Wouldn’t be interesting to hear a men’s side of the story when it comes to fragrances, and see which fall perfumes our better halves should wear from a gentleman’s perspective? Best fall perfumes for women article is the second part of my fall fragrance guide series.
The first one is for men and the finishing chapter is dedicated to all of us who enjoy the best fragrance season of the year, which should be looked at as different enough, but with the same quality content.
One thing I have done in order to avoid any kind of influence or biased opinion was avoidance looking at other similar-themed articles or YouTube videos, and doing complete research and fragrance testing by myself.
Thus, what you’ll see here, will most likely be exclusive to Scent Grail, and provide you with a good selection of designer, niche, affordable and premium perfumes for ladies.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. By purchasing via provided links comes at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and/or services that are insightful and helpful to readers. For more info please read Affiliate Disclaimer.
What is a fall perfume
So, you may ask yourself what is actually a fall perfume or how can I know what to look for? Well, since the fall is a season which is between summer and winter, these types of perfumes are here to close the gap in this area.
While some days can still get hot as during the summer, at times the temperature can really drop, that’s why I have added even the extreme ends which are generally considered pure summer and winter scents.
Fall perfumes have a tendency to make you feel cozy, comforting, warm, and at times mysterious. These perfumes are not heavy and are not light. They sit in that sweet spot between those two and work fantastic.
In the end, you should wear what you like, not what anyone else says. The fine balance between choosing the right season for perfume, and how one projects around you is an art of its own.
Fall fragrance notes
When it comes to fall fragrance notes in the best fall fragrances for men category, there is an easy rule to follow. In my opinion, the fragrance world is interconnected with colors. A rule of seasonal colors, which for fall are Brown, Orange, Red, Black, and Yellow.
By following this rule, you can simply guess where to follow your nose and remove the doubt. Here are some notes you can expect to find in fall scents:
WOODY NOTES
- Patchouli
- Vetiver
- Cedar
- Agarwood (Oud)
- Oakmoss
WARM NOTES
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Honey
ANIMALIC NOTES
- Musk
- Amber
- Leather
- Ambergris
- Tolu Balsam
Note that there are other note variations and that the list is a basic guideline that you can follow on Woody, Warm and Animalic rule.
What are fragrance notes and accords?
Simply explained, notes are perfume indigents, and accords are “fantasy” notes made from several other notes to get one distinct accord(note) that couldn’t be recreated otherwise.
Such accords are leather, amber, and marine notes, while notes can be bergamot, rose, and vanilla. But, while it may sound as simple as this, there are some other things to consider as well.
Smelly alcohol-water known as perfumes are made from multiple notes and accords which are made from a mixture of natural and aroma-chemical indigents to form a general scent profile.
These notes and accords are separated into three different classes known as the perfume pyramid:
- Top Notes
- Middle Notes
- Base Notes
Each of the separate pyramid stages is carefully created by perfumes to evaporate accordingly.
For example, top notes such as citruses evaporate faster than for instance, Sandalwood and Agarwood found in the middle or base stage of the perfume.
In modern perfumery, accords are a vital part of creating a harmonious blend of two or more notes into a distinctive smell.
While this process is more complex than it may sound, it’s always good to know how is your perfume composed and when can you expect more natural indigents rather than synthetics.
So, to conclude the fragrance term referred to as “notes” and “accords” are often used as marketing to explain approximately what consumers may expect when smelling a particular perfume.
Read more about this topic here.
What are fragrance strengths & perfume concentrations?
Intertwined together, both terms refer to raw material oil concentration. As such, these concentrations vary from perfume to perfume and affect sillage and projection, among other things.
Depending on the brands, and their blending quality, it is not uncommon to find that eau de toilette projects much better than Eau de Parfum.
This is because the perfume oil “breaths” and performs much easier when less perfume oil is diluted in alcohol within the fragrance bottle.
Furthermore, most Western-style perfumes rarely contain fragrance essence only and also include perfumers’ alcohol, sometimes purified water, perfume oils, and aromatic compounds.
Besides shower gels and deodorants, all fragrant products fall into some of these main categories:
- Eau Fraiche 1-3%
- After Shave/Mist/Splash 1-3%
- Eau de Cologne 2-4%
- Eau de Toilette 5-15%
- Eau de Parfum 15-20%
- Pure Parfum/Extrait de Parfum 20-40%
It is good to know that not all perfumes perform exactly the same, just based on their aromatic compounds.
It is truly a remarkable thing that you can sometimes find lower-concentration perfumes that perform equally well or better than the highest-concentration Extrait de parfum.
This is because the perfume industry has not yet standardized the perfume’s concentrations intensities and differences.
Read more about this topic here.
Best fall perfumes for women: The list
Fall is probably the only season of the year where you can get by wearing almost any perfume you want while the dead cold temperatures are still not that fall away.
So, don’t get surprised if you see a couple of warm-weather perfumes here and there, to bring back that summer nostalgia in a snap.
1. Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense
A note from the brand: “With the Eau de Parfum Intense, Mon Guerlain continues to explore the many facets of femininity and invites women to affirm their differences and individuality. A true invitation to explore and reveal their personality.
So noble and so dear to the House, vanilla is given more prominence in this Eau de Parfum Intense, offering an addictive intensity to the overall fragrance and heightening its sensuality.”
Who would like Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense: Ladies interested in sweet, woody, and romantic scents will adore Mon Eau de Parfum Intense. With the romantic touches brought up by intense vanilla and creamy tonka beans, it’s ideal for those that wanted more substance and warmth not found in previous flankers. If you ask me, this is one more Guerlain that ladies will still wear in a hundred years’ time.
- Perfumer: Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum Intense
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Woody
- Release Date: 2019
- Most dominant notes: Lavender, Vanilla, and Tonka beans
- Age Group: 20+
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Occasions: Nighttime – Dating
- Longevity and Sillage: 10 – 12 hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Warm, Aromatic, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
2. Parfums de Marly Athalia
A note from the brand: “Athalia boasts a highly floral, woody and musky olfactory signature. Top notes of bitter orange and incense lead the wearer to the heart of this feminine eau de parfum, which combines powdery iris and delicate orange blossom enveloped in mysterious amber and caressed by white musk. It is an intriguing fragrance with a delicate opulence.”
Who would like Athalia: Strong and independent women that like powdery and woody accords would be probably pleased if Athalia was the only fragrance they use in the next 20 years. There is something ethereal, and timeless there that takes you on a timeless journey. Athalia’s elegance surprisingly works equally well as romantic and formal scent as well.
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Floral Musk
- Release Date: 2016
- Most dominant notes: Iris, Musk, Orange Blossom
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Daytime and nighttime – Dating and business
- Longevity and Sillage: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Floral, Powdery, Musky
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
3. Chanel Les Exclusifs Coromandel Eau de Parfum
A note from the brand: “Composed by Olivier Polge, Perfumer-Creator for the House of CHANEL, COROMANDEL Parfum is an intensely ambery oriental fragrance. The heart has been heightened to give the fragrance even greater warmth and fullness. Swirls of frankincense and Andalusian labdanum convey a darker ambery note with smoky accents that lend the fragrance a noble quality. Fabulously exotic and enchanting.
I almost fainted with happiness the first time I saw a Coromandel…” Gabrielle Chanel confessed. Although they were made in China, the screens were named after India’s Coromandel coast, from where they were shipped around the world. Mademoiselle Chanel was captivated by their delicate motifs incised into black lacquer. She covered her walls with the sophisticated screens to imbue her charmingly classic Paris apartment with a touch of exoticism and poetry.”
Who would like Coromandel: There are perfumes, and then, there are Perfumes. Coromandel belongs to that latter legendary group of fragrances everyone should sample if you still haven’t. By looking at the note pyramid, the usual citrus, woody, and oriental progression may not sound like one of the best of the genre. But, what makes Coromandel sit above almost any other fragrance of this kind is the genius inclusion of white chocolate that pops out in the base and rounds up the composition in such an addictive way, you won’t believe that Chanel is the first one to make this twist on patchouli.
- Perfumer: Olivier Polge
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Woody Oriental
- Release Date: 2016
- Most dominant notes: Vanilla, Patchouli, and White Chocolate
- Age Group: 30+
- Seasons: Fall, and Winter
- Occasions: Daytime and nighttime – Romantic, Business, Leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Ambery, Earthy, Sweet
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
4. Byredo Slow Dance
A note from the brand: “The slow dance: A rites-of-passage moment for both girls and boys before they metamorphose into women and men. A feeling of exhilaration tempered by awkwardness, a heady collision of innocence and experience, not knowing and knowing, felt across countries, cultures and time. Slow Dance mixes ideas of the feminine and masculine, bitter and sweet, in a rich, intoxicating distillation redolent of warm skin and breathless exchange. Here (high school) clichés mingle and become something more; at once familiar and iconoclastic, the ancient perfumer’s arsenal is made modern and anew.”
Who would like Slow Dance: A fragrance that sits in between that fine line of being a complete unisex dating scent, a man or a woman would like. Slow dance opens smelling very sweet with incense, and boozy accords dominating the first hours of fragrance life. While the dry down is more earthy and grounded, the boozy accord is still present. Just keep that in mind, because I cannot see it as an office scent. Ladies and gents who would like to impress others with their latest niche acquisition, and not smell like everyone else, should look no further.
- Perfumer: Jerome Epinette
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Woody Oriental
- Release Date: 2019
- Most dominant notes: Opoponax, Cognac, and Vanilla
- Age Group: 30+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Nighttime – Dating and romantic
- Longevity and Sillage: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Balsamic, Ambery, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
5. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense
A note from the brand: “Sixteen years after the launch of Light Blue, master perfumer Olivier Cresp writes another chapter of the Light Blue saga with Light Blue Eau Intense pour Femme.
Light Blue Eau Intense is more than a scent, it is the aura of Mediterranean beauty.
Inside its cool frosted-glass bottle, Light Blue Eau Intense takes on the evocative, light blue shade of the Mediterranean Sea. The tall, rectangular shape of the bottle has been redesigned with refined, feminine, and elegant lines resulting in a more sophisticated cap.”
Who would like Light Blue Eau Intense: Probably the most wearable fragrance on this list, and the one almost everyone smelled at some point in their lives. If not, this may be your latest fragrance darling.
Citrusy, musky, and with touches of florals, Eau Intense just works. Even in the fall. Versatility is the name of the game here, and what’s even better, the Eau de Parfum version has more richness than the original.
- Perfumer: Olivier Cresp
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Citrus Woody
- Release Date: 2017
- Most dominant notes: Lemon, Musk, and Apple
- Age Group: 18+
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Any occasion
- Longevity and Sillage: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 2/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Musky, Citrus, Woody
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
6. Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily
Prized in the Kohdo ceremony, the highly ritualized Japanese art of incense appreciation. Enriched with amber and black orchid. Illuminated by the clean sensuality of black cardamom, ginger and water lily. Calm and relaxing
Who would like Dark Amber & Ginger Lily: Fans of spicy fragrances, and somewhat similar to Versace Crystal Noir will find this Jo Malone an ideal niche replacement to the aforementioned Versace scent.
Not a clone, but a deeper experience. Don’t be afraid of notes such as incense, ambergris, sandalwood, and cardamom. The scent itself is perfectly unisex and performs better than much other stuff from the Jo Malone house. Somehow, it reminds me of traditional Japanese gardens and tea ceremonies.
- Perfumer: Andrea Lupo
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Cologne Intense
- Fragrance Type: Woody Spicy
- Release Date: 2008
- Most dominant notes: Ginger, Sandalwood, and Cardamom
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Daytime – Business and leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 8/10
- Accords: Spicy, Woody, Musky
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
7. Diptyque Tam Dao Eau de Toilette
A note from the brand: “A memory from the holy forests of Indochina, and the velvety, milky scent of sandalwood burned in temples. Yves Coueslant, one of diptyque’s founders, has never forgotten this fragrance from his childhood illustrated by sandalwood from Mysore cooled by vibrant cypress and myrtle.”
Who would like Tam Dao: Man or a woman, I’m yet to find someone who dislikes the creamy nature of sandalwood. There is just something special about this tree, that makes it leagues above anything else, enchanting and meditative.
Hints of cypress greenness and underlying spices are detectable, but all in all, Tam Dao might just be the best sandalwood perfume you’ll get your nose on.
- Perfumer: Daniel Molière
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Fragrance Type: Woody Green
- Release Date: 2003
- Most dominant notes: Sandalwood, Cypress, Cedarwood
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Daytime – Business and leisure
- Longevity and Sillage: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Woody, Green, Aromatic
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
8. The Different Company Rose Poivree
A note from the brand: “A spicy – floral Eau de Parfum composed by Jean-Claude Ellena.
I am an unrivalled contrast. Petal against petal, the Damascena Rose and the Centifolia Rose give structure to my floral base.
Together with this duo, the Black Pepper and the Pink Peppercorn unveil their character to fan the flame.
I am a sillage in majesty, my flower is the queen of the perfumery. Honeyed, warm, fresh, its numerous facets make it inexhaustible.
Here, its spicy notes are highlighted. We fall for me because of my honesty, we love me for my balance.
I am for women and men, my Rose is genderless. Devilishly voluptuous, I am a monument of the perfumery. I am Rose Poivrée.”
Who would like Rose Poivree: Not the first time, and certainly not the last time you’ll hear about Rose Poivree on Scent Grail. Daring rose as I like to say, is peppery, musky, and packs a good kick to all other rose fragrances on the market.
Not a classic rose, and with a distinct personality, with a hint of animalic accord, you’ll either love or dislike. A great counterpart to Zaharoff Signature Rose which leans more masculine than feminine.
To my nose, it smells photorealistic, and that includes all the parts of the rose, such as the flower together with its leaves, branches, and roots.
- Perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Floral
- Release Date: 2000
- Most dominant notes: Rose, Coriander, and Pink Pepper
- Age Group: 30+
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Occasions: Leisure and romantic
- Longevity and Sillage: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Low
- Likeability: Medium
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Floral, Spicy, Musky
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A+
9. Tom Ford Santal Blush
A note from the brand: “Tom Ford Santal Blush is mesmerizing, spicy wood oriental. A textured fusion of creamy sandalwood and exotic eastern spices is enhanced with intoxicating florals and sumptuous woods to create soft, naked glamour with a mysterious spirit of modern earthiness.
Its nude juice and blush colored packaging are as sensual as a beautifully contoured nude face.
Who would like Santal Blush: Almost every of my perfume lists has to have one Tom Ford fragrance included, and for a good reason. Tom Ford is my favorite perfume brand and the one that rarely releases anything but good.
Of everything from Ford’s Private Blend collection, I have decided to go with Santal Blush instead of other currently popular releases. Why? It has everything a Fall perfume should have. Creamy woods, spices, oriental notes such as benzoin, and guess what? It has that recognizable “Tom Ford effect” no other brand has.
Santal Blush feels like a warm, spiced sandalwood, sacred and sensual. Is it expensive? Yes. Does it smell fantastic? You bet it does.
- Perfumer: Yann Vasnier
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Woody Spicy
- Release Date: 2011
- Most dominant notes: Sandalwood, Spices, and Benzoin
- Age Group: 25+
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Nighttime – Dating and Romantic
- Longevity and Sillage: 10 – 12 hours with moderate projection
- Compliments: Medium
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 9/10
- Accords: Woody, Spicy, Powdery
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: A
10. Ariana Grande Cloud
A note from the brand: “It is no secret that Ariana Grande hearts clouds. What could be more inviting than feeling like you are on a cloud or at least holding one!
Whether it’s a gray day where you can stay at home and chill, or a day with bright blue skies with friends, the new Ariana Grande Cloud fragrance will make you feel inspired, cozy, and dreaming about what lies ahead.”
Who would like Cloud: Last, but not least, a cheapie. Have you heard about the biggest new thing in the perfume world called Baccarat Rouge 540? It is quite nice, is it?
Well, did you know that you can smell almost exactly like Baccarat Rouge 540 for a tenth of the price? Yup, that’s true. That cotton candy-like aroma is here with the infusion of additional sweetness coming from whipped cream.
In my opinion, Cloud is your best bet if you want to save some cash and still smell like the most popular fragrance of today.
- Perfumer: Clement Gavarry
- Perfume Oil Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Type: Sweet Floral
- Release Date: 2018
- Most dominant notes: Coconut, Whipped Cream, and Praline
- Age Group: 18+
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Any occasion
- Longevity and Sillage: 10 – 12 hours with great projection
- Compliments: High
- Likeability: High
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
- Accords: Sweet, Lactonic, Oriental
- Holy Grail Scent Rating: B+
Conclusion
Ladies, there you go. These were my personal fragrance picks for the best Fall perfumes for women in 2022. Hopefully, you have found something new, and different as well.
Have you tried any of the perfumes on this list? Let me know in the comment section below and let’s start a conversation.
In case you are in wonder whether you should consider buying any of the perfumes on this list, it’s always good to take a look at Scent Grail’s S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide.
It is easy to use and the most relevant perfume buying guide on the web. This way, you can check out if a particular fragrance is worth checking out, and potentially find your signature perfume.
If you have enjoyed this post, find out more Scent Grail articles about perfumery, check out top lists, and other helpful reviews via links below:
REVIEWS
- Hermes Terre D’Hermès
- Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza
- Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum
- Karl Lagerfeld Lagerfeld Classic For Men
- Dior Homme 2020
- Armaf Club De Nuit Intense Man
TOP LISTS
- Top 10 Designer Perfume Brands
- Best Men’s Fragrances Of All Time
- Best Books About Perfume
- Best Office Colognes
- Best Signature Scents For Men
- Best Cheap Perfumes For Men
SCENT GRAIL LEARNING CENTER
- Perfume Testers Vs. Retail Boxed Fragrances
- Perfume Shopping Tips
- How To Buy Vintage Perfume
- How To Start A Perfume Collection
- History Of Perfume
- Fragrance Addiction
Until next time, have a great time and keep smelling like a million bucks!
Best, Marin!
#scentgrail #scentgrailtribe
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