Scents of the Season

From bright citrus and fragrant evergreens to warm vanilla and woods, the notes that make the holidays smell like the holidays.

There’s a certain feeling that comes with the holiday season. The first time you smell a fresh evergreen tree. The bright peel of an orange, the warmth of cinnamon in the kitchen, or the soft sweetness of something baking in the oven.

These familiar scents have a way of setting the mood long before the gifts are wrapped or the table is set. And while we may associate them with particular holiday traditions, many of the notes we love this time of year have a place in fragrance, too.

Some bring brightness and energy. Others add warmth, depth or a little sweetness. Together, they create the kind of scents that feel especially right for the season.

Here are a few notes to know and the fragrances that bring them to life.

Citrus: A Little Brightness in the Winter

Orange peel, bergamot, lemon and mandarin might seem more suited to summer, but citrus has a place in colder-weather fragrance, too. These notes bring an immediate burst of freshness, adding contrast to richer ingredients and keeping a warm composition from feeling too heavy.

Think of the brightness of freshly peeled citrus against the deeper aromas of a holiday kitchen. That same contrast can work beautifully in fragrance, where sparkling top notes meet woods, amber or spice.

Notes To Know: Bergamot, lemon, mandarin and orange.

TRY

Salted Citrus for a vibrant blend of Calabrian bergamot, citron and Sicilian orange, balanced by ginger, cinnamon and deeper woody notes. 

Caliente Citrus & Tonka gives a more aromatic wear and pairs grapefruit and citrus with lavender, sage, tonka bean and oak moss.

Evergreen & Woods: The Feeling of Coming Home

Few scents feel as closely tied to the holidays as evergreen. Fresh, green and unmistakably seasonal, it brings to mind the moment a tree comes indoors and the room begins to smell a little different.

In fragrance, woody and aromatic notes can capture that same sense of freshness while adding structure and staying power to a composition. Cedarwood brings a dry, recognizable woodiness. Vetiver adds an earthy, sometimes smoky quality, while sandalwood tends to feel smoother and creamier.

Notes To Know: Cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver and aromatic herbs.

TRY 

Santal Reserve for a grounded blend of Haitian vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli, with bright bergamot and aromatic notes up top. 

Smoked Vetiver, where mineral notes, violet leaf and ginger meet earthy vetiver and deeper woods.

Spice: A Little Warmth Goes a Long Way

Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and black pepper are familiar in holiday cooking, but their role in fragrance is just as interesting. Depending on the composition, spice can feel bright and lively, dry and aromatic, or warm and enveloping.

A little spice can give a fragrance more character, especially when paired with citrus, woods or amber. It can also create contrast against sweeter notes, keeping a gourmand scent from feeling too much like dessert.

Notes To Know: Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and black pepper.

TRY

Extreme Vetiver & Patchouli, which combines cardamom and bergamot with cinnamon, vanilla, patchouli and vetiver. 

Salted Citrus brings ginger and cinnamon into a citrus-led composition.

Vanilla & Gourmand Notes: The Sweet Side of the Season

The holidays have their share of sweet aromas: vanilla, caramel, chocolate, toasted nuts and all the delicious things that seem to appear in the kitchen this time of year.

In fragrance, these ingredients and accords fall into the gourmand family. Some are rich and dessert-like, while others feel creamy, soft or subtly sweet. Paired with florals, musk or woods, gourmand notes can become more nuanced than you might expect.

Vanilla, for example, can feel cozy and comforting, but it can also soften sharper notes or add a smooth finish to a more complex composition.

Notes To Know: Vanilla, caramel, coconut, praline and tonka bean.

TRY

Sugared Amber for a decadent blend inspired by chocolate, marshmallow and whipped cream, balanced with jasmine and warm cashmere wood. 

Sugar Coconut combines pistachio, salted caramel and coconut with florals, sandalwood, musk and tonka bean

Vanilla Blossom pairs vanilla with lavender, bergamot, jasmine and musk.

Musk & Amber: The Warmth That Lingers

Some of the most memorable seasonal fragrances aren't built around a single recognizable note. They're about the way everything comes together and what remains once the brighter opening notes have faded.

Musk often gives a fragrance a soft, skin-like quality, while amber accords can bring warmth, richness and a resinous depth. Woods and vanilla may add even more dimension, creating a smooth, enveloping finish.

These notes are particularly interesting in the dry down: the stage of a fragrance that develops after the initial spray and can remain close to the skin long after the brighter notes have settled.

Notes To Know: Musk, amber, cashmere woods and vanilla.

TRY

Cashmere & Vanilla for a soft blend of skin musk, almond blossom, creamy sandalwood and vanilla bean. 

Sugared Amber for a warmer, more indulgent direction.

NEED MORE IDEAS?
Explore our Gift Guide to help find the perfect scents for everyone on your list.