The 9 Best Fall Fragrances, After 2 Months of Editor Testing

2 min readFall is my favorite time of the year to switch up my fragrance rotation. As the temperatures drop and cozy knitwear replaces my breezy linen dresses, my perfumes shift toward richer and warmer scents. But with more than 3,000 fragrances at Ulta alone, discovering a new fall fragrance that fits your vibe can be a bit overwhelming. That’s where I come in as our scent-obsessed beauty editor who owns nearly 200 perfume bottles. For this story, I spent two months wearing 52 fragrances to help you find options for all occasions, moods, and budgets. I judged how seamlessly their notes developed on my skin, their longevity, and if the price are justified. I also asked my fellow WH editors to sniff my wrist more times than I’d ever imagined doing, but only 9 stood out as worth owning.Best Overall: Penhaligon’s The Baroness​Best Budget Buy: Joonbyrd Peace Mood Jelly​Best Gift: BetterWorld Fragrance House Cloudar​Best Hair Perfume: Cécred Temple Oud Hair Perfume​Best of Clean Beauty: Nécessaire Olibanum Eau de Parfum​Some days I’m drawn to subtle skin scents that remind me of wrapping myself in a cashmere blanket. Other times, I want sophisticated florals, woody blends, or daring perfumes for nights out.Ahead are the nine best fall fragrances, ranging from six new releases to a cult classic that deserves its flowers from the beauty community. These unexpected finds just might become your new signature scent throughout fall. I like a few so much that I’ll continue sporting them during the holiday party season.After testing dozens of perfumes, I keep coming back to The Baroness—it's also the first one I recommend to friends and coworkers. This new fall release smells sophisticated, without overwhelming. I usually rotate my fragrance wardrobe based on my mood, location, and outfit, but this is one I constantly reach for throughout the season.What sets it apart is how the pairing of orange blossom and chantilly adds a subtly sweet freshness. Most traditional fall fragrances feature leather and musk. The Baroness offers floral brightness that couples seamlessly with warm sandalwood. It’s an unexpected combo that has me sniffing my inner wrists throughout the day.I knew this perfume was on my Mount Rushmore of fall fragrances when I wouldn’t stop thinking about it while wearing other scents. Whoops! Penhaligon’s is also a niche British brand, so you’ll likely be the only one in your friend group sporting this fall fragrance. It’s definitely my top recommendation for a signature scent.Despite its princely price tag, a bottle of The Baroness is truly worth the upfront splurge. For starters, it lasts from my morning commute to the early afternoon. I just allow the remaining scent to linger and touch up before heading out of the office. The packaging is also beautiful; the glass feels weighty in my hand and the vintage-inspired gazelle lid is a real statement piece.I didn’t expect a dermatologist to create one of my favorite fall perfumes, but Alexis Granite, MD, nailed it with Peace Mood. It’s a low-key mood booster for when I crave moments of serenity during the chaotic pre-holiday season. I dab on the stick fragrance to my pulse points—inner wrists and neck—and enjoy a subtle blend of violet, orris, vetiver, cedarwood, and cacao. Its unique jelly texture prevents spills during travel, so I like to stash one in my TSA beauty bag.Joonbyrd Body Wash ReviewSkip the boring gift set and opt for this statement-making perfume from Drake instead. The stunning circular bottle includes an elevated stand. Cloudar is more than just aesthetics. It converted me into a fan of woody perfumes. This one dries down to a mix of tonka bean—imagine vanilla’s cooler, older cousin—vetiver grass, and atlas cedar that has strangers asking me what scent I’m wearing.A bonus: If you order the featured full-size bottle from Ulta, you’ll get a Cloudar deluxe mini bottle from now until November 7. You can keep one in your purse for travel, on your work desk before heading out to happy hour, or proudly display it at home as I do.Perfume isn’t just limited to your body. I’ve been testing Beyoncé’s Cécred Temple Oud for a couple of months, and I consistently get compliments whenever I spritz it on my strands. No, really. My fellow WH editors, friendly girls in line for the bar bathroom, and my picky friends always ask why I smell so good, and this is the secret. A long-lasting spice blend, night-blooming jasmine, oud, and warm musk add a mysterious touch that’s ideal for autumn.I genuinely don’t know a single person who likes Nécessaire more than I do. The brand helmed by Into the Gloss cofounder Nick Axelrod crafted my all-time favorite body wash, and the lotion, serum, hand cream, and body scrub are practically daily essentials. Olibanum is Nécessaire’s first foray into eau de parfum, and it couldn’t have picked a more standout scent to launch with. It's a complex yet comforting aroma. The warmth of olibanum (another name for frankincense) pairs beautifully with a subtle, creamy grown-up version of vanilla. Notes of fig leaf and blackcurrant bud add a juicy, green brightness that balances the depth of the warmer notes.Cozy girl season is here, and Well Loved by perfume expert and ISIPCA graduate Funmi Monet is a warm, sheer skin scent that’s like a hug from your bestie. A comforting mix of shea butter, buttercream, and cardamom reminds me of the soft warmth of applying a nourishing body cream, while apricot adds a subtle fruity twist. Together, these notes are soothing and feminine, without being sugary-sweet. Well Loved shines on its own and when combined with other aromas, including the warm floral notes of YSL Libre.Libre is like confidence in a bottle. Warm vanilla, lavender, and orange blossom transition seamlessly from morning to night, though I prefer spraying this one on for daytime adventures because it’s unexpected. The typical morning-appropriate scent is made with fresh and light notes, with subtle projection.Like most YSL perfumes, Libre is bold, but the balance of freshness and creamy sweetness prevents it from feeling overpowering. It’s the fragrance equivalent of Le Smoking, designer Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic women’s tuxedo jacket. Like Le Smoking, Libre is timeless for all occasions, ranging from a night out to the office. Just consider wearing one or two sprays to work to avoid overwhelming your coworkers.Angels’ Share is my go-to gourmand fragrance. Boozy cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon essence, praline, and vanilla make it the perfect perfume for crisp fall days. If the brand ever released an Angels’ Share body wash and lotion, I’d sign up for preorder stat. The aroma is truly that epic.One thing to keep in mind: I only need a small amount of perfume for long-lasting wear, so this splurge-worthy scent can easily last me a year even with liberal applications. It’s definitely one of the most popular perfumes in my collection, with friends always spraying it on whenever they come over.Of all of BornToStandOut’s impressive scents, Drunk Lovers is my favorite. It makes a bold first impression, so it’s what I reach for on special occasions and late-night adventures. The boozy, sweet, and warm notes are alluring enough to grab attention, yet feel intimate. When it dries down, the woody, ambery, and spicy ingredients like cardamom, add a more traditional fall-appropriate touch without smelling like a Thanksgiving dinner party.Dermatologist-Recommended, Editor-Tested Skincare ToolsAt-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices | LED Face Masks | At-Home Waxing Kits | Red Light Therapy Tools | Dermaplaning Tools | Moisturizers for Mature Skin | Microcurrent Devices | Best High-Frequency Wands | Best Face RazorsNicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site. Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper's BAZAAR. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men's Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.