Winter is a season that can feel like an entire year. Whether you’re obsessed with cozy nights in and hanging holiday lights, or you count down the days until spring break, picking the right fragrance or candle scent can amplify whatever you’re most looking forward to.
To help, we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite winter fragrances and candles that will help you escape or embrace the gray days.
|
Fragrance |
Scent Family |
Key Notes |
|
Sweet Ash |
Woody, aromatic |
Juniper, tonka, vanilla |
|
Honey Suite |
Ambery, woody |
Crystallized honey, lavender, incense |
|
Gentle Reminder |
Floral, gourmand |
Lavender, purple ube, milk froth |
|
Heal the Way |
Ambery, gourmand |
Pistachio cream, davana, palo santo |
|
Way With Woods |
Woody, musky |
White tea, mandarin, sandalwood |
|
Tart Deco |
Fruity, woody |
Black cherry, rose, jasmine |
How We Chose the Best Winter Fragrances
Given that winter is associated with cold, snowy days and even colder nights, the first component we had to consider was the warmth of the key notes. Certain fragrance notes like vanilla, spice, and woods are known for their richness, which can warm you up on even the chilliest day.
It was also important to look for fragrances that featured deep, rich notes — they’re the ones that tend to have more longevity and sillage. This is an important component of any winter scent because you need strong, long-lasting fragrances in the winter when every outfit gets buried under layers of clothes (aka, it’s easy for a scent to get lost in the mix).
In that vein, we also sought out scents that could easily transition with you from day to night. Everyone knows how hard it is to leave the house in winter (especially when the pull of your favorite show and cozy pajamas is so strong), so we made sure to curate a list of scents that you can wear all day long.
Last but certainly not least, we listened to the members of the Snif community. That’s why Byrdie mentions, customer reviews, and editorial opinions all played a role in our selection of the best winter fragrances.
What Are the Best Fragrances for Winter?
To set the tone, we want to emphasize that the “best” fragrances for any season are the ones you love the most. Fragrance is a way to express yourself, and there are no rules except wearing what you like. So, if there’s a fragrance you’ve been dying to try that seems too “summery” for winter, we say try it.
That said, embracing seasonality when picking a fragrance is a fun way to change it up or remind you of your favorite cliches. Here are some of our go-to fragrances that remind us of cuddling up inside with a warm (weighted) blanket or packing our bags and escaping to anywhere above 70 degrees.
Sweet Ash
Sweet Ash was called the “Best Woody Fragrance” by New York Magazine, and for good reason. This low-key vanilla fragrance combines juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, Tonka, vanilla bean, white moss, and patchouli to make a scent that’s sweet and earthy. The silky blend of wood and vanilla makes this a balanced fragrance.
This is the perfect winter fragrance for you if you’re looking for something that smells warm and fresh and can easily go from day to night.
Honey Suite
Sweet, rich, and irresistible, Honey Suite is a great go-to honey scent for winter. The combination of crystallized honey, broom absolute, lavender flower, incense, havanawood, and vanilla gives this scent its woody, dreamy essence.
Honey Suite has the kind of bewitching warmth that will keep you coming back for more.
Gentle Reminder
Winter is the perfect time to slow down and carve out more time for self-love and relaxation in your schedule. Try a few Gentle Reminder spritzes to help you enter that space of ease and joy.
Crafted with mindfulness teacher Alex Elle, this lavender scent combines lavender, purple ube, milk froth, black tea, palo santo, and date sugar. The result is an earthy, gourmand scent that reminds you of grounded, calming moments.
Heal the Way
Another scent from Alex Elle that made its way onto our winter fragrance list is Heal The Way.
Pistachio cream, davana, palo santo, vanilla absolute, musk, and amber are combined in this scent to offer a sweet, light pistachio fragrance that’s as warm as it is comforting.
Way With Woods
For a more subtle winter scent, try Way With Woods, one of our fan-favorite fragrances. This subtle, inviting woody scent features white tea, mandarin, sandalwood, amber woods, vetiver, and musk. Way With Woods is light and woodsy, which makes it the perfect scent for a winter stroll or a study session at your favorite cafe.
Tart Deco
Our final winter fragrance suggestion is Tart Deco. This complex, juicy cherry fragrance is a delicious choice for a dull winter day when you need an energizing boost.
Combining black cherry, raspberry, rose, jasmine, mimosa, birchwood, vetiver, and vanilla, Tart Deco is playful and luxurious. If you want something fruity and rich to give your outfit a bright burst, this is the option for you.
What Are the Best Candles To Burn This Winter?
If you’re looking for a new signature scent for your space this winter, here’s a list of our favorite candles for a night in. All these candles are available in our 8.5 oz or 50 oz sizes for a burn time that will last for your entire winter hibernation. Our 8.5 oz candle burns for over 50 hours, while our 50 oz size lasts over 200 hours.
Plus, our candles are made from non-toxic, paraffin-free, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients. The same fragrance used in Snif scents is used in our scented candles, which makes them high-quality and long-lasting candle options.
Old Saint Wick
Old Saint Wick is one of Oprah’s favorite things for 2022, and we know why. This fresh-smelling candle combines Siberian pine, apple blossom, rosemary, jasmine, fir balsam, sandalwood, and cedarwood. The apple blossom smells like a semi-dry cider, giving this candle a bright twist alongside its creamy, woody smell.
If you want a candle that will burn all winter long, you can count on our 8.5 oz Old Saint Wick candle to burn for at least 50 hours when properly cared for. Thanks to the high-quality materials, blend of soy and vegetable wax, and pure cotton wick, you can enjoy your Old Saint Wick candle all year long.
Off the Grid
For a calmer and warmer candle, you can try Off The Grid. This soothing candle features lily, moss, cypress, tuberose, cedar, cistus amber, and sandalwood. It is the perfect candle for a cold winter night when all you want is to unplug and relax.
Sweet Ash
If you fell in love with our Sweet Ash fragrance, you can now buy it in candle form. This smooth, delicious scent is both sweet and earthy. You’ll find hints of juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, Tonka, vanilla bean, white moss, and patchouli in our Sweet Ash candle. Unlike some of the brighter-smelling candles, Sweet Ash is a more low-key scent, making it perfect for a space where tranquility and relaxation are the priority.
Instant Karma
Instant Karma is a darker, dreamier candle option. This creamy candle combines cardamom, nashi pear, black plum, geranium, vetiver, cedarwood, and black tea. You’ll find the smell of Instant Karma to be spicy, warm, and sensual. It’s the perfect candle to warm up a space when winter makes it cold.
Keep Things Cozy
When winter begins, find a scent that matches the mindset you want to be in. You can lean into a cozy mood with a woody fragrance such as Sweet Ash, or if you’re dreaming of brighter days, turn to a more daring scent like Tart Deco.
Now that we’ve explored the best fragrances for this winter, remember that you can try any scent before making the financial commitment. If you want to get a sample of a fragrance before you make it your new signature scent, simply select the “Try At Home” option. You’ll receive a free 2 mL sample along with a 30 mL fragrance in the mail, and you have seven days to decide whether or not you want to keep the fragrance.
No matter what scent you choose to make your own this winter, remember that every Snif product is made for every season and everyone. So, start testing out which fragrances and candles are a fit for you with our try-before-you-buy model to find the perfect match.
FAQs
What makes a fragrance good for winter?
A good winter fragrance warms you up and adds an extra layer of cozy comfort on cold winter days.
Usually, these scents are deeper and richer than summer fragrances and tend to stick around longer in cold weather. A fragrance is also a great fit for winter if it’s evocative of the season and its holidays. For this reason, notes like vanilla, pine, and various spices make for great winter scents.
How can I make my winter fragrance last longer?
Given that winter tends to be the season of heated rooms and lots of layers, both of which can lead to dry skin, make sure to hydrate and moisturize your skin before spritzing on your fragrance. This can help the fragrance molecules cling to your skin better.
Also, speaking of layers, don’t be afraid to spritz your scarves, sweaters, and whatever you use to bundle up to enhance the reach of the fragrance. Applying your scent when you’re fresh out of the shower and giving it time to dry can boost its longevity, too.
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