I grew up in the Southeast and I never remember the heat bothering me. As an adult, it does. I’m now that person in Seattle that complains about the heat and starts sweating as soon as the temps rise over 70 degrees. For the most part, I enjoy summer but I don’t like the constant dehydration headache and difficulty falling asleep at night.
While writing this, it’s 1 am and still 80 degrees in my house. I feel like rebelling against summer (even though I’m sooo not ready for winter). I’ve been thinking about icy, cool perfumes and icy, cool places. Here is my list of perfumes inspired by snow and winter.
Pacifica Avalon Juniper Solid Perfume – This perfume was created for Winter Solstice. It’s a cool evergreen with lots of grapefruit. It’s a really good “cheapie” for summer. And it has an owl on the packaging. Full review. Retails for $9 at Pacifica Perfumes.
Demeter Snow Cologne Spray – I feel bad that I haven’t tried this one yet but I hear it’s good. Retails for $20 at Demeter.
Sweet Anthem Charlotte and Phoebe EDP – Sweet Anthem is one of the few indies that seems to be inspired by snow. (CB I Hate Perfume is another one). Charlotte is a crisp, green floral like a late winter snow while Phoebe is a sweeter, evergreen that reminds me of mid-winter snow. Both retail for $48 at Sweet Anthem. Also available in an oil base or solid perfume.
DSH Perfumes Powder EDP (not pictured) – This one is less about the temperature of snow but more about the texture of snow. It’s a soft heliotrope-vanilla with a fluffy snow-like texture. The 1 oz EDP retails for $70 at DSH Perfumes.
Gydja EFJ EDP – This is an Icelandic line of perfumes made from Icelandic glacial water. I hear that the line is rather touristy but hey, thinking of Iceland should cool you down! EFJ is the feminine fragrance – a sheer citrus. The brand also offers a cool, icy masculine scent too. Retails for $85 at Lasta.
D.S. & Durga Siberian Snow EDP – This is like a powdery amber. Once again, more like the texture of snow. Retails for $98 at Beautyhabit.
CB I Hate Perfume Walking in the Air Perfume Spray – It’s CB’s take on snow. Retails for $100 at CB I Hate Perfume.
CB I Hate Perfume 2nd (Alan) Cumming Perfume Spray – It’s dirt, leather and whiskey…making it unlike many on this list. To me this one is more like watching snow melt outside while you’re inside drinking scotch. Full review. Retails for $100 at CB I Hate Perfume.
Serge Lutens L’eau Froide EDP – This is an icy incense with white musk. I rather like this fresh scent. And I’ll admit that, judge away. Retails for $110 at Beautyhabit.
Comme de Garcons Blue Encens EDP – It’s an incense on ice. And when I say ice, I mean a really cold cardamom. Retails for $130 at Beautyhabit.
40 Notes White Winter Flower Perfume Oil – This is a delicate neroli that is like an early spring frost. Retails for $135 at 40 Notes.
Andrea Maack Parfums Craft EDP – Icy cold aldehydes and incense. Retails for $135 at Luckyscent.
Eau d’Italie Sienne L’Hiver EDT – I say that this winter inspired perfume smells like an olive bar in a novelty ice hotel. Weird but worth trying. Full review. Retails for $140 at Beautyhabit.
Serge Lutens La Fille en Aiguilles EDP – This is such a “place” perfume for me. It’s a snowy chalet in the woods. In comparison to many of the others in this guide, La Fille en Aiguilles is warmer and cozier. Full review. Retails for $150 at Beautyhabit.
Malle L’Eau d’Hiver EDP – Soft, delicate, sheer winter fragrance. Retails for $155 at Barneys.
Arquiste Aleksandr EDP – Elegant, floral leather inspired by Russian winters. Retails for $165 at Beautyhabit.
Agonist Arctic Jade EDP – It’s one of those clean vanillas. Retails for $195 at Luckyscent.
The Different Company De Bachmakov EDP – This perfume is inspired by Russia. And to everyone not living in Russia, we think it is a snowy hell. De Bachmakov is an icy, chalky perfume – so good and a genius use of shiso. Full review. Retails for $230 at Beautyhabit. (This is probably my favorite on the list).
CREED Silver Mountain Water EDP – A crisp, cool aromatic with fruits and citrus. Cool and refreshing. Retails for $275 at Nordstrom.
Henry Jacques Snow Rose – Due to the crazy price, I’ve never tried this. It’s on the list because snow is in the name. Retails for $475 at The Perfume House.
One of the things I noticed while putting together this guide, is that mainstream perfumes rarely touch the idea of “snow”. Snow and winter are things that indies tend to embrace. There’s the occasional sporty “ice” designer masculine but overall, you are going to find mainstream perfumes are inspired more by tropical beaches than snowy mountains.
What are your favorite “icy” or snow inspired perfumes?
*Beautyhabit and Nordstrom contain affiliate links. Thanks!
I love snowy and cold perfume scents, and I have both Charlotte and Phoebe from Sweet Anthem–Charlotte is probably my favorite scent that they make. It just smells cold, and I love it. I haven’t tried anything else on the list, but I’m particularly intrigued by De Bachmakov and Eau d’Italie Sienne L’Hiver.
In the winter BPAL does their “Yule” limited editions, many of which have snow notes. Their snow note seems to be hit or miss–some people get the snow/cold scent, other people get the components that make up the note, like mint, camphor, menthol, etc. I fortunately get the snow, and the best of their snow note perfumes that I’ve tried is Skadi, which is berries, pine, wintergreen, and snow. It was first released in 2006 I think, and they released it again last year. If you can find a sample, it’s a lovely perfume. They also do various “Snowballs” perfumes, usually themed around a color: Pink Snowballs is a vanilla rose snow, Purple Snowballs is a cardamom currant snow, Yellow Snowballs is lemon, yuzu, mint, and vanilla snow, Blue Snowballs is blueberry lime blackberry snow, and Black Snowballs is snow with licorice, black currant, fig, and mulberries. Not all of these are available every year (and full disclosure: I’ve only tried Purple Snowballs, which is fruitier on me than I’d like, but still nice), but they pretty much always do at least one “Snowballs” perfume every winter.
I hopped on over to Demeter to check out the Snow cologne spray, and the first thing they advertised to me was their Pistachio Ice Cream fragrance! That sounds nice too…
Charlotte may be my favorite as well…or at least one of my favorites from Sweet Anthem. Those other 2 are worth trying. De Bachmakov is cool, chalky. It’s unusual yet pretty. Sienne L’Hiver is weird. I don’t think I’d wear it but I’m happy I sampled it. It really is an “environment”. You can smell the place he was recreating.
I’ve got to order some BPAL samples. I have a little list going, just need to actually order them! I know that they have so many LE and seasonal things. From the Snowballs, I really want to try Black and Pink. I’d love to see how Pink compares to LUSH Rose Jam and of course, I have to try all the licorice things.
I saw that too! I wonder if it is any good. I mean, it sounds good and I don’t know of any pistachio ice cream scents!
This list is great, but you’re missing the most famous snow inspired fragrance of all – Chanel no. 5!
According to the book “The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume”, Ernest Beaux wanted to recreate the affect of melting snow in his childhood home in Russia.
You’re right! I read that book and thought that was cool. It’s weird because vintage No. 5 doesn’t really remind me of snow as much as the modern stuff but that may be because of top notes fading from age or the delicious warmth, muskiness in the vintage. Aldehydes are always so good for cool yet luminous and do remind me of melting snow/ice.
Olympic Orchids Fleurs de Glacé. I think she might have discontinued it but it is a weird cold metallic take on ice and worth trying.
Yes, I have that one, love that one but it’s been discontinued 🙁
Excellent list. In the grip of a very mild winter here in Sydney. I don’t think we’ve been below 14C as a daily high all winter. Nights are brisk but bearable in a t-shirt and tracks. Hardly feels like winter at all so I haven’t worn a lot of the usual stuff this year.
One of my fave cold frags is Les Heures de Cartier: L’Heure Convoiteé II. It is all snow and cashmere.
Portia xx
Oh, I hope your mild winter weather makes it to the West Coast of the US. I complain about the heat but a cold winter is something that I can’t stand.
Oh, it’s like we’re on the same page. I tried L’Heure Convoiteé II for the first time and absolutely love it. I’ve avoided this Cartier collection because it’s big and expensive but I’m really smitten with this one.
Siberian Snow is a favorite of mine but you have inspired me to try lots of others. Great post for a warm NYC morning! Thanks!
Siberian Snow is really, really good stuff.
I love your themed perfume guides. I can’t think of any other snow perfumes…great list!
Thanks!
You reminded me that I had an untried sample of Craft, so I just put some on. I like it! It reminds me of a niche version of Wrappings, which is another snow/cold perfume.
I see that. And RIP Wrappings. I miss that one so much.
Demeter Snow is actually my favorite Demeter of all time. You must!
In my cart 😉
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I’m way late to this conversation, but I was in Reykjavik in May and got to smell the Andrea Maack line and the Gydja EFJ. My friend fell in love with AM’s Coal, and I purchased Sharp, both of which I think of as cold weather scents. I found Gydja EFJ to be a cute but forgettable citrus, though I agree that anything that reminds one of Iceland is perfect for this list!
As for scents that smell like snow, it’s not technically snow-related but I like Bitter End by Roads, which is supposed to be inspired by a “beautiful barren place of isolation,” per their website.
I really like the AM line. I love aldehydes and I like the earth meets industrial quality of the line. I’ve heard that the Gydja line is tourist-y. Plenty of places have those – Grasse, Hawaii, etc. but that isn’t a bad thing either. Like you said, if it reminds you of your trip, that’s always good!
I have not tried Bitter End but I’m loving the copy and concept. I need to get my hands on that one.
I’d love to visit Iceland. It’s on our list 🙂
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