I Exclusively Wear Sophisticated Woody Scents—These Are My Top Picks

Key notes: Fig leaf, coconut, cedar

Diptyque's Philosykos fragrance is not only one of the brand's most popular perfumes, but it's also a beautiful woody fragrance. It encapsulates the scent of every part of the fig tree. (The name is literally Greek for "friend of a fig.") These notes mix with milky coconut and white cedar for a sophisticated, soft, smooth finish on the skin.

Key notes: Bergamot, lemon, jasmine, cyclamen, saffron, sandalwood, vanilla, musk, amber, cedarwood

Phlur has so many good fragrances on offer, but at this time of year, I always find myself reaching for Somebody Wood. As the name suggests, this is a gorgeous woody scent with a warm, cosy, somewhat spicy aroma. A base of sandalwood, cedarwood, vanilla and musk feels like a comforting hug when spritzed onto the skin.

Key notes: Moroccan cedarwood, musk, black amber, lemon, bergamot, African marigold

This is a warm, sensual and upbeat fragrance. The rich base of black amber, musk, vetiver and Moroccan cedar combined with top notes of bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold and buchu creates a fun and vibrant scent. It's my go-to for a night out.

Key notes: Violet, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, ambrox

A wonderfully woody take on Glossier's You perfume, You Doux still has that soft, skin-like aroma that we all know and love, just with a slightly more sophisticated feel thanks to notes of palo santo and frankincense.

Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sage, sea salt

The wood sage at the base of this fragrance gives it an earthy scent, whilst the freshness is brought out by the sea salt. Close your eyes, breathe it in and imagine a brisk walk along the British coastline.

Key notes: Bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedar wood, vetiver, musk 

I wear this perfume almost every day, and I still get excited when I spray it on. The scent is heady but not overpowering. It mixes fruity, light fig (that isn't super sweet) with sexy, fiery tobacco and dry hay. You honestly will never tire of it.

Key notes: Pink peppercorn, cardamom, coriander, carrot seed, nutmeg, olibanum, cedarwood, moss, fir balsam

Quite literally the definition of autumn in a bottle, this Maison Margiela scent comes into its own at this time of year. It's definitely a fresher woody scent, and feels like bundling up in your favourite jacket for a crisp walk through the woodland.

Key notes: Bergamot, strawberry, pink pepper, jasmine, cedarwood, oakmoss, musk, orris root

Hear me out: this isn't your average sweet or sickly strawberry perfume. Malin + Goetz has artfully given the smell of strawberries a grown-up twist with musk, cedarwood and orris root for a beautiful woody scent. It's both bright and clean with earthy undertones that make it sophisticated, too.

Key notes: Iso E Super, sandalwood

Probably the freshest woody perfume you'll ever come across. It combines Iso E Super, which makes your skin smell like you, but even better. Coupled with sandalwood, this is a woody scent that will have people running after you to ask what perfume you're wearing.

Key notes: Cedar, rose, vetiver, musk

Who What Wear UK's senior branded content editor, Rebecca Rhys-Evans, put me onto this Byredo scent. "I came across Super Cedar when desperately trying to find a new fragrance for my boyfriend a few Christmases ago. I wanted something woody, because not only do I love quite a heavy scent with earthy and musky qualities, but because this fragrance was a surprise, and you usually can't go wrong with gifting men's fragrances on the woody side," she says. "I distinctly remember the guy in the store telling me it reminds him of pencil shavings, and now whenever I catch a whiff of it on someone (normally myself, as I've since commandeered it) I almost feel like a schoolgirl again."

Key notes: Italian cypress, ambergris, sandalwood, cedar, Brazilian rosewood, white musk

Diptyque's Tam Dao has a bit of a kick when first spritzed, but as it settles on the skin, it takes on a more powdery vibe, with top notes of Italian cypress and rose and base notes of Brazilian rosewood.

Key notes: Oud, bergamot, rose

A woody scent verging on oud, this rich fragrance is inspired by the Turkish village of Halfeti. It evokes the scents of a spice market with leather, oud, amber, lavender, cardamom, cumin, nutmeg, saffron, violet and cinnamon.

Key notes: Cardamom, patchouli, cedar, musk, amber

This scent strikes a balance between fresh and woody. The cardamom at the top is punchy, but it settles down into a warm vibe thanks to the soft musk and amber.

Key notes: Labdanum, ambrette, styrax

Aesop fragrances are a work of art, and this scent is no exception. The striking notes of labdanum, ambrette and styrax make for an earthy and woody scent that evokes images of sea spray whipping the deck of a boat.