Hi Coco & Mainers!
Several months back we wrote a list of amazing summer perfumes that you needed to sample or add to your shelf (you can read that here), which showcased lovely and light summer scents. It is now time to gather up some of our favorite gourmand, deep, rich, and sensual scents that are perfect for heating up the chill of winter. Let's begin ( listed in no particular order):
1. Maison Margiela, 'REPLICA' By The Fireplace
Image not ours, courtesy of Nordstrom
If you are a perfume aficionado, you may be sick of hearing about this scent. You may think that it's too basic, too popular, and not unique enough for your usual niche palate. You would be right, but what's wrong with all of that? This amazing smoky scent smells just like roasting marshmallows over a fire, perfuming the air with nostalgia and a sensual sweet smoke. According to Sephora, this is a warm and spicy scent (as well as unisex!), and "combines orange flower, clove oil, and chestnut atop a comforting vanilla fragrance to recreate the signature warmth and coziness of a cracking fire". By the Fireplace has received a rating of 4.25 stars out of 5 on Sephora, and a rating of 4.32 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
2. Thin Wild Mercury, Whisky, 1969
Image not ours, courtesy of Fragrantica
Are you drawn to the nostalgic and glamourous world of Los Angeles? What about Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s? If so, this fragrance is definitely for you (in fact, the whole Thin Liquid Mercury house is for you. I have my eye on a few other fragrances). This strong and unisex parfum is a very niche way to show that you love comfort and warmth, as well as fun and a little bit of melancholy beauty. We suggest heading directly to the website of Thin Wild Mercury here to learn all about their process and inspiration when it comes to their scents. Whisky, 1969 has top notes of pink pepper and cardamom, middle notes of raspberry, nutmeg, ylang ylang, and base notes of cedarwood and bourbon amber. This woody and spicy scent has been referred to as "how I imagine Stevie Nicks smelled in the Fleetwood Mac heyday." This scent has received a rating of 4.53 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
3. Givenchy, L'Interdit Eau de Parfum
Image not ours, courtesy of Fragrantica
Shall we freshen up with a floral? This classic perfume is something you need to smell, like yesterday. The original formulation was created by the house of Givenchy in 1957 for actress Audrey Hepburn, who supposedly asked them to not make the perfume public since it smelled so good. I am a bit leery of older perfumes (sometimes the notes are not to my personal liking), but a more modern version of this perfume was created in 2018, perfect for those with the same worry as me. The notes include pear, bergamot, tuberose, patchouli, vetiver, and vanilla (among a few others). Reviewers describe this scent as smelling like moody floral, with a few saying it smells like an elevated grape soda. Decide for yourself if this is the fragrance for you! This scent has a rating of 4 out of 5 on Sephora and a rating of 3.92 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
4. Imaginary Authors, A Whiff of Waffle Cone
Image not ours, courtesy of Salt and Straw
Sometimes, you just want to smell like a dessert. Maybe the wind is roaring outside, maybe you missed a deadline at work, or maybe you are having some romantic issues. Whatever it is, a little sugar can help. This scent from niche and independent house Imaginary Authors is a grown up version of a vanilla waffle cone (and it's spot on, especially since they collaborated with company Salt and Straw on this scent). Smelling this scent creates images of a hot griddle where waffle cones are made, with lingering scents of caramel and vanilla in the air. We suggest heading to the Imaginary Author's website for more info here. Notes in this scent include syrup, whipped cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. This perfume has a rating of 3.87 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
5. By Killian, Angel's Share
Image not ours, courtesy of Lucky Scent
I need to give you a warning -- this scent is on the pricier side. However, to someone who is looking for the perfect cheerful, sweet and boozy scent, maybe it's time of splurge. This amber vanilla scent is meant to look like an art deco glass of cognac (and smell like one too!) with notes of cognac, cinnamon, tonka bean, oak, praline, vanilla, and sandalwood. I have yet to buy a full bottle (like I said, it's a bit pricy), but its definitely a fun and romantic scent that takes you to the decadence of the roaring 20s. This perfume has a rating of 4.35 out of 5 on Fragrantica, and has been described as "amazing, elegant, rum apple cinnamon pie".
6. Mugler, Alien
Image not ours, courtesy of Ulta
This scent is associated with the song 'Maneater' by Nelly Furtado in my head mostly due to TikTok. This powerful but sensual scent also happens to shine in the colder months while being worn year round! The notes of jasmine, wood, and amber create an almost gourmand scent with more unisex hints. It can also be a bit of a polarizing scent, but you definitely need to try it before you formulate an opinion on it. This scent was given a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Sephora, and a rating of 4.01 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
7. Lolita Lempicka, Original Lolita Lempicka
Images not ours, courtesy of Amazon
This whimsical house has created super sweet and edible scents, but this one has the extra edge of anis and licorice. The balance of sweet notes like vanilla and pralines and spicy notes like licorice and anis is, like one reviewer stated, "...like a fairy tale". While there seems to have been a reformulation that some loyalists think is blasphemous, this scent has a magical feel that cannot be ignored. This perfume has a rating of 4.06 out of 5 on Fragrantica.
8. Versace, Crystal Noire
Image not ours, courtesy of Amazon
This scent is just clearly moody and sensual, as well as fun and feminine. The abundance of florals is balanced by musk, ginger, and coconut. This lovely formulation is also definitely a head turner while also being a comfortable, cashmere - blanket type scent. According to reviews, this parfum has a strong presence, so don't attempt to wear it unless you want everyone in the room to look at you! This scent received a rating of 3.89 out of 5 on Fragrantica, and 4.6 stars out of 5 on Sephora.
Did we miss any of your favorite winter scents? Let us know! Thanks for reading! XOXO