Search through past "Best of Winter" perfume posts and you'll find lots of suggestions for perfume to wear when it's cold out. Most of those suggestions assume you're looking at the cold from inside your toasty living room. Or at least from the warmth of a thick coat and gloves. When my furnace broke down a few weeks ago I faced a different question about cold weather perfumes: what perfume is good not only when it's cold out, but cold inside, too?
I came up with a strategy for perfume to wear when you're cold:
Try amber and spice. Amber is warming, if a little sweet and sometimes cloying. I burned myself out on Lorenzo Villoresi Alamut during my furnace's downtime and don't think I'll be able to wear it again. If I had some Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan or Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe, I would have worn them. Pacifica Spanish Amber is a budget-friendly amber choice. Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté worked for me, but L'Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two is warmly spicy, too. My vintage bottle of Parfums Weil Zibeline's animalic spice was almost as good as a fur throw.
Wear fragrances that mimic fire. Serge Lutens Chêne was my go-to, but Sonoma Scent Studios Fireside Intense would work, too. (I know I'm missing a number of woody, smoky fragrances here, and I welcome your suggestions.) The key is to smell warm without smelling like a barbecue.
Psych yourself out with a tropical fragrance. For me, this was better in theory than in practice. No matter how much Penhaligon's Amaranthine or Keiko Mecheri Passiflora I put on, I never was convinced I was in the Bahamas.
Avoid florals, aldehydic scents, and citrus fragrances. White florals are especially cold, I find, and spring-like florals, like Guerlain Chamade and Parfums de Nicolaï Le Temps d'Une Fête are just too fresh and wet when my nose is cold. Citrus fragrances and traditional eaux de cologne can be bracing, and who needs bracing when you're already wearing a stocking cap in the house?
Eventually the furnace repair man (smelling divinely of diesel) replaced the blower switch on my ancient oil furnace, and warm air filled the house again. The cat stopped giving me the stinkeye from her perch in front of the heater vent, and I could sit on the couch without a suffocating load of blankets. Now I'm snug and back to exploring the rest of my perfume cabinet.
In this cold wave, what fragrances warm you up?
Note: top image is Snow Crystal bokeh [Explored] [cropped] by Gjeewaytee at flickr; some rights reserved.
Angela, I am glad to see your entry! I was just thinking about perfume in the cold days yesterday. Here are the ones that I found enjoying most lately:
Guerlain Cuir Beluga (this is wonderfully smooth and feels like a favorite, warm, cream-colored sweater)
Guerlain Tonka Imperialle: I like its depth and a touch of spice and tobacco.
Hermessence Ambre Narguile: I can only wear it in the winter. It reminds me of Christmas.
Jayne Ormonde Ta’if: I am a big rose lover, and I like the sweetness of the dates here and the saffron! It is one of my “winter” roses.
Happy holidays to all, and I hope you have a fragrant New Year!
You know, your comment makes me realize that lots of the Guerlain’s are probably great warmer-uppers with that delicious tonka base. Plus, I forgot all about vanilla fragrances, which are so warming, too!
Have a Happy New Year, too!
How about Bois d’Armenie? It reminds me of toasted marshmallows – would that warm you?
Yes, it would! Nice suggestion.
Donna Karan Black Cashmere always warms me up. I also like a bit of Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche/Musc Nomade/Myrrhe Ardente.
Those all sound so cozy. Really, anything with “cashmere” in the title should be warm!
Relleric: I love Myrrhe Ardente the most of the three and I’ve been burning through my large decant. I will need to invest in a full bottle at some point!
I saw the parfum version in Paris and remember thinking how reasonably priced it was, too.
I like Myrrhe Ardente the best, too, and am in the same boat. I might be purchasing a bottle for a Christmas present to me.
Sounds like you’ve come out on the “nice” rather than “naught” side of Santa’s list!
I recently received a small decant of Myrrhe Ardent (in the PP swapmania) and was charmed charmed charmed 🙂 I may need to hunt down a bottle too!
As for “winter perfumes” I am thinking I may need a system of “getting out my perfumes” of the season so I remember to wear them.
I think a subtle rearranging of the perfume collection between seasons is helpful for me. Still, there are always a few I forget, it seems.
Ambre Fetiche is warming me up on this cold winter’s day! 🙂
Nice! The Goutals seem to be popular today.
Black Cashmere was my first thought, too, along with Pd’E Ambre Russe. Satellite Padparaschka and the original Commes des Garcon are very warming spice blends to me.
Gosh, I forgot about the original CdG. That’s a terrific one.
I’m in So. Calif. and while I am not experiencing freezing temps, we are currently enjoying temps in the 50’s fahrenheit range.
My cool weather scents are:
Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir
MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir
AG Songes EdP
Amouage Gold EdP
Seasons Greetings Everyone!
~Dawn
It’s practically tropical weather down there compared to much of the nation! Actually, it’s not that cold in the Pacific Northwest today, either. Just damp.
Songes is good in the winter, huh? I think of it as a warm weather fragrance, but you’ve inspired me to dig it out for January.
Hi Angela,
I prefer the Songes EDP in the winter due to the heavier vanilla base. Do you have the EdP?
I love EdT in the warmer months.
~Dawn
Let me go check–it’s the EdT. Thanks for the tip!
This is the first I’ve seen anymore mention my all time favorite: MFK Pour Le Soir. Isn’t it just divine? It’s just incredible! So glad to have others appreciate it.
I have a sample of that one but haven’t given it a fair try. I really want to try the Absolue, too.
What does Chene smell like? I have a hard time with the Lutens line due to the cumin note but I keep wondering about Chene. Any fragrance it is similar to?
Thanks in advance!
To me, Chene smells a lot like a wood fire without the smoke. It has a little bit of a boozy beginning, and it does have a hint of cumin, so you might not like it if you’re extra sensitive to cumin. I bought a bottle this summer and have been using it a lot.
Thanks Angela.
I’m alright with the hint of cumin in Songes and Absolue Pour le Soir. But the cumin in the Lutens perfumes really turns bad on me.
I think I will pass on the Chene.
Hello Angela! 🙂 Happy Holidays Everyone!
My cold weather scent today is also my lone perfume Christmas gift – Montale Blue Amber , a salty, smoky amber. I second Ambre Narguile and Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. Also Amber Absolute Tom Ford is a great amber with no added notes.
I should amend the lone Christmas gift statement – I received my Le Cologne du Maghreb last week and it is a great cologne formulation. It lasts approximately 3 hours and the topnotes (to my nose) are lime, citron and orange blossom. The basenotes ( I really didn’t perceive any middle) are Andy’s mixture of vetiver, incense and ambergris – much like the base of L’Air du Desert Marocain – almost a “Tauer-ade”. I spritzed it on and ran some last minute Christmas errands, a few hours later in line @ the state store the two women behind me complimented me on it.
It will be perfect in warmer weather.
Now I’m off to shovel snow -UGH!!!
Happy New Year Everyone! 🙂
Congratulations on the Cologne du Mahgreb! I hope you put some on before you shovel snow. Then, when you come in you will be radiating all that deliciousness.
Whoops, sorry for my lame spelling. Cologne du Maghreb.
Haha, Bear… the “state store” makes me think of Pennsylvania. I’m across the river in NJ for the holidays. I can’t wait to smell a sample of that Tauer Cologne.
When are you back in CA? (assuming they get you shoveled out, that is!) I have a bunch of samples and whatnot I need to package up for various people, and will probably work at that later this week.
I also found it rather limey, though I don’t see lime in the notes (I know, that means nothing)… however, I’ve discovered that citrus + cedar often translates to lime to my nose. I was thinking about it as Angela mentioned tropical scents not working, because I’ve always felt the same way, but I think this cologne could do the trick. The incensy base makes it work in the cold weather, while still calling to mind warmer days. It’s definitely a winner.
You make it sound very alluring!
What a timely post for me! Yesterday we lost power in 2/3 of the house (problems with Com Ed’s connection to our house) and unfortunately that meant no heat and no hot water (electric ignition in both cases). We were bundled up in comforters around one space heater that was plugged into one of only a handful of working electrical outlets until Com Ed came out and temporarily fixed our problem. Still waiting today for a new line to be hooked up to our house, but at least we’re warm. I was wearing Incense Rose (Xmas gift) and that worked well to keep me warm. But I could have gone with Ambre Russe, or Chergui, which always makes me feel warm and snuggly.
Yikes! I hope they get your power up and running soon. I bet ConEd is pretty busy these days. In the meantime, stay warm!
Chergui is my SOTD. Very nice for cold weather, wind and such. It’s like being around a great old uncle with his pipe, sitting by the fire, reading from Winnie the Pooh or some such…
Sounds like a nice way to spend an evening!
Hi Angela. When I’m in the Northeast, as now, I find I’m much warmer indoors with the insulation, efficient furnaces, wool carpets and such than I am at home in California with the raw gray winter damp, drafty rooms, and wood floors. But if I’m venturing outside in something like the post-blizzard aftermath today, you bet I need something warm.
Vanillas are good — I’d love a healthy spritz of TF Tobacco Vanille or Shalimar Ode. L’Air du Desert is one of the warmest scents I can think of. I also think so many of the Serge Lutens œuvre are made for the cold: mmmm, Borneo, Chêne, Cèdre, and Miel de Bois. Also, my beloved Micallef Gaïac. So many, really! And now I’m wishing I’d brought my decant of Mercier Ambre Passion edp.
Glad your furnace is once again warding off kitteh stinkeye. Happy New Year to you!
I forgot about tobacco! (Your mention of Tobacco Vanille reminded me of it.) Very warming.
I know just what you mean about how cold damp cold can be, especially in a house made for warmer weather. Enjoy NJ! I’m jealous of the snow.
Second the Tobacco Vanille. It warms you up for the entire day. Shalimar too is a great warmer.
Oh yes, Shalimar!
Hello Angela,
Being cold is hell….really! While everyone this past summer was in a gigantic heatwave and wanting cold, I was basking in warmth,Wa. style and wanting more of it. I crave it and have a hard time being in such cool , damp weather. I’m so glad your heater got fixed! Brrrrrrrrr.
My usual suspects are what I’m usually raving about so nothing new I’m afraid. Une Rose Chypree is my HG I think, even when I vow to stick to one fragrance for a day , I can’t help but to sneak a spritz and smother it with URC. I just adore it.
Alahine is another love of mine.
OJ Woman and Tolu are getting the attention they always deserve.
White Aoud is divine in the cold and so is Vanilla Absolu.
I hope your holidays are beautiful and full of love and light and perfume…take care. 🙂
I think you naturally gravitate toward warm, lush perfumes–good taste!
Enjoy your holidays, too, and stay warm.
I also use perfume as a warming influence. My go-to scents to take the chill off are Theorema, Donna Karan Gold, SSS Champagne de Bois and Bois des Iles.
Hope everyone is staying warm this week.
Nice choices! I’m surprised at Gold, though. It doesn’t feel too cold on you? I don’t have a sample around or I’d give it a try, but the lilies make me think it would feel springlike.
I’d thought of mentioning Gold as well, actually — the EdP. The lily is springlike, but it’s a bit “thick” for warm weather. I think there’s sort of an ambery base too. The whole effect makes me think of stepping from the cold into a greenhouse or florist, with the air sort of humid and flowery. I truly love DK Gold.
I think Alien Liqueur might have a similar warming effect.
Which reminds me of boozy notes… SDV, Ambre Russe, and Lubin Idole are all very warming.
Boozy notes are good.
When you put it that way, I can feel the warm greenhouse you describe very well.
Gold edp is wonderful in cold weather! The amber warms the lily beautifully, I think. Lasts forever on skin, too.
O.K., I’m convinced! I’ll have to try it soon.
Surprisingly, no. I get a good dose of amber in the cold weather and it stays with me all day like a cashmere scarf wrapped around my neck. I do find it lovely in the summer – one of the few scents I find suitable throughout the year. In the high heat and humidity of summer I hide it away for fear the lily might kill me or someone near 😉
It sounds like it’s the amber that makes this one a winner for when you’re cold.
I keep rambling on about it, but ELdO Tilda Swinton Like This is SO cozy in colder weather. Especially the next-day scent trail on coats and scarves! It makes you believe everything’s cashmere. Stunning. I’ll be wearing this for a long, long time. And I agree with Joe about the Lutens warmers: Chêne, Miel de Bois… Chergui, too.
I do love my Like This! Maybe that’s what I’ll wear when my current perfume wears off.
Today’s Cuir de Russie worked wonders on my snowy walk, too. Happy New Year to everyone here at NST! 🙂
Ah, I was going to mention CdR! It and BdI are my cold weather favorites when I can’t just wear something snuggly. (Meaning, when I need to be business-like AND warm.)
I love the gingerbreadiness in Bois des Iles. And you’re right–it’s warm and elegant and fairly quiet–perfect for business, too.
I *really* want to love Bois des Iles, but the EDT doesn’t seem to work that well on me. Perhaps I should try it in extrait? An EDP would be perfection.
I’d love an EdP, too (and I’m positive I’d love the parfum.) The EdT is nice, but doesn’t last nearly long enough on my skin.
I love that one, too!
On this cold day I JUST got my decants of Chanel BdI parfum AND Caron Parfum Sacre Extrait, one on each wrist while I get the fire going in the wood stove here in Wyoming. What a great couple of scents! Just when I think I’ve found them all–so many perfumes, so little time and money….
Really, I should embroider that on a pillow: “so many great scents and so little money”!
Add me to the list of the furnace-challenged. For the last few days, our furnace has only been coming on about once a day. It works fine for that once a day, but nothing will make it come on until it’s ready. My contractor (I’m in the middle of a remodeling project) says it may be a buildup of sawdust in the ducts, but I’m awaiting the HVAC expert to find out for certain. Luckily, we’ve had temps in the mid-40s so it’s been bearable.
Good brrrrr-cold frags for me are original Opium, SL Chergui, and the ever warm and cuddly Max Mara. If Lubin Idole had just a tad more depth, it would work too. There is something about the boozy frags that really works with cold temps. Those St. Bernard dogs with the brandy kegs on their collar were onto something.
I feel your pain, believe me. I hope you sort out the furnace business soon. Too much sawdust seems like a weird reason for a furnace to run just once a day–I mean, wouldn’t it poop out completely?
I agree about the St Bernard dog angle. In fact, I think you’ve hit on something! Combine brandy with dog fur and maybe some woodsy fragrance in the background and you just might have a winner of a perfume.
You know what perfume already smells to my nose like boozy notes and dog? Alan Cumming’s Cumming. I smell peat, sure, but also I smell something that smells quite a lot like the pads of my dog’s feet. I love it.
I haven’t smelled that one for ages! I’ll have to try it and think of my pooch.
hhmmmm sounds like a switch problem to me–could be a dusty/cobweb buildup interfering with the contact pads in the control panel…or just a switch gone bad (we had that on a unit less than 3 yrs old!) ….although if you are doing a bunch of remodeling you probably do have sawdust and stuff in your ducts and will eventually need to get them cleaned out but I don’t see how that would interfere with your furnace kicking on. I hate to say it, but this reminds me of the cable repair guy telling me that I was having problems because I was at the end of the line and all the signal was used up…..
Daisy, honestly, you’re Wonder Woman!
Daisy –
that sounds about right – at least from mine own furnace issues in the past – we are in reno and I regularly take the shopvac hose, jam it into the ducts and vacuum away – I refuse to go into the basement (long story) but have encouraged El O to replace the filter – again- since we are creating so much dust….and that seems to help as well.
xo
huh???
—was it the gold star briefs and bustier that gave it away?, or my golden lasso….which apparently has no effect on “lying thru their teeth/tooth cable guys?” ….I’ll tell ya’ , it was all I could do to keep my reaction down to a simple eye roll (bursting out in laughter seemed inappropriate at the time)
Daisy, your comment about cable made me laugh so hard! I was having probs with cable and they wanted me to disconnect the coax cable from the modem (or the wall) because ‘the packets were collecting there and disconnecting it makes it disperse”. Um. yeah. That’s exactly why.
But back to perfume…. amber is nice, but too much of it makes me want to hurl. I really like Prada L’eau Ambre, and while it can feel cloying at times – it feels fresh and clean most of the time.
However, I’ve been reaching for POL these past few cold days in Dallas. And this winter, I’ve been gravitating toward Heliotrope scents over and over again. Something about the vanilla/almond/powder combo is appealing!
Wearing amber really can be walking a tightrope between warm lusciousness and nausea. Heliotrope is wonderful, though! I haven’t thought about POL for a long time–thanks for the reminder.
CM — what is it with service people who will tell you the wildest stories? Anyhow, I waited a day then called for service again–the problem was easy to see—our neighborhood was under construction (mine was the second house built) two lots down a truck had run over the cable pedestal–the darn thing was hangling over at a 45 degree angle with parts popping out …..cable guy #2 was a little smarter and got a crew out to replace the pedestal….sheeesh!
ps–yeah, you gotta watch out for nasty “build up” in the coaxial cable….real bad news, that!! LOL
Angela, when I buy a bottle of Chene, it’s going to be entirely your fault. Fortunately, I haven’t tried it yet, so I’m warding it off as best I can. And now I want to track down Zibeline as well (I wore Antilope last night – another good cold weather scent). Ambers, vanillas, Amouages and Tauers, with a few smoky teas and leathers thrown in for good measure… those are my cold weather faves. Oh! and SdSA’s Royal Palm, which reminds me of orange spice tea.
I know, I feel like I write about Chene constantly. It’s probably because my bottle is fairly new so I’m still wearing it a lot.
Zibeline is wonderful, I think, but really spicy, so you have to like that–which it sounds like you do!
Boo, hopefully you won’t like it as Angela is definitely a scent sister to me.
I know that she and I are often miles apart… but we overlap, and when we do, they’re often amongst my favorites.
Chene is worth a try, then–you never know!
Maybe it’s the whole holiday thing, but suddenly the duet “Sisters” from White Christmas popped into my mind…
I’ve had that in my head for a couple of weeks now! I love that song!
Hey, we truly are sisters!
great! now I’m humming it too!
White Christmas was on just the other day…..don’t care for Bing C. but I always adored Danny Kaye….spent 3 days humming “I’m dreaming of a whiiiiiiiiite christmassss” …now I can spend 3 days humming “me and my sister….” ahhgg! although I wouldn’t mind having a couple of those big blue feather fans….
I adore Danny Kaye, too! And Rosemary Clooney, of course. And save a fan for me!
E, I *really* need to make a note to finally send you a vial of Chêne!
I second the L’air du desert marocain! The only floral I find sufficient this time of year is En passant – it doesn’t put me in the Bahamas but it puts me much closer to spring! It’s not the type of fragrance that keeps you warm, but it really is very pretty in the cold…and we are down to -15 celsius now 😉 I don’t know what that is in fahrenheit but it is very very cold!
That’s bitterly cold! Stay warm!
I never would have thought of En Passant, but I bet it holds its own nicely in the cold.
I received En Passant for Christmas and of course, had to spritz some on – it smells like spring is somewhere down the road, but it does hold up well in the cold.
I’ll put out my decant for a day when I really need to be thinking of spring, then.
I think I may have to break down and get a bottle of Chene one of these days. I decided on Arabie with a coupon and have been wearing it a lot during the season.
Yesterday was my long-awaited “nightie day” and I wore Body Shop Vanilla Spice body butter. Very warming! Also sometimes literally warming are the ginger products from Origins!
I got a beginning perfumery kit for Christmas and was working on something jasminey last night. I was a little sad because most of my ingredient accords are kind of summery. I wanted patch and incense! I predict I will be ordering more stuff soon.
Oh, a very nice amber is one that SmokeyToes turned me on to – Cote Bastide Amber. Super warm, never too sweet.
Nightie Day! Perfect! Vanilla Spice body butter sounds like a good way to go, too.
I haven’t tried the Cote Bastide Amber, but I’ll be on the lookout for it.
Oh, Arabie! That perfume is a touchstone for me, whatever the weather.
Argh! I need a bottle of that, too.
Santa put that body butter in my teenager’s stocking. She hasn’t opened it, but Santa told me it smells pretty good.
Santa sure knows his perfume stuff.
Hmmm… I would add the category “Mimic fur/Try to be a cat”: PG Felanilla and Muscs Koublai Khan make you feel like you finally succeeded in covering yourself up in a subtle but effective layer of fur (or else, let’s not be too specific here…) that insulates you from the outside. And for the same reasons MKK is my go-to scent for when I’m feeling low.
Good angle! (And good implied angle, too.) I need a bottle of MKK for sure.
That’s a great idea for a category: “mimic fur”! That makes me think instantly of Parfumerie Generale L’Ombre Fauve.
All right. It’s time to carve out space on my shelf for furry fragrances, including Ombre Fauve.
Ambre Sultan has saved me from frostbite more than a few times! We actually spend Chrismas itself in San Diego and so it’s pretty warm during the days. This year I found Amouage Memoir a perfect, slightly cooling complement to the warmth of the day, and by the time night fell and it started cooling down, the fragrance had shed much of its coolness and that lovely soft leathery sandalwood base gently warmed my skin. Perfect!
See, now that’s a level of sophistication I didn’t even think of–fragrances that evolve over the day as your temperature needs evolve!
I put on By Kilian Pure Oud today to go sledding, and I can attest to its warmth-inducing effects! Such yummy stuff… Tauer L’Air and Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline are also good choices…
And I agree with Joe that places that are *supposed* to be warm and tropical can be the coldest places around, although the actual temperature would be considered downright spring-like here in CT. I spent many a shivering night in Havana as a Norte rolled in off the ocean and right through my window slats as I huddled sweater-less and cozy quilt-less…
Both sledding and Havana sound fantastic (not at the same time, of course.) Sledding with Kilian’s oud on sounds even better.
Ironically, it seems like everyone but us (Colorado) is getting snow, although the mountains here have plenty (a good thing, certainly). It’s been cool-ish though and we’re cheap (green?) so we keep the house quite cool and warm scents are welcome. My list would include: Chergui (which I like on and off), TF Noir de Noir and Tobacco Vanille, PG L’Oiseau de Nuit, Bois 1920 Sushi Imperiale, CK Sheer Obsession (or is that Obsession Sheer?), PdN Sacrebleu and an occasional drop of Amouage Lyric.
I’ll be thinking of all the ones I forgot the rest of the day, probably, but must add Parfums Delrae Bois de Paradis (I have the body cream) and the new Panache (have a sample) – both are excellent in cold weather.
I love Bois de Paradis. How is the body cream? I have the perfume but I wouldn’t mind having the body cream also. Is it nicely scented to where I wouldn’t need the perfume if I just wanted to wear the cream?
Thanks in advance for your help.
~Dawn
Hi Dawn,
I love the body cream (have several samples of the EdP, but it’s just a bit strong for me at times). The cream is beautifully scented (and moisturizing). The scent of the cream carries me through the day, yet somehow it’s just not as “powerful” as in too much – maybe because I can “spread” it out? Hope that helps!
Very helpful. Thank you so much. The EdP can be a bit strong for me sometimes and it sounds like the cream is a great alternative.
~Dawn
The body cream is delicious, and has a lovely texture too. I love the edp, but usually apply it in the tiniest possible squirts. Dabbing it from a sample vial was ideal – perhaps you can decant some from the spray bottle into a small vial, then dab.
That’s crazy that you’re in Colorado and not having a white Christmas! Great list of perfumes, too.
But North Carolina had its first white Christmas ever and Atlanta had its first white Christmas since the 1800’s! Strange…
That is even crazier!
Happy holiday everyone
my 3 favs for winter are
Jean Paul Gaultier (classic)
YSL opuim
Addict by dior
Those all sound so sultry and warm, thanks!
I wonder if there are more winter scents in the world than summer scents because most perfume is developed in northern Europe, where summer is not as long, hot and certainly not tropical, as it often in southern continents? Just a thought, could be completely wrong.
Weather is crazy in Australia and the media is constantly dwelling on it. Searing hot in Western Australia where they fear bushfire, half of Queensland and parts of northern and central NSW in flood, and snow on Mount Wellington, in Tasmania. In a few hours we are leaving for our holidays. Where? Tasmania.
Better pack my Opium.
Good point about where perfumes are developed!
That is such an interesting idea! I wonder if we looked at Spanish perfumes, for instance, if there would be more summer fragrances.
Have fun in Tasmania! As soon as I finish up with comments here, I’m hopping over to wikipedia for a thorough description of Tasmania.
Tasmania is beautiful. I grew up there. Lakes, rivers, mountains, old cities (by our standards), and a sad past. But beautiful.
Good point about the Spanish perfumes. I think Octavian has posted about that … ?
Have a great trip–it sounds really wonderful.
Octavian’s posts are always so interesting. I’ll have to see what he has to say about southern-y perfumes.
Hope I catch you before you leave- do bring tee shirts and sunblock, its warming up-a bit- low 20s and the sun is still burning hot!
Thank you Angela! I absolutely agree with you on the floral prohibition – so many people enjoy white florals in the cold, but they never take *me* to the tropics. And I seem to be the only Champagne de Bois fan who enjoys it in warm weather, mainly because of the aldehydes in it. Neither can I wear my chypres in the cold – oak moss is definitely cool to me.
My warming scents are definitely the vanillas and/or orientals – Spiritueuse Double Vanille, Iris Ganache, L’Heure Bleue, and Attrape Coeur.
I can’t believe I forgot the vanillas when I made my list. They really are warm and comforting. I could happily wear any of them on your list right now!
yep, I agree with Rapple—Guerlain SDV is a warm-up fragrance but I could also go for some Ambre Narguile, SL Arabie, Rousse or SSS Incense pure…..mostly, when I’m cold (and I’m always cold because of my thinned blood?) all I really want is more sweaters and hot Earl Grey Tea or Constant Comment with a splash of milk—and it better be so hot that you have to go “ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! ” the whole time you’re sipping. (if it’s not burning your tongue; it’s not hot enough)
The warm mugs are so good to hold in your hand, too.
I’ve been longing for the perfume equivalent of Earl Grey. Do you know of any?
L’Atelier Oolong reminds me of Earl Grey, but I’m sure there are others at a better price. This is a good question for an open thread.
oooo that’s a good question!! as it is, I love to hang right over a steaming mug of Earl Grey and just innnnnnhaaaaaale ….like steam off a mug of tea is good for your soul….
That’s funny, bc I find LHB to be one of the more cooling scents I own. 😀
LOL! I *almost* added a post script to say that since someone (was it you or Mals?) mentioned last summer that she wore L’Heure Bleue in warm weather, I tried it and liked it, and now on some of the coldest days, it *is* too cool! The anise I think.
Oh I agree about CdB. I wore it yesterday and it is summer here, or trying to be.
YAY! 😀
My recent go-to cold weather perfume is Soivohle Meerschaum, a rich tobacco and leather attack that I can’t get enough of. Also, Le Labo Patchouli 24 and DSH Perfumes Cuir et Champignon have been getting a lot of use around here lately. Chicago winters last for 5-6 months, so there’s ample opportunity to revisit old favorites and discover plenty new ones.
I haven’t tried the Soivohle, but it sounds rich and delicious.
I spent a week in January in Chicago once, and I loved the city, but brrr!
Then something tells me Minneapolis isn’t among your desired winter holiday destinations. 😀
I also spent a week in Bemidji (sp? my spelling has gone down the toilet) and Duluth once in February, too, traveling to national forests for a job I used to have. I was freezing, but really happy to finally see ice fishing!
Bemidji?? You ARE adventurous. Duluth is a height-of-summer or fall (for the colors) only destination for me. I prefer to hibernate. 🙂
Boo—-***SNORT***
Parfum d’Empire’s Wazamba is a terrific pine-bonfire scent for times when warmth is needed. (Serge Lutens’ Fille en Aiguilles has many of the same notes as Wazamba, but somehow smells cold to me — think live evergreen trees in the snow). Last winter my go-to “cozy sweater” scent was Boucheron Jaipur– I found its piping-hot, spicy apricot tart accord both cheering and fortifying for frozen days.
Pine scents seem really wintery to me, but are they warm? (I guess I’d better try some and find out!) Your description of Jaipur not only sounds good, it’s actually making me hungry.
Wazamba is definitely warming, but Fille en Aiguilles actually takes my temperature down a notch– not very helpful for winter, but for an evergreen fragrance, it was surprisingly comfortable to wear in the summer!
I can imagine that–kind of like camping in a forest.
Lauder’s PC Amber Ylang Ylang has over the last several years become my go to scent for the depths of winter. Right now, with the snow, ice and bitter winds, it’s the perfect wrap – warm and soft and friendly.
In contrast, I also like Hermes’ Vertiver Tonka – more minimalist in terms of warmth – it always makes me think of a good shetland sweater (something that you can seem to buy anymore) bringing back memories of college winters in Wisconsin.
Both of those are terrific, warm scents. Someday I’ll have a bottle of Vetiver Tonka. It’s so, so nice.
Hi Angela,
so glad you got your home heating situation sorted out. So hard to read when cold!
Seems like I am well stocked with cold weather scents. Old version of Opium. I like Ambre Fetiche (I don’t care what they say) I like my to SLs, Fille en Aigguilles and Chergui, and a ton of naturals are great for this time of year both indoors and out. Adam Gottshalk’s things are all heat inducing, but they take a couple of minutes to get started. I have this sampler collection of winter fragrances from DSH — and I love Geisha Noire Aroma M, works really well in winter with that tonka bean, very festive.
Nice! All wonderful scents. I can almost see them in my mind’s eye as a big, warm, fragrantly woven quilt.
Ambre Russe and Coze?
Funny you mention Coze–I almost added “patchouli” as a warm category but ran out of time. I love both of your suggestions,though.
Great warming scents listed so far! I also love Floris’s Snow Rose and Rosine’s Rose Kashmiri for my rose fix 🙂 Also, love the soothing Cimabue from DSH.
All new suggestions, too! Thank you!
Great article. I hate the cold weather, but am loving my fragrance rotation. There are just some that work best when the air is icy and I have many more cold weather frags than warm.
Youth Dew and Encens Mystic (by crazy-whats-her-name and the poppies) have been heavy hitters the last few weeks. I’ve been wearing Bandit a lot too, but that has more to do with it being a recent acquitistion (flea market – yeah!!). Dzongkha is another winter favorite. It reminds me of the little bit of hot dust that comes out when the furnace kicks on. Sometimes it’s a dryness overkill though. I really like it best when worn in a thunderstorm.
I’ve also been experimenting with Marc Jacobs Fig layered with AA Pamplelune. I haven’t reached a verdict yet, but right now I would give it a good+. It goes against your no citrus rule, but the fig warms it up enough and the “foodiness” has been very appropriate for the holiday season.
Gucci Rush will be brought out tomorrow because I have not worn it in over a month and this is the time of year it really shines.
Finally Chaos. Oooohh Chaos. Santa forgot to bring that one this year. I’ll just dream about it.
I could keep going, but my post will soon become longer than your article. Again, great article. I really enjoyed this one.
It sounds like you really love your incense fragrances! I like your layering suggestions, too. And Chaos! Perfect!
Youth Dew is awesome. I keep stealing little dabs of the lotion I gave my grandmother last Christmas… makes me wonder if I need some of the lotion myself. I like it better than the actual fragrance I think.
Have you tried the bath oil? It’s a great price and comes in a darling little bottle.
I second the bath oil – so smooth, so rich! And, yes, lovely little bottle. I wear it to bed often and all year round.
We had some super-cold weather recently (highs in the low teens, with wind chill), and had to turn the thermostat down, because super-cold weather just paralyzes heat pumps, and they go all electricity-mad trying to keep up – that happened last winter, and we got a monthly electric bill over $400, when usually we average winter bills of about $280 a month. So it was, say 14F outside, and 60F in the house… Brrrr.
And what was I wearing over those two weeks? Alahine, Mauboussin, Organza Indecence, Champagne de Bois and Parfum Sacre. But also La Myrrhe, Eau Premiere and Iris Poudre (aldehydes!), my new love Mary Greenwell Plum, and Carnal Flower. I do absolutely love tuberose in the frigid cold, and CF is so gorgeous, with that chilly green note.
I first tested it last winter, on a similarly chilly day (temps around 0F, and the air like peppermint candy) when I wound up driving/following The CEO around for several hours while he fixed farm equipment and moved it from one place to another. Sure, the pickup has a heater, but the back sliding panel was broken, so the truck was in no wise warm. Carnal Flower was gorgeous nevertheless.
Oh! and it hasn’t been all that chilly this week (mid-20s), but I’ve worn Le Temps d’une Fete… twice. I picked up every full bottle in my “fall/winter” box and sniffed them, and LTdF seized me by both nostrils. It doesn’t seem that it would be right, but it just was.
I’m going to go put a pot of mulled cider on the stove right now.
Maybe you’re longing for spring! Le Temps dF is so gorgeously full-bodied, though, I can see it working in winter, especially if you have indoor heating.
Gosh, I love the picture you paint. Still, as much as I adore Carnal Flower–and I’ve newly fallen in love with it–I think it will chill me right up if I weren’t already warm.
So glad you got your furnace repaired, Angela. We had a similar incident the first holiday season we spent in the house. We had our warm, festive morning of opening gifts etc., then packed up the car and drove across the state to visit inlaws. When we got back, the house was freezing. Our furnace (which was older than God to be fair) out and out died on us while we were away. Thankfully we have a fireplace and space heaters, so each of us took a then toddler twin, wrapped up in blankets by the fire and settled in for a long, chilly night. I love old houses, just not all the problems that come along with them. 🙂
My fragrance trajectory sounds really familiar to yours. We had a warm stretch of days last week (temps hovering around 30 degrees F) so I got out Chantecaille Frangipane to wear during the day and Songes EdP to wear to bed and they were lovely and made me pine for tropical locales. When the temp dipped, I wore Tonka Imperiale and found it just perfect to warm up the cold. I wore Ambre Narguile the day before Christmas and it was a lovely fragrance companion while we were making gingerbread. I wore Musc Nomade as a morning fragrance now and then as well as it just feels perfect for cold weather, and will hopefully be picking up minis of the other three Les Orientalistes soon as I truly want to try them now as well since MN is so wonderful.
DH surprised me (and my local Macy’s saleslady/fellow frag lover who’s used to having to do some serious calling around/searching for something I’m after) by noticing that I was out of CK Obsession and picking up a gift set for me as one of my presents.
I didn’t hit serious perfume-wearing age until the fading era of CK1 and burgeoning era of Issey Miyake etc., and was mostly wearing Tinker Bell perfume and Loves Baby Soft as a little girl when Obsession and all her other loudly seductive cohorts were ruling over offices, clubs and power wardrobes. So I don’t have the overkill associations many do and find it a really warm and snuggly perfume if not overly applied. I also surprised my usual avoidance of CK perfumes by just discovering Euphoria and quite liking it, so think I may gift myself with a bottle as soon as I figure out all the differences between the Crystalline version, the Spring Temptation version etc.
Today, however, I’m going to stick with what I wore to a holiday gathering yesterday and go with my Guerlain Idylle mini. It’s sultry and musky enough for cold weather, but light enough to give my nose a break after all the spicy orientals. It isn’t the most unusual fragrance in the world, but is very good for what it is and I’m jonesing for a full bottle.
Here’s wishing everyone a warm, happy and safe New Year and maybe not as many frags in 2011, but rather finding those fewer frags to be amazing must-haves, and that the niche lines reduce their multiple bottles all at once tactic to one or two gems so it is easier to keep up. 🙂 Happy holidays everyone, and here’s wishing 2011 brings you joy and new perfume loves.
You have lots of good perfume to choose from, it sounds like. And Santa was kind, too!
Best wishes for the New Year for you, too.
reading about your coming home to a freezing house—it made me shiver ( I had to go rustle up a fuzzy robe for here at the desk) —glad Santa got you the CK Obsession —and love your 2011 perfume wish for less volume and more fabulous must haves.
🙂
Ambre Narguile is my fave cold weather scent but always love Bos des Iles too. For tobacco warmth I’d have to go for By Kilian’s Back to Black. Ginger is also very warming so how about 5 o’clock au Gingembre?
Yes, 5 o’clock would be terrific–thanks for bringing it up! Back to Black is utterly gorgeous too, darn it. (The “darn it” is for its price tag.)
Oh Back to Black is gorgeous, isn’t it? I was going to save up for one of the 100ml refill bottles but they’ve apparently been discontinued. There are the 50ml refill bottles that come with an atomizer and pouch for significantly less than the ridiculous, in my opinion anyway, packaging and I’m seriously tempted to spring for one around February, when winter begins to feel like it will never leave and you need to find good things about the freezing temperatures to get you through. 🙂 I also love Spiritueuse Double Vanille during this time of year, too, as there’s both the warmth of the tobacco, the soft incens quality that weaves around the tobacco and the practically swoon-inducing boozy vanilla all wrapped up into one bottle of heavenly deliciousness. 🙂
I would be happy as all get out with bottles of those two.
February always feels like the longest month to me, calendars aside. Wearing SDV today…yum.
You smell good!
Fab post, Angela. We are have been experiencing big cold snaps here in the UK (-10c which is 12F) so my cold weather faves are getting lots of love.
Shalimar (always!)
Chaos (delicious)
Black Cashmere
Chergui
Kendo Amour (comfy jammies in a bottle)
Vintage Emeraude
darn typos! Kenzo Amour, of course
Happy New Year to all at NST!
Kenzo Amour is another great one–thanks for bringing it up! The rest of your list is spicy, sultry, and warm. So nice.
Happy New Year to you, too!
Shiseido Zen (original formula, in the black bottle with gold flowers) always makes me think of a crackling fire. Also, even though it is classified as an aldehylic, I think SSS Champagne de Bois is very warm and cozy.
CdB is mostly spice & woods on me, too. The aldehydes are gone pretty quickly.
I remember that bottle! Even the bottle looks cozy.
Was shivering inside today while wind blew 16 inches of snow all around my apartment building in Brooklyn. I sprayed myself pretty heavily with Theorema and I swear the temp in my apartment went up at least 10 degrees. Can’t seem to get past that rough start to Black Cashmere, or I’m sure it would be another warmth inducing fume for me in the winter. I did put a drop of Douce Amere over it by accident yesterday and that helped a bit. May play around with that combo a bit more.
Stay warm! That’s a lot of snow. I hope you have enough Theorama to see you through.
hey, that’s a great idea….I’m suddenly colder than ever—might have something to do with all these furnaces going on the fritz and top that off with your 16 inches of the white stuff….I’m headed for some Theorema right now….
and another cup of tea. 😉
Perfect!
I have been in your situation on several occasions (why does the furnace always go out on the coldest day? WHY? )…but I tend to just go with it – I love aldehydes in the cold and in a cold house, on a chilly person, they just snap! and crackle! (not like Rice Krispies, though – more like a glass of Bollinger)….but they have to be a full-bodied aldy, like No 5 or L’Aimant. My summer fave, Cartier Brillante, can’t handle the extreme cold – it shatters into nothingness.
Arpege, in a cold house, is sublime.
For florals, I agree with you on Carnal Flower – that slight menthol quality does the reverse of what the alds do and freezes me to the core. On those days I load up on Fracas – from the shower gel and body creme to the parfum (just a spritz, though) – you can smell me on the moon!
xo
I tried so hard to “get” Arpege — the reviews sounded so good that I bought an FB unsniffed — but it seems like I’m liking it less and less as time goes by… I’ve worn it to bed, but smelling it in the mornings just chilled me even more than I need to be in the winters here…
MAybe it was the wrong choice for a breakthrough aldehyde scent for a newbie? Though I have to say no. 5 smelled better recently, so maybe Arpege did help build up my tolerance 🙂
I like Arpege a lot, but I don’t think it’s easy to like, really. It’s definitely not the kind of fragrance people are making these days, and if you’re not used to meaty aldehydic fragrances, they just don’t smell friendly. It might grow on you, though (or not!). I didn’t like Chanel No. 5 for a long time, either.
Arpege is a tough one. Listen to me, who just bought an ounce of vintage extrait along with an ounce of My Sin extrait (unsniffed)! But meaty is a good word for it. I know in my heart that I will have to use training wheels on both of these, but couldn’t pass them up.
After the comment above, I decided to wear Arpege today (the new cut on it), and I’m not liking it like I used to. Could it be a passing mood? A lingering holiday crankiness? Who knows? In any case, it’s going back to the back of the perfume cabinet for a little while.
I won’t give up on it 🙂 Though it is time to set it aside for awhile, forget I own it, and return to it when there’s less pressure to justify the FB purchase…
The fact I could appreciate no. 5 a bit more is encouraging, and maybe a sign that these scents are an acquired taste.
Even if I never grow to like them, smelling them is still an interesting history lesson. I sniffed Le Parfum de Therese the other day and understood why it smelled the way it did.
I love Arpege, but only in vintage. I have a bottle of the reformulated version that I bought unwittingly. It just thin and harsh to me, whereas the vintage is warm, rich, and absolutely wonderful. I remember Arpege and no. 5 being on my mother’s dressing table from the time I was very young, and thinking that they smelled similar but different. I didn’t know about aldehydes, but I knew their was a similarity between them. I would say the difference is like the difference between satin and velvet. Both are beautiful and luxurious, but one is smooth and cool to the touch (no. 5), while the other is fuzzy and warm (Arpege).
The vintage is truly a different creature. It’s beautiful, soft, and feminine.
I’ve heard the new version is a respectable take on the old, but I’ve also read plenty of comments from old-time Arpege fans who didn’t recognize their beloved signature scent in the reformulated version.
It must be lovely in vintage — its reputation can’t be entirely undeserved. If I ever come across an old bottle, I won’t pass it up for sure.
Do pick up some old Arpege if you get the chance! It’s distinctly different than the new version, I think. Not necessarily better (or if so it’s a matter of taste) but different.
You’re brave! That’s a strategy that probably wouldn’t work for me. But no one could deny that you don’t smell terrific.
Oh Arpege is the first classic that I adore! The vintage eau is a perfect honeyed amber and the vintage parfum is leather/ black tea/ sandalwood incense on me, very subdued florals, much closer to Bandit than Chanel no. 5. Both the eau and parfum are perfect for cold weather. I’ve also been wearing these indie beauties to stay warm- Soivohle Purple Love Smoke- a syrupy incensey violet, A Wing and a Prayer San Franciso- a licorice/ powdery amber combo, and Escentual Alchemy’s Melange- ginger sandalwood sex.
I love it that you’ve chosen fragrances that so often fly under the radar! They give me lots of good ideas of perfume to try.
yeh I’ve been loving the little indie dolls lately. Right after NST I’ve been reading
http://indieperfumes.blogspot.com
&
http://www.scenthive.com -natural indies
Oh I forgot about Vireo Smoke Follows Beauty- my new favorite smoky fragrance after Black Tourmaline
Some more ideas A Wing and a Prayer’s Sabra Co neroli/ oranges/ dark chocolate, Talluhah B w Jasmine- a good green jasmine for next spring, Dorobella a powdery & creamy peony/ rose/ rosewood thats so perfectely feminine, Lavender and Roses for bedtime. All these but Soivohle can be found on etsy if I’ve really got you.
Thanks for the leads! I really like both indieperfumes and scenthive, and I adore their blogmistresses, so I’m glad to see you’re a fan, too.
Believe it or not, my friends, the contractor was right. Nothing was broken per se, but there was so much ‘gunk’ in the system that it was impeding the performance of the furnace. That and a loose wire! lol Go figure.
Oy those cable people. There should be a Prix En Faux Technospeak just for them. I’ve been told that squirrels were gnawing my (buried, I might add) cable which is why it kept cutting out. “Everyone” in my neighborhood was complaining and we should consider cutting down our trees to deter the squirrels. Ohhhhhhkaaaay. This brilliant diagnosis was made over the phone by a tech who had never stepped foot on my property.
Oh shoot – this was meant to go up above with my original comment. So sorry.
Sometimes it gets confusing finding where to comment–especially if you’re cold!
It’s really scary when the “experts” have less information than the next door preteen! I’m glad you’ve figured out what’s going on with the furnace, though. The sooner you’re warm the better.
My favorite cold weather scent lately has been Soivohle Meerschaum. It provides an ultra-rich hit of tobaccos and leather with a touch of spice and sweetness. The drydown makes me want to weep.
That sounds really nice! (Not the weeping, but the weep-worthy warming fragrance.)
OH that sounds wonderful!
I use heavy muscs or generally heavy incense.
Try Guerlain L’Heuere Bleue as extrait, the drydown is warm, soft and cozy like baby-alpaka – but to be honest…
In winter, I need my overdose of lemon, coconut and other summer-scents that make my mood rise!
Un Jardin sur le Nil is better then anything else – and I mean half a bottle at once.
In winter I can smell better then in summer so heavy scents are overwhelming me so that I cannot concentrate.
LHB I used in my holydays so I could smell every 20 minutes at my wrist (isn’t it funny that it does not work on my hair/neckskin, only on my hands/arms?!(
So the tropical scent works for you for warming up! I tried it and it didn’t quite work, but maybe I was too cranky. L’HB is a wonderfully cosy scent. Thanks for the suggestions!