Daily Mail journalists meticulously select and curate the products featured on our site. Should you make a purchase via links on this page, we will earn a commission. Discover more about our process. There is nothing quite like a favourite scent to lift your spirits. A simple dab of a delightful perfume can bestow instant elegance, transforming even the gloomiest midweek evening into a special occasion.
From spicy winter classics to fragrances that offer a floral hint of spring, here is a curated list of what I am wearing – or would love to wear – this season. Each selection brings its own unique charm to the colder months.
1. Best Affordable Winter Perfume: M&S Warmth Eau de Parfum
M&S Warmth Eau de Parfum is not just any perfume; it is a true delight. Marks and Spencer have truly excelled with this irresistibly moreish scent. It features a delicious blend of sandalwood, cedar, and cinnamon, all for an absolute bargain at just £12.
While it may not linger as long as a more expensive fragrance might, at this price point, you can easily afford to reapply throughout the day. Often hailed as a rival to Le Labo's iconic Santal 33, which costs a staggering £160 more, this scent offers incredible value. I adore both, but the affordability makes M&S Warmth a perfect bit of January self-indulgence.
Scent notes: Cardamom, cinnamon leaf, cedar wood, sandalwood
Size: 50ml
2. Best Unisex Perfume for Winter: Malin & Goetz Leather Eau de Parfum
Malin & Goetz, pronounced Gertz, hails from New York and their products are always a treat. 'Leather' stands out as the ultimate spicy winter scent. True to its name, it evokes the aroma of expensive handbags and leather-bound books.
Whenever I wear this fragrance, someone inevitably asks about its origin. An added bonus is its unisex appeal, making it a versatile choice. Priced at £89 for 50ml, it falls into the luxurious treat category. Perhaps consider gifting it to your husband for Valentine's Day, only to 'borrow' it back immediately.
Scent notes: Pepper, clove, lotus flower
Size: 50ml
3. Maison Crivelli x Jordi Fernandez Cuir InfraRouge Extrait de Parfum
This is one of the sexiest scents I have ever encountered. French parfumier Maison Crivelli's cult hit is celebrated for good reason. Just a spritz or two will captivate you and everyone around you.
It is seriously expensive, costing over £200 for 50ml, but the quality is unmistakable. The intoxicating blend of leather and raspberry, with subtle hints of vanilla and oud, avoids being cloying. If you are dating this year, securing a bottle is highly recommended.
Scent notes: Raspberry, citrus cedarwood, orris, cinnamon, osmanthus
Size: 50ml
4. Best Woody/Floral Winter Perfume: Year 2059 by Bibbi
I was fortunate to receive a small sample of Year 2059 by Bibbi before it hit stores, and I could not get enough. Wearing it to a birthday lunch, I ended up spritzing all the women at the table, as they adored it too.
If you are unfamiliar with the brand, which launched in the UK a couple of years ago, you are in for a treat. However, be prepared to save up, as a tiny 30ml bottle costs £110. This intoxicating blend of amber and musk is unlike anything you have ever smelled before; I used every last drop of my bottle.
Scent notes: Nigerian ginger, cassis, Mexican lime, carnation, davana, saffron blossom
Size: 30ml
5. Best Musky Perfume for Winter: Jo Loves Black Cashmeran & Tonka
What a delightful treat this is. Jo Loves is Jo Malone's own brand, created after she sold her eponymous label, and I must agree with her sentiment—I love it too. With notes of orange, cardamom, vanilla, and rum, it sounds like a foodie's dream but feels deeply sexy instead.
Priced at £105 for 50ml, it is not cheap, but it lasts for hours, as expected from the queen of scent herself.
Scent notes: Orange, ginger, cardamom, rum, tonka bean, cedarwood, cashmeran
Size: 50ml
6. Best Mood-Boosting Perfume: Charisma Moods
Have you heard of 'functional fragrance'? This concept involves using scent to alter how we feel, and let's be honest, we could all use a little lift right now. I was introduced to Moods, a new brand that collaborated with the University of Northumbria's Department of Psychology to develop their products.
Just before attending a party alone, I decided to try their 'charisma' scent for a boost of courage. The blurb claims it gives you Main Character Energy, and while I am not entirely convinced of that, I absolutely loved the scent: spicy with notes of orange, ginger, sage, and vanilla.
Scent notes: Bergamot, lime, ginger, sage, rose, vanilla, sweet orange
Size: 100ml
7. Best Subtle Scent for Winter: Molecule 01, Escentric Molecules
Launched with great fanfare two decades ago, Molecule 01 has long fascinated me. I spent years testing it in perfume halls at Liberty and Selfridges, hoping the magic 'Molecule 1' would work its charm before finally purchasing a bottle.
Touted as a powerful aphrodisiac, it uses the Iso Super E aroma molecule, created in a lab and designed to interact with your pheromones to produce a truly unique scent. I cannot say it has people swooning at my feet, and it is so subtle it borders on the Emperor's New Clothes for me. However, its appeal lies in its varied effects on different individuals. While I only detect vague hints of cedarwood, colleagues described it as 'lovely,' with one noting 'quite a lot of musk.'
Scent notes: Iso E Super
Size: 100ml
8. Best Diptyque Perfume for Winter: L'Eau Papier Eau de Toilette
Nothing quite embodies 'French elegance' to me like Diptyque. When I lived in Paris, I would visit the original store annually to buy a candle for my mother. Our favourite was always the classic Figiuer, and while I still adore it for the living room, my perfume preferences have evolved.
These days, I am a fan of the divine Eau de Papier, priced at £135 for 100ml. This woody, musky blend conjures images of a box of old love letters. I am not alone in my admiration; it is one of Space NK's best-sellers.
Scent notes: White musk, mimosa, toasted sesame, rice steam accord, blonde wood
Size: 100ml
9. Best Sweet Perfume for Winter: Nuxe Le Prodigeuse Parfum
I once associated this scent with summer, but it works brilliantly all year round. It captures the aroma of the cult French brand Nuxe's classic body oil 'huile prodigeuse,' now bottled for your convenience.
This is another hit that prompts inquiries whenever I wear it. A sensual blend of vanilla and orange blossom, it is curiously addictive and a great bargain at just £32.
Scent notes: Orange Blossom, Magnolia, and Vanilla
Size: 30ml
10. Prestige Pick: Penhaligon's Halfeti Leather Eau de Parfum
A classic for good reason, Halfeti is a rich blend of amber, leather, and rose, complemented by vanilla. The 100ml bottle, priced at £215, is utterly beautiful and might inspire you to take a shelfie or at least declutter your bathroom.
Super-luxe and not intended for everyday use, this is special occasion scent at its finest.
Scent notes: Incense, plum, bergamot
Size: 100ml
