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Winter Sweater & Scarf Scents

January 9, 2012

Don’t you love to put on a sweater, a coat or a scarf and be surprised by how good it smells? That’s one of the benefits of being a fumehead in winter. Our mix of perfumes leaves our winter layers smelling better than any “one” perfume. I’m a big wuss when it comes to layering fragrances and winter clothing forces me to layer my scents without me knowing. I really enjoy the unique combinations left on these thicker fabrics.

Joan Collins in a turtleneck

Here are some of my favorite sweater scents. This means that these are the scents that I think smell the best on wool, tweed and other thick winter fabrics. These are the ones that I smell 2 weeks later on a scarf and can’t stop breathing them in.

Costume National Homme – You’ve heard me rave about it before. One of the reasons I love it so is because it’s a “sweater scent”. The chai spice is a perfect base for so many other winter fragrances. Here’s my full review.

Every single Tom Ford fragrance – I don’t care if it’s the Private Blends or the regular line-up. Every single Tom Ford wears wonderfully on fabrics. And they all layer nicely over each other. My favorites for sweaters include Tobacco Vanille, Tuscan Leather and Oud Wood.

DSH Piment et Chocolat – This is a decadent gourmand of dark chocolate and spicy pepper. I find that on a sweater that this fragrance becomes mostly chocolate making it a great one for layering with other winter fragrances. Here’s my full review.

Annick Goutal Musc Nomade – This fragrance was created for layering. It adds a soft musky, ambrette to your other sweater scents. Here’s my full review.

Lacoste Pour Femme – Don’t overlook this perfume, especially if you like Annick Goutal Musc Nomade. This is a soft, ambrette musk fragrance that you can find at a great price. The dry-down is very nice and that’s what is left on your sweater. Here’s my full review.

Philosophy Amazing Grace – I smell this super popular fragrance everywhere. Why? Because it’s super popular AND it seems to stick to all fabrics. It makes sense that I would smell it more in the winter when people wear the same outerwear daily. I love how this fragrance smells on fabric which is a light floral with Egyptian musk. Here’s the full review.

I think the best “sweater” scents have the strongest base notes and usually contain notes like amber, ambrette, musk, vanilla, and woods. And of course, nothing is better than your significant other’s “sweater” scent. I remember stealing my husband’s scarves when we were dating. They had the best smell: a mix of his natural smell, aged patchouli, sandalwood and amber.

What are some of your favorite “sweater” fragrances? Have you accidently discovered a wonderful perfume combo this winter? Which notes are the “best” on winter fabrics?

 *Joan Collins, Miss Sweater Girl,  photo from www.allstarpics.com

14 thoughts on “Winter Sweater & Scarf Scents”

  1. I like DKNY Black Cashmere…it remind me of a cashmere turtleneck sweater that has been laying out in the sun. I’ve discovered an interesting combo CdG Hinoki and Le Labo Rose 31, it smells like taking a walk in the woods/rose garden.

    There are also laundry detergents that have pretty sophisticated scents. I’m trying out an eco friendly laundry detergent from etsy. My clothes smell of light vanilla patchouli. It smells divine!
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    1. Black Cashmere is amazing and I ran out of my decant a long time ago and “forgot” about it.
      I can see that combo working. I’m trying to get over my “layering” phobia 😉

      I use unscented commercial stuff. I didn’t even think about searching etsy for perfumed detergents. I’d love it if my clothes smelled of vanilla patchouli.

  2. This is a great topic. I actually don’t like it when I have leftover smells on scarves or coats, but the fragrances you’ve named seem the best of the bunch for that kind of wintery lingering. 🙂

    1. I can understand not wanting your laundry to carry a scent. That’s why I use unscented laundry products. I like to “choose” the scents of the day. Nothing is worse than “food” smells. I had to take my coat, scarf, hat to the cleaners last week because they all reeked of fish market. And it’s a fish market that fries it up there too. Ick.

  4. I agree about Tom Ford’s perfumes and Musc Nomade (not that I disagree on others – I just haven’t tried them).

    I’d add Alahine to your sweater scents list.

    I wish I could turn those scents on/off on demand. In general, I like to get whiffs of perfumes I wore on the previous occasion. But recently I almost had to change the perfume I wanted to wear to the New Year celebration because my wrap still smelled of Portrait of a Lady.
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    1. It would be nice to have a switch. I do love a good “scent surprise” but some will dominate. I had the same incident with Portrait of a Lady. Dry-cleaning couldn’t even remove that perfume from the sleeves of a blazer. It’s a lovely fragrance but not my signature so I grew tired of it quickly.

  5. Avignon on scarves: wintry and beautiful. And Goutal Neroli on sweaters to remind you that spring it coming!

    I got some Aromatics Elixir perfumer’s reserve on my coat sleeve, and I’m afeared it might be permanent…

    1. I do need a reminder that spring is coming!

      That Aromatics Elixir Perfumer’s Reserve is lovely but potent stuff. Maybe just as potent as the original 😉

    1. I always forget how much I love Field Notes from Paris. I rarely wear it. I do see it working on a fabric, and strangely something flannel or a really, really soft cotton. And do report back!

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