Spicy perfume samples for winter

Tagged spicy and listed for winter: that describes 83 of our samples. Here are 8 of them, each with the data that is on record for it. Read it as a map, not as a top list.

The selection

Frederic Malle Promise

With Frederic Malle Promise, Frederic Malle has an Eau de Parfum for which Pink pepper, Rosemary oil, Apple accord, Bulgarian rose oil, Turkish rose absolute, Clove oil and others are on record. The scent families on record: woody, floral and spicy. Season on record: autumn and winter. Notice how close it stays to the skin and how much of it others pick up.

Reinvented Eureka

From Reinvented comes Reinvented Eureka, an Extrait de Parfum. On paper it lists Bergamot, Coffee, Violet Leaf, Jasmine, Black Pepper, Nutmeg and others. By family it is filed as oriental, spicy and woody. Season on record: autumn and winter. Give it time to settle before you judge it.

Le Labo Rose 31

Le Labo Rose 31 by Le Labo is an Eau de Parfum with these recorded notes: Centifolia rose, Cumin, Olibanum, Cedar, Amber, Gaïac wood and others. The scent families on record: floral, spicy, woody and amber. The listing names autumn and winter as its season. Do not judge it next to other perfumes on the same arm, as they blur each other.

Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady

With Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady, Frederic Malle has an Eau de Parfum for which Rose, Blackcurrant, Raspberry, Clove, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Frankincense are on record. By family it is filed as floral, woody and spicy. For season the tags say autumn and winter. Try it on a normal day, not only on a special one, to see whether it fits your routine.

BORNTOSTANDOUT Purple Stain

With BORNTOSTANDOUT Purple Stain, BORNTOSTANDOUT has an Extrait de Parfum for which Saffron, Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg, Ginger Extract, Mandarin, Bergamot and others are on record. The scent families on record: spicy, oriental and woody. Season on record: autumn and winter. What reads as sweet on one person can read as dry on another.

Maison Crivelli Safran Secret

Maison Crivelli Safran Secret, an Extrait de Parfum from Maison Crivelli, has saffron and woody notes on record. The scent families on record: spicy and woody. It is listed for autumn and winter. Pay attention to what is still there by the evening, since that is the part you live with longest.

Sarah Baker Flame & Fortune

Sarah Baker Flame & Fortune by Sarah Baker is an Extrait de Parfum with these recorded notes: Orange blossom, Pink pepper, Apricot, Ginger, Lily-of-the-valley, Tuberose and others. The scent families on record: floral, amber and spicy. The listing names autumn and winter as its season. Clothes hold a scent differently from skin, which makes a scarf or sleeve a useful second test.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club is filed as an Eau de Toilette from Maison Margiela; the note list on record reads Pink pepper essence, Primofiore lemon oil, Neroli oil, Rum absolute, Clary sage oil, Java vetiver oil and others. Its family tags read amber, woody and spicy. It is listed for autumn and winter. The opening is the loudest part and the shortest, so let it pass before deciding.

Also in this selection: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood, Stéphane Humbert Lucas Mortal Skin, Argos Fall of Phaeton, Matière Première Radical Rose, Les Eaux Primordiales Rose Supercritique, Nishane Ani, Les Eaux Primordiales Cèdre Superfluide, Xerjoff La Capitale, Amouage Jubilation XXV Man, Nishane Nefs.

How to test them

Test it on skin and not only on paper. Keep the rest of the vial for a second and third try in other weather. Check it after a few minutes, around midday and in the evening. Use it the way you would use a full bottle, on a normal day.

Skin, weather and habit change how any perfume comes across, and a sample shows you your version of it. Give every sample its own day, and come back to the one you keep thinking about. A sample is the sensible first step: a perfume on paper and a perfume on skin are rarely the same thing.

Where to go next

• Spicy samples
• Winter samples
• all samples
• find your scent
• sample sets
• frequently asked questions
• how to use a sample vial
• Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Extrait
• decant, tester or sample

Questions

How were these samples chosen?

By the tags and note lists on record for each perfume. Nothing was added from memory, the order is not a ranking, and perfumes without recorded notes are described without notes.

Are these samples made by the brands?

No. They are decants: FragranceGems fills each one from the original bottle into a glass spray vial and labels it. They are not official brand samples.

How many samples should I try at once?

Two or three is a good number. Wear one per day, on clean skin, and write down what you notice in the morning and in the evening before you move to the next.