Fall's 12 Best Fragrances Are Unexpectedly Boozy

Fun fact: Infiniment Coty Paris manufactured a Molecular Aura in their latest fragrance collection that allows the signature scent to stay powerful for up to 30 hours. It’s a key component of this vanilla amber fragrance, so it's no surprise that I catch a whiff of the notes from morning to night—even until the next morning. Its skin-like base is an addictive blend of vanilla bourbon and the amber of Peru balsam. I’m constantly smelling my wrists for a moment of calm during the day.

Notes: Vanilla planifolia, vanilla bourbon, Peru balsam

What We Love: Tested on sensitive skin; vegan; editor-loved; long-wearing

What We Don’t: This isn’t a super powerful fragrance; it’s warm but on the lighter side

The fourth launch from Orebella—and Bella Hadid’s “favorite”—is a seductive vanilla that the model wanted to smell like a “smoky bourbon.” It’s intoxicating on every front, which is why Associate Social Media Editor Ashlyn Delaney has chosen it as her fall pick. "When I first smelled it straight from the bottle, it made me reminisce about my childhood, specifically the days when I drank ginger ale with vanilla ice cream. I'm not kidding; this scent smells like a warm pop (or what y'all northern gals call soda),” she shares. “It's vibrant, and honestly, if 'fizzy' had a smell, this would be it. One thing I truly admire about Ms. Bella Hadid’s fragrance oils is that when rubbed on the skin, you pick up different scents—for me, I sensed musk and a bit of citrus.”

Notes: Ginger, cardamom, vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli

What We Love: Fizzy profile; pleasing to most people; sexy scent

What We Don’t: Has a bit of an oily texture; doesn’t last too long on the skin

Part of the Les Essences de Diptyque six-fragrance collection, Boise Corsé was quickly one of my fall favorites. The woody scent has quite the story: it was designed as a tribute to the rough outer mantle of a tree, designed to protect the vulnerable core. In that vein, it’s a blend of intense, identifiable notes right off the bat, while a softer, creamier aura reveals itself as it settles into the skin. It has an earthy, musky quality but still maintains a feminine air, making this my go-to for a night out. It’s a perfectly sexy scent.

Notes: Intense black coffee, sandalwood, tonka bean

What We Love: Adapts to your skin; smells distinct and different than what’s on the market; layers well with other fragrances

What We Don’t: Doesn’t last very long

Fall is not just about swapping out your wardrobe; it’s about changing your whole aura. For Contributing Beauty Writer Taryn Brooke, that means swapping out her fragrance. “Though I’m partial to floral scents year-round, I just started using Parfums de Marly’s new Palatine Eau de Parfum, and it actually smells like summer transitioning into fall. With notes of mandarin, bergamot, and pear, its floral scent also settles on a hint of musk, making me feel pretty yet all warm and cozy inside. Not to mention that the bottle is just regal-looking. Let’s just say, you know what I’ll be smelling like all fall,” she shares.

Notes: Mandarin, bergamot, pear, floral bouquet, sandalwood, patchouli, musk, vanilla

What We Love: Vhargese notes that elevated and unexpected fruit scents are trending for fall; editor-loved; opulent bottle

What We Don’t: This is an expensive fragrance—but you don’t need too much to experience the full effect of the blend

Glossier’s top-secret fragrance launch introduced two new scents into the brand’s fold: Glossier You Doux and Glossier Rêve. In the words of Emily Weiss, the former smells like “quiet luxury.” Marie Claire’s Beauty Director Hannah Baxter agrees, describing it as “your softest cashmere sweater distilled down into a perfume, with a hint of smokey firewood from your backyard firepit in Monterey.”

Notes: Sweet violet, palo santo, abrox

What We Love: Smells expensive at an affordable price point; editor-loved; enhances the natural skin scent and is pretty long-lasting

What We Don’t: Some people still prefer the original Glossier You, but keep in mind that perfume is very personal

Hermés gets pretty much everything right—ready-to-wear, accessories, bags. While I’m normally not a fan of designer perfumes, this sensual, sexy blend is my exception. It smells rich; it’s the fragrance I want to pair with Khaite jeans and the Birkin I don’t yet have. The perfume is definitely better suited for nighttime, as it's a heavier, more distinct combination of miracle berry, oak, and patchouli. It’s not overly feminine either, making it a great unisex option.

Notes: Miracle berry, butterfly lily, oak, patchouli

What We Love: Last forever; has a skin-like base; distinct and different

What We Don’t: Patchouli is quite a divisive note, so this probably isn’t for everyone

You may associate bright, fresh, fruity notes with summer fragrances, but berries are particularly well-suited to help transition your scent to fall. “This has notes of wild strawberry, red velvet rose, and cedarwood to give it a juicy, yet cozy vibe, that works for the cooler weather,” Contributing Beauty Writer Kayla Greaves says about this romantic scent. It’s vibrant and fizzy at first spray, but as it settles, you’ll feel like you're sitting on the couch while the strawberry pie bakes in the oven.

Notes: Wild strawberry, cedarwood, red velvet rose

What We Love: Editor-recommended; transitional scent

What We Don't: Very heavy on the rose

“As the weather starts to get cooler, I tend to lean into warmer and richer olfactive tones more and more,” says Verghese. That in mind, she’s been loving this intoxicating Chanel fragrance. Like most Chanel perfumes, it has a powdery, mature, and musky base. What sets it apart? There’s a brighter sparkle at first spray—you’ll get a whiff of cherry blossom and iris until it settles down into an earthier base.

Notes: Cherry blossom, iris, heliotrope, woods

What We Love: Editor-recommended; musky finish; signature Chanel dry-down

What We Don't: Too powdery for some

I’ve been a vanilla perfume fan for as long as I can remember. Don’t get me wrong: you won’t catch me wearing the overly sugary and sweet gourmands I gravitated to circa 2010. But the industry’s pivot towards sophisticated, layered vanillas has introduced me to this D.S. & Durga scent. It's warm and inviting—perfect for fall and winter—and has a soothing effect that instantly calms my nervous system. I like to apply it just before I crawl into bed.

Notes: Orchid, pink pepper, vines, green vanilla leaves, cypress root, vanilla absolute, dark patchouli, hay

What We Love: Layers incredibly with Coty Encore Une Fois Eau de Parfum; vanilla without smelling juvenile; strong scent that lasts all day

What We Don’t: It is distinctly vanilla, so if you don’t like a sweet scent, this won’t be for you

Inspired by the city of Paris and Josephine Baker (quite the duo), this fragrance has truly transformative properties. Champagne is a heart note, which makes the utmost sense given this fragrance’s fizzy—one might even say bubbly—nature. It’s bright and exciting, with just one spray capable of waking up all your senses. You’ll find a hint of spice from fresh ginger, but overwhelmingly, this perfume falls into the citrus-woody fragrance family.

Notes: Champagne, bergamot, juniper, pear, fresh ginger, ambrette, musk, oakwood, ambergris

What We Love: Stunning bottle; a unique scent that you won’t find many people wearing; truly adapts to your skin, so you won’t smell like anyone else

What We Don’t: The bottle shape make it a little difficult to spray—try using two hands

There are few things I love more than a mimosa during Sunday brunch—but I didn’t realize I wanted to also smell like one until this unisex fragrance floated across my desk. It leverages the bubbly, fruity factor of a mimosa with the spicyness of cardamom and the creamy texture of tonka bean to create a powdery floral. On its own, this Jo Malone fragrance leans more toward spring, but layer it with your favorite spicy scent or gourmand perfume, and you’ll bring out all the fall vibes.

Notes: Cardamom, mimosa, tonka bean

What We Love: Has a nice balance of fruity and spicy fragrance families

What We Don't: Not a very feminine scent

I’ll be honest: Some people really love this fragrance—but it’s certainly not for everyone. It’s strong, seductive, and very earthy. It’s mature by every definition of the word; think of it like the fragrance you’d find sprayed on your rich aunt or a Fortune 500 CEO.

Notes: Vanilla, cedar wood, tonka bean

What We Love: Strong and powerful; heavy bottle great for display

What We Don’t: Divisive, not everyone will like it