The more my fragrance collection has grown over the years, the more open-minded I’ve become when shopping for new scents. Sure, I usually gravitate toward a nice designer fragrance or a warm floral scent, but I’ve also discovered some hidden gems with notes I loved unexpectedly simply because I was willing to try something different. A particular type of perfume I never saw myself investing in until now is an earthy one. I know, they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but if done right, earthy perfumes can really transport you to a time, a place, or just make you feel warm and incredibly cozy. Most importantly, the best earthy perfumes will even earn you a compliment or two every time you wear them.
I know you may not believe me when I say there are so many good ones out there, but the rest of the Who What Wear team can back me up on this. I’ve asked my fellow editors to share the unique, earthy perfumes they never thought they would like but now can’t get enough of. For all our favorites, keep scrolling. They’re all so different, but bring us so much comfort when we need it.
Key notes: Bergamot, benzoin, pine, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver. “True to the title of this article, I thought I would gag when I first read the description of this fragrance. Though I loved the ‘anti-stress’ forest-bathing inspiration behind the scent, the mix of vetiver, cedarwood, benzoin, pine, patchouli, and bergamot didn’t sound like my typical fragrance vibe. (Historically, I don’t love earthy or citrus scents, and this one exemplifies both!) Plot twist: after just one wear, it’s become one of my all-time favorite scents. It features unique olfactory chemistry and patented technology to mimic the molecular compounds produced in forests called phytoncides which are correlated with the beneficial health perks associated with forest bathing, like decreased stress and anxiety. Said perks are nice, but the smell itself is absolutely heavenly. I also love that its 100% vegan and non-toxic, which is something that’s becoming more and more of a priority for me where scents are concerned.” — Erin Jahns, beauty director
Key notes: Aquatic Accord, rose petal, pine needle. “I love this perfume so much, because it smells like a dewy, soil-soaked walk outside after the rain—when the sky has a lingering darkness, and there’s still fog or mist in the air. Plus, since this fragrance was crafted to capture the ambiance of Dublin circa 1967, there’s likely a rainbow in the mix too. (As someone who studied abroad in Ireland, I miss the five rainbows a day I used to experience!) This scent is earthy in the fresh and aquatic sense, with slick and lush notes like aquatic accord, rose petal, and pine needle taking center stage.” — Jahns
Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage. This fragrance is earthy, salty, fresh, and airy all at the same time. It smells like wandering the cliffs of a remote island somewhere in the best way possible. Normally, I wouldn’t go for a perfume that has notes of sage in it since I prefer the aroma of palo santo, but this one is definitely an exception. The combination of notes creates the perfect light and airy scent.
Key notes: Mastic tree essence, bitter orange, bergamot, lemon, carrot seed, iris, jasmine, tea, orange pekoe, sandalwood, vetiver. “I was surprised by how much I like this scent. It’s so different from the kinds of perfumes I usually wear. It has this early-morning, dew-drop vibe to it that reminds me of spring days growing up watering plants with my mom in our front yard. It’s earthy, green, and airy, but it’s also warm thanks to hints of sandalwood and jasmine. I find it to be a surprisingly comforting scent.” — Katie Berohn, beauty editor
Key notes: Fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood. “With notes of fig leaves, fig tree sap, and fig tree wood, this perfume is quite literally an ode to Greek fig trees. It’s earthy and woody, and usually, that’s not my thing, but there’s a certain freshness about this fragrance that keeps me coming back to it. It makes me feel calm and grounded, kind of like I’m sipping coffee on a Sunday morning next to the sea, so of course I wear it all the time.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
Key notes: Italian Bergamot,cardamom, black currant, magnolia oil, vetiver, jasmine, white amber. “I’ve been having a complete love affair with the new, TikTok-viral brand, Eauso Vert. Though Joga isn’t my favorite from the five-scent collection (erm, that would be either Sintra or Purple Noon), it’s still a star, and one of the few earthy perfumes I’ll wear. Eauso Vert is really setting the standard when it comes to sustainability and ingredient transparency, and it’s one of the only natural fragrance brands I’ve tried that really has the longevity of non-clean traditional perfumes. While Purple Noon is the scent that went viral and is perpetually sold out, Joga is an under-the-radar favorite amongst industry people—think fresh and incredibly uplifting but in the most sophisticated way possible.” — Jahns
Key notes: Leather, patchouli, birch, tar, vanilla. “This perfume is called ‘surprising’ in the product description, and I’d agree with that wholeheartedly. Despite the name of the perfume, Patchouli, notes of the Southeast Asian shrub are actually quite subtle, even hard to detect in this scent. Instead, smoky birch takes center stage. The woody scent is heady and mysterious, hard to place, and absolutely unique. The staff at Le Labo always say it’s a ‘rare’ choice, which I take as the ultimate compliment!” — Kat Collings, editor in chief
Key notes: Cedrat Essence, organic rose essence, mimosa absolute. “While I normally gravitate towards fragrances with powdery fresh floral notes rather than earthy ones, Chloé’s Naturelle is one I reach for when I’m in the mood for something with a warm, earthy base. Its bright florals are complemented with Moroccan neroli and cedar notes, making this one equal parts floral and earthy with a hint of unexpected musk.” — Maya Thomas, assistant beauty editor
Key notes: Pink pepper, bitter orange, banana leaf, tuberose, porcelain rose, nutmeg, moss, white musk. “This perfume is an homage to Colorado—my home state—and it captures it beautifully. It smells like crisp pine trees and open air, while vetiver and musk keep it grounded. There are tons of pine-inspired scents out there, but this one has a fresh, citrusy edge to it that makes it more wearable than most earthy fragrances.” — Berohn
Key notes: Elemi, tobacco leaves, pine needles, incense, white cedarwood, vanilla beans. Based purely on the notes, this is the last fragrance I expected to fall in love with. I don’t like burning incense on it its own, but in this fragrance it blends so beautifully with the sweeter notes of vanilla bean and the earthy notes od cedarwood, pine needles, and tobacco leaves. The scent is free-spirited and totally unique. I now spritz a bit on every chance I get.
Key notes: Juniper Berries, bourbon, cedarwood. “When I discovered Après by Ellis Brooklyn it instantly became a favorite of mine. Something about the fragrance reminds me of a cozy weekend spent upstate in the woods with nothing but a good book. It blends a crisp and fresh scent that resembles evergreen with sweeter notes like bourbon and vanilla for the ultimate balance. When I want a fragrance that feels lowkey but smells really good, this is the winner for me.” — Sierra Mayhew, associate fashion editor
Key notes: Bergamot, lemon, pepper, juniper berries, incense, pine needles, orris, vanilla, sandalwood. This slightly gourmand yet earthy scent is a favorite of both mine and Mayhew. In fact, it’s one of my most-worn earthy perfumes to date. Mayhew says, “One of my best friends has a pretty extensive perfume collection, yet she chose to wear this one on her wedding day—if that doesn’t convince you to try it, I’m not sure what will. It combines pine needles with sandalwood topping it off with citrus notes giving off a sophisticated scent. Something about this perfume reminds me of getting lost, it carries the ultimate wanderlust vibes.”
Key notes: White jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, grapefruit zest, geranium bourbon, myrrh, nutmeg oil, vetiver, patchouli. “This is Costa Brazil’s first-ever perfume and boy let me tell you—it’s a banger. Uni-sex and inspired by Breu, a natural resin that grows in the Amazon, the brand says Aroma smells like a Brazilian rainforest, and while I personally have never been to a Brazilian rainforest, this perfume is exactly what I would imagine one smelling like. It’s composed of a complex mix of notes featuring white jungle flora, Brazil orange oil, pink pepper, grapefruit zest, geranium bourban, nutmeg oil, cedarwood, myrrh, vetiver, plant-based musks, amber, cypriol, and patchouli. It smells like a $700 spa appointment when they’ve lit incense and you’re just like, ‘How the eff can I get my house (or in this case, my body) to smell like this?!’ It smells yummy before you even spritz it, but definitely evolves quite differently for everyone once it mingles with your skin. Now that I’m in L.A., I miss the rain and thunderstorms I was so accustomed to growing up in Minnesota, and spritzing this gives me the richest sense of nostalgia—going outside after it’s rained when everything is soaked and dewy. This perfume is such an experience, and somehow bridges the gap between chic and elevated yet wearable and cozy.” — Jahns
Key notes: Pink pepper, ginger, mandarin, rose, olibanum, sandalwood, benzoin, oakmoss. You know those perfumes in your collection that just seem to grow on you more and more every day? Yeah, this is one of those perfumes for me. I didn’t expect to love this one when I dug into a discovery set of St. Rose’s one-of-a-kind fragrances. If you ever have the chance to get your hands on a discovery set yourself, you’ll see what I mean when I say that each scent captures the feeling of a warm, smoky desert in its own way. I’m probably not describing them very well, but Gypsy Cowboy is one of the strongest contenders in that regard as it contains notes of olibanum, sandalwood, oakmoss, rose, and pink pepper. It’s a tad spicy with a hint of tanginess to it that’s unlike any other perfume I’ve smelled.
Key notes: Pomelo, lemon zest, magnolia, dragonfruit, waterlily, crisp amber, marine accord. Although this perfume contains citrus and floral notes, the amber adds a bit of headiness to the fragrance that I just can’t stop sniffing whenever I wear it. It smells light, yet is still a totally grounded scent I would wear every day.
