When a new season rolls around, we normally make some changes to our closet, bedding, décor, and even what we eat (hello, pumpkin everything in fall). We might even change up our beauty looks—I definitely do. In the summer months, I gravitate toward brighter lip colors and bronzy hues. When there’s a chill in the air, I love a dark red lipstick and some dramatic eye makeup.
One thing I’m switching up as the winter season makes its presence known is my go-to fragrance. Normally, I go for fresh, citrus-infused, and floral notes for spring and summer, but as the weather gets cooler, I’m looking forward to going all-in on woody, earthy perfumes.
Woody fragrances feel so grounding (it’s pretty obvious why) and cozy—two things that are perfect for the wintry season. You kind of smell like a pine tree but, dare I say it, even better. There are so many different combinations of scents that you can find one that works with your fragrance style, whether you gravitate toward the spicier scents or floral, sweeter perfumes.
Take a look at some of the woody perfumes I’m eyeing for my fragrance lineup.
This très enchanting fragrance has notes of sandalwood, vetiver, amber wood, and a cinnamon-nutmeg complex. It’s a clean fragrance, too, without phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.
If you’re not into strong fragrances (you know, the type that announces your presence in a room), you’ll love this subtle scent. Wear it on its own or layer it with other fragrances. It has notes of cedarwood and ambergris.
I mean, what can I say? It wouldn’t be a woody, earthy fragrance roundup without Le Labo’s cult-favorite Santal 33. The unisex fragrance is scented with violet accord, cardamom, iris, ambrox, cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood.
With a name like Super Cedar, you know exactly what you’re getting, and that’s a woody fragrance that reminds you of the great outdoors. To make it interesting, though, it has floral top notes of rose petals for a unique scent.
Oakmoss gives this fragrance its earthy scent, but it’s balanced out with fruity davana (a plant) and sweet cherry plum. It’s named Nomade because it’s supposed to transport you somewhere else… and well, we believe it.
This unisex and vegan fragrance has strong notes of patchouli balanced with fig, black pepper, and bergamot for a spicy, woodsy scent.
Skylar’s Willow fragrance is said to be inspired by Mother Earth, so you’ll get fresh, green, lush vibes here. The clean, hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free fragrance has notes of willow, pine resin, heliotrope, and galbanum.
An evening by a fireplace with a warm drink in a hand and a good book just might be the epitome of coziness. You can take those feels with you thanks to this fragrance, which is aptly called By the Fireplace. The warm and spicy scent has notes of pink pepper, orange flower petals, clove oil, chestnut accord, guaiac wood oil, cade oil, vanilla accord, Peru balsam, and Cashmeran.
In this fragrance, sandalwood, rosewood, and amber get mixed with eastern spices including Chinese pepper and vanilla. It’s a rich and woody fragrance that also looks good on a bathroom vanity.
Inspired by the desert area of Marfa, Texas, this scent will transport you to somewhere warm. It has top notes of desert shrubs, desert pepper, and pinyon pine; middle notes of creosote, oak, and khella; and base notes of dry sand accord and shrub wax.
With a cheeky name like Scandalwood, you know this fragrance is going to be both sexy and mysterious. Created in collaboration with Dita Von Teese, this scent has notes of coriander, atlas cedar, Bulgarian rose, sandalwood, labdanum, and white musk.
Vilhelm Parfumerie’s 125th & Bloom is inspired by the flowers of Harlem, New York. The floral notes of violet and rose are balanced with earthy and spicy scents like ebony woods, wild leather, and saffron.
Classic woody notes of patchouli and sandalwood are mixed with fruity and sweet plum for a warm and inviting fragrance.
If you’re not ready to go all-in with an earthy fragrance and say goodbye to your light, fresh scent, this perfume has the best of both worlds. It has spicy and woody notes of tuberose, musk, and camphora blended with fruity melon and coconut.
This is another clean fragrance option that’s both eco-conscious and ethically sourced. It has notes of vetiver, blonde cedarwood, and myrrh, so it’s earthy and herby at the same time. Next up, I asked 5 people for their favorite under-$75 fragrance—here’s what they said.
