Creamy Perfumes Are My Forté—These 11 Scents Smell Like a Cosy Autumn Evening

Key notes: Vanilla, cassis, jasmine, sandalwood, orchid

Let’s start with one of my absolute favourite creamy perfumes. Floral Street’s Wild Vanilla Orchid brings together light floral notes, commonly associated with spring and summer, yet gives them an autumnal twist through the addition of smooth sandalwood and juicy cassis. For me, this is the perfect transitional summer to autumn fragrance, both green and bright yet with a gentle moodiness lying below the surface.

Key notes: Sandalwood, coffee, tonka bean, cedarwood

Bois Corse is a new fragrance in my collection, yet I can already see myself reaching for it a lot throughout the autumn months. A dry, rich, creamy fragrance, it combines notes of sandalwood and tonka bean with a gentle coffee accord. The resulting blend is smooth and soft — think of a milky coffee as opposed to a bitter espresso — with a heady, moreish quality.

Key notes: Pear, peach, vanilla, tonka bean, white cedarwood

If you’re looking for a light, creamy perfume, I highly recommend sampling Milk Musk. Unlike many of the creamy scents on this list, which work hard to envelop you in their comforting creaminess, Milk Musk is much more gentle in its approach.

On first sniff, you get sweet fruity notes, courtesy of pear and peach, which then transform into a watery milkiness. It’s sweet yet not sugary and creamy without feeling rich or stuffy. The perfect scent for wearing year-round with ease.

Key notes: Orchid, rum, clove, benzoin, jasmine, vanilla, musk

By comparison, when I want a creamy scent that feels like a tight, comforting hug, this is the fragrance I reach for. Part of Chloé’s Atelier des Fleurs collection, Orchidée de Minuit is a heady, creamy perfume that blends notes of vanilla and benzoin, a sweet, resinous scent, with boozy rum and spices. It’s warm and rich and decadent — the type of fragrance that pulls you in and demands you bask in it.

Key notes: Iris, tiare, musk, vanilla, sandalwood

While creamy perfumes are my first love, I’m also a big fan of soft, powdery scents on days when I want something a little softer and lighter. Mizensir’s Poudré D’or, however, taps into both these needs, combining notes of creamy vanilla and sandalwood with powdery iris. This is a scent that’s elegant and smooth, think baby powder layered on top of a luxury body lotion as it melts into your skin. If you want a creamy perfume that smells expensive yet effortless, this is it.

Key notes: Pistachio, almond, jasmine, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood

I’m sure you’re already well educated on the viral sensation that are Sol De Janeiro’s Perfume Mists; however, if you’re wondering which one takes top spot as the best creamy scent, it’s Cheirosa ‘62.

Sticky and sweet with notes of pistachio, caramel and vanilla, this is a creamy gourmand perfume taken to the extreme (in the best way possible, of course). Douse yourself in this and, I promise, you’ll smell good enough to eat.

Key notes: Marshmallow, tonka bean, cold milk

Commodity Milk Expressive is a creamy vanilla scent that’s incredibly moreish. You’ll find notes of sweet tonka bean, marshmallow and cold milk, which give this fragrance plenty of body. "This is the first Commodity scent I tried, and I think it remains my favourite," says beauty editor Eleanor Vousden. "Tonka bean is one of my favourite perfume notes, which adds depth and creaminess."

Key notes: Sugar, cashmere wood, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood

One of the things I love most about body mists is how easy they are to apply and wear. While with some fine fragrances, there’s a fine line between smelling great and leaving an overpowering trail behind when you leave a room, with body mists, that’s much less likely.

This is great news for me when it comes to Phlur’s Vanilla Skin, as I’ll be honest, I apply this liberally at every chance I get. Sweet and gourmand yet not uncomfortably rich, it’s the perfect on-the-go scent for a creamy burst of fragrance.

Key notes: Blackcurrant, olibanum, myrrh

Now, we move into the more unique creamy perfumes. The ones for those who want something a little more unusual than the creamy gourmands and woody scents I’ve previously mentioned.

Gucci’s The Heart of Leo is exactly that. A fruity, creamy perfume, it combines notes of juicy blackcurrant and resinous olibanum. To me, this fragrance smells like blackcurrant Starburst (I know, niche), slightly fruity, mildly creamy, and so delicious.

Key notes: Pepper, lavender, milk, patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla, cedarwood

Next up, we have Maison Margiela’s Coffee Break, a scent that mimics the feeling of walking into a cosy coffee shop on a moody autumnal day. Unlike Diptyque’s Bois Corse, which pulls on a soft coffee note, Replica Coffee Break isn’t quite so shy about it. It’s pungent coffee beans paired with tangy milk and just a hint of vanilla. A creamy scent for those who want to be noticed.

Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, tiare, coconut, vanilla, guaiac wood

Finally, I know I said this would be an edit of creamy scents which feel perfectly in keeping with the autumn weather that’s around the corner; however, allow me a little indulgence.

Kilian’s Sunkissed Goddess is the most perfect creamy summer scent, and so, it had to find its way onto this list for any winter sun getaways or simply if you want to channel the sunshine on gloomy days. With notes of zesty bergamot as well as soft, creamy tiare flower and coconut, it’s the scent of suncream bottled, ideal for whenever you need a little pick-me-up.