October is the month of in-betweens. The mornings are cooler, but the sun still lingers in the afternoons; the light softens, but it hasn’t yet surrendered to winter’s shadows. At the beauty desk, we’ve been testing perfumes that capture this transitional mood, carefully curated selection that bridges the gap between seasons.
October is the month of in-betweens. The mornings are cooler, but the sun still lingers in the afternoons; the light softens, but it hasn’t yet surrendered to winter’s shadows. At the beauty desk, I’ve been testing perfumes that capture this transitional mood – a carefully curated selection that bridges the gap between seasons.
Officine Universelle Buly 1803, Eau Triple Verveine des Andes & Basilic d’Ulu
Part of Les Jardins Français de l’Officine Universelle Buly, inspired by historic seed catalogues and botanical curiosity this eau triple is very, very fresh and light. Verbena and basil sparkle with green clarity, mint cools, cedar steadies. The bottle can be personalised with engraving, making it perfect for gifting.
Where to buy: buly1803.com – £150 / 75ml
Floris, Bergamotto di Positano
Mediterranean escapism in a bottle. Bergamot and orange blossom meet a soft sea breeze, creating an effortlessly luminous scent, exactly what you want to wear on that last-minute Italian holiday booked at the tail end of summer.
Where to buy: florislondon.com – £180 / 100ml
Marc-Antoine Barrois, Tilia
Honeyed linden blossom softens into musk and amber, creating a golden warmth that feels like the glow of late afternoon. Gentle and radiant, it clings beautifully to soft knits and makes the shift into autumn feel seamless.
Where to buy: marcantoinebarrois.com – £200 / 100ml
Parfums de Marly, Valaya
A delicate balance of white peach, citrus, and a musky-woody base. There’s something silk-like in its texture: luminous, sheer, and intimate. Worn alone it’s delicate, but it also layers beautifully with brighter florals to add quiet depth.
Where to buy: spacenk.com – £270 / 75ml
Jo Malone, London Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense
The new golden anchor of our wardrobe: bitter orange lifts the resinous heart of labdanum, with vanilla and roasted oak bringing warmth and depth. It wears beautifully over both fresh florals and woody bases.
Where to buy: jomalone.co.uk – £164 / 100ml
Narciso Rodriguez, All of Me Eau de Parfum
A modern floral musk, balancing rose and geranium with creamy sandalwood. On skin it feels like a soft second layer, cocooning, confident, quietly magnetic. We wore it when we wanted comfort without losing polish, the perfume equivalent of a perfectly cut cashmere sweater.
Where to buy: boots.com – £120 / 90ml
Hermès, Eau des Merveilles L’Ambre
Amber, but polished. This is no smoky gourmand; instead it shimmers with mineral salt and woods, as if sunlight were striking stone. It gave our lighter perfumes structure and longevity, a subtle glow that made every spritz feel dressed-up.
Where to buy: johnlewis.com – £140 / 100ml
Seven fragrances, endless possibilities. Some mornings you’ll crave that fresh burst of verbena, other days you’ll want to cocoon yourself in amber warmth. The beauty is having options that move with your mood and the season.
