Scents of December.

The arrival of winter has always brought with it a desire for warmth, ritual and memory, and nowhere is that more clearly expressed than in the perfumes we reach for in December. As temperatures drop and the world outside quietens, fragrance becomes a source of comfort: a beacon of light in darker evenings, a reminder of gatherings to come, a scented echo of years gone by. Perfume houses return to familiar materials at this time of year, from spices that recall kitchen tables to woods that conjure the soft glow of firelight, yet the most compelling winter scents never simply imitate the season—they reimagine it.

Discover scents that evoke festive gatherings, candlelit rooms, and the joy of the season.

Jo Malone London Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot

Jo Malone London captures this mood with their newest Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot scent, a fragrance that feels like a festive evening just beginning to unfold. It opens with the velvety sweetness of apricot, bright enough to suggest laughter starting to rise in the next room, before sandalwood lends its signature creamy warmth. Vanilla deepens the composition into something rounder and more enveloping, while a breeze of cardamom dances through with a freshness that keeps everything lifted. The result is a scent made for nights filled with games, ribbons and the soft rustle of wrapping paper.

L’Occitane en Provence Nuit Festive

Further south, in Provence, L’Occitane en Provence turns its attention to winter’s twilight with Nuit Festive. Inspired by the glow of a crimson night sky, it blends sparkling blackcurrant with the softness of vanilla, anchored by cedarwood and hinoki. Its mood is distinctly cinematic: fireflies flicker, toasts are raised, and the air is thick with anticipation. Nuit Festive is made for that particular hour when daylight slips away and the evening begins its own choreography of connection and celebration.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir

Maison Francis Kurkdjian offers a more opulent take on the season with Grand Soir, a fragrance that calls to mind the glittering façade of a city just as the lights switch on. Cistus labdanum, lavandin and cinnamon leaf create an ambered richness, drawing you closer with each passing minute. As the scent settles, vanilla and benzoin glow like candlelight reflected in polished glass. It evokes the type of evening that stretches long after midnight—and the quiet satisfaction of stepping into it dressed in your very best.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille remains a perennial winter favourite for good reason. It evokes private clubs, velvet drapery and indulgence without apology. Tobacco leaf, ginger, cocoa and tonka bean come together in a composition that is both plush and smoky, modern yet timeless. It is a fragrance that lingers in the air long after you’ve left the room, carrying with it the warmth of a fireside conversation and the comfort of a well-worn armchair.

Maison Margiela’s REPLICA By the Fireplace

Meanwhile, Maison Margiela’s REPLICA By the Fireplace pays tribute to the simplest—and perhaps most evocative–winter scene. The crackle of wood, the warmth radiating from the hearth, the morning light creeping slowly across a snow-dusted horizon. Chestnut, vanilla and red berries bring a toasted sweetness, while neroli essence and orange blossom add a gentle lift. It is a scent of quiet mornings, woollen socks and the promise of a day spent indoors.

Guerlain Fève Gourmande

For those drawn to richer gourmand territories, Guerlain’s Fève Gourmande offers a surrealist interpretation of the cocoa accord. Here, chocolate notes expand and contract like shadows cast by candlelight, moving from sweet to bitter with intriguing precision. Rose brings a floral clarity to the heart, while rum, spice and patchouli wrap the fragrance in an inviting warmth. It is a perfume that feels almost dreamlike, as though the boundaries between the familiar and the fantastical have softened.