If you asked me why I love perfume, one reason would be its connection to our memories and emotions. Our sense of smell has the power to transport us back to a moment in time in a way that feels deeper and more visceral than simply recalling a memory with our mind’s eye. This is because, when we smell something—a process called olfaction—odor molecules bind to specific receptors in the nose, triggering sensory neurons to send signals to the brain. These signals pass through the olfactory bulb and reach areas like the piriform cortex (which identifies smells), the amygdala (which processes emotions), and the hippocampus (responsible for memory storage) (Walsh, 2020). If a scent is tied to an emotional moment, the hippocampus can store it for decades, allowing that scent to vividly evoke memories and emotions even years later.
You might be wondering…OK…but how is this connected to wearing perfumes for different seasons?
It is January in Colorado, and today is dark, cold, and snowy. While the chilly weather often inspires productivity, it also sets the perfect scene for me to think about perfume, create it, and write about it. Today, I am reflecting on the changing seasons, our sense of smell, and how wearing perfume can enhance our mood while evoking nostalgic moments tied to the seasons.
Because of this intimate connection between scent, memory, and emotion, choosing a perfume based on the season can be a transformative experience. The right fragrance can be a mood booster and recall fond memories from the past. Each season brings its own moods, colors, and sensations, making it a wonderful opportunity to change things up. Whether you gravitate toward warm, comforting notes or light, refreshing fragrances, here is how to choose a perfume for different seasons.
Tips for Choosing Perfumes for Different Seasons
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Consider the Temperature: Warm weather usually calls for lighter, fresher scents. In contrast, cooler months often benefit from deeper, more intense fragrances.
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Think About Your Activities: Are you heading to a summer wedding or cozying up by the fire in winter? Choose scents that match your lifestyle and activities during the season.
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Reflect on Seasonal Emotions: Scents can evoke powerful emotions. Spring can inspire feelings of renewal and optimism, while winter can be a time for warmth and comfort. Choose a fragrance that reflects the season's mood—or the opposite, depending on your preference.
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Trust Your Instincts: Your personal preference matters the most. If a particular fragrance makes you feel good, that is the best choice for you, regardless of the season.
Seasonal Perfume Recommendations
I have compiled a list of perfumes that I love and would wear year-round, but I find myself reaching for them at different times throughout the year as they elicit particular memories, feelings, and sensory connections to particular seasons. I have included some recommendations from the Wit & West Perfumes line, as well as from other brands. They are varied in terms of their genre (some are natural and some are not), brand type/size (some are similar to Wit & West and are indie artisan brands, some are larger brands), as well as olfactory or fragrance family (read more about Fragrance families in my Wit & West blog post Overview of Fragrance Families in Perfumery).
Fall and Winter Scents
As someone who has lived in Colorado their entire life, you would think I would be well-adjusted to the changing seasons. While I love having four seasons, sometimes the colder months can feel a bit longer than I would like them to. To change things up I often turn to sensory experiences that are comforting and meditative such as listening to records or reading a good book by the fire. During fall and winter, the crisp air and cooler temperatures cause me to reach for fragrances that are contemplative or warm and comforting, with a focus on woodsy, mossy, spicy and warm elements.
My Recommendations for Fall and Winter:
Moss Gown by Providence Perfume Co: Charna Ethier, the Founder and perfumer of Providence Perfume Co., is one of the natural perfumers I studied under prior to launching Wit & West. I love Charna’s style as natural perfumer. Her creations are exquisite and beautifully composed, challenging the notion that natural perfume cannot be complex. Moss Gown was nominated for a FiFi Award in 2013 (now called the
Fragrance Foundation Awards) and it’s easy to see why it has received such high praise. A beautiful chypre-style fragrance with rare botanicals including boronia and artisan lilac, as well as mimosa, violet leaf, green tea, sandalwood, and cedar moss. It is green, mossy, floral and powdery and dusted with a bit of fairy dust that makes me feel as though I am in a mysterious forest that is dreamy and otherworldly.
Amir, by Tonatto Profumo: Tonatto Profumi is one of favorite perfume houses that I discovered while on a trip to Florence, Italy. Every single one of their perfumes captivated me. Each one is polished and sophisticated, leaning a bit vintage but in a much more approachable way than the classics. My favorite perfume from Tonatto is called Amir. It is a classic vintage-style floral amber fragrance that I simply cannot live without. Enigmatic and hypnotic with a sparkling citrus opening, followed by the perfect balance of frankincense, myrrh, amber and musk.
Vintage Novel, by Darren Alan Perfumes: Darren Alan is an indie artisan perfumer who creates beautiful and luxurious fragrances with a nod to vintage classics. Since launching Wit & West, I've had the opportunity to not only experience his fragrances, but to also chat with him a few times. Darren is not only an amazing perfumer, but he is also super friendly and down to earth. I love a number of his fragrances, but Vintage Novel definitely has my heart. This is a musky ambery rose fragrance that's glamorous, timeless, and perfect for colder weather. Notes include bergamot, rose, vanilla, tonka bean and tobacco.
Tobacco Rose, by Papillon Artisan Perfumes: One of my favorite artisan indie brands, perfumer Liz Moores creates truly unique fragrances that are opulent, meditative and a bit vintage. Tobacco Rose is a beautiful multi-layered, dark, and mossy damask & centifolia rose with agrestic facets of new mown hay, oakmoss & tobacco leaves (slight). It is supported by an animalic base of waxy and pollen-laced beeswax mingling with a salty ambergris. The perfect companion for an evening out during fall and wintertime.
La Rhapsodie Noire, by Parfums Dusita: A bit of a departure from the previous recommendations, this aromatic and gourmand fougère by Dusita is less focused on the traditional fougère accord (i.e., bergamot-geranium-lavender-coumarin-oakmoss) and more on tonka bean and oakmoss intertwined with edible notes of coffee, rum, and sage (and that’s just perfect). I like this one in the winter because of the gourmand facets, but also the mossy fougère elements feel like a perfect companion during the colder months.
Monsoon Madness, by Anjali Perfumes: Another indie brand that's based out of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and owned by perfumer, Anjali Vandermark. Anjali's creations are a true testament to her commitment to artistic and unique artisan perfumery. With each scent, she weaves together intricate stories creating fragrances that are both exotic and deeply personal, drawing upon her Indian heritage. Monsoon Madness is a lovely floral that has the right amount of powder, musk and damp earth. It’s modern, yet there’s a comforting nostalgic vintage vibe that I love, and feel is perfect during the colder months of the year.
Brumaire Woods Eau de Parfum: A fougère-style fragrance that evokes the fresh and mossy allure of the forests surrounding the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest. Aromatic and woodsy, it is a perfect companion for bracing winter days spent exploring the outdoors—or dreaming of it from your favorite fireside chair. Includes lavender, peppermint, thyme, neroli, jasmine, oakmoss and tobacco.
Jasmine Pet Noi Eau de Parfum: Inspired by nights spent wandering Bangkok's vibrant streets, this spicy amber floral is both warm and hypnotic. With a focus on spicy and floral elements, it is perfect for cozy evenings or a night out under winter skies. Includes bitter orange, pink peppercorn, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, palo santo, and our in-house created amber accord with labdanum, vanilla, and benzoin.
Habari Eau de Parfum: A spicy amber fragrance that brings richness and warmth with its refined smoky and woody profile. An ode to time spent in Kenya and Tanzania, Habari welcomes you to the crackling campfire as the incomparable sunset wanders toward spirited re-tellings of the day’s adventures. Includes black pepper, clove, cardamom, tuberose, jasmine, fossilized amber, and agarwood (oud).
Honeysuckle Halcyon Eau de Parfum: A lush and vintage-inspired white floral with fruity and seductive undertones. Honeysuckle Halcyon exudes timeless sophistication, nodding to the glamour of art deco, jazz, and the speakeasies of 1920’s Chicago. Includes mimosa, peach, jasmine sambac, patchouli and Haitian vetiver.
Spring and Summer Scents
As the warmer months of the year approach and I'm thinking about perfumes for the new season, I often look at scents that are lighter, fresh, citrusy, and floral. While I know not everyone loves it (though I cannot understand why not!), neroli is an absolute favorite of mine. If you are not familiar with this versatile note in perfumery, the botanical ingredient is distilled from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree that is bright, citrusy, floral, heady, and slightly sweet. To me, it is the quintessential aroma of spring and summertime. In addition to neroli, I also love other white florals like orange blossom (obtained from the same tree as neroli but solvent extracted creating an absolute oil), jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia, as well as citrus notes like yuzu, mandarin, and bergamot. Bright, crisp, and refreshing notes of citrus, a focus on the softer side of white florals, combined with soft musky and/or woody notes like sandalwood, are perfect when the temperatures rise.
My Recommendations for Spring and Summer:
Moon Bloom by Hiram Green: Hiram Green is a natural perfumer out of the Netherlands who creates beautiful fragrances that I have been drawn to since starting Wit & West. His fragrances are bold, unique, and multilayered with beautiful natural botanical ingredients that are high quality and Moon Bloom is no exception. It is a white floral bouquet that focuses on tuberose with accents of other white flowers including ylang ylang and jasmine and a light dusting of spices atop a creamy, honeyed, resinous and velvety base.
Lately @5 by Linen Tutu: Having bonded over natural perfumery, botanical ingredients including new biotech natural ingredients, Daniela Carrasco, the Perfumer, and founder of Linen Tutu, and I have become great friends since she launched her brand in late 2023, Lately @5 is the fragrance Daniela created for her wedding day. It is a stunning jasmine fragrance accentuated by citrus, greenery, spices, and musk. Alluring and enigmatic, a perfect scent for a special day.
Lovesleep, by Filigree & Shadow: Based out of Seattle, perfumer and brand owner James is not only a force in the world of indie perfumery, but he also creates perfumes that are both beautiful and deeply personal. I am drawn to the depth and complexity of each scent and each time I smell them, I am pulled in further. Lovesleep really stands out to me as it's a beautiful white floral fragrance with neroli, linden blossom, carnation, jasmine, mimosa, tuberose, mushroom, and oud. It's like stepping into a dreamscape filled with the most intoxicating flowers.
Rosa de los Vientos by Fueguia 1833: During a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I stopped by one of the Fueguia boutiques and sniffed through every single one of their fragrances. West was kind enough to go along with this time-consuming activity as it took over an hour because Fueguia has A LOT of perfumes! While Rosa de los Vientos may not be an obvious choice for warmer months due to its focus on moss in the base, but to me, the focus on the greener aspects of rose is perfect for when the weather heats up. A dewy, fresh, and sparkling-green (geranium-leaning) rose is carried through the ocean breeze (its name in Spanish translates to “compass rose”). The base is a subtle ambery sandalwood with an earthy sophistication that hints at both oakmoss and cedarmoss.
Scalinatella by Profumi de Positano: Another perfume-find while in Italy, this one from the Amalfi Coast in Positano. This fragrance is light, floral, airy, and aquatic, with a sea-salt vibe that is perfect for summertime.
My Recommendations for Spring & Summer from the Wit & West Signature & Cologne Collection:
Yuzu Pop Eau de Cologne: This shimmering cologne is as uplifting and carefree as blasting your favorite pop song on repeat. Yuzu Pop is a genderless cologne that is bright, citrusy, and refreshing with Japanese and Korean yuzu citrus, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, sandalwood, and frankincense.
Fleur du Riad Eau de Cologne: A take on the classic eau de cologne, Fleur du Riad is named for the interior courtyard known as a riad found in traditional Moroccan homes. Fleur du Riad includes green mandarin, neroli, orange blossom, oakmoss and vetiver. I searched and searched for the perfect extraction of neroli for this cologne and what I found is one of the best I have ever experienced.
Streetcar Magnolia Eau de Cologne: A nod to the historic St. Charles Streetcar of New Orleans and the state flower of Louisiana, this cologne evokes the multi-sensory experience of an afternoon spent exploring the French Quarter before heading over via streetcar to the enchanting Garden District. An herbaceous citrusy floral with holy basil, yuzu citrus, magnolia, jasmine, frankincense, patchouli, soft musk (natural ambrettolide extracted from ambrette seed) and sandalwood.
Jasmine Bae Saranae Eau de Parfum: A fragrance from the Wit & West Signature Collection that is our ode to Phuket, Thailand, and evenings spent on the pier at Patong Bay - a place where the tropical breezes, striking sunsets and amazing lightning storm scenes cemented our love for southeast Asia. A fresh floral scent with mint, bergamot, mandarin, jasmine, orange blossom, neroli, tonka bean and sandalwood.
Conclusion
Perfume’s ability to transport us and evoke emotion is at the heart of why I create fragrances for Wit & West Perfumes. While wearing a scent tied to the season is not a requirement, it can be a wonderful way to mix things up—whether by rediscovering forgotten favorites, boosting your mood, or complementing your seasonal wardrobe, there is a scent that is perfect for the occasion. I hope this Wit & West blog post inspires you to explore new brands and perfumes, and maybe even find a new signature fragrance—whether for seasonal rotation or year-round wear.
Wit & West Perfumes: Indie Artisan 100% All-Natural Perfumes & Colognes
Wit & West Perfumes is a Colorado-based 100% all-natural botanical perfumery with a focus on rare natural ingredients and unique scents for those who do not want to smell like everyone else. Our perfumes are handcrafted completely in-house in small batches using only the finest, high-quality 100% natural whole botanical and naturally derived ingredients. If you’re interested in sampling some of our natural perfumes and colognes check out individual samples as well as our sample sets check out our samples on our website by visiting the Wit & West Samples page. If you’re not sure what to try, check out our Scent Quiz for some recommendations, plus, get 20% off your first Wit & West order.
References
Walsh, C. (2020, February 27). How Scent, Emotion and Memory are Intertwined and Exploited. Retrieved from The Harvard Gazette: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/
