Fall is the season fragrance lovers wait for all year. Cooler air lets richer notes like amber, vanilla, sandalwood and spice really shine, and a scent you'd skip in July suddenly feels exactly right. Whether you're shopping for yourself or for someone you love, here are our favorite fall fragrances for him and her this year, chosen from the bottles we have on our shelves right now.
What Makes a Great Fall Fragrance?
The best fall scents tend to lean warm. Fragrance editors this season keep coming back to a few themes: amber, which Givaudan's Jenine Guerriero and fragrance creator Caroline Stern both named the warm note of the season in Cosmopolitan; darker fruits like plum and blackcurrant; and spices like cardamom and saffron. Sandalwood is another cool-weather classic. As consultant Ariella Halperin told Harper's Bazaar, it "tends to gain popularity during the fall and winter seasons as its warm, creamy facets and soft, velvety texture provide a feeling of comfort and decadence."
Keep those notes in mind as you read. You'll see them again and again below.
Best Fall Fragrances for Him
City Fever Extrait de Parfum: For Big Nights Out
Our own City Fever Extrait de Parfum ($54.99) is part of Bazaar Scents, our in-house line of men's Extraits de Parfum. It opens with violet apple, melon, cardamom and pepper, settles into lavender, amberwood and cedarwood, and finishes with ambergris, vanilla and warm amber. It's fruity, spicy, woody and ambery all at once, and it was built for evenings that don't end early. If he likes confident, head-turning scents, start here.
Quiksilver Slopeside Eau de Parfum: For Cabin Weekends
Quiksilver Slopeside bottles a quiet mountain night. Mandarin zest, cranberry and red currant leaf give it a tart, bright start, then smoky saffron, lavender and jasmine sambac lead into a base of sandalwood, Amberketal and vanilla absolute. It's warm with a fresh edge, which makes it a great pick for the guy who finds most "winter" scents too heavy.
Celesty Intense Blue Eau de Parfum: For Every Day
Not every fall day calls for a dramatic amber. Celesty Intense Blue ($48) starts fresh with grapefruit, lemon, mint and pink pepper, then turns darker with ginger, nutmeg and jasmine before incense, vetiver, cedar and sandalwood take over. It's the kind of versatile everyday scent that works at the office on Monday and at dinner on Friday.
Want more options? Browse the full For Him collection or explore all of Bazaar Scents.
Best Fall Fragrances for Her
Coach Dreams Moonlight Eau de Parfum: For Date Night
Coach Dreams Moonlight is a floral amber by perfumer Louise Turner. Bergamot and pink peppercorn give it a sparkling start, a heart of rose, jasmine and a bitter almond accord follows, and patchouli and vetiver keep the sweet tonka base grounded. It's made for cooler evenings. The 40ml size is a nice way to try it. (Tonka, by the way, is one of the season's buzziest notes, which Allure calls vanilla's "more interesting older sister.")
Bharara Kiss My Peach Eau de Parfum: For Cozy Evenings
If she loves gourmands, Bharara Kiss My Peach ($51.99) is a velvety, ambery treat. Milk, coconut, peach and hazelnut open with a pinch of black pepper, heliotrope and rose add a soft powdery heart, and sandalwood, vanilla, ambergris and a whisper of incense finish it warm. It's sweet without being sugary, which is exactly where gourmands are heading this year.
Federico Mahora Pure Royal 286: For After Dark
For a dark, sensual rose, try Federico Mahora Pure Royal 286 ($45), inspired by the style of Dior Midnight Poison. Bergamot opens bright before a velvety rose and earthy patchouli take over, and ambergris and orange add a warm glow underneath. It's mysterious and best saved for nighttime. (Federico Mahora is not affiliated with Dior; "inspired by" describes the scent style only.)
Find more in our For Her collection, or see our Inspired By collection for more designer-style scents at friendly prices.
Scents You Can Share
Fragrance has no rules, and many of our favorite fall bottles live in the Unisex collection, from warm vanillas to honeyed tobacco. If you find yourself borrowing your partner's cologne (or they keep borrowing yours), that's a great place to look. And if you're still not sure where to start, take our Find Your Scent quiz to narrow down the scent families you love.
Fall Fragrance FAQ
What notes make a fragrance good for fall?
Warm, rich notes do especially well in cooler weather: amber, vanilla, tonka, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, leather and spices like cardamom and saffron. This season, darker fruits like plum and blackcurrant are popular too.
Can men wear fragrances marketed for women, and vice versa?
Of course. "For him" and "for her" are just starting points. Wear what you love. Our Unisex collection is made for exactly that kind of exploring.
What is an Extrait de Parfum?
Extrait de Parfum is generally the most concentrated style of perfume, richer than an eau de parfum or eau de toilette. Every Bazaar Scents fragrance, including City Fever and Manhattan, is an Extrait de Parfum.
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