Here at Who What Wear, we take fragrance shopping very seriously, especially once the seasons begin to change. Now, we know some of you might not be into switching up your fragrance seasonally, but hear us out here. Summer going into autumn is the perfect time to reconsider because so many of our beauty team’s most loved and complimented fragrances have just the right notes that suit the season.
Around this time of year, we tend to favour the crisp, juicy, and fruity notes we love so much during the summer, but we’ll add a surprise twist—an undertow of earthy, spicy notes that also feel just right for autumn. If you’re game to try something new and wonder which ones earn us the most compliments, keep on reading. We’re sharing our best summer-to-autumn scents we just can’t skip.
The Best Summer-to-Autumn Perfumes
Byredo
Mojave Ghost Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Ambrette, nesberry, magnolia, sandalwood, violet, cedarwood, musks, vetiver
“As we head into autumn, I’m finding myself reaching for Mojave Ghost. It has an ambrette creaminess that lends itself well in the summer months, while the addition of musk, amber and sandalwood make it just as wearable in autumn. It’s chic and cosy without being heavy. I like to think of it as the stylish older sister to Glossier You—it’s the ultimate cool-girl scent.” —Eleanor Vousden, UK beauty editor
KAYALI
Utopia Vanilla Coco 21 Eau de Parfum Intense
Key notes: Coconut, jasmine, vanilla bourbon
“Honestly, I tend to wear the same scents year-round, but lately, I’ve been layering this with Kayali’s Eden Juicy Apple 01 Eau de Parfum (£73). It’s the perfect transitional fragrance to wear this time of year. It has a few summery notes of coconut and jasmine, but combined, each scent also has richer notes like bourbon vanilla, jasmine, and wild berries. I’m mildly obsessed with the combo and will probably continue to wear it well into autumn.” — Shawna Hudson, associate beauty editor
Matiere Premiere
Bois d’Ébène Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Guaiac wood, Cabreuva oil, patchouli, cypriol oil, juniper berry
“Types who like woody scents will adore Bois d’Ébène. It’s woody, a little dark and mysterious, but has that juniper berry freshness that still works for the last days of summer. It is a little sweet and so smooth, and just gets better and better on the skin. I get the same excitement of pulling this out of my perfumes as I do about getting my knitwear and boots out from my wardrobe. It’s so elegant yet modern.” — Vousden.
Byredo
Casablanca Lily Extrait de Parfum
Key notes: Wild gardenia, black plum, carnation, Indian tuberose, palissandre wood, honey
“I truly believe this is Byredo’s most underrated fragrance. Inspired by the city it’s named after, Casablanca Lily is a robust floral scent (gardenia! carnation! Indian tuberose!) anchored with a luxuriousness (plum! rosewood! honey accord!) that will quite literally stop people in their tracks. It’s intense and sultry, and it’s the ultimate nighttime scent as we transition from summer to autumn.” — Erin Jahns, beauty director
Ellis Brooklyn
Apple Love Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Red apple, sugarcane, Madagascar vanilla
“This fragrance reminds me so much of my family’s Thanksgiving in Texas, but not in the ‘nutmeg and apple pie’ sort of way—it’s more like the first day of crisp autumn air. I fell in love at first whiff. It’s light and fresh on its own, but I’ll also layer it with Ellis Brooklyn’s Bee to add some juicy honey notes. It’s my fragrance version of a warm hug.” — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
