As winter begins to wrap us in its cool embrace, it’s time to swap out lighter scents for something that cocoons us in warmth. While you don’t necessarily need to change your scent with the seasons, there’s a certain allure in wearing a dedicated winter perfume during the cooler months. Scent evokes a strong visceral response within the body, with a good winter fragrance possessing the ability to cultivate a certain mood; which is why it’s less than ideal to spritz a tropical scent on in the middle of winter.
The best winter fragrances are a multifaceted bunch, comprising everything from heady, seductive scents to comforting perfumes that act as an olfactory blanket, enveloping you in their embrace and serving as a panacea against the chilly air.
What perfumes and fragrances are best for winter?
The best winter perfumes feature spicy, woody, musky, gourmand, and resinous notes, often tempered with florals or a kick of citrus to liven things up. The best fragrances for winter cut through the chill of the season through intense, heady compositions that celebrate the sensory richness of the season. Strong base notes like woods (sandalwood, cedarwood, blonde woods), vetiver, leather accords, benzoins, musks, amber, and tonka bean will allow the fragrance to last for a longer time, clinging to the skin as well as scarves and sweaters. Benzoins and musks also add that warm, powdery, comforting ‘blanket-like’ feeling to a scent, while spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and even cocoa or coffee add warmth and richness to a scent.
As a general rule, an Eau de Parfum (EDP) is favoured in winter over an Eau de Toilette or Eau de Cologne, thanks to its higher perfume oil concentration which allows it to have more intensity and better longevity on cool days.
The best winter perfumes for women in 2025
1. Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
Price: from $220AUD
Soft and romantic, Guerlain L’Heure Bleue is an olfactory encapsulation of the transition from day to night. Bold spices and fresh bergamot open up into an inviting accord of rose and white florals, underscored by a seductive yet comforting blend of iris, vanilla, benzoin, and tonka bean.
What we think: The transition from the crisp top notes to the soft, powdery base notes echoes the transition from the crisp winter air to an intimate, cosy evening indoors. The ideal comforting yet seductive fragrance.
Brand: Guerlain
Olfactory family: Oriental Floral
Scent notes: aniseed, coriander, bergamot, carnation, violet, neroli, tuberose, rose, iris, benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean
2. Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady
Price: $431AUD
What we think: The olfactory embodiment of sophistication, Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady combines Turkish rose with a rich medley of dark, syrupy berries, patchouli, and sandalwood to create a smokey, alluring scent that imbues its wearer with a charming sense of mystique. Its richness lends itself to wear during the cooler months, with its heady, seductive nature matching the winter air in its intensity.
Brand: Frederic Malle
Olfactory family: Oriental Floral
Scent notes: rose, blackcurrant, raspberry, clove, patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense
3. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Price: $410AUD
What we think: An eternal favourite, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille is evocative of a private gentleman’s club, with notes of tobacco leaf and smoke combining with vanilla, tonka bean, and cocoa to create a slightly sweet, boozy, indulgent scent.
“For when you want to smell like Harry Styles circa 2015.” — Arabella Johnson, beauty editor
Brand: Tom Ford
Olfactory family: Amber Spicy
Scent notes: tobacco leaf, spices, vanilla, cocoa, tonka bean, dried fruits, woods
4. Vyrao Witchy Woo
Price: from $199AUD
The perfect woody floral fragrance for women, Vyrao Witchy Woo is a warm, spicy, earthy fragrance that acts as a balm against the cooler weather. Designed to encourage creativity and courage, it combines rose and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper with grounding patchouli and incense.
What we think: A little witchy and mysterious, it’s the perfect winter perfume for those who want something a little different.
Brand: Vyrao
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: orris, rose, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, incense, patchouli, frankincense, opoponax, musk
5. Flaner Fragrances Manhattan Cherry
Price: $189AUD
What we think: Boozy and slightly sweet, yet not overly so, Flaner Fragrances Manhattan Cherry recalls the feeling of holing up in a hidden speakeasy on a cold winter night. Cherry and bourbon are enriched with the scents of tobacco, woods, and leather, for a scent that’s intoxicatingly seductive.
Brand: Flaner Fragrances
Olfactory family: Amber Gourmand
Scent notes: maraschino cherry, red vermouth, orange peel, bourbon, ginger, cinnamon, amber wood, tobacco, leather, vanilla
6. Diptyque Fleur de Peau
Price: $297AUD
What we think: Diptyque Fleur de Peau perfectly captures the cosiness of the season with soft skin musks that intermingle with powdery iris, ambrette seeds, and Turkish rose to create a comforting yet elegant scent.
“This smells like skin in the purest way; like fresh out the shower. It’s a nice choice for cold days when you’re all bundled up.” — Esmé Duggan, journalist
Brand: Diptyque
Olfactory family: Floral Musk
Scent notes: mandarin oranges, pink peppercorn, bergamot, iris, ambrette seed, rose, musks
7. Commodity Milk Expressive
Price: $245AUD
Finding comfort in nostalgia, the familiarity of this creamy, slightly nutty scent lends it a comforting element that makes it the perfect perfume for winter.
What we think: The milk accord is relatively subtle, but lends it a cosy element that wraps the skin in a soft embrace. It’s worth noting that Commodity Milk comes in three variants—Personal, Expressive, and Bold—our favourite is Expressive. Personal takes a slightly sweeter skin scent approach, while Bold leans more masculine; heavy on the woods with a more subtle milk accord.
“For someone who doesn’t drink milk, I’m oddly attracted to lactonic fragrances… Commodity Milk Expressive is honestly such a cosy, comforting perfume, thanks to its sweet milky and tonka bean notes; one of those skin scents that has you smelling your wrists all day.” — Tanisha Angel, editor
Brand: Commodity
Olfactory family: Oriental Woody
Scent notes: warm marshmallow, toasted sesame, mahogany wood, tonka bean, milk accord, benzoin
8. Kilian Angels’ Share
Price: $370AUD
For those whom winter is inextricably associated with treacle tart and warm apple pie.
What we think: A lush perfume for winter, Kilian Angels’ Share opens with a veritable explosion of sweet jammy, cinnamony, apple pie notes, with a hint of cognac and dried fruits. The dry down leaves sandalwood and vanilla lingering on the skin for hours.
Brand: Kilian
Olfactory family: Amber Vanilla
Scent notes: cognac, cinnamon, tonka bean, oak, vanilla, praline, sandalwood
9. Roemy Forest
Price: $179AUD
A dash of cardamom and citrus quickly give way to a heady overload of leather and woods in Roemy Forest.
What we think: Something for those who lean towards more masculine scents, Roemy Forest smells like getting caught in the rain during a hike and taking refuge in a dingy, slightly damp bookstore. But in the best possible way.
Brand: Roemy
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: bergamot, cardamom, fig, leather, violet, cedar, sandalwood
10. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb
Price: $140AUD
What we think: Despite the marketing gaff touting this as a fragrance for men, Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb is well-suited to women who gravitate towards spicy, aromatic fragrances. True to its name, it delivers a hefty dose of pepper and cinnamon on the opening, with saffron and paprika notes precluding it from entering the overt amber territory many spicy fragrances lean into. Tobacco, vetiver, and leather add depth, while the dry down reveals a subtle undertone of vanilla lurking beneath. Its intense spicy notes make it a good winter warmer, particularly for evening occasions.
Brand: Viktor & Rolf
Olfactory family: Amber Spicy
Scent notes: black pepper, elemi, bergamot, grapefruit, cinnamon, saffron, paprika, vanilla, tobacco, leather, vetiver
11. Kayali Oudgasm Cafe Oud
Price: $241AUD
What we think: One of our favourite perfumes for winter, Kayali Oudgasm Cafe Oud is a dark, sexy take on a coffee scent. A rich, creamy interpretation of coffee (read: without the bitterness), the first spritz of Cafe Oud sees coffee brightened by the faintest hint of bergamot, with the latter quickly vanishing and evolving into a sweet musky scent.
My favourite winter perfume for when I want to smell like a latte.” — Tanisha Angel, editor
Brand: Kayali
Olfactory family: Amber Woody
Scent notes: bergamot, mandarin, cappuccino, geranium, rose, vanilla, musk, patchouli, oud
12. Eight & Bob The Original
Price: $295AUD
Despite being deemed a men’s fragrance, Eight & Bob The Original works well as a winter perfume for women. A solid contemporary winter fragrance for those who gravitate towards lighter scents, Eight & Bob The Original is a refined scent that smells like clean linen and a fresh shave.
“Eight & Bob The Original is the kind of fragrance that grows on you over time. It’s not overly memorable, but is enjoyable to smell every time you wear it and has a comforting, skin scent quality that’s nice during the cooler months.” — Arabella Johnson, beauty editor
Brand: Eight & Bob
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: cardamom, lemon, pink pepper, woods, labdanum, violet leaves, amber, sandalwood, vetiver
13. Meo Fusciuni Notturno
Price: $275AUD
Inspired by the night, Meo Fusciuni Notturno is a love letter to the poets and writers who have left an impression on the eponymous perfumer’s life.
What we think: Notturno opens with an olfactory hit of rum, followed by a fruity blend of pear and pineapple; hinting at the obsessive nocturnal struggle experienced by many artists. The initially alcoholic notes evaporate to make way for ink and leather, which surround warming spices. Resin and woody notes make this unisex scent one of the winter fragrances to sport this season.
“If you like darker, more unconventional fragrances, you need to try this for winter. This has a contemplative, dark academia vibe. Perfect for smelling like a smoky, slightly musty church (but in a sexy way).” — Esmé Duggan, journalist
Brand: Meo Fusciuni
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: rum, pineapple, ink, leather, clove, birch, amber, musk, incense, cedarwood
14. Essential Parfums Nice Bergamote
Price: $198AUD
What we think: Fresh and light, Essential Parfums Nice Bergamote blends bergamot with a floral accord of rose petals, jasmine, and ylang ylang. Cedarwood and tonka beans make for warm base notes, creating an optimistic fragrance that provides the perfect contrast to dull winter weather.
“There comes a point every winter when I’m just so over the season. Nice Bergamote is the fragrance I bust out when I’ve reached that point; it delivers a hit of optimistic, citrusy energy that’s the perfect antidote to the winter blues. Projection could be better, but it’s a lovely skin scent nonetheless.” — Arabella Johnson, beauty editor
Brand: Essential Parfums
Olfactory family: Citrus Aromatic
Scent notes: rose, jasmin, ylang ylang, tonka beans, bergamot
15. Maison Rebatchi Feu Patchouli
Price: $198AUD
Spicy yet soft, Maison Rebatchi Feu Patchouli fits a lot of passion into a little bottle. Warming spices of clove, cinnamon, black pepper, and pink pepper meet intense notes of patchouli, myrrh, frankincense, and labdanum to create a rich, heady scent that’s equal parts intoxicating and mysterious.
What we think: Delectable gourmand notes of vanilla and caramel add a hint of sweetness to this patchouli-dominant winter fragrance.
Brand: Maison Rebatchi
Olfactory family: Woody Chypre
Scent notes: sweet orange, citron, bergamot, patchouli, pink pepper, black pepper, frankincense, labdanum, clove
16. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood
Price: $261AUD
What we think: Sophisticated and sensual, this scent puts a seductive, rather edible twist on the concept of winter fragrances, brightening the cold season with powdery violet and natural oud, juxtaposed with light rose essence and absolute, rounded out by a deep amber and vanilla accord. Perfect for those crisp winter nights.
“This is so sweet and addictive; the perfect gourmand jammy rose Turkish delight scent. The oud here adds depth but isn’t the star of the show, letting the rose and vanilla do the talking. The projection and longevity on this is excellent, I can still smell it on my clothes the day after.” — Esmé Duggan, journalist
Brand: Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Olfactory family: Amber Woody
Scent notes: violet, rose, oud, benzoin, amber, vanilla
Words by Arabella Johnson
