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Fall is my favorite season and a perfect time for the Top Fall Perfumes List. As the days get shorter and colors get richer, we say goodbye to carefree summer days. Long walks on the beach, fresh sea breeze, and cocktail-sipping days have been replaced by long chilly nights, festive cookies, and pumpkin spice lattes. It is a time when we self-reflect.
But, this transitional season comes with an advantage over the summer. Besides the cooler clothes, are fall perfumes. The fresh aquatic and citrus/floral perfumes are switched for heavier spicy, gourmand, leather, and woody compositions.
I am a believer that you can wear everything and anything anywhere you want since experiencing the same fragrance in many seasons, more often than not, it can show many hidden layers. Layers that you wouldn’t get if you just stick to the suggested time of year.
Yet there are times that some notes just work better in the designated situation and weather. That’s why I have decided to create this list specifically for Fall and include fragrances that I think would work best in temperatures lower than 20 degrees.
There are some rules I have set for this list that will be followed and are made in order to avoid generic lists. Those are the following:
- Included perfumes are owned by me, tested, or have been owned in the past
- Easy to find and purchase
- Based entirely on my personal experience with the perfume
- A Man or a Woman can wear any of the included compositions
“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.”
– J.K. Rowling
The mentioned perfumes are listed in no particular order since I like them all. The list will include both niche and designer brands, thus, the pricing should be for everyone. I hope you enjoy my picks and let’s get to it!
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 that is between summer and winter, these types of perfumes are here to close the gap in this area.
While some days can get hot as during the summer, at times the temperature can really drop, that’s why I have avoided the extreme ends which are generally considered pure summer and winter scents.
Fall perfume is something that makes you 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 fantastically.
Let’s check out some of the most used fall fragrance notes next.
Fall Fragrance Notes
When it comes to fall fragrance notes, there is an easy rule to follow. In my opinion, the fragrance world is interconnected with colors. A rule of seasonal colors, 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 the Woody, Warm, and Animalic rule.
Top Fall Perfumes to keep an eye on
1. Lalique Encre Noire A L’Extreme
Perfume Type: Woody Aromatic
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Vetiver, Incense, Cypress
Target Audience: Men, 30+
Longevity and Projection: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: Early Spring and Fall, Day and Night, Business and Night Out
Nose: Nathalie Lorson
Release Date: 2015
Lalique Encre Noire A L’Extreme is a flanker of its popular older brother Encre Noire. When translated to English(Black Ink Extreme), some may think that all they are getting is a darker scent which ain’t completely true.
The master Perfumer Nathalie Lorson went with the smart route and created a fragrance that is more wearable and richer than its predecessor.
Vetiver and Cypress are this time supported by delicate Benzoin and Incense notes which provide a manly and sophisticated scent trail. Recommend to confident men who enjoy the aromatic and balsamic olfactive notes.
2. Dior Fahrenheit
Perfume Type: Leather Floral
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Toilette
Mayor Notes: Leather, Violet, and Vetiver
Target Audience: Men, 30+
Longevity and Projection: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: All year round, Day and Night, Casual and Romantic
Nose: Michel Almairac and Jean-Louis Sieuzac
Release Date: 1988
Created by two fantastic perfumers composed for perfume giants like Gucci Pour Homme, Joop Homme, Opium for Her, and Hermes Bel Ami, Fahrenheit stands as their career-defining crown jewel.
Released at the end of the ’80s, when the aquatic scents started to arrive, Fahrenheit was different than anything else on the market. The truth is that it still is. More often than not, this creation is still topping the perfume lists as the best men’s release ever.
Men who are not afraid of what other people will say about their fragrance and clothing style should give Fahrenheit a try. Gasoline-like aroma dominates this perfume, which comes from the marriage of violet and leather.
3. Guerlain Shalimar
Perfume Type: Oriental
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Vanilla, Citruses, and Musk
Target Audience: Women, 30+
Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Nighttime, Business, and Romantic
Nose: Jacques Guerlain
Release Date: 1925
Alongside Chanel’s No. 5, Guerlain’s Shalimar is the most famous perfume in the world. Almost a century old, Shalimar stands as a tribute to the famous love story between the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
During the 1920′, it had a reputation as a ‘bad girls’ perfume which survived up till this date. In five more years and Shalimar will mark its 100 anniversary. It is a testament to Jacques Guerlain’s artistic creation and taking risks at a time when such things were not done so often.
Marketed for ladies, in this age, a man could easily wear Shalimar without being afraid of smelling feminine. If that’s even a thing these days. Personally, this Eau de parfum is one of my favorite fragrances of all time and I wear it proudly.
Citruses and heavenly vanilla notes dominate during the life of this masterful fragrance and I recommend it wholeheartedly to a man or a woman.
4. Tom Ford Black Orchid
Perfume Type: Oriental, Woody
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Chocolate, Patchouli, Vanilla, and Truffle
Target Audience: Unisex, 25+
Longevity and Projection: Great longevity with heavy projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Day and Night, Casual and Business
Nose: Givaudan perfumers
Release Date: 2006
Black Orchid is like Guerlain’s Shalimar another perfume from this list that is unisex in disguise. Also, it’s another one that regularly tops the lists for Top Fall Perfumes.
It’s sweet and edible-like. Masterful and often seen as a statement fragrance. For those who are not afraid of floral notes and enjoy intoxicating aromas.
Opulent chocolate dominates the fragrance while earthy patchouli, mysterious truffle, and luxurious orchid give it a rich and dark vibe. While black orchid doesn’t exist in real life, with Tom Ford’s Black Orchid we can imagine how powerful would it smell.
5. Montblanc Explorer
Perfume Type: Aromatic, Citrus
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Bergamot, Ambroxan, and Pepper
Target Audience: Anyone, Any Age
Longevity and Projection: Superb longevity with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: All year round, Day and Night, Clubbing and Casual
Nose: Jordi Fernandez, Antoine Maisondieu, and Olivier Pescheux
Release Date: 2019
Better known as the designer Creed Aventus, Mont Blanc Explorer has taken the world by storm. It is more than some might say, and it is a fantastic release by the house of Mont Blanc.
Combining the best parts of Creed Aventus and Dior’s Sauvage, Explorer stays natural smelling and provides a long-lasting aroma. Best used in fall while the temperature is still in the ’20s, this Bergamot, Ambroxan, and Pepper attracts positive reactions.
Lasting for more than a day, in this price bracket, you will hardly find anything that outperforms Explorer in the longevity department.
6. Burberry London
Perfume Type: Spicy, Woody
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Toilette
Mayor Notes: Cinnamon, Tobacco, and Woods
Target Audience: Men, 30+
Longevity and Projection: Moderate longevity and soft projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Nighttime, Business, and Casual
Nose: Antoine Misondieu
Release Date: 2006
Yet another perfume from senior perfumer Antoine Misondieu and one of his finest works. London is better known as Christmas in the bottle, and arguably the best festive season fragrance.
It reminds me of Christmas family gatherings, enjoying fine wine, and eating sweet cookies. Since it contains tobacco, cinnamon, port wine, and leather, it also is regularly associated with fall.
For the suggested price, it is a no brainier. If you are interested in a “similar” scent profile, I also recommend checking out Herod by Parfums de Marley.
7. Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
Perfume Type: Gourmand, Spicy, Oriental
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Cloves, Vanilla, and Musk
Target Audience: Unisex, 30+
Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours of longevity with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Nighttime, Business, Romantic
Nose: Maurice Roucel
Release Date: 2000
Frederic Malle’s Musc Ravageur is a legendary perfume for a reason. It pushed the boundaries of what an oriental can be. Bold and provocative, Musc Ravageur grabs your attention like a beast and never lets go.
A perfect romantic scent if your better half can accept the alluring and powerful blend of semi-tamed animals. In my eyes, Musc Ravageur is a 21st-century Guerlain Shalimar. Arguably, a needed refresher.
Don’t be afraid of the musk that always seems to be somewhere in the background. Once you get the message behind this creation, its spicy middle notes and amazing amber base will never let your heart go.
8. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Perfume Type: Oriental, Spicy
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Tobacco, Vanilla, Dried Fruits
Target Audience: Unisex, 25+
Longevity and Projection: Fantastic longevity with great projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Romantic, Festive, Casual
Nose: Olivier Gillotin
Release Date: 2007
Delicious and sweet, yet not overbearing. Smelling like the finest vanilla combined with pipe tobacco makes Tobacco Vanille very wearable for either sex.
Released back in 2007 as part of the first Tom Ford Private Blend collection and is still their best seller. Tom Ford described that the fragrance’s inspiration came from the city of London, UK which should remind you of the English Gentleman’s Club.
One thing is for sure, there is a high chance that this fragrance will become one of your favorite tobacco scents.
9. Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician
Perfume Type: Sweet, Woody
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Vetiver, Marron Glace, Creamy Vanilla
Target Audience: Men, 30+
Longevity and Projection: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall, Daytime, Casual, and Business
Nose: Antoine Maisondieu
Release Date: 2009
Arguably, the fragrance with the best backstory on this list, Fat Electrician is in all its beauty, another wonderful fall-time creation.
I’m not sure how much of the story is true, but it goes something like this: long-lost youth of the former gigolo never to be relived again. Now a little less attractive with glory days behind him, working as an (Fat) Electrician in New Jersey as his sexual allure has depleted. A “farewell” to the glory days!
Sweet and woody, Fat Electrician is a niche take on vetiver note. What separates this one from the “standard vetiver perfumes is its transcendental chestnut glaze note, backed up with cream and vanilla. During the dry down, I also get balsamic myrrh which shows its face from time to time.
10. Yves Saint Laurent Opium
Perfume Type: Oriental
Perfume Concentration: Eau de Parfum
Mayor Notes: Myrrh, Carnation, Incense
Target Audience: Women, 25+
Longevity and Projection: Superb longevity with great projection
Seasons and Occasions: Fall and Winter, Nighttime, Business, and Romantic
Nose: n/a
Release Date: 2009
Last, but not least, we have Opium from YSL which I adore. I am not familiar with the original creation from the ’70s, but I can imagine how good it is.
Marketed for women, yet I think that any scent from this Top Fall Perfumes list can be worn by either sex. Mayor’s resinous notes leave an uplifting and spicy trail. For generations, ladies have been rocking Opium, and men should give it a chance.
It’s like a diamond that you’ll never forget.
Conclusion
There you go. Hopefully, you have enjoyed my Top Fall Perfumes list and found something for yourself. I can’t wait for temperatures to go down and start wearing heavier fragrances. I have tried to choose fragrances which can be worn by men and woman of all ages.
So, tell me, do you agree with my pick and which fragrances in your collection you cannot wait to wear? Let’s start a conversation and make sure to leave a comment in the comment section.
Until next time, keep smelling great!
Best, Marin.
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– Marin Kristic
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