As the days grow shorter, your fragrance should be warmer too. In this article you'll find out which notes make a great winter perfume, why they work so well in the cold and which ÉCLAT fragrances match them – plus tips on how to make your winter scent last all day.

What makes a winter perfume?

In summer we look for freshness, in winter for warmth and fragrance is no different. A winter perfume relies on notes with depth: creamy vanilla, spicy tonka bean, ambery woods or spices such as cinnamon and saffron. They feel enveloping and suit cosy sweaters, long evenings and the scent of an open fire.

There's a practical reason, too: in cold air, fragrance molecules evaporate more slowly, so a perfume often seems quieter outdoors than it does in summer. Heavier base notes such as resins, woods and vanilla make up for this because they stay on the skin for a long time. That's why an Eau de Parfum with a high concentration of fragrance oil is a good choice in winter – every ÉCLAT fragrance contains at least 20% fragrance oil and is made in our manufactory in Germany.

The best notes for your winter perfume

Vanilla

The creamy warmth of Vanilla is the classic winter note. It feels soft, sweet and familiar – like a warm scarf for your skin. Paired with coffee it becomes deeper and more grown-up; with woods, spicier. At ÉCLAT you'll find it in Black Coffee & Bourbon Vanilla, where black coffee meets bourbon vanilla, in Aromatic Vanilla or in Spicy Vanilla Woods with spicy woods.

Tonka bean

Tonka bean is sweet and spicy and smells of almond, caramel and fresh hay, sitting right between sweet and spicy. It gives a fragrance depth without making it heavy. In Aromatic Tonka Bean it takes centre stage.

Amber and Ambroxide

Ambery notes have a deep warmth, are slightly resinous and sensual. Ambroxide adds a woody, warm radiance that lingers on the skin. Ambery Toffee combines this warmth with sweet toffee, while Orange Blossom & Ambroxide sets radiant orange blossom against it – ideal if pure evening scents feel too dark for you.

Cinnamon and saffron

Spices belong to winter like biscuits to Advent. Cinnamon feels warming and familiar, saffron elegant and slightly leathery. Gourmand Cinnamon puts warming cinnamon in the spotlight, while Ambery Saffron pairs saffron with ambery warmth.

Gourmand notes

Coffee, hazelnut, toffee: Gourmand fragrances play with notes that call to mind sweet treats and indulgence. In winter they feel especially cosy. Sweet Rose & Hazelnut shows that this works with florals too: here, sweet rose meets hazelnut.

Woods and tobacco

Woods give a fragrance structure and calm, tobacco a warm, slightly smoky note. Together with honey they create a scent for evenings by the fire – just like Tobacco & Honey.

Winter perfume for women, men and unisex

Winter perfume for women: If you like it soft and warm, reach for vanilla and coffee. If you can't do without florals in winter, combinations such as orange blossom with Ambroxide or rose with hazelnut strike the right balance. Our women's fragrances range from floral to gourmand.

Winter perfume for men: Tonka bean, vanilla and toffee give men's fragrances a warm, distinctive base in winter. They're ideal for the evening but, applied sparingly, work for every day too. Find them all among our men's fragrances.

Unisex fragrances for winter: Cinnamon, saffron, tobacco and spicy woods suit anyone who'd rather not choose between women's and men's fragrances. Browse our unisex fragrances and find your personal winter scent.

How to wear your winter perfume

On your skin, not just your scarf. Spray your perfume on your pulse points: wrists, neck and the inside of your elbows. The skin is warmer there, so the fragrance develops better – even under thick layers.

Moisturised skin holds fragrance longer. Central heating and cold weather dry out the skin, and on dry skin a fragrance often fades faster. Applying a body cream first helps – for example our body creams with shea butter and D-panthenol.

Go easy indoors. In heated rooms, a fragrance comes across more strongly than outside. One or two sprays are usually enough for the whole day.

A touch on your scarf or coat. Wool holds fragrance for a long time. Spray from a little distance and test on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure the fabric can take it.

Find your winter scent without buying blind

Whether vanilla or saffron suits you best is something you'll notice on your own skin. With our Discovery Set with 8 samples you can try several winter fragrances at home in your own time. If you're not sure where to start, Flora, our fragrance advisor can help: she asks about your preferences and suggests fragrances that suit you. And every order comes with two free samples of your choice.

Conclusion: warmth that lasts

A great winter perfume favours depth over freshness – with vanilla, tonka bean, amber, spices or woods. Thanks to slow-evaporating base notes and a high fragrance oil concentration, it stays with you for a long time, even on cold days. The easiest way to find your favourite is to try several fragrance families, for example with our Discovery Set.