As the temperature drops, it is time to retire the citrus-heavy summer rotation and reach for something with a little more presence.
Autumn is when fragrance gets interesting. Woods, spices and richer notes tend to work better in cooler air, while some of the fresher scents can still hold their own when the sun makes an appearance.
From daytime scents to fragrances better suited to going out, these are five men’s fragrances worth adding to your autumn rotation.
Aesop Entirely Aurner Eau de Parfum
RRP: £160 (50ml)
Aesop rarely does fragrance by the rulebook, and Entirely Aurner is no exception.
Roman chamomile, cardamom and pink pepper sit alongside magnolia leaf and geranium, while sandalwood, cedar and cypriol give it a woody base.
On skin it reads more like a green, herbal fragrance than a straight floral, which makes it easier to wear than the note list might suggest. It is a good choice if you are bored of the usual citrus and cedar men’s fragrance formula and want something a little less predictable.
Rabanne 1 Million Black Eau de Parfum
Price: £69 (50ml)
Rabanne has taken the familiar 1 Million DNA and given it a darker twist with 1 Million Black.
Roasted pineapple, blood orange and cardamom are joined by vanilla and coconut, while ebony wood, patchouli and tonka bean give it plenty of presence.
It is still very much a 1 Million fragrance, so subtlety is not really the objective here. This is one for going out, when you want your fragrance to get noticed.
Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Eau de Parfum
RRP: £149 (100ml)
Re-Charge Black Pepper has been a Molton Brown favourite for years, and it is easy to see why.
Cardamom, bergamot and coriander lead into black pepper, amber and cedarwood, with leather, oakmoss and vetiver underneath. The result is spicy, earthy and instantly recognisable.
This is my pick of the five. There is something about black pepper that just works when the weather turns colder. It has character without being too heavy and is the sort of fragrance you find yourself reaching for again and again.
For me, this is autumn in a bottle.
Azzaro Sport Eau de Toilette
RRP: £70 (100ml)
Not every autumn fragrance needs to be heavy.
Azzaro Sport keeps things fresh with grapefruit and clary sage, balanced by sandalwood and tonka bean. It is clean, energetic and low effort, making it a good option for daytime or those early autumn days when the sun still shows up.
It is also a useful one to have in the collection if you are not quite ready to give up your summer scents.
Ralph’s Club New York Parfum
Price: £95 (60ml)
Ralph’s Club New York Parfum is the one I would save for autumn evenings.
Blackcurrant, bergamot and cardamom bring the freshness, before richer notes and woods take over. It leans woody and slightly boozy rather than sweet, so it pairs better with a night out than an office day.
Think good coat, knitwear and boots. This is the fragrance that goes with it.
