Whether you’re clinging to the last moments of summer or have had pumpkins out for weeks, the seasonal shift is coming either way, so why not get your fragrances in order? “Fall is the best season to get adventurous,” says Kevin Keller, co-founder of Fulton & Roark. “The cooler weather means you can wear more challenging, even slightly discordant fragrances with ease.”
We asked Keller—along with five more fragrance experts—when they recommend transitioning scents, which notes to leave in summer and which notes build the perfect bridge between seasons.
When to Make the Transition
The seasonal shift is marked by something different for everyone, but nonetheless is always notable. “To me, the real shift happens when the weather consistently dips into the 60s around October. Once the leaves start changing, so do my fragrances,” says director of fragrance and formula development at Snif, Kara Kowalski. “I’ll start reaching for something warmer, a little heavier, and maybe even a little sexier.”
Similarly, fragrance and beauty director at Granado, Sissi Freeman says, “It’s less about a specific date and more about that first noticeable change in the air. When mornings start feeling cooler and you naturally reach for a light sweater, that’s usually when I start gravitating toward fragrances with a little more warmth, depth and texture.”
President of the Americas, Initio Parfums Privés and Parfums de Marly, Yvan Jacqueline, says the transitional timing should be based on a personal feeling. “When the air becomes cooler, a fragrance can wear differently. It stays closer to you, it opens more slowly, and the richer notes have more space to speak,” he explains. “When a perfume that might have felt a little too strong in August suddenly feels perfect one morning, that is the signal that something has shifted.”
Notes to Phase Out
“I’d start phasing out anything overtly solar, sunscreen-like or super fruity. Instead, I’d gravitate toward fruits grounded in warmer vanillas, spices and woods,” says Kowalski. “That said, I always keep one tried-and-true summer fragrance around…When we’re two feet deep in snow, sometimes I need a spritz just to remind myself summer will be here soon.”
Founder of Belnu, Darcy Moore notes that she shifts away from anything really white floral forward, as it feels very summery. Jacqueline tends to move away from sharply fresh compositions as the weather cools and swaps them for notes with more texture and depth. “It is less about changing the rules for the season than about wanting a fragrance with more presence and warmth,” he explains.
Keller doesn’t necessarily believe in phasing out a note entirely. “It's about what you get to add. Very fresh top notes always have a place in fragrance,” he says. “Once it cools off, literally everything is on the table. So rather than striking anything from the list, I'd say it's a good moment to set aside the simpler scents we gravitate toward in summer in favor of something more complex.” Freeman feels similarly, noting, "I don't think you necessarily have to phase out your favorite summer notes altogether. Instead, I like to look for richer interpretations of them."
Of course, you can rock any scent you want year-round if it sparks joy. “I'm a believer in scent moods, so if a summer fragrance is what makes you happy, then definitely wear it any time of the year,” says founder of Ellis Brooklyn, Bee Shapiro.
It’s All About the Composition
“I think so many notes can be trans-seasonal. It’s less about the individual note and more about its supporting characters,” says Kowalski. “You could have the same floral interpreted four completely different ways depending on the other ingredients in the olfactive. It’s really about finding the version that feels right for the season, but most importantly, the one you love and actually want to wear.” Freeman agrees, noting, “It’s really about adding depth rather than completely changing your fragrance personality with the season.”
The Best Fragrance Notes for the Summer-to-Fall Transition
