When colder weather is upon us, we often find ourselves overhauling any and every ritual associated with the warmer months. On the fashion side, that means developing a new rotation of shoes and replacing tanks with sweaters. Where beauty is concerned, it can mean swapping your lightweight, water-based products for a heavier skincare routine. Sometimes, we find ourselves so immersed in other endeavors that it can be easy to overlook the need to swap our summery fragrances for the best perfumes of the season. That being said, the task becomes pretty easy once you’re in on the secret behind compliments all winter long: amber perfumes.
Do you know how, every year, certain things leave you with a warm, cozy feeling (maybe it’s a song or a movie)? Amber perfume is that feeling in a bottle, which explains why people will immediately flock to you when you’re wearing it.
In truth, amber is often not an actual perfume ingredient but instead is a full-bodied, savory scent created with the combination of some key ingredients. Think comforting touches of vanilla and patchouli. In a nutshell, it’s your "cuddle up by a fire, happy place” fragrance. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve rounded up the nine you should consider first below.
1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
Key Notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, ambergris
ICYMI: Baccarat Rouge 540 has already amassed a viral fandom since its release in 2015. It's easy to see why, as Francis Kurkdjian (known for creating fragrances for Giorgio Armani, Dior, Kenzo, and more) is the mastermind behind the line. Captivating from beginning to end (this scent will last on the body for a long time), this unisex fragrance starts with a sweet, burnt amber aroma and finishes with a pinch of salt and wood.
2. Prada Paradoxe Intense Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Jasmine, amber, moss
Prada Paradoxe Intense is the deeper, more amber-forward iteration of Prada’s ultra-famous Paradoxe perfume. Its glowing warmth is intensified by the woody musk of Ambrofix, making this scent equal parts cozy and seductive (and the wearer devastatingly alluring. (No, really—ask the dozens of New Yorkers who said this scent attracted compliments more than any others.) But if you're not too keen on warm scents, you'll be happy to know that a healthy dose of floral jasmine keeps this scent balanced.
3. 7 Virtues Amber Vanilla Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Amber, vanilla, pink carnation
Who What Wear beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock is quick to recommend this sweet amber fragrance from The 7 Virtues. "It's so good," she says simply. McLintock describes it as a "warm and sheer amber with a hint of creamy vanilla." After getting endless compliments on it, she's "convinced every human being likes it." Plus, it's super easy to layer with other scents.
4. Phlur Afterglow Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Ambrette, lavender milk, sandalwood
This amber scent speaks to each WWW editor differently, from sparkling champagne to warm sun rays. Its woody-coconut makeup approaches amber in a different way than most—splashing the skin with bright citrus notes before blossoming into a musky base. "Phlur Afterglow is my new amber-y fave," says McLintock. "It's citrusy, coconutty, and has a sort of incandescent warmth from the amber."
5. Mugler Alien Eau de Parfum
Key Notes: Sambac jasmine, cardamom, amber
Mugler’s amber fragrance, Alien, was introduced as a follow-up to the brand’s best-selling Angel perfume. Its intricate blend of white amber, Indian jasmine, and woodsy notes will leave you and passersby hooked in an instant.
6. Jo Malone London Violet Amber Absolu
Key Notes: Violet, oud, amber
Those partial to powdery scents will fall in love with Jo Malone’s Violet Amber Absolu. As the fragrance melts into your skin, you'll be met with touches of violet, oud, and amber. This perfume may lean a tad more floral than warm, but the end result remains a woody fragrance that will reward you with compliments for days.
7. Burberry Her Eau de Parfum
Key Notes: Black currant, violet accord, dry amber
While Burberry’s Her is decidedly more fruity than most in the family of amber perfumes, it's a treasure not to be overlooked. Perfumer and creator Francis Kurkdjian described the scent as "his interpretation of a floral-fruity theme with gourmand undertones.”
8. Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Pink pepper, tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean, styrax resin
Maison Margiela is known for unisex perfumes, and although Replica Jazz Club is sold as a men’s cologne, that shouldn’t stop you from giving it a go. "Replica” in the fragrance’s name refers to Margiela’s intention of re-creating the emotional scents of a certain place and time. This particular amber scent transports you to an old-fashioned cocktail bar. The seductive scent leads with tobacco and rum notes that may make this ideal for the bold perfume wearer, but finishes off with amber and sweet vanilla that make it a bit more approachable.
9. Abel Cobalt Amber Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Pink pepper, cacao, vanilla
WWW's senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider calls this amber-y Abel fragrance out as a new favorite for its sweet gourmand base with touches of sultry musk. A flurry of pink pepper, juniper berry, cacao, sandalwood, amber, and leather swirl into a delightfully unique scent that doesn't lean too sweet nor too masculine—just a seductive, androgynous elixir that will attract endless compliments.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.