The 5 Fragrance Trends Set To Define Fall, According To A Master Perfumer

If the name Alberto Morillas doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the names on his impressive CV certainly might. Calvin Klein CK One, Gucci Bloom, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Flower by Kenzo — these are perfumes we’ve all encountered in one way or another, whether they’ve taken pride of place on your own perfume shelf, remind you of a loved one’s signature scent, or inspired a fleeting spritz at the department store, hoping you’d come back one day and finally make the purchase.

In other words, what Morillas — now the founder of his own perfume brand, Mizensir — doesn’t know about perfume probably isn’t worth knowing. Which makes him particularly well placed to predict the biggest and most interesting fragrance trends for the seasons ahead. And what’s that? A slight chill in the air? Whether you’re hankering for pumpkin spice or hanging on to the last days of sunshine, fall is right around the corner, and with it comes a whole new laundry list of notes, accords, and ways to wear your fragrance.

Ahead, Morillas predicts the top perfume trends to watch this fall, and how to make them work for you.

Bitter & Dark Notes

Gourmand fragrances — perfumes with edible, dessert-like notes — are everywhere you turn, but Morillas predicts that this fall, we’ll have had our fill of strawberries, caramel, and Chantilly cream. “These notes are quite simple,” Morillas says, “but a perfume with true depth features a slight bitterness to it.” This is why fragrance brands are leaning towards slightly more unusual notes. “Think artichoke, herbs like thyme, grass such as vetiver, and plants like cypriol,” says Morillas — all of which add a herbaceous, mysterious edge to counteract the saccharine sweetness of popular notes like vanilla.

Creed’s Wild Vetiver Eau de Parfum boasts grassy vetiver and zingy pink pepper to balance the lush rose and syrupy berries. Then there’s Mizensir Mythique Vetyver, with vetiver, Sicilian lemon, and geranium bourbon — a leafy, green rose. If you have less to spend, try Le Monde Gourmand Santal Supreme, with green vetiver, skin-like musk, and sweet, powdery violet.

Pre-Scenting Your Clothes

Having a perfume base layer — like using a scented body wash or body lotion — before applying fragrance is nothing new, and can help you smell better for longer. But Morillas thinks most of these products smell pretty ordinary. If you’ve found a perfume you really love and want to maximize its sillage — the scent cloud that follows you around all day — Morillas recommends scenting your wardrobe.

It’s as simple as investing in a porcelain or ceramic hanging ornament, spritzing your favorite fragrance all over it, then placing it inside your wardrobe so the scent molecules gradually infuse the fabric of your clothes, enhancing your overall scent. It pays to choose fragrances with excellent staying power, anyway. I love Mizensir Ylang Spirit, with warm, solar notes of jasmine, vanilla, and bergamot. Also try R29 Fragrance Award 2026 winners: Diptyque Orphéon Eau de Parfum, with gin-like juniper berries and vanilla-esque tonka bean, and Byredo Future Memories Eau de Parfum, a smorgasbord of clean orange blossom, rich vanilla liquor accord, and tart blackcurrant.

If you really want to infuse your threads, opt for an extrait de parfum — one of the highest fragrance concentrations.

Burnt Notes

Bonfires? In fall? Groundbreaking. But smoky woods, charred cedar, and a hint of burnt embers are pretty revolutionary in fragrance, according to Morillas, who predicts that the creamy, green woods we know and love in fragrances like Phlur’s Father Figure and Refinery29 Fragrance Award 2026 winner Maya Njie Nordic Cedar are taking on a toasted effect this season.

“Fire notes are not easy to capture because there’s so much nuance,” says Morillas. “Smoke, burning embers, and ash all have different smells,” he continues, “but they’re perfect for fall because they’re so cocooning.” There’s also a danger element to them, adds Morillas, which makes them exciting.

Details

AllSaints Naked Woods opens with verdant notes of tart apple and freshly picked rhubarb — green leaves and all — but dries down to something warm and cozy thanks to amber woods, which smell richer and darker than green, creamy woods like cedar. Also try Kilian Paris Midnight Espresso Eau de Parfum, with coffee, hazelnut, and rum, which lend a roasted edge, and Cyklar Amber Hour, a combination of amber resin, singed palo santo, and vanilla-like tonka bean.

The Apothecary Effect

Basil, fresh herbs, and minty notes are making their way into fragrance, bringing the same easy appeal they have in food, says Morillas. He describes them as “simple pleasures” in both taste and scent: fresh, uplifting and familiar. Just as a handful of herbs can transform a simple dish, they can give a fragrance an instant lift, adding a hit of freshness and vibrancy — a welcome antidote to fall and winter’s greying skies.

Try Olfactory X Mint + Apricot Eau de Parfum, with basil and mint alongside sun-warmed apricot, tangy blackcurrant, and syrupy dates. We also love Uni’s Sunset Water-Based Perfume, an aromatic mix of crushed mint and zingy lemon with grassy patchouli and smoked sandalwood. Then there’s ‘Ôrəbella WINDOW2SOUL Parfum, where fresh mint slices through heady damask rose and jasmine.

Cool Musks

The musk perfumes we all know and love have a distinct skin-like quality to them, reminiscent of stepping out of a warm bath or pulling on a loved one’s well-worn sweater. But there’s a new musk in town, says Morillas — and instead of skin, it smells like the great outdoors: crisp air, cool greenery, and freshly cut grass.

“I call these ‘cool’ musks,” says Morillas. “It’s hard to capture the sensation of coolness,” he adds, “but we do this by including one particular note: camphor.” A waxy substance derived from the camphor laurel tree, camphor is often used in chest rubs thanks to its medicinal, cooling, and invigorating qualities — which, in fragrance, translates to that elusive sensation of icy coolness.

There’s a dash of this in Ellis Brooklyn’s DEAR SKY Eau de Parfum (think pink pepper, honeydew melon, and zippy bergamot), Yves Saint Laurent Libre Berry Crush Eau de Parfum (creamy coconut, soothing lavender, and juicy raspberry), and Givenchy Very Irresistible Eau de Parfum (spicy star anise, sprightly blackberry, and buttery vanilla).

Scenting Your… Hands

Lastly, your hands are one of the most underrated places to wear fragrance, hints Morillas. Think scented hand sanitizer or a fragrant hand cream, then bring the scent up over your wrists and onto the backs of your hands. It makes sense. We use our hands constantly — typing at our keyboards, reaching for our phones, running our fingers through our hair — so every movement creates a little burst of fragrance. It’s also one of the easiest ways to enjoy your own perfume throughout the day, rather than leaving an obvious scent trail for everyone else.

No one does scented hand cream better than Cyklar. Try Sacred Santal, which smells like an enchanted woodland while packing urea and ectoin — two seriously moisturizing ingredients that help keep hands soft and smooth. Then there’s Salt & Stone’s Bergamot & Hinoki Nourishing Hand Cream, formulated with hydrating niacinamide and softening seaweed extract. And one of our favorites, which needs no introduction: Glossier You Hand Cream.

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Originally published at www.refinery29.com.

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