Last year I put together a post featuring my picks for the most popular Halloween costumes. Looking back at that post, I thought, “Hey, that was fun. I want to do another”. For the 2014 edition, I decided to focus on costumes that I like (AKA ones that would be fun to “scent”). So, I went to the online costume sites to see what is popular this year. Here are my perfume picks to get you fully into costume:

Ringmaster

Really I just chose this one as an excuse to suggest circus inspired perfumes. And for any possible Britney Spears “Circus” references.

• L’Artisan Parfumer Dzing! EDT – This one has reminded me more of old books but a lot people get the horse/hay funk from it. It’s a really nifty circus inspired perfume. Full review. Retails for $145 at Beautyhabit. 
• MiN New York Magic Circus EDP – Magic Circus is more of a circus gourmand. It’s circus treats like cotton candy and caramel but balanced by woodsy notes. Retails for $240 at MiN New York.
• Jacomo Art Collection #02 EDP – It’s leather, bubble gum and clay. I think this sort of childish yet grown up amber perfume is a good choice for a circus-themed costume. Plus it retails for a really cheap price of $33 at StrawberryNet. Full review. 

Werewolf

I like werewolf costumes because they’re a Halloween classic…like vampires. I imagine werewolf fragrances being musky, wild and woodsy.

• Smell Bent Lumberjack Werewolf EDT – This is a SUPER skanky musk with a dry cedar. And I mean, the name has “werewolf” in it so it has to work, right? Full review. Retails for $50 at Smell Bent. 
• Slumberhouse Norne Parfum Extrait – Norne is a deep dark forest scent, a PNW forest during a full moon. Retails for $160 at Indie Scents. 
• CB I Hate Perfume Wild Hunt Water Perfume – This is an earthy scent with moss, mushrooms and decaying leaves. Doesn’t that sound like something werewolves would roll around in? Retails for $65 at CB I Hate Perfume.

Ghost

Ghost costumes are great because they’re pretty easy to throw together (am irritated though that the gal above didn’t like give herself ghostly makeup, but whatever). With a ghost costume, I think of sheer or “weightless” scents. And cold scents.

• Hermès Hermessence Brin de Reglisse EDP – Most of the Hermessence scents are “ghostly” in my opinion since they are sheer and transparent. Brin de Reglisse is a bitter aromatic with lavender and licorice.  But, really any of the Hermessence scents will do.
• Cartier Baiser Volé EDT – This is a cool, green lily with an ethereal sheerness. Retails for $85 at Sephora. 
• Comme des Garcons Wisteria Hysteria EDP – Wisteria Hysteria is a spicy metallic floral in a ghostly white bottle. Retails for $165 at Beautyhabit. 

Headless Horseman

I wanted to pair this costume with perfumes that are without top notes. So, I went with linear perfumes or perfumes intentionally created without any “head” notes.

• Patch NYC Owl Solid Perfume – Owl is a dark fragrance with tobacco and sandalwood in cute packaging. Being a solid perfume, it lacks top notes and skips immediately to the heart and base notes. Retails for $22 at Beautyhabit.
• Aftelier Cuir de Gardenia Natural EDP – Cuir de Gardenia is a perfume intentionally formulated without any top notes. It’s a stunning white floral with an animalic base. Retails for $195 at Aftelier. 
• C.O. Bigelow Amber Perfume Oil – I think linear scents are headless. Here’s a good warm amber that retails for $15 at C.O. Bigelow. This one also layers nicely with other perfume oils from the line.

Classic Statue

I like this costume. And it could be an easy one to make at home with white fabric and some gray spray paint. With this I went with cool, mineral scents, the sort of scents that make me think of rock and marble.

• Andrea Mack Smart EDP – This is a cool, sheer, powdery floral  Because it’s cool, it makes me think of statues. Retails for $135 at Luckyscent.
• MDCI Parfums Invasion Barbare EDP – It’s a classic masculine fougere for a rather “classical” costume. Plus, the bust bottle is so perfect for this that I couldn’t leave it out. The bust bottle retails for $395 ($263 without) at Osswald.
• Chanel No. 19 EDT – I think of all of the classic Chanels like sculptures or modern architecture. They’re cool, classic and structured. No. 19 retails for $95 at Nordstrom. 

Mermaid

Oh, mermaids. It seems to be something that even grown women want to dress up as. For this costume, I went with beachy perfumes.

• Olivine Amongst the Waves Perfume Oil – This is a rich tropical floral with coconut. It’s one of my new favorite beach scents. Full review. Retails for $48 at Beautyhabit.
• A Beautiful Life Mermaid’s Kiss EDP – Mermaids would be all about this tropical fruity floral with really cool packaging. Retails for $52 at A Beautiful Life. 
• Anu Essentials Sea Scape Natural EDP – This smells more like the mermaids of legends and not the mermaids of Disney. Sea Scape is a sharp, cool scent that really does reminds me of cool seas with rocky beaches. Full review. Retails for $55 at Anu Essentials. 

Are you dressing up this year? I never do since I rarely get invited to do anything cool and honestly, I’m OK with that. I find the thought of planning a costume too stressful. I may dress myself up in a “scented costume” though 🙂

*Circus Sweetie Ringmaster, Rabid Werewolf, Luxury Ghost Cape, Headless Horseman, Roman Statue and Elite Mermaid costume pics from Party City. Beautyhabit, Sephora, C.O. Bigelow and StrawberryNet contain affiliate links. Thanks!