Autumn Perfumes: How to Swap Your Summer Scent for Something Warmer
As the nights draw in, our scent choices change. Here is how to pick an autumn fragrance.
Autumn is one of the best times to change your fragrance. The scents we love naturally shift with our wardrobes, and as we swap into knitwear and coats, light citrus and aquatic notes can suddenly feel too thin. If you are looking for autumn perfumes, here is what to reach for.
What is changing in fragrance this year
Perfumers are taking a more grown-up approach to sweet notes. Vanilla is still hugely popular, but it is being paired with amber, woods, leather and spice. Fruit is getting darker too, with cherry, raspberry and other berries replacing the bright tropical notes of summer.
The notes to look for
- Vanilla with amber or woods for a warm, grown-up sweetness.
- Dark fruits such as cherry and blackberry.
- Spices including cinnamon, cardamom and pepper.
- Leather and smoky woods for depth.
You do not need something heavy
A rich perfume is not the only choice. Some of the best transitional fragrances combine freshness at the top with warm woods, musk or amber underneath. They work well through September and October, when the weather is still changeable.
How to try a new scent
Spray on your wrist and let it settle for a few hours, because the base notes only show up later. Test two or three at most in one go, and take a break to reset your nose by smelling a coffee bean or your own sleeve.
Make it last
Apply to moisturised skin at pulse points such as the wrists and neck. Store bottles away from heat and light so the scent stays true. Layering a body lotion in the same family boosts how long it lasts.
Treat the change of season as an excuse to find a fragrance that feels like you.
Looking for more? Read our guides to the burrowcore home style, spending time in nature, or head back to the Brew and Browse home page.
Lifestyle, travel, fashion and home ideas for your coffee break.
