There’s nothing quite like scent to transport your spirits in an instant. Fall, especially, is bundled up in a host of evocative smells—fallen leaves, wood fires, pumpkin spice (of course!), crisp air… One of my favorite ways to get myself in a cool-weather mood is by indulging in moodier perfumes with hints of exotic spice, seductive woods, and soft-edged gourmand notes. The following autumn-appropriate perfumes are the olfactory equivalent of wandering through golden woods while wearing a beloved chunky sweater; there’s a little mystery lingering in the air, a little romance, a little nostalgia…
These fragrances boast utterly divine scent profiles that read almost like poetry—and just as importantly, they’re vegan and cruelty-free. There’s also a nice selection of eau de parfum formulas as well as perfume oils, so you can shop according to your application preferences, too.
Gorgeous Cruelty-Scents for Cool Weather
St. Rose Bohème Perfume Oil
Notes: Rose, Vetiver, Cedar, Oud
When agar trees are infected with a parasitic mold, a rich-smelling resin is released—oud, a.k.a. one of the most precious ingredients in fragrance, suggesting there is beauty even in death and decay. Functioning as a grounding base note, oud offers a warm, sweet smell. In Bohème, oud is combined with classic rose and cozy vetiver to create an addictive feminine fragrance that’s perfect for dreamy fall days that are beautiful, in part, because they are fleeting.
Lvnea Ghost Pine – Eau de Parfum
Notes: Pine Needles, Wet Leaves, Moss, Wood
This gorgeous fragrance beckons as the days become shorter. The deeply woody, invigorating scent conjures moonlit treetops and a sense of time standing still as night settles in. Indeed, it’s an ideal blend for those moments when you want to channel the forest sorceress within.
Alkemia Autumnalis Perfume Oil
Notes: Dry amber, Fallen leaves, Maple wood, Saffron crocus, Vetiver, and Oakmoss
Ah, how to describe this unique and prolific fragrance house! Alkemia lives and thrives on Etsy, and their branding and packaging are modest. A quick peruse through Alkemia’s selection, however, and the creative fragrance titles and fascinating notes (dragonsblood! saffron crocus!) reveal that this line is something special. Autumnalis is just one of Alkemia’s dozens? hundreds? of perfumes that acutely conjure the mystery of the natural world. The description, “sunlight warmed autumn leaves” couldn’t be more accurate.
Olivine Atelier 13 Moons – Hazel Moon Eau de Parfum
Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, and Musk.
Conjured from the perfumer’s past, Hazel Moon is a portrait of early ’90s Seattle: “Hazel Moon is my youth in a bottle. The masculine sexuality of Patchouli reminds of bar make-outs and scratchy skin. The Vanilla brings youthful feminine sensuality. And the Musk delivers a soft but swift animalistic punch to those guitar-playing boys of my past.” May we all have such sensual memories tied to our favorite perfumes.
Rahua Palo Santo Perfume Oil
Notes: Palo Santo, Frankincense, Geranium, and Gardenia
This clean, unisex oil blend beautifully mirrors crisp autumn mornings–the kind that clears your head and quietly lifts your spirits. The palo santo and frankincense impart a spiritual nuance that makes this fragrance a divine choice for meditation, altar building, and solo yoga practice. Meanwhile, geranium and gardenia lend the blend a distinct botanical elegance.
Ellis Brooklyn Sci Fi Eau de Parfum
Notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Green Tea, Pink Freesia, Cashmere Woods, Vanilla Beans
Dreamy and otherwordly, this ultra-modern scent rewrites vanilla’s script with dashes of tea and citrus backed by a heavy dose of cashmere accord. The enticing blend is described as both familiar and futuristic, making it a fun, sexy option for the intelligent perfumista who enjoys thinking about her fragrance.
Do you change up your perfume with the seasons? What are your favorite cool-weather fragrances?
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Photo: Respective brands
