8 of the Best Niche Fragrances for Winter

The deep and alluring note of oud that easily wraps itself around you like a cloak makes it the dream ingredient for a winter scent. Here it’s paired with luxurious leather and spicy sandalwood, sweetened with a hint of tonka too. The result is rich without being overly heavy, perfect if you’re looking for something that makes a subtle statement when wafting from your cosiest cashmere jumper.

New York is perhaps one of the most romantic places to visit during the winter months, all sparkling lights and snug bars. So this scent, inspired by a small street in the big city, is well placed to become a seasonal go to: leathery, bold and woody lifted with some pink pepper. If you can’t make it to the city that never sleeps this season, this might go a little way towards getting a taste of it.

It’s a close call as to whether Paris might trump New York as the most magical city to visit during the winter, but going by this perfume, Roja seems to think Paris would win. Blended to give a ‘glimpse into the glitterati of Parisian high society’, it’s an ode to Michelin-starred meals and opulent experiences - a fragrance almost good enough to eat. Caramelised oranges mingle with vanilla bourbon, with the addition of ambergris preventing things from getting too sweet. It’s about as gorgeous and grand as a gourmand fragrance gets.

Named in homage to the mystical Indian stone Tiger’s Eye, this scent is blended to evoke strength, courage and power — which, let’s be honest, many of us need to get through the cold winter months. Rather than selling itself with in-your-face notes, it relies on a clever blend of bright ginger, grapefruit, and rich ambroxan to leave an uplifting and mesmerising finish on the skin.

If your main stipulation for a winter fragrance is that it must be wonderfully warm, then you probably can’t beat this scent which not only smells warm, but is also based on the concept of lighting a fire within yourself too, encouraging inner strength and passion. Vanilla provides a comforting start, swiftly followed by some bold and energizing incense. Cedarwood then bolsters things whilst chamomile adds a hint of peace and calm. This perfume aims to be more than just a passing spritz, but instead a transformative elixir.

If a fire within isn’t winter-y enough for you, how about a full-blown, wood-filled fireplace? Incredibly cosy yet complex, the scent screams of roasting chestnuts, crackling kindling and glimpses of snowfall through a frosted window. But how? By blending notes of guaiac wood, cashmeran and clove oil alongside chestnut notes and vanilla, which together create the clear picture of a roaring fire on a winter’s evening.