is warm, but comfortably so. To one side of you, there’s a fine white porcelain bowl, piled high with lusciously ripe, blushing golden apricots and peaches. On your other side is a tall frosty glass filled with your favourite cocktail. Fresh coconut and zesty lime intertwine —smoothly sweet and fragrant, without being syrupy. A glamorous stranger gracefully opens a bottle of sunblock with a supple hand; a hint of vanilla reaches you as you lock eyes with them.

Wear this if you want to feel:

Relaxed, cheerful and open to possibilities. 

Perfume notes:

Palm leaves, gardenia

Fresh coconut, sea salt, bourbon vanilla

Virginian cedarwood, benjoin, sandalwood

7. Bergamote 22 – Le Labo

Imagine…

You’re standing in a bright and tranquil garden filled with jasmine and gardenia, dressed in a freshly laundered crisp linen bathrobe. 

A smiling person offers you a glass of zesty lemonade, garnished with juicy slices of orange and grapefruit, and gestures towards a sauna. 

You enter the dimly lit, comforting space and your lungs fill with the scent of sandalwood and cedar.

The wooden bench is warm, your fingertips brushing the satin smooth surface. You lean back, close your eyes and breathe deeply. 

Then float away on a cloud of ambery musk. 

Wear this if you want to feel:

Rejuvenated, relaxed and uplifted.

Perfume notes:

Petit grain, grapefruit

Amber, musk

Vetiver

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These cold and gloomy days won’t last forever. Why not experiment with a few samples to see if you can find some stunning new perfumes which are good for winter?

Words: Rowan Ambrose
Illustrations: Imogen Oakes