Fall is the hardest season to dress for and the easiest to smell good in. Mornings are cold, afternoons can still be warm, and the right perfume handles both.
What makes a good fall scent
Warmth, but not too much. Spice, soft woods, a little vanilla or amber. Enough to feel cosy on a cool morning, not so much that it's stuffy by two o'clock.
Something to bridge the seasons. The best fall scents still have a bright opening — citrus, herbs, fruit — before they turn warm.
Notes that match the season. Apple, pear, cinnamon, tobacco, leather, dry woods. Fall smells like these things, and perfume follows.
For women
Holly & Devil — saffron, thyme and mandarin into lily and orchid, over vanilla, tonka bean and oakmoss. Warm, a little spicy, and perfect for October. $29.99
Gold Spike — almond and coffee into tuberose and jasmine, over praline, cacao and vanilla. Sweet and rich, for cooler evenings. $34.99
Fortune — pineapple and pink pepper into iris and jasmine, over patchouli and vanilla. Bright enough for warm days, with a deeper base for cool ones. $34.99
For men
Giorgio Piero — tarragon, rosemary and basil, then anise, over vanilla, almond and tonka bean. Herbs on top, warmth underneath. $29.99
RichOne — mandarin and mint into cinnamon and rose, over amber, leather and patchouli. Spicy and warm without going too far. $29.99
For anyone
Dark Ego — tobacco leaf and spice, then vanilla, cacao and tonka bean. The classic fall scent: cosy, smooth and very well liked. $39.99
Dark Flower — truffle, gardenia and blackcurrant over chocolate, patchouli and incense. Dark, rich and made for the end of the season. $39.99
How to wear it
Fewer sprays than in winter. Warm scents grow on warm afternoons. One or two is plenty in early fall.
On skin under a collar. Scarves and jackets come out in fall, and a spray on the chest drifts up through them all day.
Switch slowly. Early October still wants something lighter. By November you can go as warm as you like.
We're D&P Fragrances — our own scents, our own New Jersey stores, and the best fall perfumes you'll find for the price.
