Winter is the time to go big with scent
The top trends, perfumes and tricks to try this season
Winter is the time to go big with scent — the cold gives you full permission to dive into scent with a bit more drama, says Nick Smart.
BEAUTYcrew caught up with the Founder and Director of Agence de Parfum and Libertine Parfumerie to pick his brains about the perfume trends we should be aware of this winter, and he told us that there are three trends that are really standing out to him right now.
The top 3 winter fragrance trends of 2025
"Firstly, vanilla’s recent renaissance will only continue into the colder months," Smart explains. "These aren’t your sugar-sweet vanillas though; they’re richer, smokier, and totally indulgent, made for cold days and even chillier nights."
"Then there’s rose. We’re seeing the classic note getting a darker, moodier edge with pairings like oud, leather, and pepper that bring a modern, almost rebellious twist," he continues. "Then, as we spend more time indoors, fragrance becomes a more intimate affair — and that’s where your scented sidekick steps in — hair fragrances and body mists are lighter, easier to wear, and great."
The best tips to enhance your perfume in winter
One of Smart's favourite perfume tricks in winter is to prep with a good quality unscented body lotion before you spray — "it gives the fragrance something to cling to and really helps with longevity".
"I also lean into the heavier stuff — ambers, ouds, anything with a bit of weight — they just bloom beautifully in the cold," he tells us. 'Don’t be shy either; scent doesn’t project as easily in winter, so an extra spray or two won’t go astray."
The only thing Smart prays will fade this winter is people's obsessions with fragrance dupes.
"People are moving past the quick fix and craving quality — the real deal — there’s something far more satisfying about wearing a fragrance that feels considered, not copied," he shares.
As for the winter perfumes he is coveting as the weather cools down? Keep scrolling to discover the best fragrances for the chilliest season of the year.
6 best winter perfumes to try in 2025
Main image credit: @oliviarodrigo
Looking to update more than just your fragrance wardrobe as the weather cools down? These are the top winter haircut and colour trends to try in 2025.
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
