When it comes to setting your winter fragrance lineup, there’s a pool of usual players to choose from: a musk here, an oud there. Throw in some leather and gourmands (lots of gourmands) and you’ve got yourself a nice, albeit predictable, selection for your winter scent wardrobe. But should you dare to venture outside your comfort zone—at least fragrance-wise—this winter is the time to do so.
This season’s biggest fragrance trends include carnal cresylics, unexpected takes on rose, and more scents that will make you do a double take. Perfumers are also predicting different ways to spritz on your favorites, like gamified scent sets. Below are the winter fragrance trends of 2024 that will dominate the upcoming season, straight from the people who would know best.
Meet the experts:
Modern rose
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As Allure has recently reported, rose is making a strong comeback in fine fragrance, transitioning from the traditional powdery aroma into something a bit more multifaceted and modern. In the past, this classic floral note was typically paired with fresh powdery scents or warm gourmands. In these new fragrances, you’re more likely to find rose alongside edgy notes like black pepper, caramel, oud, and leather, explains Christina Christie, a senior perfumer at Givaudan. “Rose’s versatility allows perfumers to craft dynamic compositions that appeal to a wide range of preferences from soft and delicate to bold and intense,” she says.
She loves the newly launched Balmain Paris Carbone Eau de Parfum and Tory Burch Sublime Eau de Parfum’s takes on rose. Carbone mixes the note with patchouli for a scent that starts powder-fresh before revealing a moodier musk with leather undertones. Sublime is an airy rose with a hint of mandarin and leather—a mix that sounds like it wouldn’t work, but absolutely does.
For a sensual take on rose, try the Best of Beauty Award-winning Parfums de Marly Delina, which warms sweet rose with musk and incense. For something more classic, turn to Diptyque Rose Roche, which opens with familiar rose notes before energizing you with citrus and patchouli. For a fuller-bodied fragrance, try Bulgari Le Gemme Sahare, a deep mix of rose, lemon, bergamot, and myrrh notes. “As consumers seek scents that evoke both nostalgia and freshness, rose is emerging as the perfect bridge between the familiar and the innovative,” Christie says.
Animalic blends
Animalic fragrances usually combine notes that give them extra depth and warmth, like oud, amber, cedarwood, and musk. This winter, Christie suggests looking for perfumes that include cresylic notes—which she says can smell like deep florals or wild horses—for the same carnal effect. “They’re intoxicating and can stir intrigue in a fragrance,” she says.