ScentBound

Winter and the holiday season it brings are amazing but they are not here yet. For now, we have fall, which is also a time of change and magic. The best way to experience fall and the trepidation it brings is by picking a fragrance that elevates the spirit and warms the soul.

Here are ten amazing fragrances I've selected for fall 2016. I own most of them and I've worn all of them. These scents that epitomize fall for me. I keep returning to them every time the leaves turn yellow.

The One by Dolce & Gabbana (the EDP Version)​

When I think of The One by Dolce & Gabbana, the following quote by Ron Burgundy pops into my head:

"I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important."​

The One and its character has nothing in common with the self-aggrandizing lead character of Anchorman. Still, it is a big deal in the fragrance community. It's a staple in the top 10 lists of many fragrance reviewers and its virtues are extolled at length in the fragrance forums.

Originally released as an eau de toilette (EdT) in 2008, The One features notes of ginger, grapefruit, cardamom, amber and tobacco. It is commonly classified as woody-spicy fragrance but to me it has always been a light oriental amber.

The best thing about The One is that its elegant and sophisticated smell would fit almost any occasion in the fall. The worst thing about it is that it doesn't last very long.

Aware of the longevity problem, in 2015 Dolce & Gabbana released an eau de parfum (EdP) version. Some reviewers report The One EdP feels denser than the EdT and that it lasts longer (up to 8 hours vs. up to 4 hours). I haven't tested the two versions side by side but I would recommend going with The One EdP. This is the version I have and love. If you can't find it, go for the EdT (it appears it is much easier to find). There is no discernible difference in the actual scent, just the longevity.

You can find The One by Dolce & Gabbana in any major department store.

Single Malt By Kilian

If autumn to you is a superb amber-hued single malt whiskey, then Single Malt by Kilian is for you. The opening uncannily reminds me of the aroma of the oak barrels used to age scotch. I'm not an expert to tell whether the boozy accord is truly of a single malt. Its combination with the gourmand malt and vanilla makes for a fragrance you want to sip off your neck.​

Some fragrance reviewers describe by Kilian as Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille with a boozy opening. Indeed, the vanilla and tonka bean in both fragrances account for some of the similarities. The sweetness of Single Malt, however, is more tempered and arguably quieter.​

Kilian created Single Malt as part of a line of limited edition fragrances dedicated to different cities. Single Malt celebrates London and and the drink native to its country. After a short period of limited distribution, Single Malt is now available at all stores that carry by Kilian.​

1270 by Frapin​

Jean-Luc from La Secret du Marais described 1270 as a ball of fruits that have been soaked in brandy. At the time his comment made me laugh but the more I smell 1270, the more I realize how true it is.​

Beatrice Cointreau, an heir of the famed cognac maker Frapin, created 1270 to celebrate the aroma of the drink her family has been producing since 1270. As one can expect, the fragrance is a boozy one; very much reminiscent of a good bottle of cognac.

1270 opens with a strong boozy note, supported by symphony of pineapple, orange, and plum. Hazelnut, cocoa and coffee chime in to temper down the fruity accord. Woods, vanilla and tonka bean drive the character of the fragrance after the initial dizziness of the opening has dissipated.​

As I smell 1270, I realize that what makes this fragrance so perfect for fall is that it reminds me of all temptations of the season - a nice glass of cognac, a tempting piece of desert, and a sobering cup of coffee. No wonder why my bottle is half empty.​