6 expert tips for confidently selecting the right spicy fragrance for you
"A well-balanced spicy scent doesn’t overpower — it draws you in"
Spicy fragrances are a somewhat polarising subject.
Perhaps it's because the term is synonymous with headache-inducing men's colognes *cough* Paco Rabanne One Million *cough*, but for those in the know, perfumes that bear spice notes have an unmistakable depth that's hard to replicate. They're also hard to escape.
Best-sellers Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 and Le Labo's Santal 33 contain saffron and cardamom respectively, and spice is present in perfumes for autumn, winter, spring, and summer. So mastering one's fear of the stuff is a necessity if you want to better familiarise yourself with the world of fragrance at large.
It's for that reason that BEAUTYcrew contacted four fragrance experts — Nedahl Stelio (Founder of Recreation), Maddie Burton (Founder of Your Bliss), Marie du Petit Thouars (Founder of Maison Louis Marie), and Nick Smart (Founder and Director of Agence de Parfum and Libertine Parfumerie).
Ahead, they share their top tips for selecting the right spicy fragrance for you, and reveal a few of their favourites too.
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Balance is key
"Spice can be bold, so what surrounds it matters," Smart explains. "In niche perfumery especially, it's worth considering how the spice is anchored — perhaps softened by florals, grounded in oud, or wrapped in amber for depth. A well-balanced spicy scent doesn’t overpower; it draws you in."
"The most compelling compositions are the ones where warmth meets softness," du Petit Thouars agrees. While Burton advises, spicy fragrances should feel intentional and elevated, not overpowering.
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Longevity matters
"Spice unfolds over time, so I always see how a scent wears throughout the day," Burton advises.
"What opens with a spark of pepper or saffron may dry down to something smooth and sensual," Smart went on to explain. The Libertine Parfumerie founder recommends trying scents on the skin rather than paper — "give it time to reveal its full story, that’s where the magic lives".
"It doesn’t just sit on the skin, it tells a story that unfolds slowly, revealing a new chapter with each passing hour," offers du Petit Thouars. "As it wears, the spice softens and something more intimate emerges."
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Always trust your instincts
A spicy scent should feel like a second skin, not a mask, du Petit Thouars tells BEAUTYcrew. "It’s less about trend and more about resonance — does the fragrance feel like you, just a little more magnetic?"
Smart and Burton both believe that spicy scents should also be emotive, not only representative of how you feel, but how you want to feel.
"It should make you feel confident, magnetic, or powerful, whatever version of yourself you’re stepping into," Burton explains.
Oh, and word to the wise, just because you don’t like eating a certain spice, doesn’t mean you won't like the way it smells.
"It’s all about the way it’s blended," Stelio explains. "Spices are an incredible way to liven up a scent, so I wouldn’t not choose one, because you don’t like pepper for example — it’s not going to smell like pepper."
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Select a scent you can wear any time of the year
It’s a common misconception that spice equals heavy, Burton tells BEAUTYcrew.
"The truth is, spicy fragrances can be incredibly versatile depending on how they're blended," she explains. "It’s all about choosing something that feels good on your skin and for the mood you are going for."
"Spice can add warmth, contrast or complexity, but when it’s paired with notes you already connect with, the result feels more personal and more wearable — it’s all about building on what you love, not abandoning it," Smart offers.
"To me, a spicy scent on warm skin during a summer evening feels unexpectedly sensual," says du Petit Thouars. "It’s not really about the calendar, it’s about what makes you feel beautiful and confident that day."
Stelio agrees, saying that spice notes warm up beautifully on the skin on a hot summer night — "I would definitely recommend wearing every time you want to radiate scent around you".
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Choose a fragrance that layers well
"Fragrance layering is such a beautiful way to personalise a scent," gushes du Petit Thouars. "With spicy fragrances, I like to either deepen the warmth or soften the edges, depending on my mood."
Smart, Burton and Stelio all recommend thinking about contrasting and complementary notes in other fragrances or scented body products to create depth, or alternatively, brighten the fragrance.
"Layering with sweet fragrances works beautifully — sugar and spice is a combo that has worked forever and will continue to work," says Stelio.
Burton likes layering fragrances with warm, neutral or creamy undertones on top of moisturiser and body oil. "Not only does it help with longevity, but it also adds subtle dimension to the fragrance."
While Smart says it's all about placement and composition: Top note spice (read: pink pepper or ginger) can become sharp if applied too closely to the skin, while deeper notes (like saffron, clove and cinnamon) allow you to be a bit more bold during application.
"I usually like to apply to apply on the collarbone or the sides of the neck," says du Petit Thouars. "It creates this soft trail that feels intimate and never overwhelming. There’s something more sensual about letting the scent be discovered slowly, rather than announcing it all at once."
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When in doubt look for fragrance notes you know and love
"The beauty of spice is how it enhances and deepens the notes you already love," du Petit Thouars tells us. "If you're drawn to amber, woods, or jasmine, finding a fragrance that blends those familiar elements with a touch of spice can feel both comforting and exciting, like meeting an old friend with a mysterious new edge."
"It’s the easiest way to branch out, while still feeling connected to the scent," says Burton.
The key lies in how spice is used — just as important is what the spice is paired with, Smart explains. "Spice is most compelling when it complements, not dominates."
"For warmth and comfort, I look for notes like clove, cinnamon, or nutmeg. If I want something a bit more mysterious and seductive, pink pepper or saffron are beautiful options. And for a refined, smoky depth, I love black pepper paired with dry woods or vetiver," du Petit Thouars explains.
The top 5 spicy fragrances to shop in Australia
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Maison Louis Marie No.03 L’Étang Noir Perfume Oil
from $99 at The Freedom State
"It begins with a sultry blend of nutmeg, anise, and tobacco flower, then unfolds into warm clove, ginger, and vanilla, finishing on a base of tonka, benzoin, and musk," the brand's founder Marie du Petit Thouars explains. "As it wears, the spice softens and something more intimate emerges. It doesn’t just sit on the skin, it tells a story that unfolds slowly, revealing a new chapter with each passing hour."
"One of my favorite ways to wear the No.03 L’Étang Noir perfume oil is over freshly moisturised skin using a moisturiser that has a soft floral base," she explains. "It makes the spice feel more luminous and intimate, like it’s glowing from within."
Fragrance notes:
Top: Nutmeg, Tobacco Blossom and Anise
Heart: Cloves, Vanilla and Ginger
Base: Vanilla, Benzoin and Tonka Bean
Available at:
15ml: $99 from The Freedom State
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Your Bliss X Georgie Stevenson Allure Eau de Parfum
from $145 at Your Bliss
"Spice on its own can be sharp, so when it's paired thoughtfully, the result is complex, sophisticated, and wearable. One fragrance I love that really captures this balance is Allure, it’s subtly spiced but smoothed out by amber and soft woods — it’s the kind of scent that turns heads without trying too hard," says Your Bliss founder Maddie Burton.
Fragrance notes:
Top: Blackcurrant, Pink Pepper, and Bergamot
Heart: Rose, Geranium, Davana, and Violet
Base: Patchouli, Oakmoss, Musk, and Vetiver
Available at:
50ml: $145 from Your Bliss
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Recreation At Night We Dance Eau de Parfum
from $49 at Recreation
Recreation founder Nedahl Stelio's favourite spicy notes include cinnamon, pink pepper, and cloves, all of which can be found in the brand's At Night We Dance fragrance. According to Stelio, it's this combination of warming spices that makes it perfect for winter or the evening — "it's definitely a sexy scent".
Fragrance notes:
Top: Brazilian Orange, Pink Peppercorn, and Thyme
Heart: Violet, Magnolia, Cinnamon, Lavender, and Clove
Base: Musk, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Amber, Vetiver, and Amyris
Available at:
10ml: $49 from Recreation
50ml: $124 from Recreation
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Santa Maria Novella Incenso Eau de Parfum
from $299 at Libertine Parfumerie
Pink pepper adds a sparkling lift to romantic rose, and grounded wood and amber notes in this winter garden ode, says Libertine Parfumerie founder Nick Smart. If you're searching for a perfume with an intimate projection that can be layered easily, then look no further. This incense-centric scent will welcome a subtle earthy, resinous, and musky aroma to the fore, while still sticking close to the skin.
Fragrance notes:
Top: Cardamom, Pink Pepper, and Rose
Heart: Incense, Papyrus, and Cypriol (Nagarmota)
Base: Vetiver
Available at:
50ml: $299 from Libertine Parfumerie
100ml: $449 from Libertine Parfumerie
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Tsu Lange Yor Luca Eau de Parfum
from $50 at MECCA
Subtle, wearable, and certainly not a strong spicy scent by any means, Tsu Lange Yor's Luca is the slightly worn white t-shirt that smells like you in a way that feels lived in.
I'm not one for overpowering fragrances, so for the self-proclaimed spicy fragrance scaredy cats like myself, Luca feels like a step in the right direction without being plunged into the deep end.
Refreshing citrus, resin and black pepper opens the scent, revealing a herbaceous clary sage and moss heart, and a humid forest floor with a musk, wood and amber base.
Fragrance notes:
Top: Bergamot, Black Pepper and Elemi
Heart: Cedarwood, Clary Sage and Moss
Base: Musk, Sandalwood and Ambrox Super
Available at:
10ml: $50 from MECCA
10ml: $50 from Tsu Lange Yor
50ml: $170 from MECCA
50ml: $170 from Tsu Lange Yor
Main image credit: @tyronmachhausen
On the hunt for more top-rated perfumes to try? Here, BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editors reveal their all-time favourite fragrances.
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).
