In my opinion, the best season of the year is upon us, and I’m ready to smell like I’m wrapped in cozy cashmere, sipping on a hot apple cider by the fireplace on a crisp autumn day. Lucky for me, there are plenty of fragrances that do just that. From woody aromas of Bath & Body Works Glazed Pumpkin Mist to the vanilla notes of Phlur Vanilla Skin Body & Hair Fragrance Mist, I went through hours of research to find the best fall fragrances you need by September, vetted and reviewed by PureWow editors.
The 15 Best Fall Fragrances for Women, Approved by Our Autumn-Loving Editors
The best-smelling season of the year
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Published Aug 18, 2025
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Paula Boudes for PureWow
The Best Fall Fragrances at a Glance
1
Best Overall
Diptyque Eau Duelle
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2
Best Musky Fall Fragrance
Maison Francis Kukdijian Baccarat Rouge 540
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3
Best Amber Fall Fragrances
Noteworthy Scents n,441 Crystalized Woods
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4
Best Pumpkin Fall Fragrance
Bath & Body Works Glazed Pumpkin Mist
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5
Most Wearable Fall Fragrance
Aerin Amber Musk
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How I Chose the Best Fall Fragrances for Women
I did a poll to find out editors’ favorite fall fragrances, which features scent-worthy notes that will have you adding all of them to your cart (but I’ll get to that in a bit). I also have a vast collection of fall-inspired perfumes that I will excitedly recommend to anyone. From there, I did more research to find other popular scents from big retailers and social media alike. Then, I spent time analyzing each pick, looking at their key notes, wearability and longevity. Here’s what I discovered.
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If you’re into vanilla perfumes for fall, look no further than this one from Diptyque. It has rich, spicy notes of Juniper berry, green cardamon, black ceylon tea, and of course, vanilla bourbon. Diptyque fan and SEO Editor Marissa Wu had only great things to say about the perfume, sharing, “It smells like straight vanilla extract (with a little bourbon), and this makes me think of fall and all the cozy vibes. It transports me to being in the kitchen, baking and I'm wearing a sweater. Overall, it smells familiar, warm and super festive!”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: pink peppercorn, juniper berry, green cardamom, elemi, frankincense, calamus, black ceylon tea, bourbon vanilla, fernat vanilla, Haitian vetiver, cypriol
- Fragrance Family: spicy
- Sizes: 1.7 to 3.4 oz
Here’s your sign to splurge on a signature scent for fall. The Baccarat Rouge 540 is a luxurious scent as Lifestyle Editor Sydney Meister describes in her review as feeling like “stepping into the lobby of a five-star hotel on the French Riviera.” It has key notes of grandiflorum jasmine, saffron, bitter almond and cedarwood. According to Meister, you only need one spray to last all day and it’s versatile to wear all year round, especially in autumn. While it can cost you $295 for the 1.2 oz, she believes it’s worth the price point. She adds, “I’d say if you’re a fan of layered, warm perfumes that feel indulgent and sophisticated, the Extrait is absolutely worth the splurge.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: grandiflorum jasmine, saffron, bitter almond, cedarwood
- Fragrance Family: woody, musky
- Sizes: 1.2 to 6.8 oz
This perfume has cracked the code on fall fragrances. It starts with an exotic spice accord before fading into heliotropine and crystalized moss before settling with a woods, amber and musk blend. As Associate Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera shares, “It has such a nice blend of sweet and woodsy for fall! It definitely has that musky feel to it, and I love wearing it both during the day and at nighttime.” Plus, you can customize how strong you want it to be by adding one or several layers to make it entirely your own.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: exotic spice accord, heliotropine, crystalized moss, woods, amber, musk
- Fragrance Family: woody, musky
- Sizes: 0.27 to 3.3 oz
Nothing screams fall quite like a pumpkin-inspired fragrance. LaBarbera recommends this new Bath & Body Works fragrance mist, which has notes of vanilla glaze, caramel woods and pumpkin cream. It’s also designed to be layerable and worn all day. “I'm *obsessed.* It has a vanilla/pumpkin blend scent that isn't too overwhelming or in-your face pumpkin spice and feels really wearable,” she adds.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: vanilla glaze, caramel woods, pumpkin cream
- Fragrance Family: warm, woody
- Sizes: 8 oz
I recently came across Aerin Amber Musk, and it’s like being wrapped in that aforementioned cozy cashmere sweater. This Reese Witherspoon favorite fragrance features notes of amber, musk and rose centofolia that’s soft, subtle and great for fall. It’s wearable and doesn’t do too much, which I like to spritz on a daily basis. Plus, the bottle is minimal enough to look great in my collection.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: rose centifolia, amber, musk
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 0.27 to 3.4 oz
This eau de parfum has been a staple of mine for years now, especially when September rolls around. It belongs in the warm florals family, with notes of magnolia, musk and Bulgarian rose. I just love the mix of sweet and spicy—and dare I say it just makes me feel cozy and a bit sexy? I often try to channel my inner RiRi as the brand’s goal is for the scent to attract all the attention and be a statement fragrance in your rotation. Did I mention it comes in a hair perfume, too?
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: magnolia, musk, Bulgarian rose
- Fragrance Family: warm, florals
- Sizes: 0.33 to 2.5 oz
Glossier is often known for their skincare and makeup products, but they recently launched their first ever fragrance. Since then, they have expanded their line including the beloved ‘You Doux.’ The perfume falls into the woody category, which the brand describes as soft and serene. It has notes of palo santo, frankincense and smoky myrrh. As Editorial Assistant Courtney Mason expressed in her review, “I wasn't expecting to like Doux as much as I did. The woodiness of this fragrance—specifically, the blend of Palo Santo and smoky myrrh—is truly my favorite part while wearing it. Cozy and subtle are two words I would use to describe this perfume.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: palo santo, frankincense, smoky myrrh
- Fragrance Family: woody
- Sizes: o.27 to 1.6 oz
Phlur has plenty of favorite fragrances, but ‘Vanilla Skin’ is a top choice for the season. Our former Assistant Editor Delia Curtis ranked this second as it offers a sweet and woody scent with notes of sugar crystals, cashmere wood and vanilla. They write, “It’s a well-rounded sweet and woody scent with a deep richness that can only be achieved by the perfect concoction of fragrance notes. I loved testing this particular scent out because it thrived on its own and made for a great layering fragrance.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: sugar crystals, cashmere wood, vanilla
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 3 to 8 oz
Rare Beauty just launched their very first fragrance and I’m already hooked. The mix of warm and sweet gourmands is a great addition to my fall wardrobe. You’ll find notes of caramel, vanilla and sandalwood, which the brand describes as a “fragrance that evolves with every passing moment, lingering for up to 12 hours.” Scent aside, the bottle design is worth raving about all on its own. Selena Gomez partnered with a group of certified hand therapists and engineers to create a seamless pump that would be comfortable and easy to distribute the fragrance.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: caramel, vanilla, sandalwood
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 0.34 to 1.69 oz
In 2023, we predicted this Ellis Brooklyn pick was going to be *the* fragrance of fall, and two years later, it continues to be a scent shoppers love every season. Curtis previously shared, “It’s fruity, floral and sweet without being over the top. We've been wearing the scent nearly every day and it reminds us of a fall stroll through Manhattan. At its base, the notes of vanilla and praline evoke a moment in Little Italy with its bustling pastry shops, and the top notes of apple, mandarin and peach take us right to Chinatown with its produce sellers and boba tea shops with lines out the door for their sweet and fruity beverages.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: red apple, sugar cane, vanilla madagascar
- Fragrance Family: fruity, florals
- Sizes: 0.34 to 1.7 oz
I went on the hunt to find Beyoncé’s favorite fragrance, and I was not disappointed. This warm fragrance will surely make a statement. It has notes of oak absolute, cognac essence, tonka bean absolute and cinnamon essence. I only need one spritz to be noticed from a mile away. Many shoppers have labelled it a ‘spicy apple pie’ or a ‘boozy fall drink,’ and they really hit it on the nose (pun intended). Plus, the bottle literally looks like an actual drink, making it a perfume that will stand out amongst your collection.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 0.24 to 3.4 oz
It’s no secret that PureWow editors love Merit, and their latest fragrance is proof. It opens with bergamot and pear before moving into a more floral blend of jasmine, rose and violet. Then it settles nicely into a vanilla, moss and musk combo. As Mason shared in her review, “I’ve tried to find the right words to describe the true uniqueness of this fragrance for days now and still have come up short. Its elusiveness is almost reminiscent of the white mystery-flavored Airhead candy I ate as a kid, which I still, to this day, do not know the actual flavor of. Is this perfume a floral? Is it a musk? That’s for your nose to decide.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: bergamot, jasmine, musk
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 0.32 to 1 oz
This is one of the most calming scents on the list. The brand describes it as “a moment in time, as familiar and comforting as your nostalgic touch.” It’s all due to its warm notes of suede musk, neroli blossom and cedarwood. The moment I apply it on, I can’t stop pressing my sweater to my nose. It grounds me and reminds me of my favorite fall beverage. It lasts all day, it’s not overpowering and it’s great for daily wear.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: cedarwood, neroli blossom, suede musk
- Fragrance Family: warm, woody
- Sizes: 2 oz
I’m rounding out the list with a fragrance that I’m dying to get my hands on. With a name like ‘Autumn Vibes,’ I don’t expect anything less for the upcoming season. With key notes like cedarwood, moss, cardamon and red berries, it’s meant to evoke an earthy and woody fragrance. It was heavily inspired by colorful leaves and immersing in a fun fall getaway. As one shopper writes, “One of my autumn go-to scents! It’s a light and woodsy musk that gets me compliments left and right. [It] smells like I took a walk through the forest on a brisk fall day.”
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: red berries, cardamom, cedarwood, moss
- Fragrance Family: earthy, woody
- Sizes: 0.34 to 3.4 oz
Another fragrance I’ve been eyeing? Orebella Nightcap. It has a blend of warm and spicy notes that shoppers say smell cozy and relaxing. The top is ginger, cardamom and guaiac wood before settling into vanilla, cistus and sandalwood. One customer shares, “It reminds me of incense from a crystal shop, or a cool record store. A gingerly, vanilla, soda pop mocktail. It makes me happy and chill at the same time.” Plus, the bottle design does look like a chic gemstone that deserves front row and center on my dresser.
Fast Facts
- Scent Notes: ginger, cardamom, guaiacwood, vanilla, cistus, sandalwood, patchouli
- Fragrance Family: warm, spicy
- Sizes: 1.7 to 3.4 oz
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Fragrances Are Popular for Fall?
PureWow editors and reviewers are gravitating towards warm, spicy and woody fragrances for fall. However, don’t disregard fruity and floral aromas as evident in faves like Ellis Brooklyn Apple Love and Maison Margiela Replica Autumn Vibes.
What Are the Best Fall Scents?
The most common scent notes for fall include vanilla, cedarwood, musk, amber and jasmine.
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