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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
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.
Best Overall
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau De Parfum
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Nordstrom
Long-lasting
Not too strong
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
Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Violet accord, cardamom | Free of: Parabens | Size: 0.5 fluid ounces, 1.7 fluid ounces, 3.4 fluid ounces, 16.9 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Organic
Skylar Willow Eau de Toilette
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Can layer with other scents
Affordable
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
Best for Floral Lovers
Maison Margiela REPLICA Springtime In A Park Eau de Toilette
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Maison Margiela
Not too strong
Long-lasting
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
Best Sweet
Dolce & Gabbana The Only One Eau de Parfum
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Courtesy of Sephora
Long-lasting
Warm
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
Best Lasting
BYREDO Bal D'Afrique
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Warm
Romantic
Long-lasting
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.
Type: Eau de parfum | Top Notes: Bergamot, African marigold, bucchu | Free of: Oil, parabens | Size: 1.7 oz., 3.4 oz.| Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best New Launch
Diptyque Orphéon
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Bluemercury
Feels expensive
Unisex scent
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
Best Dry Wood
Tom Ford Oud Wood Parfum
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Unisex scent
Not too strong
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
Best Splurge
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
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Nordstrom
Long-lasting
Great for gifting
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
Best Oriental
Yves Saint Laurent Opium
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Sephora
Warm
Sexy
Long-lasting
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)
Best Unisex
COMME DES GARCONS Wonderwood
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Unisex scent
Dry
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
Best Niche Perfume
Hive Luxury Fragrances Trust
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Long-lasting
Warm
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.
Best Classic
Pehnhaligon's London Lothair
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Long-lasting
Warm
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
Best Hint of Woodsy
AERIN Cedar Violet Eau de Parfum
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Sephora
It's a perfect mix of earthy and flroal
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.Â
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
Best Everyday
Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum
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Sephora
 It smells like a very clean version of a woodsy scent
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.Â
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
Best Sexy
Ourside Dusk Eau De Parfum
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Ourside
 It smells very sexy
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
Best Subtle Scent
Byredo De Los Santos Eau de Parfum
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Nordstrom
It’s wonderfully musky
 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.Â
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.
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.