Winter’s chill offers fragrance lovers a unique chance to wrap themselves in scent. The cold makes us crave coziness—whether through layering soft clothes, settling by a fire, or enjoying a hot drink—and the best winter perfumes capture that feeling. “Seasonal changes influence the ingredients we’re drawn to wear, as fragrance is the invisible accessory,” says Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. “Just as fashion evolves, so do fragrance preferences. The shift toward deeper florals and richer fruity scents marks the change of season.”
Vogue’s Favorite Winter Perfumes
– Best Creamy Powder: Matière Première Vanilla Powder Extrait
– Best Cozy: Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette
– Best Moody Floral: Chanel Coco Noir Eau de Parfum
Scents become richer and more tactile in the cold, leaning toward resins, woods, warm spices, and velvety gourmand notes that seem to cling to wool coats and knit scarves. These bold compositions linger in the dense winter air, unfolding slowly rather than bursting with bright notes in the breeze.
After exploring many inviting aromas, we’ve curated this selection. Below, discover Vogue’s favorite winter fragrances, including long-loved picks from editors and experts. There’s something for every scent enthusiast, from crowd-pleasing takes on tonka bean and leather to direct evocations of a crackling fireplace.
In This Story
– What Are the Best Scents for Winter?
– What Are the Most Popular Winter Fragrance Notes?
– How to Make the Most of Your Winter Perfume
– How We Tested
– Meet the Experts
Best Spicy Vanilla: Diptyque Eau Duelle
Why We Love It: For a sophisticated winter scent, Levy recommends Diptyque’s best-selling Eau Duelle—a cult favorite inspired by long journeys along historic spice routes. It centers on Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, whose darker, resinous qualities make it rich rather than overly sweet. Cinnamon and cardamom add a warm, spicy kick, while juniper and musk give it a skin-like finish, rounding out the scent with earthy warmth.
Editor’s Experience: “This is the least gourmand vanilla you’ll ever smell—if it were a dessert, it’d be more spice cake than birthday cake. It’s not so heavy that it can’t be worn in transitional seasons, too.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Vanilla, pink peppercorn, cypriol, incense, cardamom, saffron
This Smells Like: A smoky, spicy vanilla.
Best Cozy: Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace
Why We Love It: Levy counts this among her winter favorites, and Sephora’s beauty director Melinda Solares also praises it. “The scent captures the warmth and coziness of a crackling fire with snow falling outside, creating the perfect aromatic atmosphere for the season,” she told Vogue. Orange flower, chestnut, and vanilla add balance, keeping it from being too smoky.
Editor’s Experience: “I can almost hear the fire crackling! As an eau de toilette, the smoked spice notes stay surprisingly light—like the scent of embers lingering on your clothes. While it doesn’t last as long on me, it’s beautifully nostalgic from the first spritz.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Pink pepper, orange flower petals, clove oil, chestnut accord, cashmeran
This Smells Like: Cozying up by a crackling fireplace—smoky, woody, but never overpowering.
Best Moody Floral: Chanel Coco Noir
Why We Love It: [Content continues…]Coco Noir Eau de Parfum
$185 | CHANEL
Why We Love It: Chanel is often associated with floral and fruity scents like Coco Mademoiselle and Chance, but Coco Noir takes a different path. It’s warm and spicy rather than sweet and fresh. Created in 2012 by perfumers Jacques Polge and Christopher Sheldrake, this fragrance draws inspiration from Coco Chanel’s late-night adventures in Venice. With notes of bergamot, grapefruit, Venezuelan tonka bean, and Indonesian patchouli, it offers a darker, moodier scent than Chanel typically explores.
Key Notes: Grapefruit, Calabrian bergamot, rose, narcissus, rose geranium leaf, jasmine, tonka bean, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, white musk, frankincense
This Smells Like: Velvety incense.
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Best Leather: Byredo Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum
$235 | NORDSTROM, BLUEMERCURY
Why We Love It: For book lovers, Byredo’s Bibliothèque started as a popular candle and was later turned into a perfume. The fragrance evokes the scent of a well-worn leather book pulled from a library shelf—but with a more alluring twist. Leather and birchwood blend with cinnamon and patchouli, creating a lived-in, mysterious scent with a powdery, slightly sweet quality.
Key Notes: Plum, cinnamon, leather accord, violet, birch woods, patchouli, vanilla
This Smells Like: Late-night reading by candlelight.
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Best Boozy: Kilian Paris Angels’ Share
$275 | NORDSTROM
Why We Love It: This fragrance is boozy and spicy, capturing the essence of a rich brown liqueur. The bottle even resembles a glass of whiskey—fitting, as founder Kilian Hennessy comes from a renowned cognac-producing family. Warm and delicious, this gourmand scent opens with cognac before settling into notes of cinnamon, tonka bean, praline, and vanilla. It’s long-lasting and projects well, lingering on clothes for up to twelve hours.
Editor’s Experience: “I received this scent as a Christmas gift years ago and always reach for it in colder months. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spice, leaving a delightful trail. This perfume collects compliments, and it stays on my clothes for days. As someone who enjoys whiskey, I also appreciate the charming bottle.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Cognac oil, oak absolute, cinnamon essence, tonka bean absolute, sandalwood, praline, vanilla extract
This Smells Like: A hot toddy made with whiskey.
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Best Earthy: Jo Malone Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense
$160 | NORDSTROM, BLUEMERCURY
Why We Love It: Inspired by the Japanese practice of forest bathing, this fragrance is earthy and grounding. True to Jo Malone’s style, the key notes are in the name—hinoki and cedarwood take the lead, drying down to subtle cinnamon and tonka bean. While it stands well on its own, its straightforward composition makes it ideal for layering with other scents to create custom blends.
Editor’s Experience: “I discovered this best-selling scent in Jo Malone’s recent Festive Calendar. It’s aromatic, earthy, and surprisingly versatile. I’ve been layering it with my favorite musky perfume oil to enhance its projection.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Cinnamon, Hinoki Wood Clove, Cedarwood, Tonka Bean
This Smells Like: An upscale spa retreat.
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Best Body Mist: Phlur Cashmere Skin Body and Hair Mist
$38 | NORDSTROM
Why We Love It:Love It: In the spirit of winter layering, hair and body mists can enhance any fragrance. Phlur’s best-selling Cashmere Skin is one of the brand’s more subtle scents. Light and airy, this creamy musk is gently sweet thanks to almond, sandalwood, and cashmere notes—like slipping into your favorite sweater with the faintest trace of perfume still lingering.
Key Notes: Almond, cyclamen, cashmere, cream, vanilla, sandalwood, ambrette, musk, Peru balsam
This Smells Like: Your skin, but better (imagine putting on a soft cashmere sweater right after a shower).
Best Extrait: Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Extrait
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Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Extrait
$320 at NORDSTROM
Why We Love It: If you want a perfume that lasts from morning coffee to after-work drinks, Matiere Premiere’s Vanilla Powder Extrait delivers serious staying power—over 10 hours. Venezuelan tonka bean gets an edgy twist with palo santo and musk, while coconut powder balances the earthy and animalistic notes with a light, fresh sweetness. Thanks to its high concentration of perfume oils, you’ll leave a delicious scent trail wherever you go.
Editor’s Experience: “When I first spritzed this, Vogue’s senior shopping writer Cortne Bonilla immediately turned in her chair. ‘Oooh…what is this delicious scent?’ she asked. It was Vanilla Powder Extrait—a true compliment magnet. A cool girl’s powder perfume, it’s not overly sweet but still projects a delectable aroma.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Palo santo, coconut powder, Madagascar vanilla absolute, white musk, tonka bean
This Smells Like: A cool girl’s powder perfume.
Best Ethereal: Liis Celestial Object
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Liis Celestial Object
$175 at REVOLVE or LIIS
Why We Love It: Created by French perfumer Jérôme Epinette and inspired by the stars, Celestial Object opens with the tartness of quince and a hint of pink pepper. It quickly dries down to something powdery and soft, thanks to almond and rice paper. Incense adds a touch of intrigue and warmth, making it a perfect winter pick-me-up.
Editor’s Experience: “I’ve loved Liis’s Choux Choux for a while, and Celestial Object feels like its lighter, airier cousin. While Choux Choux is creamy and gourmand, Celestial Object trades richness for a sparkling quality from incense, pink pepper, and rice paper. If you want to smell like you’ve been wandering through a mystical garden, this is it.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes: Quince, pink pepper, incense, almond, rice paper, labdanum, tonka bean
This Smells Like: The whimsical, gothic sister of Liis’s Choux Choux.
Best Seductive: Tom Ford Figue Érotique Eau de Parfum
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Tom Ford Figue Érotique Eau de Parfum
$405 at TOM FORD BEAUTY or SEPHORA
Why We Love It: Fruit-based fragrances aren’t just for summer. Sweet and seductive, Tom Ford’s latest scent opens with juicy fig and subtle citrus. Brown sugar and licorice deepen the fresh notes into something reminiscent of a decadent liqueur. It captures the luxurious allure of the jewel-toned velvet hip-huggers from Tom Ford’s iconic 1995 Gucci debut, with a depth that makes fig feel fresh and sophisticated.
Editor’s Experience: “This might be my new favorite Tom Ford perfume. I reach for it when I can’t decide on a scent—it’s fresh and fruity without being too sweet or earthy. The muscovado comes through for a cozy touch.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
Key Notes: Kadota fig accord, vert de bergamot, muscovado accord, fig leaf accord, ylang-ylang absolute, vetiver essence
This Smells Like: If Gucci’s Autumn/Winter 1995 collection (the Tom Ford era) were a scent.
Best Grown-Up Gourmand: Henry Rose Dave
Save to wishlistHenry Rose Dave Eau de Parfum
$120 at NORDSTROM | $120 at CREDO BEAUTY
Why We Love It:
Last year, Michelle Pfeiffer’s clean fragrance brand Henry Rose introduced its own interpretation of vanilla. Named affectionately after Pfeiffer’s husband, Dave blends tonka bean with neroli, cocoa shells, and pink pepper. Decadent and seductive, this rich, grown-up gourmand feels more intimate than a typical sweet scent—making it an ideal date-night perfume when you want to smell utterly delicious.
Editor’s Experience:
“This is one of the most delicious scents on my shelf. Gourmands often get dismissed as juvenile, but Dave is the exception. Here, the vanilla base feels warm and inviting rather than overly sweet.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
Key Notes:
Tangerine heart, neroli, pink pepper, lavandin, orange flower, almond blossom, vanilla bean chantilly, cocoa shell, tonka bean
This Smells Like:
A non-bakery vanilla—creamy and inviting
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### Everything You Need to Know
What Are the Best Scents for Winter?
“Perfumes that work well in cold weather tend to be more intense, with notes that evoke warmth and coziness,” says Levy. “Winter fragrances are usually stronger than those preferred in spring or summer.”
What Are the Most Popular Winter Fragrance Notes?
“For colder months, deep, woody, spicy, berry, or gourmand notes are popular,” Levy explains, noting they reflect our desire for warmth and layering. This is no coincidence—fragrance trends often align with seasonal shifts. For example, spring and summer scents often feature lighter aquatic and green notes.
How to Make the Most of Your Winter Perfume
Layering is key, especially in winter when skin is less exposed. Levy recommends starting with a body cream or lotion right after showering to create a moisturizing base. Follow with a spray or oil of the same or a complementary fragrance on pulse points. Finish with a hair perfume or body mist in a similar scent.
How We Tested
Our testing process combines expert insight with hands-on evaluation. We consult fragrance specialists from Vogue’s network to identify standout products, then apply editorial standards to curate our selections. For winter perfumes, we assess notes, projection, and wear-time through personal testing, expert guidance, and customer reviews.
Meet the Experts
– Linda G. Levy, President of The Fragrance Foundation
– Melinda Solares, Beauty Director at Sephora
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs 10 Best Winter Perfumes to Snuggle Into
Beginner General Questions
Q What makes a perfume a winter perfume
A Winter perfumes typically feature warmer richer and more intense notes like vanilla amber spices woods and resins These scents feel cozy comforting and project better in cold air
Q Why cant I just wear my summer perfume in winter
A You can but lighter summer scents often get lost in the cold Winter perfumes are formulated to be more potent and warming creating that perfect snuggle feeling against chilly weather
Q What are the main benefits of wearing a winterspecific fragrance
A The main benefits are enhanced longevity and sillage in cold dry air and the psychological comfort of a scent that feels like a warm blanket cashmere sweater or a cozy night by the fire
Q Are winter perfumes only for evening or special occasions
A Not at all While many are great for evenings there are plenty of winter scents suitable for daytime wear at the office or for casual outings Look for ones with creamy woody or gentle spicy notes for daytime
Q Im new to fragrance Whats a safe crowdpleasing winter scent to start with
A Start with a fragrance that has a prominent note of vanilla amber or creamy sandalwood These are universally liked warm and not overly challenging Examples include scents like Maison Margiela By the Fireplace or Kayali Vanilla 28
Advanced Practical Questions
Q How should I apply perfume differently in winter vs summer
A In winter your skin is drier so fragrance can evaporate faster Apply to pulse points on moisturized skin You can also lightly spritz your hair or the collar of your wool coat for longerlasting scent
Q My winter perfume sometimes smells too heavy or cloying indoors What can I do
A This is a common issue with rich scents in heated spaces