What is a woodsy scent?

A woodsy scent is one that smells like wood. Some examples of that include cedar, sandalwood, and patchouli. Wood-scented candles are very popular in the fall and cooler months. Think of ski resorts, wool blankets, and snowy mountaintops. Woody scents belong right in that picture.

How do I know what perfume smells good on me?

A single perfume can smell different on everyone who wears it, despite smelling the same in the bottle. Fragrance expert Michael Donovan, founder and creative director of the luxury perfume line St. Giles, told us that you should "always check the effect of a fragrance on your skin before parting with your money."

How do you make your perfume scent last all day?

There are indeed ways to get the most out of your fragrance . Try not to rub your perfume on pulse points—your body heat will zap some of the notes—and instead spray your scent onto moist, damp skin to lock it in.

Should I spray perfume on clothes or skin?

Spraying perfume on your clothes may make the scent last longer, but you might not be able to smell all of it—and first, you'll want to be positive that the fabric won't be stained by it. Matthew Milèo, a chemist, former in-house fragrance expert for Chanel, and founder of the luxe oud-based skincare line, Milèo New York, told us that "because of the nature of fabric, it only catches some parts of the perfume and not the entire accord—which is why fragrances can smell more powdery on clothes."

The 16 Best Woodsy Perfumes of 2023

While each person is different regarding their taste in fragrance, there's no doubt that woodsy scents feel sophisticated and cool. Maybe it's because they're a departure from the overly sweet perfumes of our youth, or maybe it's just something that happens to your olfactory system as you grow up (much like our taste buds). Either way, there's no denying the sultry appeal of a scent that's laced with notes like cedar, amber, bergamot, or sandalwood. These have a dry, warm smell—evocative of, well, the woods.

Byrdie Researched & Approved

Our best overall pick is Le Labo Santal 33, an iconic scent that draws its woodsy profile from a blend of blend of cardamom, violet accord, leather, and sandalwood. We also love the Baccarat Rouge 540, which includes jasmine and saffron in its aromatic profile for a woodsy scent that's also delicately sweet.

In celebration of the chicest fragrance category ever, we're rounding up our favorites that appeal to every mood. We considered dozens of different scents, evaluating them on their top notes and scent profile, and also looking at their formula, noting if they are free from certain ingredients and parabens. After trying out our favorite woodsy perfumes, we landed on the following best in show.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Le Labo Santal 33 at Nordstrom

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Best Organic:

Skylar Willow at Sephora

Jump to Review

Best for Floral Lovers:

Maison Margiela REPLICA Springtime In A Park at Sephora

Jump to Review

Best Sweet:

Dolce & Gabbana The Only One at Sephora

Jump to Review

Best Lasting:

BYREDO Bal D'Afrique at Nordstrom

Jump to Review

Best New Launch:

Diptyque Orphéon at Nordstrom

Jump to Review

Best Dry Wood:

Tom Ford Oud Wood at Sephora

Jump to Review

Best Splurge:

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 at Nordstrom

Jump to Review

Best Oriental:

Yves Saint Laurent Opium at Sephora

Jump to Review

Best Unisex:

COMME DES GARCONS Wonderwood at Selfridges.com

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie?

4.6

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Walmart

What We Like

Long-lasting
Not too strong

What We Don't Like

Expensive

In 2015, The New York Times called this fragrance "the scent you smell everywhere," and we'd have to agree wholeheartedly. Santal 33 is the perfume that popularized the niche fragrance category and has basically filled every hotel lobby bar, creative office, and concept store since. An ode to the "spirit of the American West," it's a memorable blend of cardamom, violet accord, leather, and sandalwood, making for a woodsy scent that's intoxicating and cool.

Price at time of publish: $90 for .5 oz

View On Sephora

What We Like

Can layer with other scents
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Not as long-lasting as other options

Clean, natural fragrance brand Skylar is making waves in the industry for its sophisticated olfactive offering an accessible price point. Willow specifically is an interesting but beautiful blend of benzoin tree, cedarwood, and galbanum, giving it a woodsy, earthy quality we can't get enough of.

Type: Eau de toilette | Top Notes: Benzoin tree, cedarwood, galbanum | Size: 1.7 oz.| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Maison Margiela

View On Sephora View On Maisonmargiela-fragrances.us

What We Like

Not too strong
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like

May be too sweet for some

Margiela fragrances are unique in that they evoke a specific place or experience, in this case, a blooming park in Shanghai on the first days of spring. Floral fragrance lovers will fall hard for the notes of lily blossoms, pear, and a touch of musk, but the woody, rich base gives it depth.

Price at time of publish: $76

Type: Eau de toilette | Top Notes: Pear accord, bergamot essence, blackcurrant accord | Size: 0.34 oz., 1 oz., 3.4 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

DOLCE&GABANNA The Only One Eau de Parfum

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora

What We Like

Long-lasting
Warm

What We Don't Like

May be too sweet for some

If you just can't stray from sweetness, this Dolce & Gabbana classic is the perfect middle ground. It has a syrupy caramel hint to it, but with added lightness from citrus and violet. And after a few hours of wear, you'll be able to smell the rich, coffee base notes. In a word, it's delicious.

Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Violet, bergamot | Size: 0.33 oz., 1.6 oz., 3.3 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

View On Nordstrom View On Spacenk.com

What We Like

Warm
Romantic
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like

May be too strong for some

This iconic fragrance is a delightful mix of African marigold, bergamot, black amber, cedarwood, and musk, making for a fragrance that's warm, romantic, and complex. And like all Byredo blends, it's got incredible staying power, too.

Bluemercury

View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales View On Bluemercury.com

What We Like

Feels expensive
Unisex scent

What We Don't Like

Not as long-lasting as other options

The latest from Diptyque is all of our woodsy, Parisian fragrance dreams realized. Inspired by the stylish intellectual set of Saint-Germain in the early 1960s, the rich, tobacco-laced scent feels expensive and opulent. A hint of juniper gives it an aromatic, gin-like quality, while cedarwood adds some freshness.

Price at time of publish: $205

Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Tonka beans | Size: 2.5 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

View On Sephora View On Macy's

What We Like

Unisex scent
Not too strong

What We Don't Like

Not as long-lasting as other options

Oud purists will be enamored with Tom Ford Oud Wood. The dry, smoky redolence is made up of sandalwood, rosewood, eastern spice, and Chinese pepper, giving it a really bold, genderless feel.

Price at time of publish: $285

Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Rosewood, cardamom, Chinese pepper | Size: 0.3 oz., 1 oz., 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz., 8.4 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

4.5

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales View On Jomashop.com

What We Like

Long-lasting
Great for gifting

What We Don't Like

Expensive

If you can move past the eye-watering price tag, this really is one of the most unique, memorable scents we've ever come across. It gets its woody depth from cedarwood and ambergris, but jasmine and saffron add an addictive, feminine quality. It's one of those scents that's hard to discern a single note too, which is probably why so many people are enchanted by it (us included).

Price at time of publish: $325 for 2.4 oz

Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Saffron, jasmine | Size: 0.37 oz., 1.2 oz., 2.4 oz., 6.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Sephora

View On Sephora

What We Like

Warm
Sexy
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like

May be too strong for some

Opium has got to be one of the most iconic fragrances of all time, and we get why. Mysterious and evocative, it uses the power of plum, clove, myrrh, and sandalwood to turn heads and solicit the ultimate beauty compliment: "What fragrance are you wearing?"

Price at time of publish: $77

Type: Eau de parfum, eau de toilette | Top Notes: Mandarin, bergamot | Size: 1 oz., 1.6 oz., 3.0 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No (parfum), Yes (toilette)

View On Selfridges.com

What We Like

Unisex scent
Dry

What We Don't Like

May be too strong for some

If you like a neutral scent that errs on the masculine side of things, Wonderwood is made for you. Similar to Tom Ford Oud Wood, it's incredibly dry and clean—in part thanks to notes like oud, sandalwood, cypress wood, and gaïac wood.

Price at time of publish: $72

Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Madagascan pepper, bergamot, Somalian incense, nutmeg | Size: 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

View On Hiveluxuryfragrances.com

What We Like

Long-lasting
Warm

What We Don't Like

Bottles are smaller than other options

Want to top up your scent throughout the day? These purse-sized atomizers from Hive are great, and Trust, in particular, is a great pick-me-up off the back of a stressful workday. A compilation of tobacco, leather, gunmetal, violet, and whiskey, it's strong and assertive—exactly how we want to feel walking into a big meeting.

Type: Eau de Parfum | Top Notes: Tobacco, leather, gunmetal, violet, whiskey, maple, caramel | Size: 0.25 oz., 0.06 oz.

View On Bloomingdales View On Harrods.com

What We Like

Long-lasting
Warm

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Fun fact: Pehnhalogon's Lothair was actually the late Prince Phillips' fragrance of choice. It's what we could call a fresh, woody scent with hints of citrus, fig, black tea, grapefruit, ambergris, and oakmoss. While it's spritely and masculine at first, it settles into the skin, revealing a soft, creamy base. And while a men's scent categorically, we love it across the board.

Type: Eau de toilette | Top Notes: Pink pepper, juniper berry, red berries, cardamom, bergamot, grapefruit, fig leaf | Size: 3.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sephora

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

It's a perfect mix of earthy and flroal

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Honestly, we’ve never met an AERIN perfume we don’t love. This pick features gorgeous notes of violet leaf, cedarwood, and amber to delight the senses and make you feel as if you’re strolling through a luscious forest. We love that the fragrance smells more floral on contact, but becomes more woodsy as it settles into your skin. Although this option is pricey, we think the scent profile is unique enough to justify the spend.

Price at time of publish: $145

Type: Eau de Parfum | Top Notes: Violet leaf, muguet | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces, 3.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum

Sephora

View On Nordstrom View On Toryburch.com

What We Like

It smells like a very clean version of a woodsy scent

What We Don't Like

It doesn’t last super long

If you prefer to err on the side of a clean fragrance, this pick from Tory Burch beautifully marries woodsy and fresh. The top notes include cardamom and ambrette, with middle and base notes of jasmine, sage, and vetiver. We love that this fragrance smells soft and inviting, and also appreciate that the packaging has minimal environmental impact.

Price at time of publish: $125

Type: Eau de Parfum | Top Notes: Cardamom, ambrette | Size: 0.3 fluid ounces, 1.7 fluid ounces, 3 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Ourside

View On Ourside.nyc

What We Like

It smells very sexy

What We Don't Like

The price is on the higher end

This luxury fragrance smells somewhere between your yearly childhood camping trips and the lobby of a super bougie wellness retreat. The notes of bergamot, grapefruit, fig, and berries are strong and sensual. We like that this pick is unisex and can be worn by all, but we don’t love how expense the full-sized bottle is. If you’re strapped on cash, we recommend first purchasing the 10ml rollerball ($79).

Price at time of publish: $196

Type: Eau de Parfum | Top Notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, fig, berries | Size: 10 milliliters, 50 milliliters | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Bergdorfgoodman.com View On Byredo.com

What We Like

It’s wonderfully musky

What We Don't Like

Inaccessible price point

This fragrance is basically palo santo in a bottle. The scent is very light, super woodsy, and works for folks of all genders. With notes of clary sage, mirabelle, palo santo and more, this pick really puts the earthy bark in a “woodsy” scent. We love how musky this pick is, but it’s definitely on the pricier side.

Price at time of publish: $280

Type: Eau de Parfum | Top Notes: Clary sage, mirabelle | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces, 3.4 fluid ounces| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Final Verdict

Fragrance is about as intimate as it gets in the world of beauty, so choosing a perfume is a personal endeavor. But if we had to call out a few standouts, we'd name Santal 33, simply because it's iconic and delicious; Baccarat Rouge 540, for being one of the most unique and sophisticated scents on the market; and finally Oud Wood, for its commitment to the woody fragrance category (the fact that Tom Ford is incredibly chic doesn't hurt, either).

What to Look for When Buying a Woodsy Perfume

Test the Fragrance

The best way to trial a fragrance is to actually wear it. If you can, Smart suggests choosing a few you like on paper cards, spraying one on each wrist and a third on the inner elbow. Smart explains you should allow at least half an hour for the notes to develop, and judge them accordingly.

Classic Scents

If you want to seek out some woody benchmarks, Smart has called out the following as his go-to’s: Penhaligon's Lothhair, Lubin Idole, and Mizensir Perfect Oud.

Application

When it comes to actually wearing your fragrance, the application is important so as to not damage the delicate notes. Smart explains we should always spritz in a sweeping motion across the skin. He also points out you should never rub your wrists together. Instead, allow the fragrance to slowly evolve on the skin.

Look for Specific Notes

Obviously, when purchasing a woodsy perfume, you want to look out for woodsy, earthy notes in the formulation. These might include vetiver, sandalwood, cedar, or patchouli. Additionally, you’ll want to look for keywords in the fragrance titles, such as “musky,” “woodsy,” or “earthy.”

Test Out a Fragrance

Another surefire way to choose a woodsy fragrance that you like is to actually test it out. There are several different methods of sampling perfume. One of our favorite tips is to look for brands that ship out samples for you to test out.

FAQ

What is a woodsy scent?

A woodsy scent is one that smells like wood. Some examples of that include cedar, sandalwood, and patchouli. Wood-scented candles are very popular in the fall and cooler months. Think of ski resorts, wool blankets, and snowy mountaintops. Woody scents belong right in that picture.
How do I know what perfume smells good on me?

A single perfume can smell different on everyone who wears it, despite smelling the same in the bottle. Fragrance expert Michael Donovan, founder and creative director of the luxury perfume line St. Giles, told us that you should "always check the effect of a fragrance on your skin before parting with your money."
How do you make your perfume scent last all day?

There are indeed ways to get the most out of your fragrance. Try not to rub your perfume on pulse points—your body heat will zap some of the notes—and instead spray your scent onto moist, damp skin to lock it in.
Should I spray perfume on clothes or skin?

Spraying perfume on your clothes may make the scent last longer, but you might not be able to smell all of it—and first, you'll want to be positive that the fabric won't be stained by it. Matthew Milèo, a chemist, former in-house fragrance expert for Chanel, and founder of the luxe oud-based skincare line, Milèo New York, told us that "because of the nature of fabric, it only catches some parts of the perfume and not the entire accord—which is why fragrances can smell more powdery on clothes."

Why Trust Byrdie?

If you grouped Byrdie's collective team fragrance collections, you'd be floored at the sheer volume. But in all seriousness, Emily Algar tests and trials new scents all the time, not to mention she has spent time over the years picking the brains of experts. She has also tapped the expertise of Nick Smart for this piece, one of the industry's most well-versed experts in the field.

Daley Quinn is a Byrdie contributor who covers all things beauty and wellness. She has bylines at The Cut and WWD, and is a former editor for Family Circle. For this story, she considered dozens of different woodsy fragrances, paying close attention to their fragrance profiles.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15 percent of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any woodsy perfumes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

The 12 Best Jasmine Perfumes of 2023

Best Overall

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau De Parfum

Best Organic

Skylar Willow Eau de Toilette

Best for Floral Lovers

Maison Margiela REPLICA Springtime In A Park Eau de Toilette

Best Sweet

Dolce & Gabbana The Only One Eau de Parfum

Best Lasting

BYREDO Bal D'Afrique

Best New Launch

Diptyque Orphéon

Best Dry Wood

Tom Ford Oud Wood Parfum

Best Splurge

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

Best Oriental

Yves Saint Laurent Opium

Best Unisex

COMME DES GARCONS Wonderwood

Best Niche Perfume

Hive Luxury Fragrances Trust

Best Classic

Pehnhaligon's London Lothair

Best Hint of Woodsy

AERIN Cedar Violet Eau de Parfum

Best Everyday

Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum

Best Sexy

Ourside Dusk Eau De Parfum

Best Subtle Scent

Byredo De Los Santos Eau de Parfum

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