Smelling hot is pretty much non-negotiable for me no matter the season, but there's something extra special about smelling elevated during the colder months. Perhaps it's because I'm naturally drawn toward woody, boozy, and amber-heavy scents—which lend themselves beautifully to the season.
I love fragrance because something about it feels so powerfully ritualistic. There's the process of selecting a scent, deciding how I want it to correspond with my mood or energy on any given day, and then the act of actually wearing it and feeling completely transformed.
Anyway, here are some things I'm really into this season—some new to me, some well-worn and loved. Happy smelling, babes.
Scorpio Rising by Eris Parfums
Scorpio season falls perfectly in autumn (I have a complicated relationship with it since it sits directly opposite my Taurus sun), which makes this fragrance absolutely perfect for the season.
It's compelling—a true woody warm scent built on cardamom, incense, atlas cedarwood, guaiac wood, saffron, sandalwood, and leather, with hints of smoke threading through everything. It feels like a well-worn leather moto jacket: cozy and familiar but still dangerous. The kind of fire you want to play with, that makes you get an absolute pit in your stomach.
I picked up a sample and have had time to really wear it. The projection and longevity are impressive, I can get a full day out of it. I particularly enjoy spraying it in my hair and letting it linger. This is my top overall pick for the season due to its perfect encapsulation of autumn, its wearability (you can actually wear this out), and its newness. Time to go play with fire!
Blomb No. 19 by Blom Fragrance
If you enjoy good back-and-forth with a hottie, this one's for you. It's perfectly nuanced—sharp and fresh. Think quick-witted banter in a bottle.
The anise, black pepper, and juniper berry create this perfect tension. The berry keeps things light and lively, while the anise pulls you in and makes you just a bit curious. It wears close to the skin but is buildable, wearing beautifully throughout the day. By far my top affordable pick, and a favorite from the brand.
I've come to really enjoy Blomb for their straightforward but still interesting fragrances, they have a lot of really nice stuff at really nice prices. Most of their collection is pretty blind-buy friendly too.
Falling Trees by Regime des Fleurs
I have a major affinity for Regime des Fleurs. I love the sophistication of their scents—they always make me feel confident and sensual. Falling Trees is one of the best from their collection, another perfect encapsulation of melancholy fall.
It's built on juniper, bergamot, black pepper, myrrh, and oakmoss, and feels like listening to Smashing Pumpkins on an evening walk, alone with your thoughts, immersed in beauty and change. On me, that myrrh and oakmoss come in hot and heavy, feeling almost like smoldering dry wood. The wear time is about 5-6 hours, and the dry-down is gorgeous, much warmer over time.
Blood Berry by Heretic Perfume
I wanted something different to add to the list, and Blood Berry delivered. Don't let the name fool you—yes, it's berry, but it's very much a warm rose. I'm really excited to wear this toward the end of fall, early winter.
It's this gorgeous blend of blackcurrant, damask rose, grapefruit, raspberry, and bergamot that feels sensual and comforting. It’s quite elevated, like reading love notes steeped with promise, devotion, and beauty. I was gifted this by the brand and was unsure at first, but after three days of wear it's really grown on me.
The blackcurrant and raspberry keep it interesting and prevent it from veering too far into traditional rose territory. When I think "rose," I think dated and old—this is far from that. To me, it's a second cousin of Le Labo Rose 31.
I wish the longevity were better (I get around 4 hours), but it has beautiful projection. This is peak dark romantic. It feels like the rose bath scene in Queen of the Damned, which, honestly, is all I aspire to in life.
702 Incense, Lavender, Cashmere Wood by Bon Parfumeur
Despite the name promising incense and lavender, this is overwhelmingly a smoky, boozy scent. There's some pink berry and cedar in there, plus vanilla and white musk, but honestly the lavender is minimal. It's just there to lighten things up and keep it from getting too heavy.
It feels approachable, something you could wear to work, running casual errands, or while skimming through a book at home. The projection isn't the strongest and it's more intimate in nature. Overall, it's a lovely incense fragrance that's actually wearable, since incense can sometimes be such a heavy, overwhelming note.
Dulce de Cuerpo by Nopalera
Sometimes you want something sweet and nostalgic, and I love this for that. It's by far the sweetest on the list.
It's vanilla, sandalwood, copal, violet, amber and incense, though I predominantly get vanilla and sandalwood. It feels cozy, like an afternoon with a steamed vanilla latte, looking at beautiful window displays. It ventures into gourmand territory initially but cools down into more of a sandalwood eventually.
The longevity isn't as strong as I'd hope (I get a few hours), but oh my, is it a delightful few hours—one to get lost in for sure.
Rock the Myrrh by Dries Van Noten
If you've been longing to feel moody and goth and love Catholic iconography, this is probably for you. It's for the haunting part of fall, I guess.
Myrrh is the star here, that dominant note that was brought to Jesus as tribute after all I suppose. it's backed by pink pepper, cypress, patchouli, suede, and benzoin for this woody, warm, spicy combination. It's quite luxe and has one of the most beautiful bottles on the market, which elevates the entire experience, making it somewhat ritualistic. Catholicism is kinda witchy when you really think about it.
It has fairly nice projection and a dry-down that sweetens just a bit throughout the day, but not in a candy kind of way. The patchouli keeps it fresh.
Nightcap by Orbella
Listen, I needed something for the babes who still prefer drinking to skiing. This feels like a night out with good cocktails and better conversation.
There's ginger, cardamom, guaiac wood, vanilla, labdanum, sandalwood, and patchouli, and it really changes throughout the wear. At first whiff, I get punchy ginger (a tad spicy, rather fresh). But after the 30-minute mark, that vanilla and sandalwood take over, and it becomes very sultry. Like the fragrance embodiment of pantyhose, imo: elevated and sophisticated but deeply sensual.
The wear time and projection are pretty in line with the price—I get a good 6 hours. Some people have said they get cola from it, which I could maybe see, but I think it's much more elevated than that. There is a warm crispness that could be reminiscent of soda, though.
Discovery Set by The Maker
I thought it would be fun to start including discovery sets, as they're the best way to really play with a brand and try things out. I always recommend getting a decant of any fragrance first and wearing it for a few days—you never know how it'll wear.
That said, you should definitely try The Maker's discovery set. I genuinely mean this: they're all hits. There really is something for every occasion and season. The Maker has such elevated and sophisticated fragrances that wear beautifully, and I want people to experience them. If you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Personally, I'm partial to The Lover, a sensual fig that's become full-bottle worthy and is one of my top five fragrances ever. Libertine and Paradiso are close seconds. But overall just hauntingly beautiful fragrances.
Well babes, happy fall. I hope you're enjoying what you can of it. Let me know if any of these piqued your interest, or what you're planning on wearing to be hot and bothered!
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