17 Cozy, Woodsy Scents That Make Me Want to Pull on a Cardigan and Curl Up by the Fire

This cozy fragrance note is second to none.

Woody Perfumes
(Image credit: @rayan.xasan)
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No matter what time of year it is, I find myself gravitating towards woodsy scents to remind me of home. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I spent the majority of my childhood years in the company of the great maples, firs, pines, and cedars (Washington's isn't called the evergreen state for nothing) that would form the most stunning canopy overhead. While their jaw dropping height and heavy boughs always made my heart skip a beat, it's always been the slivers of golden light on the forest floor, plus a resinous, green, and earthy scent that made me feel the most at home in their presence.

It wasn't until I relocated to Los Angeles for college, and later New York City for a year-long stint, that I discovered just how much I appreciated the uniquely woody qualities of my home state. Now, don't get me wrong—I'm the last person that would be willingly hike across mountains or spent days camping at their base, but I do love an addictive fragrance that reminds me of the environment I grew up in. Overtime, I've pulled together a collection of woody fragrances that harken back to the great outdoors in the most timeless, cozy ways, and I'm sharing them below.

Amaka Hamelijnck wears Anadola while at a coffee shop in Amsterdam

(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

What Are Woody Perfumes?

As the name suggests, scents that fall under the umbrella of this fragrance family are characterizes by the presence of notes derived from wood materials such as trees, roots and resins as well as leaves, grasses, and moss with earthy qualities. Usually rich and warm, woody fragrances commonly feature aromatic, citrus or floral top notes that adds a weightlessness to the earthy notes (material that comes from plant life where patchouli, oakmoss, and vetiver essential oils are drawn from).

Closely imitating the all-natural olfactory experience of the earth around us, these fragrances can be grounding, calming, and familiar. Since woody perfumes smell like the natural wood or earth material, they also tend to be a popular pick for autumn and winter. Autumn is ruled by the woodlands, with a stunning color palette of amber and gold and the faint scent of earth and smoke carried on the air. We associate the coming of this season with the smaller comforts of life as the temperature takes a dip and watch in awe as the world around us changes.

Similarly, winter is marked by long days, the cold, and the smells of the earth. Tree boughs are now without their leaves, the ground is frozen, and the world around us once undergoes a transformation under a blanket of white. We spend most of our days inside, craving the warmth it provides us and reveling in the opportunity to partake in a slower lifestyle. Woody perfumes are a reflection of all of these lived experiences, and a single spritz of one scent can transport its wearers right back to cozy, cool days.

Are Woody Perfumes Ideal for Layering?

There's no 'one way' to layer your fragrances, but there are definitely smart ways to elevate and subdue their notes by pairing them with a selection of complementary scents. Just like any other perfume, it's all in smart pairing and getting the most you can out of its wear time and siliage (i.e. the scent trail that a perfume leaves behind as it evaporates). If there are particular notes you'd like to maximize or underscore with others, you can create unique scent compositions that can change with the seasons or be worn year-round. Take a look below at which woody scents have scored a permanent spot in my fragrance lineup.

The Best Woody Perfumes, Listed

Rayan Xasan sits in a windowsill wearing a black lounge set and matching Mary Jane shoes

(Image credit: @rayan.xasan)

Mishti Rahman wears Carla Zampatti with an elegant updo while visiting Shinjuku City

(Image credit: @mishti.rahman)

Mary L. Jean wears and oversized blazer, grey wool socks, and black heels with slicked back hair at The Chedi Andermatt

(Image credit: @maryljean)

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Maya Thomas
Maya Thomas
Associate Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.

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