STYLE

Winter blahs? Not this year, babe. The weather outside might be completely frightful, but the right scents can make spending time inside darn delightful. From fragrances that transport you to fabulous frosty locales to sweet smells that take you back to your grandma's kitchen, sometimes a gray day is just a spray away from a whole new mood.

The vibe: Hot cocoa on the couch

Being Frenshe Cashmere Vanilla Shea Butter with Jojoba and Radiance Oil, $17 | Beloved Brown Sugar & Toasted Almond Body Mist, $10 | Sabrina Carpenter Sweet Tooth Caramel Dream Eau De Parfum Spray, $30 | Bath & Body Works Peppermint Hot Chocolate Candle, $27

Sure, you might be stuck in fourth-period algebra...but it's the weekend in your mind, and you have nothing planned beyond your next Netflix ep. What goes better with a mug of hot chocolate than some cookies straight outta the oven?

Notes to look for: This feeling is all about food fragrances—and the sweeter, the better. For this vibe, DSM-Firmenich perfumer Berenice Watteau recommends vanilla, which has been scientifically linked to creating calm energy and conjuring happy memories. Touches of chocolate, almond, caramel and brown sugar are what winter dessert dreams are made of. 

The vibe: Ski lodge in the mountains

Ellis Brooklyn Aprés Eau de Parfum Travel Spray, $32 | Skylar Fall Cashmere Eau de Parfum, $90 | FarmHouse Fresh Red Hot Shandy Body Oil, $28 | Boy Smells Cedar Stack Candle, $38

POV: You just got back from a day on the slopes, and your muscles ache in the best possible way. What's next? Kicking back in the log cabin lobby, sipping cider.

Notes to look for: All of the spices (think: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom), says Watteau. Jen Reed, founder of the fragrance brand Life in Lilac, loves all things amber for a cozy vibe: "It's warm without being overpowering and feels luxe." Add some enveloping wood like cedar, and your snowy vacay is complete. 

The vibe: Walking in Paris

Beloved Coffee Bean & Oat Milk Latte Body Mist, $10 | Bath & Body Works Snowflakes and Cashmere Body Wash, $16 | Victoria's Secret Aprés Snow Fragrance Mist in Snowdrift, $20 | Overose Croissant Candle, $58

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a beautiful city where the air is crisp, your cheeks are pink and the tree-lined streets are sparkling. As you stroll past a café, the scent of coffee and fresh pastries tickles your nose.

Notes to look for: Evoke that wintry feeling through fragrance with notes like frosted clementine or cranberry. Outdoorsy scents capture the essence of elements from trees to snow. Coffee and sweets bring coziness, like you just stepped inside to warm up for a moment. 

The vibe: With friends by the fire

Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace, $85 | Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel, $35 | Phlur Somebody Wood Body Lotion, $36 | Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Candle, $49

The goal? To score the feeling of a snow day sleepover with your besties as the fireplace crackles in the background. On the agenda: catching up on everything. Hope you packed some microwave popcorn and your comfiest PJs—it's going to be a long night. 

Notes to look for: Obviously, base notes of burning wood—but seek out spicy aromas like cloves or pink pepper, too. Musk is another warming scent, encompassing elements like sandalwood, muscenone and helvetolide, says Watteau. 

The vibe: Tucked in with a comfort book

Bath & Body Works Falling Flurries Room Spray, $9 | Phlur Lost Cause Hand Cream, $20 | Clean Reserve Warm Cotton Travel Spray, $29 | Lake & Sky 11 11 Candle, $48

You just jumped into bed and your forever-fave novel is sitting by your side, ready to be cracked open and devoured for the next who-knows-how-many hours.

Notes to look for: Choose chill scents that feel like you just dove into fresh flannel sheets. Mary Testa-Gough, associate vice president of product & fragrance development at Bath & Body Works, points to notes like laundry (yep, that's an actual smell) and lavender. 

Hey girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our December/January 2024 issue.
Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

Slider and top image: @dreamsofglow

by Lisa DeSantis | 1/31/2024