Fragrance Is My Specialist Subject—These New Perfumes Will Be Future Icons
Shopping for a new fragrance? Explore our roundup of the best new perfumes to spritz into autumn.
As a beauty editor, I often get asked what my favourite part of my job is. Although there are so many things I could say, one thing I love more than anything else is getting to write about fragrances daily. I've been obsessed with trying the best perfumes for as long as I can remember, as there's something so transformative about wearing a new scent. Even on a bad day, one spritz of my most-complimented fragrance makes me feel a little better.
Now that autumn has arrived, lots of brands are launching perfumes that are perfect for October and beyond. I don't know about you, but I love switching out my summer scents for heady, rich fragrances at this time of year. My inbox is nearly full of press releases, and my desk is overflowing with samples, so I've been spending the last week sorting through everything and selecting the standout fragrance launches from the past few weeks.
I've included my top picks below, and trust me when I say that these scents are not to be missed. From classic scents reimagined to new luxury perfumes, keep scrolling for the best new perfume launches, and get ready to take your fragrance collection to the next level this season.
8 Best New Perfume Launches for Autumn
1. Dries Van Noten Velvet Violet
Key notes: Pink pepper, violet leaf, clary sage essence, toasted sesame absolute, roasted barley, grilled tonka beans, benzoin resinoid, vetiver essence
Dries Van Noten perfume bottles are a work of art, but the newest scent is even better than it looks. It's no wonder that Who What Wear UK beauty editor Eleanor Vousden named it one of the best new beauty launches of the entire month. Powdery violet meets spicy pink pepper, fresh clary sage and warm toasted sesame for a unique yet utterly divine finish that feels elegant and sophisticated for the colder season.
2. Tom Ford Tobacco Chocolat
Key notes: Cocoa smoke co-distillation, orange essence, balsam, patchouli ambrofix
Tobacco perfumes really come into their own at this time of year, and this new Tom Ford scent is at the top of my list. Imagine smoky swirls of tobacco filling the air, before a gourmand blend of orange and cocoa takes over. The result? A smooth, intoxicating, honey-like sweetness that clings to the skin all day.
3. Dove Violet & Tonka Bean Refillable Anti-Perspirant Starter Kit
Key notes: Violet, tonka bean
I know it might seem strange to have a deodorant in the mix, but Dove's Refillable Anti-Perspirant is giving my autumn perfumes a run for their money. A sophisticated blend of violet and tonka bean creates a powdery aroma with sweet yet subtle undertones that reminds me of Parisian powder rooms and chic makeup compacts.
4. Victoria Beckham Beauty Hotel Portofino Extrait
Key notes: Bergamot, basil, saffron, wild fig, agarwood, pinot noir accord, black amber
Portofino '97 by Victoria Beckham Beauty is one of my all-time favourite summer perfumes, but for autumn, I'll be reaching for Hotel Portofino. The brand's debut extrait perfume, the rich, intoxicating scent features notes of bergamot, fig and pinot noir. It feels exciting yet grounded, intense yet exhilarating, and trust me when I say it smells so expensive.
5. Byredo Future Memories
Key notes: Blackcurrant, aldehydes, galbanum, labdanum, iris butter, orange blossom, vanilla, musk, ambrofix
Byredo has created the perfect transitional perfume to see you into the new season. Future Memories is one of the most head-turning scents I've come across all year, and trust me, I've tried a lot. At first, the labdanum envelops you in a rich, warm, smoky cloud, before hints of orange blossom and vanilla slowly unfurl. Plus, aldehydes and musk add that comforting, skin-like element that the brand does so well. All in all, it's a work of art.
6. Phlur Vanilla Canyon
Key notes: Vanilla, oak wood, wild honey, velvet plum, patchouli
I always gravitate towards vanilla fragrances in autumn, and I currently have my eyes on Phlur's newest scent, Vanilla Canyon. A warm, woody take on vanilla with impressive depth, this perfume is heightened by notes of oak wood, honey and plum. A smooth, sweet delight that you'll want to spritz over and over again.
7. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu
Key notes: Vetiver, vanilla, grapefruit, lychee, rose, jasmine, patchouli
Fans of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle will be delighted to hear that the brand has welcomed the newest scent into the collection, and trust me, it's not to be missed. Introducing Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu. The ultimate cool-girl fragrance: punchy grapefruit and sparkling lychee meet a rich, warm base of amber and patchouli. It feels incredibly chic yet totally carefree, in a way that only Chanel fragrances can.
8. Estée Lauder Glimmer
Key notes: Raspberry mousse accord, orange flower, rose, vanilla, amber, sandalwood, cedarwood
Last but not least, if there's one perfume I can't stop talking about this month, it's Glimmer by Estée Lauder. Look up the definition of "glimmer", and you'll find people talking about those small moments of joy. Somehow, the brand has created the olfactive equivalent of this, in the form of a sweet, sparkling blend of raspberry mousse accord, rose, vanilla and amber. The minute I spritz it onto my skin, it's like I'm enveloped in a shimmering cloud of vibrant warmth.
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