10 best winter perfumes to wear all season, according to a beauty writer

Prepare to smell like cosy perfection


by Phoebe Denman |
Updated on

Unsurprisingly, searches for the 'best winter perfumes for women' are at an all-time high right now. While most scents are wearable and workable throughout the year, there truly are some that scream winter and the best news is that they exist across the scent houses. So, whether you sway towards a more sexy musk or a floral spritz, there is a winter scent out there for you.

While we associate summer perfumes with more lightweight citruses and breezy florals, the cooler weather and longer evenings call for calming woody scents, warm amber and cosy vanilla; all of which have equally comfy and glam feels.

heat's best winter perfumes at a glance:

Best sensual winter perfume: Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum 30ml, £50.25 on LookFantastic

Best oud winter perfume: Oud Mood 72ml, £15.25 on Amazon

Best vanilla winter perfume: Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa '71 Perfume Mist 240ml, £30.40 on LookFantastic

Not sure how to pick a winter fragrance? Don't worry, we've got you. Here are our tried and tested picks of the best winter fragrances of all time to wear on repeat this season. Including celebrity-favourite perfumes such as Love Island's Jess Spencer's signature scent that she wore in the villa.

SHOP: The best winter perfumes 2024

Best sensual winter perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de ParfumLookFantastic
Price: $50.25 (was £67)

www.lookfantastic.com

This is hands down one of my favourite perfumes ever. It's sensual, seductive and a total compliment magnet. It has a distinctly sweet, fruity scent, defined by pear accord and mandarin essence at the top, which are then undercut with black coffee at the heart, and an earthier, woodier feel (with patchouli and white musk) at its base.

Pros

  • One of the most highly rated perfumes in the UK
  • Contains a blend of bold coffee, sultry vanilla and delicate blooms
  • Customers love that they get compliments while wearing this fragrance

Cons

  • Some found they may need to top it up during the day

Best oud winter perfume

perfumeAmazon
Price: $15.25 (was £15.74)
Alternative retailers
FragranceNet.com$16.79View offer
Walmart$18.87View offer
FragranceX$23.99View offer

This fragrance is a perfect fusion of rose, caramel and saffron, creating a rich and decadent aroma that's impossible to resist. A reviewer said it was their first time trying an oud perfume but said that they love it so much that they wear it for special occasions. Whether it's date night or a day in the office, I promise this perfume will bring in alllll the compliments. Plus, it was spotted in the Love Island villa this year, confirming its must-have status.

Pros

  • A bestseller on Amazon and a celebrity-endorsed favourite
  • Contains a fusion of rose, caramel, saffron and oud
  • Customers say it's very good value for money

Cons

  • Rose scent may be overpowering at first but mellows down when it dries

Best vanilla winter perfume

Sol De Janeiro Cheirosa '71 Perfume MistLookFantastic
Price: $30.40 (was £38)

www.lookfantastic.com

For me, this is up there as one of my all-time favourite winter perfume choices thanks to its combination of comforting and sweet scents. It features rich top notes of caramelised vanilla and sea salt, followed by buttery and creamy heart notes that combine toasted macadamia nut and white chocolate for an indulgent, good-enough-to-eat twist. It's rounded off with base notes of tonka bean and coconut blossom, which give it a pleasant, spicy scent.

Pros

  • The brand is loved by celebs and endorsed by Love Islanders
  • Contains a comforting blend of vanilla, white chocolate and macadamia nut
  • A reviewer said it's perfect to cheer you up in autumn/winter

Cons

  • May be too sweet a fragrance for some

Best floral winter perfume

All Saints Ravaged Rose Unisex FragranceAll Saints

With citrusy top notes of Italian bergamot and lemon sfuma offset by the floral scents of rose damascena absolute, ivy greens and waterlily, this gives off major winter vibes. Finished off with a subtle warm aroma of amber to stop it being too sweet, this is deffo a fragrance we expect to smell everywhere this winter. It's the most refreshing, unique, pleasant perfume in my collection.

Pros

  • A recent launch for 2024 and new to the fragrance arena
  • Contains blends of pepper, berries, and ivy with a musky, woody base
  • According to the heat team, it has a unique scent unlike any other

Cons

  • Some reviewers said it's not as unisex as advertised

Best fruity winter perfume

Coach Love Eau de ParfumLookFantastic
Price: $42 (was £56)

www.lookfantastic.com

This flirty fragrance offers a refreshing take on florals. Swelling with wild strawberries and warming cedarwood, it will create a playful yet sensual aura with just one spritz. Reviewers say it's perfect for everyday wear, especially with being such an affordable price.

Pros

  • A trending perfume at the moment
  • Contains notes of strawberries and rose with a cedarwood base
  • Reviewers say it's sweet without being too overpowering

Cons

  • May lack the depth that other winter perfumes have

Best sophisticated winter perfume

DKNY 24/7 Eau de Parfum SprayDKNY
Price: $33.75 (was £45)

www.lookfantastic.com

A bold yet grown-up option, this pick is the personification of confidence. With lots of light, floral notes, it serves as an immediate mood booster on dull days. One reviewer took to the comments to say that the perfume surprised them in the best way possible, with great lasting power and a lovely scent.

Pros

  • A nod to nostalgic DKNY scents but with an updated feel
  • Contains a fusion of rhubarb, jasmine, sandalwood and musk
  • A reviewer commented that it has great lasting power

Cons

  • Some reviewers commented it smells slightly synthetic

Best gourmand winter perfume

A soothing scent that smells warm and buttery–like the waft of a dessert baking in the oven. One reviewer said that this amazing perfume smells like butterscotch and toffee with a citrus burst, a great fragrance for autumn and winter. Plus, it clings to your clothing, meaning it will last a little longer without the need to constantly top up.

Pros

  • An affordable price point from a high street brand
  • Contains a comforting fusion of butterscotch, lemon myrtle and fenugreek
  • Reviewers say it has great lasting power

Cons

  • Very hard to find cons for this fragrance, but one reviewer said they wish it lasted longer on the skin

Best warm winter perfume

Marks & Spencer Discover Soft Oud Marks & Spencer

This perfume boasts a soft and elegant blend of oud, rose and tonka bean, with hints of amber and vanilla adding extra interest. The result is luxurious, soothing and unique. M&S perfumes have been a hit on the high street lately, with a customer commenting that they wanted to wear an alternative to their favourite high-end brand at work, and they've found it in Discover Soft Oud.

Pros

  • The brand is a popular choice for fragrances with trending scents
  • Contains a warm blend of rose, tonka bean, amber, vanilla and oud
  • Reviewers say it smells expensive

Cons

  • Given how affordable it is, customers say the lasting power could be longer

Best daytime winter fragrance

Phlur Vanilla Skin Eau de ParfumPhlur
Price: $99
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=002d478c1432f3bdaef1230696c79c6d&prodOvrd=PCR&opt=false&u=WERGFEcNF0xGQ0QcFVYSDA4XBx9RXF0ZSUQMU0wAQh9EUwpTUkoKX1EeUAlKTwEAEEtVVx5AV0tQFloUMwMAAwtVBQ%3D%3D&x=v1&prdId=9742738515&barcode=AAAKVQQHAVEABwMCXwA%3D
Alternative retailers
Nordstrom$29.00View offer
Kohl's$99.00View offer
REVOLVE$99.00View offer
Anthropologie$99.00View offer

Up the ante with this sensual scent. Blending its creamy, vanilla centre with spices, it’s the perfect addition to spruce up your morning routine or to wear out to a cosy dinner. A fan of the trending perfume claimed they didn't usually reach for vanilla scents, but found this fragrance warm and comforting without being overpowering, like being 'wrapped in a blanket with a hot chocolate.'

Pros

  • Currently a trending fragrance on TikTok
  • Contains a cosy blend of pink pepper, sugar, cashmere, vanilla and sandalwood
  • Customers loved how comforting this perfume smelled

Cons

  • More expensive than other perfumes on the list, customers question value for money

Best evening winter fragrance

Maison Margiela Jazz Club Eau De ToiletteJohn Lewis
Price: $60
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=002d478c1432f3bdaef1230696c79c6d&prodOvrd=PCR&opt=false&u=WERGFEcNF0xGQ0QcFVYSDA4XBx9RXF0ZSUQMU0wAQh9CVxRYXlsCHF5SSBweAQgUB0thAQsFBQwG&x=v1&prdId=9742735550&barcode=AAMEVQAFD1AADAYKUAs%3D
Alternative retailers
Walmart$46.99View offer
FragranceX$59.99View offer
FragranceNet.com$69.99View offer
Kohl's$85.00View offer

Developed around notes of primofiore lemon, clarysage oil and tobacco leaf absolute, this ambery fragrance is the perfect kind of indulgent and sensual for your Saturday night out. It's crisp, yet delicate with a base of styraxresin and vanilla bean. It feels special and personal, so it's a forever favourite I end up reaching for a lot.

Pros

  • A highly-rated unisex scent perfect for winter months
  • Contains scents of pink pepper, neroli, sage, rum, vanilla and tobacco
  • A reviewer said they use this as a date night perfume

Cons

  • A unisex scent, but may be on the more masculine side for those who prefer sweet perfumes

Which type of perfume is best for winter?

You can wear your favourite scents all year round if you really want to, but perfumes often associated with winter are usually somewhat musky, woody or warm in nature with a little bit more depth and richness than your typical summer fragrance.

Think ingredients such as sandalwood cedarwood, oud, tobacco or leather as a base. Winter perfumes can also contain musky scents like amber or saffron, but may also feature sweeter, spicier scents to balance it out. So, things like vanilla, cinnamon, clove and so on.

Phoebe Denman is a Style Writer for heat and Closer where she covers fashion and beauty content. She writes broadly across both for print and online, covering everything from trend reports and shopping pages, to product reviews and chatting to celebs about their style faves.

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