Seven Hot Winter Fragrances Inspired by Ancient Temples, Drunken Sailors and Wild Rabbits

Winter’s creeping chill is your annual reminder to reassess your seasonal wardrobe. The same philosophy could be applied to your signature fragrance.

Imagine the comforting embrace of smoky vetiver, the spicy allure of cardamom, or the luxurious sweetness of vanilla.

Here are some of the most intriguing unisex picks of the season.

Fall By Criminal Elements

Before he was making intriguingly delicious scents, Criminal Elements founder Corey Newcombe was studying to be a science teacher. Upon graduating he made the sea change to the edges of a small town in South Australia where, while living in a bus, he began to teach himself how to make perfume. Criminal Elements was born.

Where Newcombe excels is creating the kind of warm, chewy fragrances that are practically edible. Fall opens with a burst of sweet orange and cinnamon, evoking the comforting scent of autumn leaves and spiced treats. As it develops, heart notes of clove and nutmeg bring an earthy richness, and it has base notes of sandalwood and vanilla.

Temple of Infinity by Teone Reinthal

Academic, visual artist and aromatherapist Teone Reinthal founded Brisbane-based Teone Reinthal Natural Perfume (TNRP) in 2013. You can easily imagine the vintage French crystal bottles that house these fragrances on the dressing table of a 1920s movie star. The perfect antidote to the minimalism of a lot of modern brands.

Temple of Infinity is a contemporary homage to the ancient incense and perfumes of Egyptian, Babylonian and antiquity-world temples. Crafted with high quality rare raw materials, the fragrance features mimosa, cinnamon leaf, cardamom, nutmeg and multiple kinds of resinous myrrhs. This complex, multi-layered fragrance smells like a sacred ritual in a bottle.

Acrasia by BeauFort London

This London-based fragrance house takes inspiration from Britain’s sea-faring past. Specifically, the wine and gin-soaked drinking dens, gunpowder, leather, rum, tea, salt of the ocean and all that good stuff.

Acrasia is gentler than other offerings from the brand, although it hasn’t lost any of the line’s signature olfactive punch. Only this time it’s wrapped in velvet. The opening is a blend of dark, fruity wine, and lush rose petals set a romantic, cosy tone. As the fragrance evolves, heart notes of tobacco and hay add a warm, earthy depth, while base notes of vetiver and oakmoss provide a grounding, woody finish.

Rabbit by Zoologist

It takes a specific kind of imagination to convince people they want to smell like an animal. But that’s just what independent Canadian perfumer Zoologist specialises in. Some of the creations, like the wet earth and fruit accord of Bat, or the inky ocean notes of Squid, definitely require a more cerebral appreciation.

But what the brand does best is introduce audiences to ingredients that they might never have thought would work in perfumery. Rabbit smells like a fresh field, with notes of hay, green leaves and clover in the opening. The surprise comes in the form of the carrot note which is quite floral and dry, like iris or the faintest smell of a bakery.

Flower Tuxedo by St Rose

Named for the patron saint of gardeners, St Rose is the latest addition to the “clean” perfume genre, which focuses on high quality natural ingredients. The brand’s founder, Belinda Smith, says she created St Rose because she couldn’t find a perfume she wanted to wear that was made ethically using clean ingredients and still smelled luxurious. Smith has undergone a stringent process of finding the most sustainable methods of production, from packaging right down to distribution.

An ode to sleek tailoring and a traditional flower worn in the lapel, Floral Tuxedo begins as a light floral with notes of neroli and bergamot that merge with the smokier woody scent of vetiver and sandalwood.

Sous Le Pont Mirabeau by Etat Libre d'Orange

French brand Etat Libre d’Orange has a reputation for creating bizarre and beautiful fragrances. There are collaborations with icons Tilda Swinton and Rossy de Palma, and perfumes inspired by the end of the world (which smells like popcorn), cyborgs and an erotic ballet from 1912.

Its latest Sous Le Pont Mirabeau is perhaps one of its most accessible fragrances. Inspired by the bridge of the same name in Paris and the poetry of Guillaume Apollinaire, Sous Le Pont Mirabeau is a fresh aquatic with floral notes of violet and fig leaves. Breathing it in, you could easily imagine yourself standing by the Seine in Paris on a cold morning.

Une Pistache by Obvious

Founded by David Frossard, Obvious Parfums champions simplicity, elegance and sustainability. Frossard, who has a storied history with niche fragrance brands, established Obvious in 2020 to merge luxury with eco-consciousness; the company uses natural and recycled materials wherever possible.

Une Pistache blends creamy pistachio with delicate hints of almond and a whisper of orange blossom and cardamom. Despite its richness, it’s still delicate and sheer enough for everyday wear.

Benjamen Judd is a fashion writer and fragrance specialist.

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