By Tara
Which perfumes do you most associate with spring, summer, autumn/fall and winter?
These aren’t necessarily your favourites, but the ones you think evoke each season the best.
My Answer:
Spring – Cartier L’Heure Fougueuse
This perfume makes me so happy at the end of winter because it reminds me that spring is just around the corner. It conjures up meadows with a scattering of horses and flowers.
Summer – L’Artisan Parfumeur Fleur d’Oranger
What could be more summery than a straightforward orange blossom fragrance like this one? Olfactoria calls it “liquid sunshine” and I think that says it all.
Autumn – Ginestet Botrytis
For me, the fading warmth and richness of harvest time is represented in this alcoholic honey scent.
Winter – Puredistance Puredistance I
Puredistance I has the quiet serenity you can sometimes feel in winter. It mirrors the stillness of bare trees, grey skies and snow on the ground.
Please share the perfumes which speak of the seasons to you.
Olfactoria's Travels 
With our definite lack of seasons down here (unless you count, hot and even hotter as seasons) I don’t often think of my perfumes as belonging to a certain one but, I have to say that Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess is pure summer for me, no question about it. Serge Luten’s Jeux de Peau is what I think would be great for winter because I associate baking with Christmas time. It is not fancy but, I have always loved The Scent by Issey Miyake for spring because of the fresh floral-ness of it and for fall I will go with something smoky because of the crisp fallen leaves and this is when we would always start to have fires in our wood stove when I lived somewhere cold which means I have to pick Interlude Man – my favorite smoky scent.
Thanks for thinking about this and taking part even though you don’t have seasons as such in Dubai. I really love the way you’ve thought through your answers, which are all wonderful.
I think Bronze Goddess is going to represent summer for a lot of people. It is such a beachy scent. Gourmand perfumes like Jeax de Peau are a natural choice for Christmas time, I feel the same way about Ambre Narguile. Your reasoning for The Scent makes perfect sense and so does Interlude Man – I can’t wait to try that one!
Winter: SL Miel de Bois or Habanita (Kilian Back to Black is replacing SL Miel)
Autumn: KM Loukhoum & SB Prairie Nymph
Spring: Kilian Sweet redemption & Vamp A NY
Summer: Kai or SL Fleur D’oranger
Habanita edp is a massive lemming of mine right now, Rose.
I find it interesting that you associate Sweet Redemption with spring, I see it as more of a cool weather scent but that’s part of the fun – the way people experience perfumes differently.
I really want to try Kai, not sure how widely available it is in the UK. It sounds beyond perfect for summer.
I can’t choose. I think my head is going to explode.
Terre d’Hermes Parfum & Rosa Sur Reuse by SOIVOHLE for spring,
Blonde by Versace & Nikki de Saint Phalle for Summer,
Oud Ispahan by DIOR & Golden Cattleya by Olympic Orchids for Autumn,
L’Eau de Navageur by L’Artisan & Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire for Winter.
Portia xx
Ha! I knew this would cause pain for some Portia! You’ve come up with some fabulous choices all the same.
I’ve heard good things about Nikki de Saint Phalle for a looong time and Ambre Russe is just ideal for winter – love that warming boozy amber. The rose in Oud Ispahan is so beautiful, I wish I had tolerance for skank!
Thanks Tara,
Skank is my natural scent. He He. I was wearing Oud Ispahan today and it is a soft and classy version of one of the Swiss Arabian oils. That would really burn your nostril hairs with its skank factor.
Portia xx
Portia, Queen of Skank, I salute you! 🙂
Your choices are wonderfully evocative of the seasons, Tara.
I love the sweet torture of choosing favorites…;) I’ll try to pick just one for each season.
Spring: Hermessence Rose Ikebana
Summer: Malle Carnal Flower
Fall: Guerlain Tonka Imperiale
Winter: Puredistance I (inspired choice, Tara!)
Thanks so much, B! I’m glad the torture was at least sweet 🙂
Of course your picks are simply spot-on. The rhubarb of Rose Ikebana is so spring-like and I love that you’ve fallen so hard for Carnal Flower, that tropical paradise in a bottle.
I’m glad you feel the same way about PD1. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to know and love it if it weren’t for you.
For me:
spring – Prada Amber Pour Homme, my favourite, clean perfume, perfect for the time when nature awakens after winter
summer – AG Eau d’Hadrien or Ninfeo Mio, juicy splash of citrus or elegant lemony fig are always welcome
autumn – Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense, AG Sables, something warmer, deeper, more mysterious fits me best in autumn
winter – Dsquared2 Potion, for it’s coziness
I just love that time when nature wakes up after winter. It always makes me feel happy.
A lemony fig feels just right for summer and Sables is perfect for autumn – I like the idea of turning to something more mysterious then. Cozy perfume choices are always great to combat the cold of winter.
Hm, I’ve never really thought in four seasons, when it’s about parfum. I guess I just considered warm or cold… In outer temperatures more/less warm I happily reach for my Hesperides like Mecheri’s Mulholland, or colognes like Jo Loves’ Green Orange. When I need some comfort on the cold days I get it from to Roja Doves Amber Oud ….
It’s funny isn’t it? The different ways we think about perfume. I’ve thought in terms of the four seasons from the very start. I guess I like categorising!
Citrus and cologne scents are the natural choice for warmer weather and it’s lovely to cosy up to something as opulent as Roja Dove’s Amber Oud when it gets colder.
spring:Carillon pour un ange by Andy Tauer
summer:Rubj by Vero Kern
autumn:Cuir de Lancome
winter:L’air du desert marocain by Andy Tauer
Fantastic picks, ana! Of course we need a lily of the valley for spring!
Rubj is such a joyful perfume it’s just right for summer. The smokiness of my beloved Cuir de Lancome is spot-on for autumn and what better time of the year to be enveloped in L’AdDM than winter?
You have two of my favorites on your list–Rubj and Carillon : )
Yes, I absolutely love those two. I only have samples, hopefully at some point I will be able to add the two full bottles to my collection. I can see this happening soon enough for the Tauer, but Rubj is so expensive, and I’m afraid I love Onda even more!
Summer: OJ Frangipani for its refreshing lime note that carries throughout and its lovely tropical flower, and Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee for the hint of salty ocean wind sweeping a bank of ginger lilies
Autumn: OJ Ta’if and Vero Profumo Rubj edp for their saffron and cumin, respectively
Winter: OJ Woman for the mysterious evergreens, now rising from the snow
Spring: Tauer Carillon pour un Ange for its fresh and delicate lily of the valley
OJ’s Frangipani is so summery and I just adore that lime note too. I wish it was used more often. To my shame I haven’t tired Lys Mediterranee yet, which is something I should rectify. I have the Ta’if travel set and it’s lovely to wear come autumn (saffron is another favourite note). I have recenlty learnt to love the darkness in OJ Woman and I know most associate it with winter but it’s somehow autumnal to me. “Mysterious evergreens” is a great description.
Woman makes a lot of sense for fall to me as well. I’ve only tried one amber; I expect once I have a few more under my belt my idea of a winter scent may well change. (I only started wearing perfumes this past spring.)
Wow, you’ve come a long way since last spring!
Olfactoria did a great talk about ambers if you’re interested –
https://olfactoriastravels.com/2012/05/20/olfactoria-queen-of-amber-perfume-lovers-london-meetup-thursday-17th-may-2012/
Well, in spring I stumbled across a perfume blog, got fascinated, and quickly sent away for samples. So, I’ve learned from the best–all you wonderful perfume bloggers! 🙂
Well, I’m so glad you managed to find your way down the rabbit-hole to join us in Perfumeland! There’s nowhere else quite like it… 🙂
MMM, I absolutely NEED to discover the OJ line! I just find their discovery set a bit on the expensive side. I think I’d rather take the plunge and buy Woman unsniffed!
The great thing about the OJ line is that so many of the perfumes are incredibly wearable. You don’t get that very often with niche. Woman is pretty amazing. I hope you love it if you take the plunge.
I still have to try several of the OJs–Champaca, Sampaquita, Osmanthus, and Orris Noir are on my list of samples I need to get. I’ve also tried Tolu and Tiare, and they are fantastic as well!
All four of those you are yet to try are great. Champaca is my fave though, that was my last full bottle. Osmanthus is one of my all time favourite notes. Impossible not to like!
OJ does white florals so well.
Spring – L’Instant by Guerlain, Angel
Summer- Escada Signature, Escale a Portofino by Dior, Cristalle Chanel
Fall – Lady Caron, Classique JPG, Womanity
Winter – Samsara, Kenzo Jungle Elephant, Chamade
Special occasions all year long – Addict Dior
Hey Dominic! I like the way some of your choices mix it up. Like Chamade for winter (I think of spring) and Womanity for fall (I think of summer).
Your summer picks are classics though and Samsara and Jungle L’Elephant are a perfect fit for winter.
It’s great that you have Addict for special occasions, no matter what time of year it is.
Hey Tara, Chamade is great for pretty much most of the time apart from very hot summer, fall and spring are great seasons cause you can wear a lot of fragrances that are too cool or too hot for winter or summer. Womanity for me is like continuation of lovely summer, for me it smells like salty skin just when you jump out of the ocean around the sunset and you have nice dinner in perspective. With Addict – that’s love at first sniff ( that lasts for 10 years) and I conditioned myself on purpose with that fragrance because it’s always with me whenever I go for jazz concerts and festivals. Very jazzy btw, at least for me, mainly because of tonka bean note which is smoky and that associates for me with jazz clubs and scenes in the venues.
I loved reading about yourassociations with Womanity and Addict, Daniel. So personal and evocative.
It’s great that a perfume which was love at first sniff can still be so special after 10 years.
Spring: Muguet by Guerlain
Summer: Heeley Sel Marin
Fall: Patchouli Leaves by Montale
Winter: Ambre Nuit by Dior So hard to narrow it down. Ask me again in a few:)
I know I’m making life hard for people today!
Lovely, well suited seasonal choices, Lynne. Patchouli is perfect for fall/autumn and Ambre Nuit is a real grower. I must try Sel Marin at some point, it sounds so unique.
Spring – Dans Tes Bras
Summer – Terre de Hermes
Fall – Incense Pure by SSS
Winter – Amber, Amber, Amber!
I wear most of my favorites throughout the year, but Ambers, Orientals and most vanillas are reserved for cold weather!
Dans Tes Bras is an intriguing pick for spring, Amy Bella. I wonder if it’s because of the violets and mushroomy note, you associate it so.
Incense Pure is perfection for fall but so would a lot of the perfumes from Senoma Scent Studio.
I love Terre de Hermes but would probably plump for Voyage d’Hermes for a summer frag, or maybe spring. I can’t argue with amber, amber, amber for winter! Ambers were made for the cold weather. Though Olfactoria would tell us that they are perfect any time of the year 🙂
You totally pegged my reasons for picking Dans Tes Bras! It somehow is both warm and cool to me- evoking earthy soil, plants and woods in the process of warming up and awakening.
I love Voyage too, but it tends to wuss out on me while Terre lasts and lasts even in the most oppressive heat.
Ha! I’m glad I got where you were coming from with Dans Tes Bras. I love the way you’ve described it.
I agree about Voyage, it’s not the most substantial of fragrances. Terre de Hermes is a great all-rounder.
Fun question, Tara.
Spring: Chanel Bel Respiro
Summer: Frederic Malle Carnal Flower
Autumn: L’Artisan Tea for Two
Winter: Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree
It might seem weird to think of Bigarade Concentree as a winter scent, but when I was growing up, my mom always put oranges in our Christmas stockings, and winter was the season when we ate oranges, so any perfume that has a heavy orange citrus component usually makes me think of winter.
I’m glad you had fun with today’s question, Suzanne!
I did make the orange/Christmas connection after a second or two. I totally get it. Cinnamon, orange and pine are all like that. Have you tried Tauer’s Orange Star? That’s a winter pomander kind of scent you might like.
I really, really like Bel Respiro and it is completely spring-like with those green stems. I just feel guilty that I already own 3 excluifs (CdR, BdI and 31RC). Carnal Flower has summer heat written all over it and Tea for Two is a perfect, yet unobvious choice for fall.
I like this questions 😀 Had my thinking hard!
Ermmmm.
Spring: Comme Des Garcons EDP 2011
Modern, industrial, synthetic, flourescent, floral – brilliant spring fragrance 😀
Summer: Secret Garden – Aftelier
The most gorgeously rich, indolic bouquet I’ve ever smelt, heavenly summery
Autumn: Chypre Rouge – Serge Lutens
For obvious reasons, it’s a sticky, warm, red forest floor, sweet and spicy
Winter: Cuit Ottoman – Parfum D’Empire
Warm leather, vanilla, benzoin, just – everything warm and cosy you need in winter
Ha! I like to make you think 🙂 It has obviously paid off though because of those are wonderfully fitting choices.
Something sharp is great for spring and Secret Garden does sound like summer in full bloom. You make Chypre Rouge sound very appealing, I need to try.
I wish I got what you do from Cuir Ottoman, it just does not agree with my skin. You make it sound swoonworthy though!
Secret Garden is brilliant, a new love that I just had to buy!
Chypre Rouge is such an underrated Lutens – providing you get along with immortelle.
Cuir Ottoman can be hard work I completely get that, some days I find it overpowering and almost sickly, others it is perfect 🙂
Thanks for the extra info. The Afteliers aren’t cheap so it must have knocked you out!
I know what you mean about how some days a perfume can be great and other days it can be too much. Bois d’Argent can be like that for me – heaven one day and bordering on suffocating the next. Mostly heaven though!
Yup! And the bad thing is – there are a couple other Aftelier’s I feel like I “NEED” in my collection, such an outstanding line. But yes, this had to be my first choice 😀
I haven’t tried Bois D’Argent but I certainly will now – actually, I have hardly explored the Dior Prive line. This sounds like something I’d enjoy 🙂
I don’t know where you’re based but Dior have samples at their Selfridges fragrance boutique.I know The Candy Perfume Boy loves Eau Noire and as you are fond of immortelle that could be a good place to start. New Look 1947 is a floral you might enjoy too. I really love that line.
That’s a fun question! It’s hard to pick just one per season but here goes:
Spring: Carrillon pour un ange by Andy Tauer
Summer: Eau des Merveilles by Hermes
Autumn: Ormonde Jayne Woman
Winter: Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens
Claudia, all those picks ring true to me but particularly great new mentions of Eau des Merveilles for summer and Ambre Sultan for winter.
Spring: Iris Ukyioke, Tauer Zeta
Summer: Guerlain Lys Soleia, Guerlain Vetivier
Autumn: OJ Woman, Portrait of a Lady
Winter: Ambre Narguile, OJ Tolu
Lovely choices, Eva.
Can’t believe we haven’t had more iris perfumes for spring. Lys Soleia was made for summer and I can’t wait to crack open my new bottle of PoaL come autumn. Ambre Narguile is a winter favourite of mine too.
Ooh, this is a great question! I’m going to answer off the top of my head, knowing I will think of others later and think “I should have said that.”
Spring: La Tulipe
Summer: Bronze Goddess
Fall: Vetiver Tonka
Winter: Borneo 1834
I’m glad you like today’s question, Natalie!
I really, really want to try La Tulipe as both you and Undina are fans of that one and it sounds like it would fit my style. I wonder if Vetiver Tonka could be the vetiver for me too.
I think Bronze Goddess is a summer staple for many now and I totally associate Borneo 1834 with you – never mind winter 🙂
Glad to see Botrytis get a mention. I love it and I can see it as the perfect autumn scent. However, this winter I took it with me on a work trip to the other side of the country where ‘winter’ just means temps not lower than the mid-twenties (Celcius) and no rain. Botrytis was great. Despite its sweetness and density, it did not bother me at all in the heat. The heat may actually have conjured a bit more sillage out of what is a fairly low sillage perfume (on me at least).
It is coming into spring where I live and I am looking forward to breaking out the Le Temps d’Une Fete and Diorella. EL’s Pleasures and White Linen are also great on a crisp sunny day. Also Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere.
Good to hear Botrytis worked for you on a warm day, annemarie. I wouldn’t have thought that would be case with a honey scent, so good news!
Undina is kindly going to send me a sample of Le Temps d’Une Fete, it sounds so perfect for spring. I’m a long-term Diorella fan and look forward to wearing it again at the end of winter. Eau Premiere is very spring-like too.
In Melbourne you typically have four seasons in one day!
Autumn: typically in autumn I love Dalimania – fruity with a twist of an oriental for the day time at night I loved a dark plum like Versace crystal noir, delightfully noir actually sweet but not too loud
Winter: This winter I wore a couple, for day time I got stuck on Jil Sander and Madame Rochas night time i love poeme and womanity by thierry mugler
Spring: juicy, sparkling pears eau mega by Viktor & Rolf as well as idole di Armani for the daytime – Flora by Gucci for the night daisy never goes wrong here.
Summer: daytime – Acqua di Gioia day time Acqua di Gioia flanker essenza for night time the lazy days on the beach i love jean paul gaultier summer editions 🙂
It must be lovely to live Melbourne, it sounds like such a great city.
You make your autumn picks sound very appealing and I’m interested to see you are the second person to choose Womanity for winter. There must be something in that.
“Juicy sparkling pears” sound so good, as do lazy days on the beach *sighs*.
Very good question Tara, and a quite perplexing one too. I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday morning and only now feel I can put a list together:
Autumn: Vanille Absolument
Winter: Anything Shalimar-esque (Parfum, EDP, Ode a la Vanille & Parfum Initial)
Spring: Etat Libre d’Orange Antiheros
Summer: Geranium Pour Monsieur
Ha! This was bound to make serious fumeheads – such as yourself – think! Hope it didn’t distract you on your bank holiday Monday 🙂
Vanille Absolument is such a great pick for autumn. All that boozy, woody, vanilla but still light. Winter is a great time to break out the Shalimar although I’m going to start wearing my Shalimar Light this autumn. Still want some of that Parfum Initial.
Spring is the perfect time for lavender fragrances and the cool mint of Geranium Pour Monsieur would be just the ticket in hot weather.
Good thinking all round, T!
Hard to pick just one! Especially since most of my ‘top ten’ aren’t tied to one season. Winter’s the toughest, since for me it’s ‘oriental-patchouli’ season, and about the only time I wear compositions with incense notes. I could equally have chosen Attrape-Coeur, Byzance or Shalimar Ode a la Vanille…
Spring – Une fleur de cassie
Summer – Un jardin en mediterranee
Autumn – Fracas parfum
Winter – Mon parfum cheri edt
Winter has to be oriental season, doesn’t it? You’re very lucky if you have some Attrape-Coeur!
Nice unusual choices for the rest of the seasons, which no one else has chosen.
Thanks Tara! Even tho I no longer own a bottle of Fleur de Casssie, its cloudy scent still conjures up the cool & damp spring weather we get in the UK.
Yes, I do treasure my Attrape-Coeur! It’s such a lovely boozy, floral incense. Do let me know if you’d like to try some.
Thank you Figuier, you’re too kind. Olfactoria kindly sent me a sample of Attrape-Ceour and it’s just gorgeous – almost good enough to eat! I’m glad you have some.
I need to re-try Une Fleur de Cassie. It’s so unusual, I’m sure it takes some time to “get”.
It does indeed take some time to adapt to – and it definitely needs the right kind of weather – damp air does wonders for it 🙂
I had to stop and think awhile for this. OK, representative of the season? Let’s see….
Spring: Après l’Ondée
Summer: Pulp
Fall: Avignon
Winter: Coromandel
I can definitely tell you’ve put some thought into your picks, Dionne. They’re perfect.
Of course, Apres l’Ondee for spring showers and incense for the bonfires of autumn. Coromandel is a great winter blanket and I’ve been meaning to try Pulp for ages. I will be sure to sample that one along with La Tulipe.
I love green fragrances and find myself reaching for those more often than usual in the Spring. Penhaligon’s English Fern and Frederic Malle’s Vetiver Extraordinaire are two examples. For Summer, I think of citrus and eau de colognes: Dior Eau Sauvage and 4711 for instance. Fall doesn’t last long where I live but something like Geoffrey Beene’s Grey Flannel suits the cooler weather, I think. For Winter, Tabac Original and Alt Innsbruck get used a lot. But I have a lot of fragrances that I consider good year round, so those are incorporated as well.
Some great classic choices there, James. I think of green fragrances for spring too.
It would be hard to beat Eau Sauvage and 4711 for summer pick-me-ups. Grey Flannel sounds spot-on for autumn too.
It’s great you have so many year-round fragrances in your collection.
Sorry, I’m late (wasn’t feeling good, stayed away from perfumes – so tried not to tease myself reading about them or thinking).
There are so many perfumes to fit into each season so I’ll just do two per season – day/night. But, as I previously commented on Birgit’s post about Carnal Flower 10-days “torture” – I wouldn’t be able to wear the same, even the best and most beloved, perfume even for 10 days – let alone the whole season. So it’s just an exercise.
Spring – French Lime Blossom by Jo Malone (day); New Look 1947 by Dior (night);
Summer – Bombay Bling! by Neela Vermeire Creations (day); Heure Exquise by Annick Goutal (night);
Autumn – Arabian Wood by Tom Ford (day); Ta’if by Ormonde Jayne (night);
Winter – Alahine by Teo Cabanel (day); Ubar by Amouage (night).
Oh dear, Undina, I do hope you are completely better now. Good idea to keep away from perfume in all forms while feeling unwell.
Really enjoyed your day and night approach. Your spring choices sound very fitting. I need to spend more time with New Look 1947. Love Bombay Bling! for summer, such a perfect bright and happy pick. I’ve made a note to try Arabian Wood next time I’m at a Tom Ford counter because it’s a favourite of yours. I can imagine Alahine would be just right in winter.
I promise you don’t have to stick to wearing any these for ten days straight 🙂
Hope I’m not too late, my choices would be:
Spring – I just haven’t found my Spring perfume yet, but I agree with Chanel’s Bel Respiro, to me it just smells overwhelmingly of daffodil stems
Summer – SL Fleurs d’Oranger (liquid sunshine indeed), but I have to add Eau de Cartier for when it all just gets too hot
Autumn – Ormonde Woman (my favourite season, with an enigmatic, changeable perfume to match)
Winter – SL Ambre Sultan for warmth and comfort
Never too late, Alexandra!
I love autumn too, especially the damp green, woody, smoky smells. Ormonde Woman fits perfectly. What better time to wear Ambre Sultan than winter and I need to try Eau de Cartier.
I hope you find your Spring perfume soon!
This post is inspiring me to get serious and update my old “Perfume by the Seasons” page, which has been in limbo for about a year. I started to update it, saved it as a draft, and never went back. Time to dust off the cobwebs and see how my seasonal scent definitions have changed.
I’m glad you’ve been inspired to re-look at your “Perfumes by the Seasons”, Meg.
I definitely think of my perfumes in terms of the seasons and find it enjoyable to categorise them in that way. It’s always fun at the turn of the seasons to see which new perfumes I can choose from.
I hope you make some new discoveries too.
Oh, fun! Somehow I missed this on Monday.
Quintessential seasonals… hmmm.
Spring is definitely, definitely Crown Perfumery Crown Bouquet, with its big slap of greens followed by the tenderest florals.
Summer is Vamp a NY, a trashy, bosomy swimsuited flirt popping bubble gum.
Autumn is made more itself with Tabac Aurea – dappled sunshine, mossy forest floor, spice cookies and leather jacket and warm kisses.
Winter is always, always Alahine, a golden Christmas punch.
Wonderful choices with even more wonderful descriptions.
I’ve never tried Crown Bouquet but it does sound very spring-like. Another vote for Vamp a NY for summer – it does sound like fun in the sun.
I wish the SSS perfumes worked for me because you make Tabac Aurea sound just about perfect. However, like the others in the line it’s a no-go for me.
Oh and another fan of Alahine for winter – it seems to be the ideal time to wear it.
Spring: Diorissimo
Summer: Annick Goutal Neroli
Autumn: Tabac Aurea, or Neil Morris’ Tea House
Winter: Histoire de Parfums’ 1740 Marquis de Sade (original formulation)
Diorissimo and Alahine are deservedly popular choices for spring and autumn, respectively. I’d like a nice neroli perfume summer or spring.
1740 is a great winter pick, I read that it’s not as good as it once was which is a real shame.
Spring – Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle
Summer – Lime Basil Mandarin, Rose Barbare
Autumn – Coromandel, Cuir de Russie
Winter – By Kilian Back to Black, No 22
I love every one of those. Too bad that Vetiver pour Elle is discontinued, it was so nice…