As winter approaches, in this chilly weather, wearing perfume may not change the temperature, but it can send false signals to the brain through scent, influencing our perception of warmth. So, some winter perfumes make people feel cool, while others give a warm sensation.
Today, let’s take stock of those fragrances that can make people feel warm and see how they “heat up” perfumes.
【Spicy Notes】
Spicy notes in perfumes can uplift and warm the fragrance, enhancing its diffusion. They can be broadly categorized into two types. One is the long and cool type: such as coriander, galangal, ginger, which are spicy yet emphasize a fresh, cool aspect. They have a weak scent with a lingering aftertaste. The other is the hot and short type: like cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, with intense flavors but not long-lasting. They give a noticeable burning sensation, and these spicy notes are often combined to create a dry, hot atmosphere.
- 【Cinnamon】has a warm and delicate scent, not strongly spicy, smelling sweet and rich like candy.
- 【Pepper】has a spicy and stimulating scent with a dry powdery texture.
- 【Cardamom】has a warm and spicy scent, with a bitter-sweet and fragrant fatty aroma in the dry down.
- 【Clove】has a sour taste similar to tangerine peel, strong penetrating power, easy to overshadow other fragrances.
Representative Perfumes:
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【Musk】
Natural musk has a strong and complex scent, with an animalistic warmth and a slightly salty musky odor. Diluted, it releases a complex, sweet, and fruity floral fragrance, with a noticeable warmth. Apart from musk deer, musk can also be secreted by musk cats, beavers, and muskrats. Some plants, such as ambrette seed oil and angelica root oil, can also emit fragrances with musky qualities. However, due to high costs and animal protection laws, natural animal musk has been banned. Nowadays, most musk used in perfumes is synthetically produced. The closest to the natural musk scent is macrocyclic musk, with a warm animalistic breath, a dry powdery floral fragrance, evoking thoughts of furry animal fur and slightly sweaty skin, creating a warm and sensual atmosphere.
Representative Perfumes:
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【Amber】
The amber we talk about in daily life is a resin fossil with almost no odor at room temperature. However, the amber in perfumes is a general concept, referring to a warm, sweet woody and resinous fragrance. It is usually composed of labdanum, benzoin resin, combined with vanilla and tonka bean, resulting in a sweet, rich, and delicate scent with warmth. Sometimes, it may smell like melting resin, with a viscous flowing sensation. Amber in perfumes can display a brilliant golden luster, giving people a warm feeling as if bathed in sunlight.
Representative Perfumes:
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【Sandalwood】
The sandalwood typically used as a perfume ingredient is white sandalwood. Pure sandalwood has a dry, smooth, milky fragrance. Warm and sweet in texture, it feels like butter. The higher the quality of sandalwood, the stronger this gastronomic sensation, making people more addicted as they smell it. Sandalwood brings a balsamic softness to perfumes, with a stable and long-lasting fragrance. It may feel slightly heavy in hot seasons but in the cold autumn and winter, it envelops you like a continuous stream of warmth.
Representative Perfumes:
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【Vetiver】
Vetiver has a complex and variable fragrance, with differences in scent depending on the origin. Some emphasize the earthy scent, while others focus on the floral aspect. Vetiver from Java Island has a strong smoky flavor, giving a sensation of burning wood, as if it could evaporate the moisture in the air.
Representative Perfumes:
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Conclusion:
Choosing the winter perfumes are not just about a fragrance; it’s an experience of warmth. The fusion of spicy notes like cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom with warm elements such as musk, amber, and sandalwood creates a perfect blend that adds a touch of warmth to the cold season. These scents not only send false signals through aroma, altering our perception of temperature, but also paint a cozy picture of winter. Selecting the right perfume for the season makes fragrance a gentle companion in winter.