This Wintry Fragrance Note Can Smell Tacky, But Not in These 9 Scents
Wintry fragrances always run the risk of being a bit too holiday heavy. Too many notes like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla can make you smell like a cookie exchange rather than a serious person. There's one note, in particular, that can make you smell like the inside of a snow globe if it's done wrong: pine.
Pine scents can get a bad rep for being too holiday-centric. It makes sense. When we think of pine trees, we often think of everything they're associated with. That means Christmas trees, ski lodges, and cloying candles. If pine is done right, however, it can transform a scent into something woodsy, mysterious, and unique.
Below, find the absolute best pine-scented fragrances on the market. Don't worry—you won't smell like Buddy the Elf threw up on you. These scents are all refined and subtle and can even be worn outside of the colder months.
Key notes: vetiver, cedar, benzoin, pine, patchouli, bergamot
Every time I smell this fragrance, I'm instantly transported to a crisp December morning in the Rocky Mountains. It's earthy and airy, and it boasts de-stressing properties thanks to replicating phytoncides, the molecules that are thought to be responsible for forest bathing's health benefits.
Key notes: pink pepper, bitter orange, banana leaf, tuberose, rose, ginger, nutmeg, vetiver, tobacco, mineral, moss, white musk
As a Colorado native, this homage to my home state is one of my favorite pine-forward scents. It's like a drive through the snowy mountains in a bottle but has a fresh twist thanks to notes like banana leaf and vetiver that give it some edge.
Key notes: red cedar, aldehydes, frankincense, cypress root, black pine, cascarilla bark, incense, Spanish cade, birch tar
This fragrance sounds like it might be hard to wear—it's based on the rituals of a 13th-century death cult. Out of the bottle, though, this scent is woodsy, smoky, and perfect for adding just a bit of mystery.
Our favorite pine-scented candles that are complex, not cloying:
Prior to her time atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Katie Berohn worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles.