The most beautiful woody fragrances for winter

Woody notes form the foundation of many fragrances. They come from bark, roots or heartwood: cedar, dry and pencil-like; sandalwood, creamy, presented in our guide Sandalwood in perfumery; vetiver, an earthy, smoky root, to which we devote a guide, Vetiver in perfumery; patchouli, dark and deep; oud, rarer, with leathery accents. Perfumers like to pair them with resins such as incense or labdanum, and with warm notes such as vanilla or tobacco leaf.

Winter suits them well. In cold weather a fragrance evaporates more slowly and is perceived more closely; dense, warm materials find their natural place, like a thick fabric you slip on as you leave the house. On our profiles, each fragrance shows the seasons that suit it: all ten in this guide count winter among theirs.

For those who love the atmosphere of a chapel, a fireplace or an old library. Here woods mingle with resins and spices, and smoke becomes a material in its own right.

Oud is one of the most sought-after materials in perfumery. Western houses have adopted it by softening it, often with spices, rose or pale woods. Two very different interpretations, one hushed, the other radiant.

Softer and more intimate, these three fragrances are worn like a cashmere sweater. Sandalwood, orris or violet give them a powdery, almost tactile texture.

For evenings by the fire. Tobacco, vanilla and cocoa warm the woods and give them a comforting roundness, without making them sugary.

On the skin rather than on fabric. Spray your fragrance at the base of the neck, on the nape or on the inside of the wrists, where the skin is warm. Avoid delicate knits and pale fabrics: some amber fragrances, more strongly coloured, can mark them.

Adjust to the moment. The most intense woods, such as Interlude Man or Oud Ispahan, are best worn with restraint, especially indoors. The softer ones, such as Gris Charnel or Santal Austral, happily accompany a whole day at the office.

Build a small wardrobe. A velvety woody scent for working days, a smoky wood or an oud for the evenings: in winter, alternating two fragrances lets you follow the rhythm of the season, from mornings at the office to festive dinners.

Consider neighbouring families. If you love these fragrances, explore the amber and leather families too: you will find the same resins and woods there, with other accents.