After a dazzling Indian summer, I woke up this morning knowing that fall finally had arrived. It was still dark when the alarm went off, and I reached for my wool robe and fleece-lined slippers. The dog was curled up tight against the chill. Tonight the crickets are quiet, geese honk overhead, and I've put an extra blanket on the bed. It's time to switch to perfume that feels as warm as a cashmere sweater.
When I think of warm, soft, uncomplicated scents — scents warm and thick as cashmere — I think of amber, patchouli, and wood. Incense and leather can sometimes feel too cold or intellectual, depending on how they're treated. Scents loaded with coriander and other spices can be wonderful, but sometimes they feel cold to me, too, like iced tea or air-conditioned auto upholstery. Don't get me wrong, I love leather, incense, and spice in the winter, but when I want something fluffy and warm, I'm likely to reach past Donna Karan Black Cashmere, Chanel Cuir de Russie, and Yves Saint Laurent Nu for my decant of Annick Goutal Ambre Fétiche…
