Looking for something a little different? Perhaps it’s time you tried the best fall fragrance trend of 2023: balsamic perfumes. Balsamic perfumes are scents where the notes are predominantly derived from resins of trees and are often used to add sweet, rich, heavy, spicy and woody facets to a fragrance and are often used to offset vanilla and amber in the composition.
Their richness and potency makes balsamic perfumes great for cooler weather, so we’ve rounded up all of our favorites below!
1. Luxe Balsamic Perfume: Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens
The best way to describe Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens is by calling it a “modern amber”, which pretty much means a fusion of the rich, sultry traditional amber we know and love, combined with something a little more intriguing and unusual. This balsamic perfume wows with its gorgeous hues of vanilla, resins, and balsam, with a warming finish that’s perfect for colder weather.
Recommended, related fragrances: Angel by Thierry Mugler, L’eau D’issey (Issey Miyake) by Issey Miyake, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
2. Woody, Amber Balsamic:Sensuous by Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder might have plenty of incredible scents but if you’re looking for a lesser-known classic from the brand, there’s no better bottle to reach for than Sensuous. This opulent, woodsy-amber concept was designed to encourage sensuality in women of all ages and blurs the lines between balsamic, woodsy, and honey-based perfumes.
Recommended, related fragrances: Deep Euphoria Perfume by Calvin Klein, Envy Me Perfume by Gucci, Cool Water Perfume by Davidoff
3. The Classic Balsamic Perfume: Shalimar by Guerlain
It’s hard to travel too far without breathing in the decadent notes of Shalimar by Guerlain at least once. This timeless perfume was one of the first to put balsamic scents on the map. Opening with a blast of citrus notes, Shalimar deepens into something float intoxicatingly rich with heart and base notes of Tonka bean, vanilla, iris, Peru balsam, and gray amber.
Recommended, related fragrances: Balmya by Pierre Balmain, Eclat D’arpege by Lanvin, Chelsea Dreams by Old England
4. Best Celebrity Balsamic Perfume: Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson
You’ll be suitably impressed by how long Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson lingers on the skin for, especially considering its budget friendly price tag. This gorgeous perfume is most definitely a fun-loving one, blending woody, earthy, and patchouli notes with a deeper base of balsamic touches. Its worldwide assortment of notes includes Egyptian papyrus, Indonesian patchouli, Bulgarian red rose, and night blossoming jasmine.
Recommended, related fragrances: Shalimar by Guerlain, Clean Warm Cotton by Clean Perfume, Amouage Myths by Amouage Perfume
5. Best Unisex: Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford is one of the sweetest balsamic perfumes around and perfectly captures the atmosphere of a cool fall evening with a glass of whiskey in hand. Sweet and tobacco scented, this decadent perfume impresses with its heart of vanilla and Tonka Bean and its base of dried fruits and woody notes.
Recommended, related fragrances: Narciso Rodriguez by Narciso Rodriguez, Paloma Picasso by Paloma Picasso, Kenzo Flower by Kenzo
6. Trendiest Balsamic Perfume: Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
While there are some trends we’re not totally onboard with, the ever-rising current of adoring Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian fans is one we’re definitely cheering on. This spicy, amber, woody scent may be a splurge but its potency means a bottle promises to last a long time. Blending opulent saffron and jasmine with a base of fir resin, this unique, statement-making scent is perfect for special occasions.
Recommended, related fragrances: Jimmy Choo Illicit by Jimmy Choo, Prada Candy by Prada, Burberry Body by Burberry
7. Most Elegant: Roja Elixir by Roja Parfums
Roja Elixir by Roja Parfums is sweet and feminine: a gentler example of a balsamic perfume that still impresses with those rich, resinous notes. Fruity, rose-hued, and woody, Roja Elixir was designed to make you feel “irresistible, confident, and seductive – where anything is possible” and it does just that with its complex array of notes. Expect a floral heart and an intricate, woody, resinous base.
Recommended, related fragrances: Boucheron by Boucheron, Design by Paul Sebastian, Carolina Herrera by Carolina Herrera
Here at perfume.com you’ll find a huge range of incredible balsamic perfumes to keep you smelling delicious on all occasions. Shop our best sellers here.
Georgie Darling is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from London, England. Her work has been published in ELLE, Yahoo, Red, Grazia, and Tripadvisor, amongst others. When she’s not writing, Georgie spends most of her time travelling to new countries and scuba diving. She’s been an avid fragrance lover since a young age and considers Alaïa by Alaïa Paris to be her signature scent.
