Winter perfumes – warm, enveloping scents for women and men

Winter perfumes are scents with a dense amber, vanilla, woody or spicy base that keep unfolding on skin and clothes below 5°C. In Michael Edwards's "Fragrances of the World" classification they belong mainly to the amber (oriental) and woody families, and perfumers call them warm, enveloping or winter scents. Winter perfumes last for as long as several days on a wool coat and a cashmere scarf. In the Winter category you will find over 120 dupes in eau de parfum concentration (EDP, 15–20% oils): winter perfumes for women, men and unisex, from sweet gourmands to resinous woods.

The most popular winter scent in our shop is the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 dupe with saffron and amber, good from a morning walk to dinner. For the holidays and December gatherings by the fireplace, choose the Kilian Angels' Share dupe with cognac and cinnamon. For New Year's Eve, the Lancôme La Nuit Trésor dupe with black rose and praline is a good fit. For a man on frosty days, the Dior Sauvage Elixir dupe works well, and for a lover of fruit in liqueur the Tom Ford Lost Cherry dupe.

Which winter perfume to choose and why perfume smells different in winter

For winter, choose perfumes with vanilla, amber, spices, wood and resins, because low temperatures and dry air weaken light notes. Below we explain what cold does to a scent, which families work best and how many sprays are enough.

How frost and central heating change the way perfume smells

Frost slows the evaporation of scent molecules, so in winter perfume unfolds more slowly and has less projection than in summer. Citrus and green notes, which open in seconds in July, fade after 30–60 minutes in January. In a heated flat, air humidity drops to 30–40%, the skin dries out and "eats" the scent faster. Apply perfume to skin after an unscented body lotion, and longevity will increase by 1–2 hours.

Which fragrance families suit winter

The oriental, gourmand, woody and spicy families suit winter. Vanilla, tonka, praline, cocoa, cinnamon, incense and sandalwood create a warm aura that goes well with wool and fur. Looking for a specific note? Take a look at the Vanilla and Oriental categories, or at our ranking of vanilla perfumes for women.

How many sprays of perfume in winter

In winter, 2–3 sprays of eau de parfum are enough: on your neck, behind your ears and on your scarf. On fabric the scent lasts longer than on skin, because wool doesn't have body heat and evaporates it more slowly. Don't spray perfume on natural fur or silk, because the alcohol leaves stains on them.

FAQ: winter perfumes – frequently asked questions

We have gathered the questions we hear most often when customers are looking for a scent for the cold months.

What are the best winter perfumes?

The best winter perfumes are amber, vanilla and woody scents with a dense base, e.g. Baccarat Rouge 540, Angels' Share and La Nuit Trésor. Below 5°C they last 8–12 hours on the skin, and several days on a scarf.

Which women's winter perfume should you choose as a gift?

As a winter gift for a woman, choose an enveloping perfume with vanilla or praline, such as La Nuit Trésor or Angels' Share. They work well for women aged 45–65, because they are elegant rather than loud. You will find more ideas in our ranking of women's autumn perfumes.

Are fresh perfumes suitable for winter?

Fresh perfumes are suitable for winter for a heated office and a sunny morning, but in the frost they fade after 1–2 hours. In that case, choose fresh scents with a woody base, for example with cedar or musk.

Why does perfume smell weaker in winter?

Perfume smells weaker in winter because low temperatures slow the evaporation of scent molecules. On top of that, dry, heated air dries out the skin, which then holds oils less well, so in winter apply perfume to moisturised skin.