You know how they say accessories complete an outfit? Well, think of perfume as the invisible piece [1] that can pull your entire look together. Fragrance can provide an entire biography about who you are as a person before you even utter a word. While some people find comfort [2] in a signature scent, if you prefer to have a collection to choose from, you may notice yourself gravitating toward certain notes during particular seasons.
As the spring turns to summer, for example, your preferences may change from green florals to zesty citrus notes [3]. When the colder months come around, you might gravitate toward the sweeter notes of a gourmand fragrance [4]. Or if you're looking for warmth ahead of the season, you may find yourself seeking cozy reprieve in the form of a woody perfume.
Categorised by notes that come from trees, moss, resin, or roots, woody olfactives are typically indicated by scents like sandalwood, pine, oud, or even patchouli and are often paired with other musky or spicy accords to really enhance the profile. This means woody perfumes also span the spectrum of sillage, from subtler "skin scents" that you can only smell when you're close to someone to headier options that linger long after you walk away.
If you're on the hunt for a new bottle to add to your collection or just wanting to dip your toe in the category, there are plenty of decadent woody perfumes to choose from. POPSUGAR editors have sifted through countless options to find only the best of the best, so read ahead to find the one your vanity's been missing.
Best Vegan Woody Perfume
Floral Street Ylang Ylang Espresso Eau de Parfum [5] (£28)
Crafted by British fragrance brand Floral Street, the Ylang Ylang Espresso perfume is a vegan fragrance with sustainability at its core. The tangy tangerine, spicy Sichuan pepper, and earthy espresso beans are all sustainably sourced and placed inside a gorgeous glass bottle, which is then packed in recyclable pulp boxes made with up-cycled coffee cups.
Sexiest Woody Perfume
KAYALI Oudgasm Vanilla Oud [6] (£122)
Inspired by Mona Kattan's intense love for oud, the Oudgasm collection contains four unisex scents which pay tribute to Arabic culture and Kattan's own heritage. At first spritz, you're treated to sultry notes of cashmere wood, vanilla sugar, white musk, oakmoss, and oud. Once the scent has dried down you're hit with sweet notes of pear, praline, saffron, and rose.
Best Woody Perfume For Summer
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne [7] (£118)
Jo Malone offers a lighter take on your classic woody scent with its Wood Sage & Sea Salt. It combines notes of sea salt and ambrette seeds for an airy, earthy aroma that feels reminiscent of freshly washed skin after a day at the beach.
Best Woody Perfume With Musks
Initio Parfums Privés Musk Therapy Extrait [8] (£240)
Musk Therapy is the perfect embodiment of a musky-wood fragrance. The combination of white sandalwood, bergamot, and pink and white musks gives you a mouth-watering skin scent, but because this is an extrait (which means it has a high level of perfume oil in the formula), it also has next-level sillage, so people will smell you from a mile away.
Best Unisex Woody Perfume
Chanel Blue de Chanel [9] (£72)
Chanel has provided some classic scents like the iconic Chanel No. 5, but if you're looking for a perfume with more pronounced wood notes, make your way over to Blue de Chanel. A combination of citrus accord and sandalwood cedar creates the most lush unisex fragrance that leans on the more fresh and clean side.
Most Subtle Woody Perfume
Glossier You XL Eau de Parfum 100ml [10] (£98)
Glossier's You is beloved for its scent that sits close to the body, making it the ultimate "my scent but better" product. Whether you layer it or wear it on its own, you'll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't like its warm, understated qualities. Now available in an extra-large 100ml bottle, this fragrance is perfect to use year-round.
Coziest Woody Perfume
Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc [11] (£59)
Like cuddling under a warm blanket next to a fire, Pure Musc is the definition of comfort. Leaning slightly more on the floral side with musky undertones, this perfume also boasts cashmeran, which is known for its woody characteristics.
Best Spicy Woody Perfume
Kilian Sacred Wood Eau de Parfum [12] (£220)
Yes, Beyoncé may be a fan of the popular Angels' Share from Kilian, but the brand also boasts a lesser-known woody perfume that would turn any sceptic into a believer. Sacred Wood combines notes of amyris sandalwood, ambrette's seeds, and myrrh for a fragrance that can almost be described as ceremonial. Still, because of how good it smells, you'll probably want to keep this one in your daily rotation.
Best Fruit-Forward Woody Perfume
BDK Parfums Gris Charnel [13] (£220)
Gris Charnel is a perfume that some may find divisive, so we recommend smelling a sample before making the purchase. Still, thanks to a somewhat unusual combination of fig, black tea, and cardamom used for the top notes, this perfume is guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd. Sandalwood and tonka bean round it out to give it a slightly sweeter profile, while also retaining that fresh, citrus quality from the initial ingredients. If you prefer more fresh, clean-smelling perfumes, opt for this one.
Best Patchouli-Forward Woody Perfume
Nishane Ani [14] (£190)
If you love the Hundred Silent Ways fragrance by Nishane, you've got to try Ani. This woody scent is spicy and cosy and will blow you away with how easily it toes the line between masculine and feminine. The impressive combination of vanilla, patchouli, ambergris, and musk turns it into a must have for any collector.
Headiest Woody Perfume
Parfums de Marly Haltane Eau de Parfum [15] (£305)
This perfume is a bestseller for a reason: it's loved by what feels like everyone who gets their hands on it. Lavender, bergamot, saffron, patchouli, and more make up this stunning fragrance, and it's one we can say feels like a safe buy if you're on the hunt for a new woody perfume.
Best Pepper-Forward Woody Perfume
The Harmonist Hypnotizing Fire Eau de Parfum [16] (£255)
If you like notes like pepper tree, patchouli, and vanilla, your nose will jump for joy when you smell this perfume. Not only does it have an incredible sillage but the bottle will make a stunning addition to any vanity.