It's no secret that, as a beauty editor with a specialty in fragrance, my collection is grotesquely large—and autumn perfumes are some of my absolute favourites. You see, I keep around 100 of the best perfumes in my personal stash. Shockingly, this doesn't include the hundreds of others I keep for reference purposes. All in all, my perfume collection stands at circa 500 (but who's counting?). And while I would never condone anyone buying such an absurd number of fragrances, I write about perfume every single day, so feel that it's important I have them to hand in order to give you the best reviews and advice.
And with the arrival of autumn (and as we step into prime time for fragrance launches), I am fresh out of my annual perfume collection clear out. Every single year, in September, I smell every perfume in my collection (disposing of the downright ancient, soured ones) and rethink my system. And for 2024, I have been particularly brutal with what I have decided to keep on my personal shelves and what has been relegated to the archive cupboards (or, in some cases, even given away to friends). The bottles that got to stay in my autumn rotation had to be long-lasting perfumes, fragrances that smell expensive (even if they aren't), scents that win me compliments and, most importantly, possess that sort of joyful comfort that only an autumn perfume can.
So, from inviting floral scents and luxury perfumes that ooze the sort of richness you want out of your cosy-season fragrance to soft power perfumes and sultry smoky scents, I like to think that my personal edit of autumn perfumes sums up the best of the best quite nicely.
Although, this month, as I worked through each of my perfumes one by one—both old and new—I noticed that all of my chosen perfumes had a particular theme. There is no doubt that this season has proved the busiest for fragrance launches that I have ever known, and I have been working in this field for nearing on a decade. And with the majority of my autumn perfume collection being made up of new scents, I couldn't help but notice something—most of these new launches are shockingly expensive.
While I would typically hold my hands up here and own up to the fact that I am a perfume snob, in 2024, I actually believe the average RRP of my perfume edits is simply not my fault. Rather, it shows that we are, truly, living in an age of very, very expensive perfumes—even some of the more accessible brands are hiking their prices up with punchier, more luxurious takes on their classic scents. And while there are some more bank-account-friendly blends I consider good enough to call out, the competition in the fragrance game is simply getting fiercer and fiercer.
So, with all of this being said, here are (in my expert opinion) the best autumn perfumes in existence—and the only ones that made it out of my cull unscathed, regardless of their price tag.
1. Givenchy L'Interdit Absolu
My goodness I adore everything about this fragrance. Although I have absolutely no doubt in my mind it lends itself to evening soirées and nights out, its versatility and freshness (thanks to clean, welcoming florals in orange blossom and jasmine) means I have also been known to reach for L'Interdit Absolu on drab days when I want a pep in my step. While it swaddles you up in a masterful concoction of powdery flowers and spicy fruits, tobacco smoke swirls between the petals to make the whole experience totally intoxicating and undeniably sensual.
Why I love it: To me, a few spritzes of this is like walking down the Champs-Élysées in the early hours of the morning, stilettos in hand, on your way to discover the secrets of Paris after dark.
2. Diptyque Orphéon
Anyone who knows me will tell you that this perfume is basically a part of me. If you cut me open, I wouldn't be surprised if I bled Diptyque Orphéon. It is, in my opinion, one of the finest perfumes ever created. While I find an excuse to wear it year round, there's no questioning that its powdery, luxe-smelling nature lends itself to the autumn months. It lasts all day, wins me countless compliments from the harshest of perfume critics and smells absolutely divine.
Why I love it: It's like stepping foot into a Hollywood powder room in the Golden Age, where face powder, perfume and cigarette smoke entwine in the air.
3. Victoria Beckham Beauty 21:50 Rêverie
If you love Victoria Beckham Beauty perfumes as much as I do, you will likely already know that each fragrance has been created with a personal memory of Victoria's in mind. 21:50 Rêverie is a night she spent on Java island in 2001, surrounded by thousands of tea candles with a "luscious, earthy scent" filling the air. Vanilla is, undeniably, the star of the show, but there is a very subtle smokiness that makes it work for both day and night. But do not be deterred by said smokiness, 21:50 Rêverie is one of the most delicate, soft and wearable vanillas around.
Why I love it: To me, this scent is like being swaddled up in a warming, creamy, skin-like hug of sugar, spice and everything nice.
4. Glossier You Doux
Nothing has earned me more compliments in the past three weeks than this fragrance from Glossier. Sure, it contains one of my favourite fragrance notes in violet (a super-powdery floral that is light on the nose and clean-smelling), but it also possesses an elemental woodiness, courtesy of palo santo, that is more reminiscent of freshly split wood than it is smoky burn.
Why I love it: The cosy woodiness sits on the iconic bed of Glossier You's ambrox, binding the fragrance to your skin in a way that makes it feel like it has always been a part of you.
5. Tom Ford Black Lacquer
If you want a night-out perfume that packs an almighty punch, I introduce Black Lacquer. It is, in my opinion, the most Tom Ford Tom Ford fragrance I have ever smelled. It is a smoky bomb of leather intertwined with a plastic-sweetness reminiscent of gloss lipstick, sky-high patent stilettos and a cracking good time. It is sexy, it is powerful and, my goodness, it is alluring.
Why I love it: It reminds me getting ready with the girls for a night out when I was in my early twenties—fuelled by make-up, perfume and general fierceness.
6. Dior J'adore l'Or
I have been a die-hard fan of J'adore since I was a teenager. It is one of the few classic perfumes that I have continued to wear over the years. The latest iteration of the scent, however, is punchier, more floral and absolutely perfect for cold, autumnal evenings. Created by none other than Francis Kurkdjian, the best way I can describe l'Or is like a bouquet of heady florals drenched in liquid gold—it is pure opulence.
Why I love it: It brings classic perfumes into the modern day with a warming, addictive element that makes everyone around you go weak at the knees.
7. Le Labo Thé Matcha 26
We're shifting gears a little with this one. While I know countless colleagues who lean on Le Labo's Thé Matcha 26 in the warmer months, for me it really comes into its own when the temperatures drop, the air feels crisp and I'm encased in wooly knits. The combination of fig and matcha make for a creamy, comforting, delectable delight, while cedarwood gives it the sort of longevity you expect from a £170 fragrance.
Why I love it: It's luxe, warm and skin-like in a way that no other perfume is, and I never encounter anyone else smelling like it.
8. Chanel Comète
There are few perfumes I feel more drawn to come autumn than Chanel Comète. It fuses with the skin in a way that no other perfume I have ever experienced does. Sure, it cloaks you in a skin-like veil of soft, wooly comfort, but it also possesses a sparkling element of pure luxury that doesn't just leave you smelling expensive, but leaves you feeling expensive.
Why I love it: No perfume on this list compares when it comes longevity—and that doesn't mean it is heady, either. The soft swaddle of luxurious comfort envelops you all day long.
9. Parfums de Marly Palatine
While Parfums de Marly might be best known for its otherworldly ability to create a moreish gourmand, Palatine proves soft, clean-smelling, powdered scents are every bit as much in its repertoire. This fragrance starts with a juicy, fruity opening, that I'll be honest, isn't going to blow anyone's socks off—it just smells undeniably pleasant at first. But, after a few seconds, the soft, powdered element takes charge, veiling the skin in a sugared sort of violet petal to leave you feeling comforted beyond compare. If you're into soft, skin-like, powdery freshness, do not skip on Palatine.
Why I love it: There is something familiarly nostalgic about Palatine—one inhale takes me back to being a child, cuddling with my mum and nuzzling into the fabric of her silk pyjamas.
10. Trudon Absolu
One thing about me is that I fall head over heels for every orange blossom perfume that comes my way. Something about the sweet, creamy freshness of orange blossom makes me go weak at the knees. And while most orange blossom scents that sit in the 'clean laundry' category lend themselves to springtime, there is a very subtle, clean-cut spiciness to Trudon Absolu that makes it feel cool and crisp.
Why I love it: It is as though you have hung your finest white skirt up on the washing line on a chilly yet crisp autumn morning—the breeze and air is starting to dry it, but the wet linen becomes icy to the touch. That is the joy of Absolu.
11. Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM
APOM stands for A Part Of Me, and that is exactly how this new fragrance from Maison Francis Kurkdjian smells—like it has always belonged on your skin. The lavender and orange blossom concoction creates a soft, powdered, skin scent that veils the skin like soft organza. But, enveloping that softness is a deep, creamy amber that delivers a warming swaddle of joy.
Why I love it: APOM is, in my opinion, destined for cult status. It is relatable to everyone and draws people in in such a way that makes you want to divulge all of your secrets to the wearer.
12. Vallense Spirit
I have been wearing this fragrance for a few months now, as I was lucky enough to get my hands on a sample before the brand launched. It has, without question, proved the most conversation-starting perfume in my collection. It has won me compliments from serious fragrance buffs, including perfumers and beauty editors. Why is it so special? One whiff of the fresh, minty concoction proves a tonic for a stressed-out mind. While it starts off sparkling and bright, with nose-tickling mint, it proves one of the most energising fragrances I have ever encountered, making it perfect for those autumn days when I just don't want to do anything at all.
Why I love it: Spirit is not just another light, watery scent that plasters a smile on your face. With a blend of creamy, resinous woods, it is like taking a stroll through a lush, green landscape and brings you closer to nature with every breath. It is a true masterpiece.
13. Loewe Earth Elixir
I'm a sucker for any Loewe perfume, but Earth Elixir is, hands down, one of my favourites to date. Before I get into what it smells like, I would like to address the fact that any inclusion of oud is, in my opinion, totally undetectable—rather it just delivers a long-lasting, slightly woody depth. First and foremost, however, Earth Elixir is a bright, slightly fruity, earthy scent (true to its name). With Loewe's now iconic accord, it possesses a water-like, marine element that, when mingled with green, foliage-like notes, paints a picture of a walk through a damp forest in early autumn, when juicy berries are starting to drop from their branches and become squashed under foot.
Why I love it: Whenever I require some grounding, this is what I turn to. It delivers an instant hit of calm and binds to skin for all-day wear, developing into something deeper and sexier the longer the days goes on.
14. Phlur Soft Spot
If autumn makes you think of sweet, warming notes of vanilla, then Soft Spot is what you want. It has all of that gourmand, creamy joy that comes with any vanilla scent, but mixed with the velvety nature of white flower petals, it delivers a solar element that has it beaming with sunshine and joy.
Why I love it: The combination of sweet autumnal vanilla with sun-soaked, solar notes turns Soft Spot into an escapist sort of scent that means I can close my eyes on a dreary day and be mentally whisked off to tropical shores.
15. Vyrao Witchy Woo
Spicy, floral and totally intoxicating, Witchy Woo is everything you could ask for from an autumn perfume. I have thought a lot about the best way to describe this fragrance, and I have to resort back to the first thing I scribbled down when I initially spritzed it: Cher in the Witches of Eastwick. It's the sort of empowering scent that would make the line "You're not even interesting enough to make me sick" roll straight off the tongue.
Why I love it: Autumn is when I enter my 'joyful doom' era, and if you too find the concept of cold, dark nights, Halloween and general fire-related activities appealing, this is the scent for the occasion.
16. Initio Musk Therapy
When days are grey and overcast and I wake up feeling drab (as is often case in autumn), this is the first perfume I reach for. Musk Therapy is, true to its name, like a form of comforting therapy for my soul. It has a clean laundry element that makes you feel at home, but there is also a touch of tropical sweetness that provides a dose of mental escapism—it is pure magic.
Why I love it: I have never been let down by Musk Therapy's ability to ground me and make me feel cosy and safe.
17. Aesop Ouranon
Like all Aesop fragrances, Ouranon is a totally genderless scent that has my fiancé and I fighting over it most days. It is rich, spicy and almost impossibly captivating. With notes of frankincense and myrrh, it's like poking your nose into an old, wooden box filled with all of the world's most precious (and expensive) materials.
Why I love it: I don't typically wear intense, woody fragrances, but the spiciness of Ouranon keeps me intrigued and going back for more.
18. Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 76
Most Sol de Janeiro perfume mists are cloyingly sweet in aroma, but their lightweight, water-like nature makes them more wearable. The new Cheirosa 76, however, is the most grown-up of the bunch. Instead of championing sweet caramels and sugared goods, it is a huge floral bouquet. Against the other SdJ mists, it is the one that lends itself most to evening wear, but frankly, the lightweight scent of solar-warmed white petals is all it takes to mentally transport me to sunnier climes, no matter the time of day.
Why I love it: Its affordability means I can spritz away without fearing for the health of my bank account.
19. Creed Delphinus
This is the perfume I know I'll be reaching for throughout Bonfire Night celebrations. It has a welcoming depth and burning woodiness but, more than anything, notes of almond, iris and vanilla keep it dessert-like, sweet and creamy. It is like meandering the stalls of a sprawling fair before the fireworks start, where the scent of candy floss, sugary baked goods and toffee apples fills the air as the bonfire crackles away in the background.
Why I love it: It proves that gourmand scents don't have to be sickly sweet—the woody depth makes it feel expensive and luxurious.
20. Miller Harris Mìneir
Inspired by a single excerpt from Virginia Woolf's 'To The Lighthouse', Mìneir is reminiscent of a cold, dark night spent alone by a lighthouse, as the crisp, salty waves crash around you. It is marine, fresh and ice-cool. With moss and patchouli, it paints a perfect picture of icy waves breaking over rocks, proving that fresh, aquatic and marine fragrances do have a place in autumn.
Why I love it: The fresh, water-like nature means it is, truly, unlike anything else on this list, and for that I adore it.
21. Hermès Barénia
Stop what you're doing and go down to your nearest department store to smell Hermès Barénia right this second. It is, easily, one of the most impressive new perfumes I have smelled in a very long time. It is effervescent and sparkling but has an intense floral heart that makes it feel both impeccably modern (and wearable) but somewhat vintage and nostalgic. I can't name a single occasion for when Barénia can't be worn.
Why I love it: It is like the fragrance equivalent of a bottle of Dom Pérignon 2008 vintage poured into a chilled glass—and what is not to love about that?
22. Dior La Collection Privée Christian Dior Lucky Esprit de Parfum
If you have been 'lucky' enough to smell the original La Collection Privée Christian Dior Lucky Eau de Parfum, just know that this is the punchier, heavier, supercharged version. Blended with extreme concentration and the highest levels of intensity in mind, Lucky Esprit de Parfum is a sweet, creamy white floral scent that smacks you right in the face. Just one spritz of this has everyone you encounter asking after it for the rest of the day.
Why I love it: It possesses all of the welcoming and endearing qualities of a light, green floral scent, but has a smutty edge that brings out something carnal in whoever dares smell it. It's all of the stories that white linen sun dress you wore all summer long has to tell once you've folded it away for autumn.
23. Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood
This has proved my most worn scent in recent weeks, considering the short period of time in which I have owned it. I must caveat here that Hinoki & Cedarwood is a Marmite sort of scent—if you love it, you'll love it, but if clean, woody scents aren't for you, you'll likely wrinkle your nose and walk away. To me, it smells like lying in a damp forest and taking in deep lungfuls of woody hair, all while freshly laundered linen hangs off the branches above.
Why I love it: I'm a sucker for really unique perfumes that possess a clean-cut freshness—and this is just that.
24. Christian Louboutin Fétiche Le Cuir
I appreciate that this bottle looks wonderful on certain shelves, but for me, the gaudy design is more than just a niggle, it's enough to put me off wearing it. The long spike means it doesn't fit in my cupboard (forcing me to have it out on the side, when it doesn't lend itself to my aesthetic), and it also means I can't really carry the full-sized bottle around in my handbag (something I very much like to do). But, annoyingly for me, Fétiche Le Cuir is so beautiful I have no choice but to keep hold of it. While suede, leathery scents aren't typically my sort of thing, this absolutely is. It is like being wrapped in the softest, most delicate suede on the planet, but the scent remains sweet, somewhat fresh and beautifully palatable.
Why I love it: If I want an autumn night out that involves feeling inexplicably glamorous and expensive, this is the first thing I reach for.
25. LBTY. Ianthe Oud
It is not often I come across an oud fragrance that I would recommend to all—but Ianthe Oud is one of them. How do I know those who dislike oud might still adore this one? Because I, myself, don't wear oud, but I do wear this. Far more potent than the depth of oud housed in this bottle is the light, powdery violet that sits at the core of this scent. The light and fresh floral really embodies that transition between late summer and early autumn—when there is still life in the days but the skies turn orange and the sunsets creep ever earlier. The thing that sits this one firmly in the realms of autumn, for me, is its all-encompassing powdered comfort.
Why I love it: There is something that shouldn't work about this perfume but does. I like to be surprised, and given my dislike for wearing oud, I adore that this lighter, more floral concoction is undeniably wearable.
26. Jo Loves Black Cashmeran & Tonka
This stuff is punchy, and one spray is all that is needed to be wrapped up in spicy, chocolatey warmth all day long. Ginger and cardamom tickle the nose and keep the depth of this one palatable and wearable, but they sit on a bed of dark, creamy, all-consuming, velvety richness. It is as though melted dark chocolate and the crema of a coffee have been mixed together and topped with grated ginger.
Why I love it: When I feel down in the dumps and need a shoulder to lean on, Black Cashmeran & Tonka is it.
27. Gabar 05 (LUDLOW) Lull
This perfume has been a mainstay on my shelf and it's not going anywhere for autumn 2024. It is, what I like to call, a cashmere blanket sort of fragrance. It is next-level soft and fluffy, with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of a glass of freshly poured milk. If 05 (LUDLOW) Lull was a colour, it would be a mind-soothing, yellow-toned cream.
Why I love it: When it has been raining outside all day and I first step in through the front door after a long day at work, this is always the perfume I want to welcome me home.
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