In the world of beauty, few products feel as personal as your perfume. After all, a single spritz can smell uniquely different depending on your body chemistry. Since fragrance helps define who we are (and who we want to be), it’s no wonder we instinctively sniff out a new scent with each changing season. Below, let our beauty team guide your nose to our favourite new fragrances to hit the market this fall
For the free spirit
Why we like it: Hermès' nose Christine Nagel is a power-house when it comes to creating evocative perfumes, and Barénia is no exception. Nagel's first chypre fragrance for the French Maison, it's sensual without being overwhelming (balancing florals on a woody patchouli base) and truly lives up to the brand's own description as being created for a "woman with a free-spirited outlook."
Notes: True to the structure of a classic chypre perfume, Barénia eau de parfum blends butterfly lily with the delicacy of the miracle berry, enveloping them in oakwood and intense patchouli.
For those who love to layer
Why we like it: Jo Malone is known for crafting mix-and-match perfumes that pack an olfactory punch, and now their new Hinoki & Cedarwood cologne steps up as the ultimate woody base. Perhaps best describes as a bottled-up Japanese forest bath, the heart of this fragrance is found in the rare Hinoki Wood – a material so precious that it was once protected by the Samurai. Combined with the cedar wood, it results in an energising yet sultry scent.
Notes: Hinoki & Cedarwood opens with a fresh, aromatic clean accord, offering a sharp start. The heart of the fragrance is the rare Hinoki Wood with its deep, woody intensity and slightly aromatic profile, adding richness to the scent. The base is anchored by Cedarwood, delivering a dry, warm finish that lingers on the skin.
For a sophisticated vanilla scent
Why we like it: Vanilla's sweet charm fell from grace after the early 2000s flood of artificial scents. Enter Victoria Beckham’s 21:50 Rêverie, a fragrance that redefines vanilla’s allure with a paradisiacal twist. Crafted with master perfumer Jérôme Epinette and inspired by a transformative trip the Beckhams took in 2001, this fragrance whisks us away with notes of earthy vanilla pods, tobacco, and tonka beans to the lush, fragrant jungles of Java. It's just the fragrant faraway fantasy we need with winter around the corner.
Notes: This is a captivating blend of smoky, sweet, and earthy notes. At first whiff, you're struck by the smoky depth and warmth of tobacco leaves. The heart softens with the juicy notes of plum, while the base of creamy vanilla and tonka beans provide a velvety sweetness. Finally, cedarwood introduces a dry element, grounding the scent with an earthy finish.
For those who prefer a masculine scent
Why we like it: The all-American nature of Tom Ford has resulted in a new leather-based addition to the brand's expanding perfume repertoire. Eau d'Ombré Leather is evocative of the Wild Wild West with raw and refined notes clashing at the heart of the fragrance. The supporting act is a spicy trio of ginger, coriander, and cardamom, which softens the rich and rugged leather accord. And yes, it may be marketed to men, but this is a unisex scent as far as we're concerned – especially made for those women who love to shrug on oversized menswear to sit and sip a bourbon-based cocktail at the bar.
Notes: Eau d'Ombré Leather kicks off with a burst of fresh spice from ginger, coriander, and cardamom. At its core, this trio meets a rich leather accord, softened by the creamy warmth of vanilla tincture. Finally, the fragrance is anchored by a base of amber and honeyed woods.
For the summer-child surviving winter
Why we like it: This is not your (grand)mother's floral perfume. No, Prada's latest addition to the Paradoxe family is a fresh and modern interpretation of floral fragrances, with a bouquet based in zesty, verdant greens nestled in the brand's now-iconic triangle flacon. Arguably the airiest addition to this list, this is the perfect perfume for those budding gardeners who miss tending to their blooms. An olfactory pick-me-up with a whiff of green to help you through winter, if you will.
Notes: Fresh and light, yet long-lasting, this scent opens with the zesty brightness of Vert de Bergamot, delivering a lively and green start. At its heart, jasmine and neroli create an airy floral bouquet which is then balanced by musk and ambrette at the base, giving the fragrance a warm, second-skin feel.
For a perfume that doubles as decor
Why we like it: Why relaunch with one perfume when you can relaunch with five? After an olfactory hiatus since 2021, Bottega Veneta is back in fragrant action with a new assortment of sought-after scents. Among the five new fragrance fixtures, all inspired by Venice and the brand's leather working history, out choice falls on the seductive Déjà Minuit. Housed in a hefty handblown bottle on a green Verde Saint Denis marble pedestal, this perfume is as much interior decor as it is signature scent – which might just justify the loft price tag.
Notes: Zesty, warm and floral, this fragrance opens with the crisp bite of winter lemon, balanced by aromatic cardamom and cinnamon oils. In the heart, the scent deepens with a rich floral bouquet of jasmine and orange blossom absolutes, layered with the brightness of geranium oil. Finally, the base unravels into earthy patchouli and vetiver oils, before fading into the creamy sweetness of bourbon vanilla extract.
For a fresh take on roses
Why we like it: Things seem to be coming up roses at Swedish perfumer Byredo, with the release of the olfactory brand's new fragrance Desert Dawn. A fresh take on the floral ingredient, Byredo introduces spicy cardamom in the top notes to meet the blooming sweetness of the petals – setting a unique tone from the start. Add the surprising addition of carrot seeds and papyrus into the mix, and the result is a smokey, new dawn for Byredo's arsenal of perfumes.
Notes: Desert Dawn opens with the warmth of cardamom and soft rose petals. The heart combines the earthy notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and carrot seeds for a rich, grounded feel, while the base brings a dry, smooth finish with vetiver, papyrus, and silk musk.
For a fresh twist on classic Chanel
Why we like it: Inspired by the astral Comète necklace from Gabrielle Chanel’s 1932 high jewellery line, the Comète perfume is a new star player in French Maison's lineup of scents. Composed by Chanel’s in-house perfumer Olivier Polge, Comète is signature Chanel with a musky, powdery floral core that is balanced by an airy modernity found in the fresh use of a cherry blossom accord. In short, it's classic Chanel with a starry twist.
Notes: Chanel Comète opens with the freshness of cherry blossom, leading to a heart of soft heliotrope and powdery iris. The base is wrapped in a delicate musk, giving the fragrance a warm, airy finish.