The best men's fragrances for winter

Winter is the only season when you can wear fragrances that would be rude in summer. Cold air keeps scent closer to the body and slows evaporation, which means two things: dense orientals and oud compositions stop being overpowering, while lighter fresh scents simply can't be smelled in the cold. So the winter choice isn't the summer one with more sprays — it's a different category of fragrance, with a different base and a different purpose.

How to choose a winter fragrance: (1) The base decides. Oud, amber, tobacco, vanilla and resins are what remain in the cold; citrus and green notes disappear in cold air before you notice. (2) Concentration is your ally in winter — extrait and parfum are denser and cope better with low temperatures. (3) Apply to skin under your clothes, not to your coat: a fragrance needs body heat to open up. (4) Consider indoor spaces. In a restaurant or a meeting a winter fragrance opens far more strongly than outside — what feels like two sprays outdoors can be four inside. (5) If you're buying your first winter fragrance, start with warm-sweet rather than oud; oud is easier to get wrong.

Kilian Angels' Share: A bourbon-vanilla fragrance that's like a warm Christmas evening. One of the iconic winter fragrances.
Parfums de Marly Layton: Apple, vanilla, sandalwood — rich but not too heavy. The ideal compromise between gourmand and oriental for cold days.
Xerjoff Alexandria II: An intense oud-rose fragrance with incredible sillage. For special winter occasions.
Penhaligon's Halfeti: A dark oriental with spices and resin — a typical winter statement fragrance.
Amouage Interlude Man: For the experienced — smoky, camphorous, complex. An avant-garde winter fragrance that isn't for everyone. Not in the catalogue — try the alternative

Why do winter fragrances behave differently from summer ones?

Skin warmth amplifies scent — in winter skin temperature is lower, so a fragrance evaporates more slowly and stays closer to the skin. That's why winter fragrances are denser and richer.

Are oriental fragrances only for winter?

Not necessarily, but in summer they're often too intense. Most oriental fragrances work best from September to April.

Which winter fragrance do you recommend for beginners?

Parfums de Marly Layton — accessible, warm, widely liked. Less of a risk than a more polarising Amouage or Tom Ford.