The onset of fall is the ultimate double-edged sword. On the one hand, we mourn the end of our beloved Summer Fridays, warm weather, (socially distanced) days at the beach, and the excuse to drink any beverage of choice with a neon umbrella. On the other hand, we welcome the cozy, warm fuzzies of fall filled with sweaters, rich color palettes, and, yes, pumpkin-spiced everything. Oh, and all the new fragrance debuts.
We welcome fall beauty newness with wide-open arms—from the best hair trends to the chicest nail colors to the coolest fashion-forward lipstick shades—but choosing a fresh, signature new scent for the season is one of the things we look forward to most. So to celebrate the first inklings of fall and the transition from our favorite sandals to our favorite suede boots, we bring you 23 fall fragrances we’re currently wearing and telling all of our friends about. Keep scrolling!
I try not to be biased, but say hello to one of my favorite fall perfumes of all time—Idôle from Lancôme. As if the fact that Zendaya is the face of the fragrance isn’t enough to make you buy it this second, it’s designed to mimic the look and sleekness of a smartphone (it lays flat!). It was also created by three female perfumers and blends bergamot, juicy pear, rose, jasmine, vanilla, white musk, and patchouli for a light yet decadent finish.
Harry Styles is the muse for this dreamy perfume from Gucci, and if you haven’t watched the film footage on the brand’s ‘gram, we recommend doing so immediately. In the meantime, we’ll tell you about the fragrance. Green and earthy, it features notes of Roman chamomille, coral jasmine, and vanilla, which the brand describes as “universal” and “unassigned to a gender or a time.”
I’ve kept a bottle of this striking debut from Yves Saint Laurent close by since the day it launched, and honestly, I haven’t been able to resist spritzing it nearly every day (even if I started the day wearing something else—whoops!). YSL is behind some of the most beloved and iconic fragrances in the game, so it’s really no surprise Libre is as lovely as it is. Think warm, fall-perfect florals like lavender essence, orange blossom, and musk accord.
Henry Rose… Where to start? Founded by legend Michelle Pfeiffer (read the whole story here), this is the first line of the fragrance created with 100% ingredient transparency. Every perfume is safe and sustainable, and the bottles are even made from 90% recycled glass. Currently, there are nine different scents to choose from: Windows Down, Jake’s House, Torn (one of my favorites!), Fog, Dark Is Night, Queens & Monsters, Sheep’s Clothing, and Last Light. These are all equally stunning in their own right.
For fall, however, I suggest shopping for Smyth. It’s a bright, sparkling scent of ripe and juicy notes like green apple, melon-pineapple sorbet, apricot nectar, star jasmine, white tea, sheer white woods, sandalwood, and complex layering of musks make it the perfect transition from summer to fall.
Tom Ford is the creator of countless cult-favorite fragrances, but consider this bottle of Métallique your quintessential fall perfume. Creamy hints of luxe vanilla and sandalwood layer well with festive seasonal notes like balsam, heliotrope, and pink peppercorn. The result? A unique and highly mesmerizing scent.
Natural perfumes that still smell sophisticated (and actually last on the skin) are definitely not a dime a dozen within the fragrance industry. That’s why we’re so obsessed with Skylar—a collection of natural, nontoxic fragrances that smell amazing sans harmful chemicals or potential allergens. You can’t go wrong with any of the line’s perfumes (Arrow never fails to earn me compliments, and Salt Air was a fave for summer), but Willow Wods is woodsy, lush, and reminiscent of the perfect brisk hike outdoors—aka the perfect addition to your fall scent wardrobe.
No fragrance roundup would ever be complete without a bottle of Chanel, so we’re more than happy to introduce you to one of our favorite scents that feel especially perfect for fall. Consider Gabrielle (which, ahem, Margot Robbie is the face of) your classic floral fragrance with kind of a fairytale twist. Famed perfumer Olivier Polge crafted this scent to represent an imaginary flower. It’s equal parts rich, green, and elegant thanks to strategic notes like jasmine, orange blossom, Grasse tuberose, and ylang-ylang.
We live for Maison Margiela’s Replica collection, and we’re prioritizing this cozy perfume, in particular, amid our fragrance-stacked shelves this fall. As the cozy name would suggest, this fragrance is one part peppery and one part woodsy thanks to key notes such as pepper essence, tonka bean absolute, and cedarwood.
In the words of Byredo, this scent mixes strong and soft, bitter and sweet in a “rich, intoxicating distillation redolent of warm skin and breathless exchange.” The profile is unique with opopanax at the top; geranium, labdanum, and violet at the heart; and patchouli and vanilla rounding out the base. It’s on everyone’s fall beauty wish list.
Rich and inviting, Myth from clean perfume brand Ellis Brooklyn teams with a lovely lineup of notes that have been a must-have all year. And with hints of bergamot, ambrette, cassis, tiger orchid, pink lotus, patchouli, and jasmine petals, it’s a great transition piece for fall as well. Earthy notes like liquid musks and white cedarwood keep it grounded and perfectly appropriate for fall’s coziness.
Diptyque is one of the most covetable fragrance brands in the game, and Eau Moheli is exceptional. Not only is the packaging glamorous in and of itself, but the fall-leaning perfume also features ylang-ylang, pink peppercorn, ginger, and vetiver for an ever so slightly spicy yet woodsy scent that’s airy, crispy, and green, just like the season.
Not all fragrances are worth the price tag, but when it comes to Frédéric Malle’s roster of signature scents, they’re worth every penny. The French-born perfumer has a knack for creating luxurious scents that can be worn year-round, like its best-selling Portrait of a Lady Perfume. With hints of raspberry, rose, patchouli, and sandalwood, the fragrance is the perfect transitional scent.
Nothing quite evokes the feeling of fall like an earthy fragrance. Not only is Le Labo’s Santal 33 Eau de Parfum the brand’s best-selling fragrance, but the mix of floral notes, spice, and musk make this a great year-round scent. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of cedarwood?
As a beauty editor, I can personally confirm that there are so many great Jo Malone London fragrances worth collecting—but none quite like Wild Bluebell. Not only is this scent worn by Meghan Markle herself, but its notes of crisp, green leaves and spicy clove buds make this a dewy scent that even a dutchess can’t deny.
Is Dior’s Sauvage Eau de Parfum technically a men’s fragrance? Yes. But the best scents don’t have to adhere to the binary. In fact, this scent’s Papua New Guinean vanilla base and citrus and woody formulation make it the perfect year-round scent for any season and anybody.
Pumpkin spice lattes don’t have to be the only spicy scent in your fall arsenal—meet Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million Eau de Parfum. Formulated with hints of bitter orange, honey, and patchouli, this bold pairing creates a warm scent that will have you feeling rich all fall.
Scents have the ability to transport us back in time, or so is the aim of the Harlem Nights scent from the Black-owned perfume brand Chris Collins. With hints of rum, saffron, vanilla, and sandalwood, this scent is, in the brand’s words, “a symphony reminiscent of jazz and good times.” It may not fully transport you back in time, but we can promise this woody scent will make you feel nostalgic for those cozy fall nights around the fire with friends.
If you prefer a sweeter, more floral-based scent, then Marc Jacobs’s Perfect Intense scent is for you. While floral scents typically connote spring, this fragrance’s unique formulation of jasmine, sandalwood, and almond makes it prime for a spot in your fall fragrance arsenal.
Boy Smells’ luxury candles have garnered a cult following among the fashion set, so it only makes sense its fragrances are just as good. If we had to pick just one favorite fragrance for fall, we’d recommend Suede Pony. The musky wood and leather undernotes are perfect for fall.
If you’re anything like me, and you live for a new fragrance release, then Coach’s most recent scent is a dream come true. Striking the perfect balance between sweet and floral with a vanilla base, this perfume is something you can wear for seasons to come.
Very few fragrances can nail the precious alchemy needed to create a fragrance that can be worn in any season, but that’s not the case with Armani. The brand’s newest scent features an amber wood and musk base with hints of jasmine, pear, mandarin orange, and almond. The result is a sweet earthy perfume that’s too good to pass up.
Prada’s Candy perfume scent will always be a fan favorite among the fashion set. But what makes this fragrance worth the hype is the hints of vanilla, musk, and caramel—a sweet scent that’s bound to satisfy your cravings year-round.
Possibly the most anticipated fall fragrance drop of the season, Fenty Beauty released its first-ever perfume. The scent has whiffs of tangerine, blueberry, magnolia, musk, and patchouli. If this is what Rihanna smells like, then we will definitely be securing our own bottle of this perfume.
Next: This Editor-Loved Perfume is Just $80 But Smells Like It Should Be $350
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
