The new fragrances worth buying this winter

It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness: the winter collection is dominated by a slightly darker tone (Getty)

As the colder months approach, it’s time to set aside the fresh stuff and welcome in a new olfactory chapter that calls for scents which reflect the change in season.

From smoky fireplaces, damp leaves and wafts of cinnamon, right now fragrances are looking to evoke the warmth and spice of winter. It’s official; the smell of Christmas is well and truly in the air.

Whether you’re gifting for the holidays, or looking to update your scent selection, the seasonal shift has spurred a cache of new perfumes for both men and women. To spare you the lightheaded trip down the fragrance aisle, we’ve rounded up our pick of the newest launches that will set you apart from the rest.

For ladies who aren’t quite prepared to bid adieu to lighter scents, opting for something creamy like Glossier’s You will bridge the gap. The millennial-loved beauty brand’s first ever fragrance, it has a warm, powdery centre that wears down to reveal sparkling pink pepper notes.

Alternatively, Giorgio Armani has launched a new shimmer infused version of Si – Si Narce Sparkle Edition – that dresses your skin in a whirl of iridescent pearls, making it ideal for the festive season.

You, £45, Glossier

If you’re after something richer and more winter-ready, there are plenty of after-dark blends on offer with Carolina Herrera’s Gold Incense or Byredo’s Velvet Haze. While the former is bursting with exotic spices and vanilla, the latter forms a powerful fusion of warming patchouli, wild musk and cocoa.

Surprisingly, one of the most popular ingredients in many of this season’s new fragrances is rose. A scent that steadily acquired a reputation for being too old-fashioned or great-aunt-esque, this new crop give it a sexy, modern twist.

Byredo, Velvet Haze, £95, Selfridges

From Chloe Absolu and Elizabeth & James’s Nirvana Rose, to Maison Margiela’s Wicked Love and Valentino’s Donna Noir Absolu, each scent eliminates rose’s twee repute by pairing with sharp, spicy and slightly metallic notes that make them utterly addictive.

Elizabeth & James, Nirvana Rose, £95, House of Fraser

The ingredient even made its way into men’s scents too with Givenchy Gentleman and Commes des Garcons Concrete combining the fragrant floral with notes of spicy cardamom, sandalwood and musk.

Maison Margiela, Wicked Love, £125, Selfridges

Elsewhere, bright and breezy fragrances take a back seat for woody editions like Guerlain’s L’Homme Ideal,which combines a smoky leather base with cedar and Indian vetiver, while Paco Rabanne’s Pure XS offers an oriental take by blending ginger, cinnamon and sweet vanilla with a myrrh and woody base.

Valentino, Donna Noir Absolu, £116.50, Harrods

Comme des Garçons, Concrete, £115, Selfridges

Guerlain, L’Homme Ideal, £50, John Lewis