Bella Hadid via Instagram, WHO
Ever noticed that the perfume you loved all summer suddenly feels out of place once winter arrives? You’re not alone.
In the WHO office, bright, citrus perfumes are everywhere during summer. Yet, once the mercury drops, richer fragrances waft through the building.
According to the founder of KAYALI, Mona Kattan, there’s a good reason our fragrance preferences change with the seasons.
“I find that winter naturally draws us towards richer, warmer notes that feel comforting and cocooning,” Kattan tells us.
“It’s one of my favourite seasons for fragrance because you can really play with deeper gourmands, musks and woods that linger beautifully on the skin.”
Kattan notes the dip in temperature also causes our fragrances to release at a slower rate, making those stronger scents less overwhelming.
“Cooler weather can actually help fragrances last longer because scent molecules evaporate more slowly,” she says.
So, if you’re thinking of changing your signature scent, here are the perfumes the WHO team swear by for the cooler months…
The best winter perfumes, according to our editors…
Kayali Vanilla 28 & Yves Saint Laurent Libre Intense
Chanelle Mansour, Shopping Editor: “For my everyday, I lean heavily on Kayali Vanilla. It’s sweet enough that it’s not overpowering, and I’m always receiving compliments for how it smells. As for date nights, I love my YSL Libre Intense. It’s gorgeously smoky and warm, which is perfect for winter nights.”
Glossier You + Kayali Vanilla 28 & Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt
Madison Bogisch, Senior Lifestyle Content Producer: “Admittedly, I reach for Glossier You all year round thanks to a beautiful balance of pink pepper, ambrette and ambrox. But, as a winter perfume, I like to layer it over the Kayali Vanilla 28 for a blend of musk and gourmand that feels like a hug. Alternatively, Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt is sophisticated but still bright for the days I want a lighter scent. While this fragrance’s sea salt profile has me reminiscing of a breezy summer’s day when I wear it, the sage base gives it an earthy feel that lingers in the cooler months.”
Glossier You Eau de Parfum
$135 from MECCA
KAYALI Vanilla | 28 Eau De Parfum
$247 from Sephora
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
$260 from Jo Malone London
Parfums de Marly Delina
Saoirse Hammond, Lifestyle Content Producer: “Parfums de Marly Delina is one of my all-time favourite winter fragrances because it is so elegant and feminine. It’s slightly on the more expensive side at $529, but I get so many compliments every time I wear; so it’s worth it to me!”
Parfums De Marly Delina EDP
$529 from David Jones
Le Labo Rose 31 (Credit: WHO)
Le Labo Rose 31
Freja Newman, Content Producer – “This is a splurge, but it’s one I’m certainly willing to make to keep the scent of summer alive in winter. Not too sweet, with hints of spice and wood, this perfume is one I will always keep in stock. Whether it’s for special occasions, a quick spritz on the way to work or a date, or even if I want a simple midday pick-me-up, I’m obsessed with its modern freshness…and how perfectly the 15mL bottle fits in my purse and lasts a lifetime!”
Le Labo Rose 31 EDP
$362 from Le Labo Fragrances
Why trust WHO Shopping?
WHO has been covering celebrity culture, red carpet moments and entertainment news for decades. Our shopping team works alongside our entertainment editors to identify the exact products behind the looks everyone’s talking about, from awards season glam to off-duty essentials.
We regularly consult stylists, makeup artists, trainers and industry insiders to verify product details and understand why these items perform under real-world conditions. When we recommend something, it’s because it’s genuinely relevant to the moment, not just trending.
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