As a perfume-obsessed beauty journalist, I take the curation of my seasonal fragrance wardrobe very seriously—especially when it comes to autumn perfumes. In fact, dare I say, it's my favourite season. It's the time that welcomes warm and comforting scents (the kind that will cocoon you like a toasty, heated blanket).
And while for most, the more expected choice would typically fall on your milky scents and gourmand perfumes, I find myself reaching for a certain category that feels a tad more unique and fitting to wear during the "pumpkin spice" season.
Enter: ginger perfumes, a category of fragrances that takes it up a notch from the traditional gourmands and makes the instantly cooler and more sophisticated. They're every bit as warm and delectable, but with a spicy and almost sparkling touch.
What Do Ginger Perfumes Smell Like?
According to Jun Lim, founder and creative director of Korean fragrance brand BornToStandOut, ginger adds a certain sparkle to a perfume. "It feels like electricity on the skin. Bright, spicy, slightly citrusy and with a bite that wakes the senses."
"It gives a fragrance movement, that little jolt that makes you lean in for a second sniff. In a world full of heavy sweetness, ginger is the cut, the wink, the surprise," he adds.
"In gourmands and boozy styles, it stops richness from becoming cloying. In woods and musks, it adds clarity. In florals, it turns pretty into youthful," says Jun.
Elsewhere, Dimitri Weber, founder of Australian fragrance brand Goldfield Banks, explains: "Ginger possesses a rare and exotic allure, combining spicy, zesty and uplifting qualities that immediately engage the senses."
"In perfumery, ginger often functions as a top note, providing a vibrant, energising introduction to a perfume. In a well-crafted composition, ginger enhances the perfume’s projection and longevity," he says.
What Notes Work Best With Ginger?
"With citrus perfumes, like bergamot or mandarin, ginger becomes effervescent," shares Lim.
"With airy floral scents, like orange blossom or jasmine, it feels luminous instead of sharp. With woods like cedar or sandalwood, it reads clean and modern. With gourmands like maple, vanilla, or tonka, it cuts through the sugar and makes the blend addictive instead of heavy," he explains.
Meanwhile, Weber shares, "Ginger pairs beautifully with spices such as pepper, fresh citrus, rich woods, and warm amber, creating a harmonious and layered fragrance that exemplifies the refinement and sophistication."
The 7 Best Ginger Perfumes
1. Goldfiend Banks Ingenious Ginger
Key notes: Ginger, bergamot, mandarin, magnolia, vanilla, amber, sandalwood
This perfume is the sole reason for my obsession with ginger perfumes, and with good reason. While some ginger perfumes tend to lean heavier on the gourmand side, this scent feels fresher and has a sparkling touch to it. It's a floral and ambery scent that's cleverly balanced with a bright burst of citrus at the top. The ginger, of course, is the real star of the show here, but it doesn't feel too overpowering. As it dries down, it reveals a comforting base of vanilla and woody notes, which only becomes warmer the longer you wear it. If anything, thanks to its uplifting nature, I can easily see myself wearing it well beyond autumn.
2. Rare Beauty Rare
Key notes: Caramel, pistachio, ginger, vanilla, sandalwood, pink pepper, musk
I'm pretty sure that whenever anyone's asked me about my favourite new fragrances from 2025, they've gotten a good earful from me raving about Wholesale Replica Bag Rare Beauty fragrance. Now, I admit, when I first read the olfactory notes, I wasn't particularly excited about smelling what I thought was "yet another gourmand." However, it actually managed to surprise me from the first spritz.
Sure, its dessert-like nature is pretty evident—the resinous tendency of caramel, the creamy feel of pistachio and the enveloping effect of the vanilla are very much there. Still, it's not, by any means, too nauseatingly sweet. Thanks to the spicy touch of ginger and pink pepper, as well as the addition of musks and sandalwood, it has a balanced profile (the kind that feels like wearing a warm cashmere knit).
3. Orebella Nightcap
Key notes: Ginger, cardamom, guaiacwood, vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli
Ever since I first spritzed it on my wrist, this Orebella perfume has become my go-to nighttime fragrance, and deservedly so. It leans a little boozy, but just enough to add a cool and sensual edge to it. Elsewhere, the blend genuinely smells like sipping on a hot cup of chai latte on a chill evening—cosy, comforting and cocooning. The ginger hits you alongside cardamom at the opening, before revealing a heart of vanilla. And as it lingers on the skin, it dries down to a slightly darker base with the earthier nature of patchouli and a touch of sandalwood (which is exactly what makes it such a great evening scent). I expected nothing less from Bella Hadid.
4. BornToStandOut Drunk Lovers
Key notes: Bergamot, red berries, grapefruit, brandy, ginger, pepper, cypress, amber, sandalwood
"In Drunk Lovers, the zingy ginger slices through the citrus at the top and the cognac and brandy in the heart, creating that sweet-meets-spark tension. It gives you both a sense of comfort and a thrill," says Lim. Opening with bright citrusy and fruity notes, it slowly develops into a boozy and smoky ensemble with ginger at the heart of it—like a ginger-spiked cocktail you'd have at a dimly lit bar. And at the dry down, you're met with amber, woods, benzoin, vanilla, cinnamon and a touch of patchouli. Personally, it's one of my absolute favourites from the entire BornToStandOut lineup (and an instant compliment magnet too).
5. Byredo Eyes Closed Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Cardamom, cinnamon, carrot, ginger, orris butter, papyrus, patchouli
Hear me out: I'm of the opinion that this is one of the most underrated and unique Byredo fragrances. Equal parts cosy and spicy, it also has an earthy feel to it. At the opening, you're met with cinnamon and cardamom, both working hand-in-hand to a cocooning warmth that instantly pulls you in. Then comes the twist — a subtle hint of ginger and carrot that adds a delicate freshness, almost like a breath of cool air against a wool sweater. As it settles, the orris butter and papyrus lend a creamy, earthy depth that feels grounding yet incredibly sophisticated.
6. Jo Malone London Ginger Biscuit Cologne
Key notes: Ginger, roasted hazelnut, tonka bean
I know, I know, this fragrance isn't strictly an autumnal perfume per se (given that it literally smells like a gingerbread cookie). Even so, I'd say it's still a great trans-seasonal perfume to wear towards the end of November to get into the festive mood. It has that "baked cookie" type of warmth, complete with a touch of brown sugar and a spicy kick of ginger. In this ensemble, the ginger has a zesty lemony quality to it, adding a brighter feel to an otherwise heavily gourmand blend. I love that, unlike the predictable sweet scents I've smelled, it doesn't lean "too sickly" at all. The hazelnut heart adds a creamy and nutty edge, while the tonka bean at the base feels nice and cosy as it dries down. Genuinely one of my favourite Jo Malone London scents.
7. Mizensir Eau De Gingembre
Key notes: Bergamot, ginger, neroli, fig leaf, cypress oil, white wood
Eau de Gingembre is ginger in its purest form—bright, clean-smelling and a little bit green. It opens with a burst of bergamot, ginger, neroli and petitgrain before softening into fig leaf, cypress and smooth white woods. It’s fresh without being sharp, like grated ginger mixed into sparkling lemon-y water—zesty, crisp and uplifting.
Sure, it may not be as punchy as other perfumes in this edit, but equally, that's part of its charm. I love spritzing it in the morning when I want something that feels light, polished and effortless. It’s the kind of scent that instantly wakes you up and makes you feel more put together.
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