7 radiant perfumes for dark winter days

^{January days can be very challenging when it feels like it barely gets light at all. Perfume is a brilliant way to sprinkle a little joy into the darkness of winter.}

When it’s freezing cold and dreary outside, how about spritzing some fabulous fragrance to lift your spirits? Then wrap yourself snugly in a cosy blanket, switch on a soft light and breathe deeply. How does that feel?

Sun – Vallense

^{Seductive vintage elegance is what I get from this beautiful perfume by Pia Long for Vallense.}

A sun-warmed 50s starlet in a dazzling white bathing costume, narrow belt twined around her waist. Creamy tropical flowers in her hair, immaculate makeup and a finely turned ankle. Clinking ice in a curvy glass, generous slices of lime and mango bob joyously as she pushes back her sunglasses over her glossy hair and tilts the cocktail to her perfect red lips.

Vetiver – LT Piver*

^{A timeless perfume to lift your mood on dark winter days, Piver’s Vetiver is a stalwart in my fragrance wardrobe, and reminds me of warmer, sunnier days to come.}

Sunbleached terracotta pots with succulent, soft basil and mint line the splintery wood shelves of your grandpa’s potting shed. Crisp, golden light filters through cobwebbed windows and scatters coins of light on the bench. Leaning to pick up a trug of fresh compost, you brush against a majestic lavender bush, its silvery leaves springing merrily back into position.

A good morning’s work repotting plants behind you, you ease yourself into his favourite chair; wooden arms worn smooth from his hands and the seat padded with soft woollen blankets. You lean back and feel something squishy behind you, then, reaching around, you draw out a fresh pouch of his favourite tobacco. Opening it and breathing in the rich aroma, you realise this combination of fresh herbs, lavender, tobacco and soft woods is the essence of your beloved grandpa.
*discontinued by house

Chypre Azural – Les Indemodables

^{Rich, yet fresh. Zesty and complex. Chypre Azural is a dreamy perfume to wear in winter.}

The tiny brass bell on the door tings softly as you push it open. Warm air, rich with refreshingly bitter and zingy orange rushes to greet you. Behind a smoothly polished wooden counter sits a bubbling copper cauldron, puffing smoky, treacly caramel wafts.

Frowning with concentration, a confectioner very carefully dips thin, fragile slices of shimmering dried orange into the pot of roiling, boiling sugar. They look up and smile at you, then gesture to a delicate, porcelain saucer on the counter; fine slices of caramelised orange are arranged beautifully in concentric circles. You ease one off the saucer gingerly and pop it into your mouth.

And sigh with delight.

Paradisi – Jorum Studio

^{Paradisi is a perfume I’ve worn a lot this winter. The sappy green stems in this gorgeous fragrance breathe spring hope in the gloom of winter.}

Bright, tangy green juice dribbles down your chin. Gentle spring light flickers around a vase of dew-sprinkled jonquils nodding gently in the soft, damp breeze from an open window. Tropical guava and homegrown pear—who’d have thought they’d make such a dreamy combination?

Vanille Havane – Les Indémodables

^{I was gutted when I broke my sample of Vanille Havane. I quickly mopped it up with a cotton cloth and have been huffing it happily ever since though.}

Juicy cherries dipped in smokily scorched toffee. The snack of dreams to go with your fragrantly steaming, run sploshed hot chocolate as you wander around a Viennese Christmas market. Cheerily decorated wooden huts, glittering brass band oompah-ing, golden lights gleaming against the snow—all present and correct.

Infleurno – Eau de Boujee

^{Bright and bouncy, with tropical fruit, a generous floral heart and a breathtaking smoky incense drydown—Infleurno will cheer your jaded soul on dark winter days. It’s probably my most worn fragrance over the past couple of months.}

Infleurno by Eau de Boujee is like your tippety-toppest best pal.

Exuberant and playful, quaffing mouthwatering yuzu and passionfruit cocktails with you in a glittering hotel bar, full of swaggeringly opulent jasmine and osmanthus garlands.

Then, just as you’re about to feel completely overstimulated, they take you home, run you a deep, hot bath and light a glistening wee nugget of serene incense to soothe and steady you.

Infleurno is, quite simply, the BEST fun to wear. Fully taking you by the hand and leading you on a rollercoaster day of delightful gaiety, but with a calm and meditative ending. This is bottled joy indeed.

Vanilj – Maya Njie

^{Warm and bright, Vanilj is an incredibly uplifting and comforting fragrance for deepest, darkest winter.}

You’re in the study of an old house with ancient, shiny beeswaxed floorboards. There’s an antique desk bearing a vase of gorse sprigs, breathing their toasted coconut and vanilla into the winter air. A hint of woodsmoke from last night’s fire lingers, and from the kitchen drifts the scent of freshly baked cardamom buns.

Bonus wellbeing tips for dark winter days

Remember to be kind to yourself. Lots of mammals hibernate through the darkest and coldest days of winter, so if you’re low in energy, it’s natural. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion you would a cherished friend.
Experiment with fancy hot drinks. Chai teabags are a lovely way to bring fragrance and spice to tea breaks. Will you add milk and honey to yours?
Try to get some fresh air if you possibly can. Even flinging open a window for 5 minutes helps to clear stuffiness from our centrally heated homes. A short walk in a cosy coat would be even better.