I must tell you, I’m not usually one to change the type of perfume I wear seasonally. Call me a creature of habit, but once I fall in love with a fragrance, I will wear it year-round, regardless of whether it fits that season’s mood. However, that doesn’t mean I dislike scents traditionally associated with fall. There’s something about a crisp breeze in the air and taking my favorite sweaters out of storage that makes me want to smell warm, cozy, and even a bit earthy.
The rest of the Who What Wear beauty team seems to agree. We’re ready to share the new perfumes we’re excited to spritz on for the fall season. For all our picks, keep reading. Lots of variety ahead!
Key notes: Lush fig, jasmine dew, sandalwood. The verdict is in. Three beauty editors deemed Phlur’s Father Figure their top new fragrance pick for fall. Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns even named it one of her favorite scents, period. “If you ask me, the best fragrances make you feel something. Phlur’s newest scent, Father Figure, is one of the best examples of this that I’ve found in a while. It smells like sticky fruit and late summer nights when the air starts to get that first bite of fall. It makes me feel nostalgic and maybe even a little melancholy—but in the sense that I want to smell it forever. I’ll take this fragrance into fall and beyond.” — Katie Berohn, beauty editor. “This is a complex perfume that I wasn’t sure about upon first spritz, but the more I smelled it, the more I came to love it. It’s green and herby, but there’s a warmth to it, too, thanks to sandalwood and vanilla notes. It’s neither traditionally feminine nor masculine; instead, it’s fresh and modern. I’m planning on wearing it as often as possible come fall.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
Key notes: Cactus accord, pear accord, jasmine grandiflorum superinfusion, co-distillate jasmine-everlasting absolute, moss. Mugler’s original Alien Goddess is one of my favorite fragrances to date, so you can imagine how excited I was to learn about the scent’s newest (and equally delicious) rendition, Alien Goddess Supra Florale. This formula is packed with juicy notes of pear, jasmine superinfusion, and cactus accord for a more vibrant floral take on the original.
Key notes: Vanilla infusion, vanilla caviar, vanilla absolute, lavender. Although this scent is pretty vanilla-heavy, folks who love a warm, sweet gourmand perfume will enjoy this one once fall weather rolls around. It’s rich, but the notes of lavender bring a nice balance to the formula.
Key notes: Dewberries accord, magnolia accord, patchouli essence. As the name suggests, notes of magnolia take center stage in Gucci’s newest floral offering. I honestly think this scent can be both a summer and fall fragrance because it’s fresh but has a headier undertone with notes of patchouli.
Key notes: Peach, bergamot, pink pepper extract. Ceremonia’s hair products were an instant hit for me, and I’m happy to report the brand’s new fragrance is also a win. It’s earthy and creamy, but the notes of peach add an unexpected sweetness.
Key notes: Mandarin, petitgrain, neroli, orange blossom, jasmine, incense, myrrh, musk. Mandarin, jasmine, and orange blossom are three of my favorite notes in perfume, but when combined with a base of musk and myrrh, they reach new heights. This scent can be worn alone but is also designed to be layered with the brand’s other new offering Sur Ma Peau. Combining the two creates a warmer and sweeter fall-worthy scent.
Key notes: Bergamot oil, lemon oil, turmeric leaf, turmeric root, fresh ginger oil, cardamom oil, black pepper, vetiver oil, amber, musk. Jahns also touts Vyrao’s newest perfume as a must-wear scent for fall. It has sunnier notes of lemon and ginger oil, but deeper notes of vetiver, amber, and musk make it perfect for the colder months.
Key notes: Damask rose, vetiver roots, lychee. “To me, this smells like a more modern version of a classic rose fragrance. Notes of Damask rose, vetiver roots, and lychee mingle together in a way that feels fresh, warm, and lovely. I can’t help but think it’s the perfect date-night perfume for fall, and I’ll be wearing it as such!” — McLintock
Key notes: Red mandarin, orange, yellow elemi resin, green cedar, blue almond flower, indigo grass, violet, vetiver. Okay, this fragrance dropped in the spring, but it is beautiful and smells like a fall day at the lake. David Moltz, the nose behind this fragrance, used materials from every color in the rainbow in a proportion that allows the notes to be softened in humid air. It’s truly a unique scent that also isn’t overpowering.
Key notes: Blood orange extract, black currant bud, nectarine, blackberry, Cosmo fruit, musk, cedarwood, patchouli. I recently got a whiff of Henry Rose’s new body spray and instantly fell in love. Both Jahns and I now tout it as a favorite from the brand. The fruity notes stand out but are not too in your face. I know the term “body spray” often makes you think you’re getting a heavy Victoria’s Secret concoction, but that’s not the case here. This one is fresh, elevated, and ticks off all the boxes of smelling like expensive perfume with cedarwood and patchouli as the base notes.
