*This* is Fall's Hottest Scent and I’m Not Mad About It

If you’re searching for a warm and spicy scent, look no further than Ellis Brooklyn’s Queen Caramel. It has notes of caramel, whipped coconut and milky musks, along with white chocolate, maple sugar and pink salt. Simply put, it’s dessert in a bottle. As one shopper shares, “I have never done such a fast first smell to in-line buying it! As a gourmand lover, this sounds right up my alley. It is sweet, but not juvenile. [It’s] great for fall, but I would wear it year-round.”

Aside from being a mega popstar, did you know Sabrina Carpenter is also in the fragrance business? The brand is literally called Sweet Tooth, so expect “Caramel Dream” to be so good you want to take a bite (but please don’t). It has key notes of sugared lemon, caramelized amber, vanilla and sandalwood, to name a few. Plus, the bottle is shaped like a chocolate bar that you’ll want to display on your vanity. 

When I went to the opening of Dossier’s NYC flagship store, I smelled hundreds of their fragrances, but nothing made quite the impression like the Caramelized Lavender & Hazelnut perfume. I was immediately hit with the salted caramelized hazelnut, moving into the lavender, violet and orange flower before settling into the suede, vetiver and patchouli base notes. This is a great example of incorporating the trendy note into a mix to elevate it for the season. 

We’re huge Phlur fans, and their Caramel Skin body and hair fragrance had to be on this list. The brand describes it as “a deliciously sweet sensation that sparks desire, with refined sophistication and bold attitude.” The warm and spicy notes include bergamot, sandalwood and caramel cream. Shoppers say it smells yummy, it lasts all day and you’ll surely get plenty of compliments as you walk by. 

Rare Beauty is renowned for its blush, but it has recently joined the fragrance game. Founder Selena Gomez wanted a perfume that “evolves for the moment and always feels just right” and I think she accomplished that. With key notes of caramel, sandalwood and vanilla, it has a warm and spicy aroma. It also stands apart for its smart design that makes it easy for everyone, especially those with dexterity issues, to twist and spray the perfume directly on their skin. 

This hair and body mist will give you a cavity—and you won’t even mind it. Key notes include caramelized vanilla, tonka bean and toasted macadamia nut that will have you taking a whiff a couple of times. Fans rave about its longevity and wearability, but mainly for its bold fragrance. One customer said it best: “If you want to smell like a nutty pastry bakery, please do yourself a favor and buy this now.”

Perfumes aside, I’m seeing a rise in bodycare incorporating this key scent. A prime example is Fenty Beauty’s latest body milk that features caramel, vanilla and cookie dough. It doesn’t only smell good, but it’s nourishing for your skin, thanks to a hydrating and nourishing oil blend (kalahair melon, baobab and coconut). It’s also formulated with shea, mango and cocoa butter to help your skin feel softer and smoother. 

The whole Sticky Dates collection is worth checking out, but it's their body spray that has the internet’s attention. It combines benzoin resinoid (vanilla-like resin) and sandalwood to leave a caramel fragrance behind. The spray also uses organic ethanol to help the scent last longer on the skin. One shopper describes it as smelling like a “warm autumn cookie.” 

Yup, even hand sanitizer is getting in the game. Touchland is known for their unique scents and has launched a limited-edition collection for fall, which includes fragrances like Spiced Pumpkin-Tini and Cinnamon Gingerbread. However, Salted Caramel has to be my favorite. It has rich caramel, golden cider and warm amber that just screams autumn. While the smell will have me cleaning my hands a little bit more often, the key ingredient—aloe vera—also helps to hydrate *and* protect my skin.