Phlur's New Cherry Stem Perfume Smells Like a Sultry Cocktail—Here's Why It's My #1 Fall Fragrance

Phlur is one of my all-time favorite fragrance brands. I love its minimalist aesthetic. I love its emphasis on storytelling through scent. Most of all, I love the products themselves—the diverse collection of perfumes and body mists. While I could discuss Phlur's fragrance portfolio for hours (actually, I already have), the brand's newest perfume has officially snatched my attention away from all others. Meet Phlur's Cherry Stem Eau de Parfum, a sultry scent that just became my number one fall fragrance.

I'll be the first to admit that cherry scents can be contentious. Honestly, I've steered clear of them in the past, as they tend to be too sweet, syrupy, or artificial for my taste. If it gives Red 40 rather than fresh, ripe fruit, I'm automatically out.

However, when done well, cherry scents are surprisingly sophisticated. That's the case with Cherry Stem. Inspired by flirtatious meet-cutes in dimly lit bars, this upscale cherry fragrance is so sultry and alluring that I can't stop wearing it. I'll even go so far as to say it's my all-time favorite cherry fragrance. Yes, it's really that good. Ahead, learn more about this perfect-for-fall fragrance and get exclusive insight from Phlur's creative director, Chriselle Lim.

Fragrance family: Fruity woods

Fragrance notes: Black cherry, orange brandy, red freesia, sugared jasmine, plum nectar, ebony woods, caramel, soft leather accord

"Cherry Stem was inspired by flirtation," Lim says. "The crossing of legs, the lingering eye contact across the bar… It's mysterious, seductive, but still full of energy. A lot of cherry scents can lean juvenile or syrupy, but Cherry Stem perfectly captures what I wanted a cherry fragrance to be: fruity but more complex, sexy, and mature."

Unlike other cherry perfumes, this one doesn't scream cherry and leave it at that. Black cherry, while still the shining star, is enveloped in other highly sophisticated notes. There are florals (freesia and jasmine), gourmands (brandy and caramel), and grounding notes (wood and leather). The effect is elevated, layered, and complex—a perfume that will leave people wanting more.

"Cherry Stem is the perfect fall scent: mysterious, dark, and sexy at the same time," Lim says. I agree. The wood and leather notes evoke the chic, shadowy interior of an imagined bar. The floral and gourmand notes evoke the cocktail that sits in front of you, garnished, of course, with a single cherry. It's warm, cozy, and daring all at once. It's the ultimate date-night scent, whether that's solo, with a significant other, or with the intriguing stranger you spotted from across the bar.

Phlur fragrances are famously layerable, and Cherry Stem is no exception. "I always apply my fragrances on my pulse points, which are my wrists and neck," Lim says. "In terms of pairings, if you want to lean into the depth and leather, Cherry Stem and Rose Whip work well together. I also really enjoy Heavy Cream on top of Cherry Stem when I want a more gourmand scent."

Shop the Fragrance

Shop the Recommended Pairings