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What are your go-to winter fragrances?

I’m really enjoying Frederic Malle’s Musc Ravgeur right now! I also rotate between Tom Ford Amber Absolute, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, Tom Ford Oud Wood, Tom Ford Bois Marocain, and Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black.

— Christine

81 Comments

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Nancy T Avatar

As of last winter, Tom Ford Black Orchid has been my #1 wintertime fragrance. It’s waaay too potent to use during warmer weather, though. My other favorite fragrances are Christian LaCroix Absynthe that Avon sold as a LE fragrance 7 years ago, and Juicy Couture Couture, also bought awhile ago. I am currently trying out a ton of deluxe samples that I got from Sephora to see what, if anything, could become my next once Absynthe and Couture Couture run out or go funky on me.

Anne Avatar

I just looked up Frederic Malle Carnal Flower on Fragrantica. I’ve got to try it, because I really like the notes (except perhaps coconut, but who knows?). OMG, it’s $380 on Nordstrom.com. How do I do that? The one that interests me costs a kidney? Anyway, I’ve got it on my wish list. I’ll have to find a store where I can smell it, though. $380? Maybe I shouldn’t smell it, because I just might fall in love with it. Lol.

Sadra Avatar

Anne, there are a couple of cheaper tuberose alternatives, although they don’t have the menthol opening. The first is Fracas by Robert Piguet – a real punch in the nose tuberose. It’s still a bit pricey, but not up the Serge Lutens stratosphere. The second (and my personal favorite tuberose) is Madonna’s Truth or Dare (the original scent, not Truth or Dare Naked). It’s been discontinued, but you can still buy it on Ebay for under $20 I believe. In fact, the story that I read was that Madonna created it to imitate her mother’s favorite perfume – Fracas.

Anne Avatar

I have been interested in Fracas for ages. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it. The notes (the many, many, many notes) in it are mind boggling. I know it’s a classic and I think this is the year I get it. Thank you very much for your comment.

Vi Avatar

I am also enjoying Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black. 🙂 I particularly enjoy Maison Margiela Replica’s Fireplace (I think I can bathe in this one and call it good), Commodity’s Whiskey (similar to Maison Margiela Replica’s Jazz Place but less sweet in a sense…still a good one, will ask for birthday present next round haha), and finally Arabian oud Kalamat. 🙂

Summer Avatar

I SOOOOO wish that I could have a candle of the fireplace one. It’s so good! There are a bunch in that line that I love. They are very unique.?

Vi Avatar

The fragrance reminds me strongly of Bath and Body Work’s Marshmellow Fireside in a way. Really really love that one. Replica is indeed a good line of niche fragrances 😀

Anne Avatar

I am such a broken record as everything is once again Jo Malone… I got the Cologne Intense mini set over the holidays, so I’ve been using quite a few of those. Oud & Bergamot in particular is really interesting as it’s weirdly smoky yet floral in a way that is somehow nice. I go for Incense & Cedrat on the days I miss nature as it’s super duper woody in a fantastic way. Dark Amber & Ginger Lily is spicy while mildly floral, so it’s a good one for the evenings. Velvet Rose & Oud is very classic in a “smoky feminine” way and makes me feel like I’m in a film noir flick so I wear that on my rare social outings as it makes me feel like Veronica Lake or something. Tuberose Angelica is the hardest to describe because it’s more feminine yet very sort of “full-bodied”, so I’ve been wearing it to all my doc appointments (when I’m not in a scent-sensitive environment) as it feels like my “embody Beyoncé and take no sh*t” scent.

Aside from that set, I still break out Wood Sage & Sea Salt when I don’t know what to wear, and Mimosa & Cardamom is still a favorite as well, though I’ve been experimenting with the Cologne Intense scents mostly.

Damn I love me some Jo Malone. I think I have a problem XD

Anne Avatar

That sucks! I hate when our own body chemistry is like “no you can’t have that”. I have had the opposite issue where scents are WAAAAY too strong on me. Which isn’t that bad an issue to have.

Kara Avatar

Ever since I tried Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud I will never be without! It’s a holy grail for me. Their Peony and Suede is another favorite 😉

Lisa G Avatar

Great choices!
Mine are:

-Maison Francis Kurkdijon’s silk mood, satin mood, grand soir
– Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb
– Diptyque Volutes

LindaP Avatar

I don’t have a go-to, but I have been enjoying the following:

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardomom

Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Those are all deluxe sample sizes, which I wish I could easily snag more of. I’d prefer to buy those any day. There is nothing I get sick of faster than perfume. I think I’ll use a full bottle bottle, then it just sits there, for years. Looking at you Hermes Caleche. 🙂 Hmmmm…it’s been a while… I’ll dig that one out today. 🙂

Angela Avatar

Caleche has always been a year round favorite for many years. I was ( and still am) very disappointed they discontinued making the body cream- it was the best! Body lotion is just not the same but grateful at least they still make Caleche.

Lisa Avatar

I have serious commitment issues, that’s why I love buying rollerballs of my current loves. Also there are decants are great for a short fling with a fragrance.

Ashleigh Avatar

I’ve been sampling a lot lately, but when I traveled home for the holidays I wore Dior Hypnotic Poison and Angel Muse. I’ve also been loving Dame Perfumery Dark Horse and Chocolate Man, the yummiest chocolate fragrance I’ve smelled, which always gets me in trouble with my sweet tooth!

Anne Avatar

My newer fragrances are lighter and I wear them in the spring and summer. I wear heavier fragrances in the winter, and I’m so fussy about them that they’re oldies that I have to beat the bushes to find: Guerlain Jardins de Bagatelle, Ferre, Jil Sander #4, and Niki de Saint Phalle. I wear Bottega Veneta Knot all year round.

Ameerah Avatar

I switch between Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, Elizabeth and James Nirvana black, YSL Black Opium, YSL Mon Paris, Jo Malone’s Velvet Rose and Oud and Jo Malone’s red roses.
Mon Paris is more of a spring and summer obsession and the rest I wear all year around.
Currently obsessed with TF black orchid 😀

Rachel R. Avatar

I wear whatever I want regardless of season, but in general I’m a fan of darker fragrances year round. Now that I own TF Black Orchid, I’ll be wearing that a lot. 🙂 Past winters, Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black and Pacifica Mexican Cocoa (spray version layered over the solid version), and YSL Opium have been in heavy rotation, and will remain so.

Donna E. Avatar

Well I use Morrocan oil hair products and am absolutely in love with the smell. Sephora sent me a sample of Hanae Mori and it is a very close match! I would bathe in it if I could!

Kylie5 Avatar

I love!!!!!!!! Tom Ford tobacco Vanille but I did not buy it yet because of the price. I want it for about 6 years now. I always say I buy it next Christmas and now it is over again and I did not buy it again.
At the moment I use Alien which I also love. Next week I am going to try out 2 new perfumes if they still have it in store. It is “Maison lancome les Parfums grands crus jasmin marzipane”. Very long name, I am really interested in the combination. Second one is a special version of Alien for the holiday season, but this is also very expensive with 150 Euro.
In General I Love Heavy perfumes and nearly everything with a vanilla scent.

WildDove Avatar

I start out every season with a lineup to choose from, but what I actually end up wearing most can surprise me! Fragrances I’ve been wearing the most lately are Spicebomb, VS Scandalous, and Giorgio Red. Also worn Chanel Coco, Coco Mademoiselle, Chance edp, YSL Black Opium, D&G pour Femme, TM Pure Havane, TF Noir Extreme, Chocolate Man and Dark Horse (both by Dame Perfumery).

Alexandra Avatar

Chanel N.5 has been a favorite of mine for a while now, it is a bit more on the mature side, namely for a teenage girl, but I constantly get complimented on it! It’s just amazing, especially for winter

Anne Avatar

It’s a classic. I love it, too. Who cares if someone calls it ‘mature’? That’s a silly way to label a perfume anyway, imo. By the way, it’s been worn by teenagers– for decades — and I was one of them. It was a Christmas gift from my dad and I felt so special. You have excellent taste!

Eileen Avatar

I second what Anne said. I began wearing No 5 when I was fifteen and always got complements galore on it. It was “my scent” throughout high school. It’s not about your age. It’s about how it smells on you and if it enhances your image. If it suits you, then wear it in good health!

Anna Avatar

The winter fragrances that are in my current rotation are :

Giorgio Armani Si
Prada Candy
Mugler Angel
YSL Opium
Guerlain Shalimar
Tom Ford Black Orchid
CSP Vanille Ambre (I believe this is discontinued?)
Narciso Rodriguez For Her ( wear this one year round!)

Pamela F. Avatar

Ooh, fun question! I don’t really have Fall or Winter fragrances. I just use a light hand with whatever I put on.
Right now, though, I’m using Tom Ford Black Orchid, My Burberry Black, Michael Kors Michael, Mugler Angel and Angel Muse.
Reading other responses for ideas to add to my collection.

Eileen Avatar

Musc Ravageur! I’ve worn it for years and think of it as my quintessential autumn and winter fragrance. I also love Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme and vintage Jean Despre Scheherazade.

Janelle Avatar

My main favourites during this time of the year are:

Montale Sweet Oriental Dream
L’Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubéreuse
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire EDP
Burberry Brit EDP

And a dark amber organic perfume balm from a cottage industry on the west coast.

Kara Avatar

Jo Malone “Velvet Rose & Oud,” Elizabeth & James “Nirvana Rose,” and Tom Ford “Velvet Orchid” are the ones most often in my rotation. I wear the Rose and Oud in the dry body oil most days. It’s strangely sexy and comforting all at the same time.

Nest “Indigo,” Dior “Hypnotic Poison,” and Victor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” when a craving hits so to speak lol.

Tammy Avatar

I wear the same scents year-round. J’adore and Tocca Stella are probably the ones I wear the most often. I also wear Marc Jacobs Daisy, My Burberry, See by Chloe, Dolce, Light Blue.

Roxi Avatar

I must be the only one I know of that only owns one perfume at a time. I buy the biggest bottle they have when I run out of an old one (usually 100ml), it’s more economical. Right now I have Giorgio Armani Sin Intense. I wore it all year round, but it feels appropriate in the winter too.

Alecto Avatar

I’m a heathen and don’t change my fragrance between seasons. Having said that, my current fragrance likes involve citrus (especially grapefruit), tobacco, leather, warm woods; all that plus non-sweet (so avoiding notes like vanilla, etc.). I tend to gravitate towards men’s scents, and don’t have a particular one I’m using right now, as I tend to blend them (physically, in the bottle). I’m currently blending Givenchy Play Intense, Hermes Voyage d’Hermes (the perfume, not the eau de toilette), House Atelier Orange Sanguine, For Strange Women’s Tobacco and Leather, and over-spraying that blend with Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit.

Erin Avatar

Tom Ford everything, Eau D’Italie Pasteum Rose, Atelier Cologne Intense Vanille Insensee, Marc Jacobs Decadence, Nirvana Black, Comptior Sud Pacific Vanille Amber/Vanille Cannelli, and a few other samples floating around.

I’d love to hear when you bought Musc Ravegeur? It was reformulated.

Allison Avatar

I wore Gorilla Perfumes/Lush Lust to my boyfriend’s company holiday party.

Let’s see what else… Berdoues Arz El-Rab and Russkaya Kozha; these two are both very similar, actually, and I only have samples of them, so idk which full bottle I should get, or even if I like these enough to get a full bottle…

Dior Ambre Nuit.

Vintage Shalimar Eau de Toilette.

Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme.

I’ve been wearing other stuff too, but I won’t name them because they’re not very “winter-y.”

judy h. Avatar

I don’t buy commercial fragrances, they all smell like alcohol to me. There is a woman in my town who has a fragrance boutique. She mixes oils until she finds the right combination which complements a person’s natural chemistry. For winter, she does a mix of mostly sandalwood, moroccan rose, musk and a couple others I can’t remember. She also makes me a lotion, deep moisture creme, hand creme and milk soap. I love it!

Bonnie Avatar

Like a few of the others I read, I don’t change fragrance seasonally – just when one runs out, I open another. I buy new ones when I find something I really like, and leave it sealed until it’s time to open a new one. I probably go through about 4-5 bottles a year of fragrance.

Emi Avatar

TOM FORD Cafe Rose,Noir de Noir and Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise!!
Unfortunenaly, Vanilla & Anise had been discontinued. When it’ll be empty,I’ll buy TOM FORD’s Tabaco Vanilla.

I think they’re cousin.

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