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Everyone Needs a Good Woody Perfume for Winter—We Tested and Stand By These 10 Picks
There's something for everyone, whether you like it soft or intense.
If you thought woody perfumes were relegated to your noncommittal Hinge dates, you just haven't been sniffing the right ones. I understand that these fragrances often get a bad rap, especially if you think you typically only like "feminine" scents. They can smell strong and heady, even cloying sometimes. But I, personally, believe woody notes are actually some of the most versatile out there. Depending on what you pair them with, they can bend into so many scent families. Woods add some body and really ground a scent, hence why you'll typically find them at the base. But they can also make for a soft opening too. It's really all about the full composition.
Which brings me to the best woody perfumes. Because the trick here is to hunt for the right combination based on your go-to scents. Don't think it's all about cedar and sandalwood perfumes, though (granted, many of our favorites contain these, of course). There are so many unique takes on woodsy perfumes, whether you want to evoke a cozy fireside vibe in a winter perfume or like an earthy scent filled with herbs and spices year 'round. Cosmo editors test perfumes for a living, and we've gone ahead and finally compiled the absolute best woodsy perfumes. From soft versions for woodsy newbies to the boldest and deepest scents for extra-cold weather, everything here is vetted and truly loved by our team. Lemme show some of our top faves:
Our top picks for the best woody perfumes of 2025:
Keep scrolling for full reviews of each scent, including call-outs on the key notes of each to help you choose which is right for you.
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One Cosmo editor says: "I first sniffed Maison Louis Marie Bois de Balincourt in the form of a candle years ago, and ever since it’s been one of my favorite scents ever. It’s woody and earthy, which usually isn’t my vibe, but it’s got some sweetness and spice that makes it smell more fresh and universal. Whether im dousing this on as a perfume or burning it in my home, the creamy fragrance is just so comforting."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Sandalwood, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vetiver, amberwood |
One Cosmo editor says: "Glossier You Doux feels like the rich aunt of the family, but in a "quiet luxury," reserved kinda vibe. Like wrapping yourself in a $2,000 cream sweater that feels like butter against your skin. Or the inside of an ultra-chic hotel lounge you need a membership card to enter. It's for the people who loved the original You in high school or college and want to level up their signature scent to match their big adult salary. It also happened to be the favorite amongst the Cosmo team when we tested Glossier perfumes in the office."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Palo santo, sweet violet, frankincense, myrrh, ambroxan, ambrette |
One Cosmo editor says: "I saw so many TikToks raving about this perfume that I had to get my own bottle. Quickly, it became one of my go-to perfumes for the cold season. I get so many compliments every time I wear it. I often will layer my woodsy and sweet perfumes together, but this essentially combines my two favorite scent families in one. It's got a heavy gourmand vibe with apple and vanilla, but patchouli and cedar add a strength to give it major longevity. And there's even a little bit of damask rose for a cloudy softness."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Apple, damask rose, cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli |
One Cosmo editor says: "This is such a stunning, soft woody perfume. If you think woodsy scents have to smell intense and heavy, sniff this one. The sandalwood is a soothing, grounding element amongst all of these creamy, powdery notes, like iris, milk, musk, and vanilla. It's a top contender for a wedding perfume (I am painfully single, but yes, I am already planning)."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Nutmeg, iris, milk, sandalwood, musk, vanilla |
One Cosmo editor says: "This is my all-time favorite woodsy perfume—hands down. It smells like camping. Not the smokey campfire or the sticky marshmallows, though. But the woods in the fire, the dew-covered tree trunks in the early mornings, the cozy smell of your musky sleeping bag."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Coconut water, cardamom, fig leaf, jasmine, sandalwood, cedar |
One Cosmo editor says: "Contrary to what the name suggests, this winter perfume doesn’t smell like smokey firewood. Instead, this eau de toilette perfectly replicates (lol, pun unintended) cozying up by a fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa, which is honestly the most quintessential wintertime activity. The notes of roasted chestnuts and clove oil are intertwined with a hint of wood and cashmere to give off a warm, comfy sweater vibe. But don't worry, there's still a tinge of smokiness that gives campfire aroma, just in a gentler way, thanks to sweet vanilla. Obviously, I also have the candle, bc I'm obsessed."—MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Clove, chestnut, vanilla |
One Cosmo editor says: "This Tom Ford fragrance is a resinous, opulent woody perfume. It smells hella rich, tbh. It's perfect for spritzing all over a leather jacket before you walk into a dimly lit bar, or just on your pulse points before a date. The scent is strong and intense, and it lasts on me for truly a full day, if not longer."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Incense, palo santo, black pepper, violet leaf, leather, rose, resin, ebony tree, guaiac wood |
One Cosmo editor says: "LORE as a fragrance brand is my new hyperfixation, and this scent has quickly become my signature. It's perfectly balanced: Woodsy, warm, soft, and a little sweet. Also random, but you can use the cap as a candlestick holder, which looks impossibly chic."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Cedarwood, cardamom, leather, black tea, vanilla |
One Cosmo editor says: "During my friend group’s yearly ski trips, I don’t participate in the slopes shenanigans (lol), but I do get in on the aprés action at the lodge donning this aptly named perfume from Ellis Brooklyn. I get an instant rush of crisp mountain air (without even stepping outside), thanks to a strong burst of fresh evergreen trees and juicy juniper berry notes. Sure, it's a bit intense at first, but the longer it sits on my skin, the more vanilla, bourbon, and praline peek through, softening and sweetening it up."—MH
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Juniper berries, cedarwood, bourbon |
One Cosmo editor says: "This is easily the most unique fragrance in my entire collection. It's not forrest, campfire woodsy; it's a sprawling grove with open, salty air. It really does smell like a grove by the sea—there's olive, rosemary, and thyme that are savory and earthy. But fir, cyprus, and pine needles add a grounded, woody touch."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Notes | Fig leaf, olive, salt, rosemary, thyme, balsam fir, cypress, pine needles |
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing fragrance stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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