The autumn perfume trends to know in 2025
A fool proof guide to building the perfect fall fragrance collection
After three months of uninterrupted sunshine, beach days, and glowy skin — letting go of summer can be difficult — especially when what awaits us can be a little gloomy by comparison.
However, when Autumn does roll around, even we have to admit it's not all that bad.
Truthfully, our makeup routines suffer a bit, in the sense that we abandon full faces for no-makeup makeup looks that we can apply in under 10 minutes. Anything to avoid leaving our cosy beds in the morning, right?
But we do look forward to refreshing our skin care routines, or trying out new hair cuts and colours, and the same can be said for the fragrances we wear. There's no better excuse for another perfume purchase quite like a seasonal change — after all our summer scents just won't smell the same when the temperature drops.
But how does one select the right spritz for the season? Well, BEAUTYcrew asked Your Bliss founder, Maddie Burton, just that to help you navigate the fragrance notes, characteristics and trends of autumn.
It's the perfect time to try warming fragrance notes
"As the weather cools down, we naturally gravitate towards scents that feel warm, cosy, and a little more indulgent," says Burton. "Autumn is the perfect time to embrace rich florals, creamy woods, and soft, spiced notes that wrap around you like a cashmere sweater."
Try to look for fragrances that feature warm and inviting notes like amber and vanilla, or spicy cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg. Soft and creamy woods (think: sandalwood and cedarwood) can add depth and longevity to a scent, and sensual musks and ouds will help your perfume last longer on cooler days.
On that note, your perfume's performance will change due to the cooler weather
"Perfume behaves differently in cooler weather, so you’ll want to choose scents that can hold their own when the air is crisp," advises Burton. "Cooler air doesn’t amplify fragrance the way heat does, so go for scents with a strong base (think: vanilla, musk, or amber) that will last all day."
Another thing to consider is a fragrance's sillage or the scent trail it leaves behind, says Burton.
"A fragrance with good projection will help ensure you’re leaving a beautiful, lingering impression," she explains. "Autumn is the season for deeper, more complex blends that evolve beautifully as you wear them. While light, citrusy scents shine in summer, autumn is all about rich, warm, and slightly creamy fragrances."
You should learn to layer your perfumes
According to the Your Bliss founder, autumn fragrances are being influenced by more than just specific scents — the way we apply our perfumes in 2025 is changing too.
"More people are mixing and matching fragrances to create their own signature scent," says Burton. Not to mention, experimenting and layering different scents can be a useful hack if you want to try something new, without it affecting your budget.
Burton suggests starting with a warm fragrance with notes like vanilla, musk, or sandalwood as your base to anchor the scent and ensure it lasts longer. Next, add depth with a spicy or woody note.
"A spritz of something with amber, patchouli, or cinnamon will instantly add warmth," she explains. "If you’re layering a fresher, summer scent, pair it with something richer to bring it into autumn."
But word to the wise, it pays to apply strategically.
"Spray heavier fragrances on pulse points and lighter ones on clothes or hair for a balanced, long-lasting scent," says Burton.
Regardless of whether you're repurposing the perfumes you already have in your collection, or making a new purchase, there are some fragrance families it pays to be aware of when the weather cools down.
Burton gravitates towards gourmand scents (think: vanilla, Tonka bean, and creamy sandalwood) for that indulgent, comforting vibe, and earthy and woody accords in autumn.
"Unisex and gender-neutral fragrances are gaining popularity, with woods like cedar, vetiver, and patchouli taking centre stage," she explains. "Spiced and smoked elements — notes like saffron, tobacco, and smoky amber — are adding a little mystery and depth."
The best autumn fragrances to try in 2025
Regardless of the time of year, one can never go wrong with a bottle of Le Labo Santal 33.
Main image credit: @shaninamshaik
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
