Stylish People Are Already Swapping Their Summer Perfumes for This Sophisticated Autumn Note
From Tom Ford to Le Labo, shop the best tobacco perfumes for the season ahead.
September is here, which means I've officially started my autumn beauty switchover. My gel moisturisers have been replaced by heavier, richer alternatives, glowy foundations have been swapped for soft matte formulas, and my summer scents have been packed away, not to be seen until June next year. Instead, I've been sorting through my best perfumes and pulling out my favourite autumnal scents for the season ahead. If there's one note I gravitate towards more than anything else at this time of year, it's tobacco.
I know you might be thinking it sounds a little strange, but hear me out on this one. Yes, tobacco perfumes have a smoky element, but this particular note actually smells incredibly sophisticated. There are so many iconic tobacco perfumes on the market, from Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille to Guerlain's Tobacco Honey, which prove that when paired with the right notes, tobacco fragrances can become some of the most head-turning luxury scents around.
Of course, most tobacco scents do have a warm, smoky undertone, which makes them perfect for this time of year. This smoky undertone always makes me feel so elegant and bold, so whether I'm heading to work or meeting my fiancé for date night, I know I'll always have the right perfume for the occasion. Below, I've rounded up what I believe to be the best tobacco perfumes of all time, so keep on scrolling to shop.
The Best Tobacco Perfumes, Chosen by a Beauty Editor
- Best Overall: Le Labo Thé Noir 29, £176
- Best Sweet Scent: Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat, £230
- Best Smoky Scent: Diptyque Orphéon, £170
- Best Luxury Scent: Maison Crivelli Tobacco Carnaval, £220
- Best Affordable Scent: Zara Tobacco Collection, £18
1. Le Labo Thé Noir 29
Key notes: Bergamot, fig, bay leaves, cedar wood, vetiver, musk, black tea leaves, tobacco
Not only is this one of my favourite tobacco perfumes, but it's one of my favourite perfumes full stop. Le Labo's Thé Noir 29 is the perfect example of just how rich, sensual and sophisticated tobacco can smell. Opening on a fresh, herbaceous blend of bergamot and bay leaves, a woody heart soon unfurls on the skin. Smokey black tea leaves and sweet fig make this scent even more captivating, and honestly, every single time I wear it, I get at least ten compliments.
2. Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat
Key notes: Cocoa smoke co-distillation, orange essence, balsam, patchouli ambrofix
So many people are fans of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, but the brand's newest scent, Tobacco Chocolat, might just have taken the top spot for me. A delicious concoction of chocolate, orange and tobacco, it's a gourmand scent with a rich, smoky edge. At first, citrusy orange and warm cocoa completely draw you in, before smooth tobacco unfurls on the skin, with a honey-like sweetness that makes this fragrance so addictive.
3. Diptyque Orphéon
Key notes: Jasmine, tobacco, cedarwood, tonka bean
The ultimate cool-girl scent, Diptyque Orphéon is a work of art. Whilst the first spritz might have you thinking this is a crisp, fresh, sparkling aroma, soon this fragrance will envelop you in a heady, powdery, smoky cloud. Inspired by a bar in the Latin Quarter of Paris where the founders of Diptyque would meet back in the '60s, it truly captures the essence of Parisian nightlife, where swirls of cigar smoke fill the air.
4. Maison Crivelli Tobacco Carnaval
Key notes: Tobacco, fruity infused rum
New from Maison Crivelli is Tobacco Carnaval. To me, this is a luxurious tobacco perfume through and through. It's smoky, of course, but notes of fruit-infused rum add this warm, boozy element that reminds me of winter days spent drinking mulled wine by a roaring fire. It's quite possibly the perfect fragrance for this time of year.
5. Zara #Tobacco Collection Rich Warm Addictive
Key notes: Tobacco, rum, white peony, bourbon vanilla
If you want to smell expensive on a budget, Zara perfumes are always the answer. Case in point: this tobacco perfume from the high-street brand. Notes of tobacco are met with warm, sweet elements of rum and bourbon vanilla, adding impressive depth to such an affordable scent. The addition of white peony adds a contrasting light, airy element, taking the entire perfume to new heights.
6. Guerlain Tobacco Honey
Key notes: Tobacco, vanilla, sesame, honey, aniseed accord, clove, sandalwood
Tobacco itself often has a honey-like sweetness, but this Guerlain perfume takes the heady combination one step further. Sweet and smooth at first spritz, it soon reveals a woody, spicy element thanks to notes of clove and aniseed accord. It's one of the most captivating tobacco scents on the market, and even my friends who don't like tobacco scents can't get enough of this.
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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
