There are two types of people in the world (aside from the ones who entertain and the ones who observe, of course). First, there are those who’ve stuck with the same perfume since that after-school mall trip when their mom gave them $20 and fate led them straight to Bath & Body Works. They’ll scour eBay every six months for a discontinued bottle if they have to—nothing’s getting between them and their signature scent. Then there are the perfume obsessed: the ones with collections they’ll never work through, who are first to smell every new release, and who can name the next It-perfume before anyone else is even talking about it.
Whether you’re obsessed with niche fragrances or exhausted from tracking down your go-to scent on sketchy resale sites, these are the fall perfume trends to have on your radar. We went straight to the experts and asked Shaylin Sajjadi, Affiliate Marketing Manager at Scent Split, what everyone will be wearing this season. Here’s what we learned:
Shaylin Sajjadi, Affiliate Marketing Manager at Scent Split
1. Subtly Sweet
The gourmand obsession isn’t going anywhere, but it is evolving. Last year was all about “beast mode” fragrances that announced themselves before you even walked through the door. If a scent didn’t last 12 hours, people thought it wasn’t worth it. This fall, that’s changing. “Last fall was more about deep, rich, and indulgent gourmands,” Shaylin Sajjadi, Affiliate Marketing Manager at Scent Split, explains. “This year, we’re seeing a lighter, more whimsical approach—still sweet, but brighter and more wearable for daytime.” These playful interpretations bring a fresh twist to last year’s gourmands.
2. Caramel Craze
Sorry, vanilla lovers—there’s a new dessert note in town. Caramel was a fan favorite last fall, and it’s only getting bigger this year. With buzzy new releases like Rare Beauty’s Rare Eau de Parfum and Ellis Brooklyn’s Queens Caramel, Sajjadi expects caramel to be a star note all season long.
3. Nuts for Pistachio
Pistachio isn’t new, but its popularity is dialed up even more this year. Personally, I think we have the viral Dubai pistachio chocolate bar to thank. Many of last year’s favorites featured pistachio notes, and Sajjadi predicts that will continue. You’ll also see pistachio notes paired with caramel for a delectable combo.
4. Not Your Grandma’s Powder Notes
OK, stay with me. I know powdery perfumes can get a bad rap, bringing visions of overly floral wallpaper (and not in a charming Nancy Meyers way) and the slightly stifling scent of your very loving, very old grandmother. But when done right, powder notes can be an incredible addition to your fall perfumes.
“Powdery notes are gaining attention, especially when paired with comforting dessert elements,” Sajjadi said. Think iris, violet, hedione, vanilla, rose, musk, heliotrope, resin, and amber, bringing a soft, clean feel to fragrances and leveling out heavy gourmands.
5. Multifunctional Fragrance
Perfume’s main job is to make us smell good, but this year, brands are going further with formulas that claim to moisturize skin, boost mood, or offer benefits beyond scent. Philosophy’s new body spray boasts 24 hours of skin hydration with niacinamide and glycerin, and Snif’s Gentle Reminder was created with author and mindfulness teacher Alex Elle to spray alongside grounding affirmations to help center yourself.
6. Layers on Layers
Layering isn’t just for dressing for a classic fall day when your walk to work has you freezing, but your commute home is sweltering—it works for your fall perfumes, too. With so many viral perfumes, a lot of us are honestly smelling pretty much the exact same. Sure, every fragrance shifts slightly with an individual’s body chemistry, but for the most part, we’re all rotating the same popular picks. Now, in the ultimate gatekeeping move, people are craving combinations they can only get by mixing their concoctions.
While Sajjadi says the body mist trend is dying down, one way to put those products to use is to pair them with perfumes that have similar or complementary notes. “We believe the body mist craze may be reaching its saturation point,” Sajjadi said. “Consumers are now gravitating toward perfumes again—specifically niche and artisanal scents that offer more uniqueness and staying power.” Another way to achieve that one-of-a-kind effect: fragrance priming balms, solid perfumes, lotions, oils, or layering multiple perfumes together.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
Products included in graphic linked within the article. Feature graphic images credited to: Payel | Adobe Stock, Sydney Wyer | Dupe, Sommai | Adobe Stock, Joanna Kosinski | Unsplash, Chandra Sekhar | Unsplash, and Patrycja Jadach | Unsplash
