Do you change your most worn scents seasonally?
If you live in a place with distinct seasons, are those reflected in your perfume wardrobe?
Do you always go with “heavy for winter” and “lighter for summer” conventions or do you like to change it up a bit?
Now that fall is coming in the Northern hemisphere, what perfumes are in rotation now, which go back into the closet to hibernate?
My Answer:
I find myself adjusting my daily perfumes to season, and over the years this has become a favorite part of wearing perfumes for me.
I appreciate the seasons so much more since they come accessorized with certain fragrances.
Fall means warm and spicy, cosy and cashmere-soft.
My most beloved fall perfumes include:
Guerlain Bois d’Armenie and Tonka Imperiale, Chanel Bois des Iles, Juliette Has A Gun Calamity J, Le Labo Poivre 23, Nabucco Amytis, Olfactive Studio Lumière Blanche, Jo Malone Sweet Milk, Parfumerie Générale Tonkamande and Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I like the theory of seasonal change in choices. in reality I like heavy fumes in summer as the heat makes them rock and light scents in winter to dispel gloom and remind me of summer. L’Etrog was a great get-me-through winter.
That is a good idea as well, Jordan.
As winter drags on I’m often resorting to sunlight in a bottle as well.
Definitely pulling out my warming scents now. I am looking forward to rummaging through my cabinet to see what I have. Guerlain is one of my favorite brands for fall and winter together with the rest of my vanillas that I do not dare to wear in heat.
It’s fun going through the closet, isn’t it? 🙂
Yes I do! As I live in Poland, I’m practically a neighbor with Austria so we also have distinct seasons here. Now that the weather turns cooler I stop wearing my light, citrus and neroli fragrances (I don’t feel comfortable wearing citrus when it’s cold) and now I change for some light ambers, suedy leathers (Ramon Monegal Cuirelle), warm spicy combinations (Carner Barcelona Rima XI), lavenders (HdP 1725, Parfum d’Empire Eau de Gloire)
Ah, Rima is so good! Lovely fall scents, Lukas!
Thank you!
Not very conventional – I’m not keen on ‘summer’ colognes/floral bouquets or ‘winter’ rich orientals. Having said that, autumn is my favourite season, and I’m currently loving fruits and/or rose; Rocher Rose absolue, Lutens daim blonde, by Killian City of Sin… these are very easy choices for me. Come winter, though I’ll be yearning for something fresher and brighter, I love Jordan’s suggestion of L’Etrog, and will definitely check that out!
Autumn is truly the best perfume season, all is possible.
L’Etrog is a great mood lifter!
Yes, autumn for me is the season where everything seems to click; mood, weather, clothes, colours, food…and perfume, they all work in harmony. I never feel quite so together in the other three!
So true! Same here! 🙂
I have dug out my bottle of OJ woman already and am wearing anima dulcis today although I am still wearing linen which was a bad idea as I am freezing today.
I love bringing my autumnal perfumes out as they are my favourites.
I was wearing Anima Dulcis yesterday too, a perfect fall scent!
Seasons? Oh, how I miss those! We do have seasons here in Dubai – hot and not quite as hot! If I waited for cool weather to wear my heavy scents I would never get to wear them. Of course, in this part of the world, it is much more common to wear those big orientals all year round and I agree with Jordan, the heat can really make them blossom. I do often chose my scents based on how much time I think I will be spending outside versus in the cool temperature controlled air conditioning. And of course, I enjoy spending holidays in the US Northeast with cold and snow where I make sure to pull out all my ambers and vanillas.
Hot and not quite as hot. 😀
I can imagine that you miss the New England fall and winter seasons.
But as you say, it is common to wear big perfumes in the middle east.
I like to wear spicy orientals and other heavier scents in both summer and winter, but autumn and spring are the times for something different and lots of experimenting. This is the time when I order samples and play around. At the moment I’m looking for a crisp and elegant chypre. Suggestions are more than welcome.
I agree, Sabine, fall is ideal for trying new stuff.
As for your chypre, how about Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse? Or Bottega Veneta? Or MDCI Enlèvement au Serail?
Bottega Veneta I tried the other week, liked it a lot and will definitely test it on skin. And the others are on my sniff list for a planned trip to Paris in October. MDCI would usually be out of my price range, but they do these very tempting coffrets…
MDCI have a fantastic sample program indeed, ideally suited for people like us. 😉
Have a great time in Paris!!!
Yup, definitely do this. The orange blossoms and girly florals are on their way out and in their place will come a similar repertoire to yours above, also Dior Ambre Nuit, Prada L’Eau Ambree, OJ Taif, Rima XI (nice pick by Lucas!), Rose Kashmirie, Black Cashmere, Cuir de Lancome and Tom Ford White Suede. And others I will doubtless think of in a bit!
Many of yours are in my rotation as well, V.
Isn’t fall nice? 🙂
Definitely seasonal. Here in rainy Normandy, northern France, it suddenly turned autumnal today and I reached for Ambre Sultan. This season will also mean Five O’Clock au Gingembre, Shalimar, Bois Turquie and Fille en Aiguilles, not to mention any leathers I can get my hands on. Over the summer, I wore a surprising amount of Serge Lutens Eau Froide, which seemed to counter the heat beautifully during the day, then a heavy jasmine, gardenia or tuberose in the evening.
My husband is wearing Ambre Sultan today as well and I follow the lovely sillage around the house. 🙂
Great picks, Trish!
As a general rule of thumb I do definitely shift between summer and winter scents. That said, there are times within both periods of the year where I crave and wear the scents from the wrong season. Sometimes lighter things can be lovely in winter and a big heavy oriental can sing in summer.
It is definitely time to bring out the gourmands though….
We are very much on the same page here, T!
Our ‘evil scent twin’ days are long gone 😛
So they are… 😉
I LOVE changing my perfumes with the seasons. It’s one of my favourite things.
Really looking forward to wearing Ormonde Woman and Cuir de Lancome again, in particular. Seriously considering investing in a bottle of Armani Prive’s Bois d’Encens for autumn too.
Good for you! The Armani is one of the best incense perfumes out there for me.
Of course I do, my lovely daughter (23) also. It’s like choosing the perfect music for some more or less important occasion. Now I’m waiting for that kind of weather that makes it absolutely necessary to wear Blackberry & Bay by Jo Malone…with Blackberry & Quince bodylotion…
Hmmm, Blackberry&Bay is a lovely perfume. This is one I wear unabashedly whenever the mood strikes… 🙂
I usually change perfumes with the seasons. Our summer hadn’t been too hot this year. Then this past weekend we were hit with a mini heat wave, just as I was starting to think about warm and cozy fall scents. Not to be deterred I went ahead and sprayed Diptyque Volutes on each arm to test the EdP against the EdT. (Verdict, DH liked the EdT, I preferred the EdP for being a bit more plush. Both lasted about the same length of time on my skin.)
With the weather as changeable as it is right now I guess I’ll just have to wear more iris based scents. For some reason I find iris and orris based scents wearable in all types of weather.
Iris is a great year-round option, I think so too.
I’m sure the cool autumn days are not far off…
Yep, I’m *v* conventional – I crave florals and citrus in high summer, and rich chypres and orientals come winter. Still searching for the perfect summer scent but for winter I’m well equipped: Coromandel, Attrape Coeur, Mon Parfum Cheri, Indochine, Traversee du Bosphore.
The cross-overs? beachy white florals with vanilla: I can (and do) wear Songes and Terracotta all year round.
Oh, and for autumn: Sycomore! really not much point in wearing anything else, it goes so beautifully with falling leaves 🙂
True!!! Sycomore *is* the tree. 🙂
So such beautiful perfumes, Figuier, our perfume closets must look very similar. 🙂
Pls don’t forget my idea for next Monday’s question, ….;-)
Oh I certainly will forget that!!! 😉
Ohhh noooo! I am very convinced we would have interesting answers;-)
Probably! 😉
I love the change of seasons, fall is my favorite as well, and as my collection overall can be described as dark and brooding, I am enjoying saying hello to my rich incense, woods and spices: Satellite Padparadascha, CdG edt, Black Cashmere, Black Aoud and everything black and noir I can get my hands on. Now, to get my hair cut and find just the right plum lipstick, and I’ll be good to go 🙂
Ah, isn’t it great to go back to dark colours and heavy perfumes? I love fall!!!
As for the purple lipstick: Have you ever tried Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball lipstick in Goodbye? Excellent colour!
Overall, I would say I’m not seasonal, but there are a few perfumes that I tend to take a seasonal stance with. Un Lys is something I usually only crave in spring. Citrus perfumes I really only crave in winter, which is when they last better on my skin anyway.
I don’t know all of the perfumes on your fall list, but there’s a few on there that I really love. You’ve got me craving Le Labo Poivre 23, Jo Malone Sweet Milk and Ormonde Woman. Btw, what are you wearing today?
Today I’ve been wearing Profumum Roma Fiori d’Ambra that I’m testing for review. A good fit for a cool and windy day.
Since you mention craving Sweet Milk, I found a great dupe, as this Jo Malone is discontinued: Hilde Soliani Crema di Latte – fantastic warm milk scent. Maybe you can try it in Rome…
Ooh, grazie mille, Birgit! I’ll look for it there.
And will look forward to your upcoming review of Fiori d’Ambra. 🙂
It’s part of a mini-reviews post up on Wednesday. 🙂
I most certainly do change out my perfumes along with my wardrobe, but I wait until the weather actually starts to dip. They may say summer is over but the temps say the opposite! I have a couple of scents that I can’t wait to test out for fall. Cuir Beluga and SL’s La Myrrhe. I’ve only tried CB in sweltering heat and it just about suffocated me, but I think I’ll like it in cooler, drier conditions. I’m looking forward to wearing Carons Nuit de Noel and Sacre, both of which I think wear better in cooler weather. For me, perfume and baking make winter tolerable!
For me perfume and eating things other people bake make winter tolerable. 😉
Ha ha! I can’t think of anything more pleasant than having coffee and pastries while discussing perfumes (and some celebrity gossip, of course) on a cold winter day.
Sounds perfect to me! 🙂
I do change my perfume according … to the calendar since it’s the most prominent differenciator for seasons where I live. I can’t declare it Fall yet – it just finally decided to be summer for a while – but in October I’m definitely moving to spicier and warmer scents.
October will be here in no time…
I don’t change that much as I don’t like to wear fresh summer scents in summer anyway, they don’t last in the humid heat. It is still summer during the day, but with an autumnal vibe and I already “unpacked” my Nuit de Noel.
Ah, Nuit de Noel, wonderful1 Enjoy!
I tend to change somewhat seasonally but also according to mood and what I’m wearing. If I’ve got dark coloured clothing then I usually go for a heavier, woody/oud scent, for instance Colonia Intensa Oud, A*Men Pure Havana or Tom Ford Oud Wood, and if I’m wearing bright colours then I’ll go for something on the marine/citrus front – Aqua Universalis Forte, or Cool Water Deep, maybe.
I have no idea why I associate colours with scent – undiagnosed synaesthesia, perhaps!
I do that too! 🙂 Scents and colors just go together!
I tend to wear orientals all year, but on really hot days I like something green. Haven’t yet found anything I like as well as my long-discontinued Trigére, though.
It’s so sad when you lose a favorite perfume… 😦
Yes, sort of…’sort of’ because I live in the Philippines and we have hot, humid weather all year long. The mercury dips a bit for three months starting December and in those days, I bring out the Lutens, most especially Ambre Sultan, which I find to be very comforting.
I can imagine the Lutens works beautifully in the slightly cooler months, scentsentiments.