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I thought it would be fun (and a little nerdy) to keep counting what I actually wore as the year wound down. From September through December, I surprised to see that I wore 88 different fragrances, 22 more than the prior period. As usual, plenty of those were one-offs, samples, or brief flirtations. But a few scents clearly wanted more time on my skin, and one in particular made a convincing case for emotional-support status.
J-Scent On a Cloud, worn seven times, was the clear standout. It's soft, milky, and quietly comforting. It's not flashy, not seasonal cosplay, just consistently right. Close behind was Trudon Bruma, with four wears, a peppery, warm iris that is an excellent bridge between seasons. After all, the word bruma refers to the winter solstice in Latin.
A small group of fragrances showed up three times each, quietly anchoring the season: Guerlain's new Shalimar L’Essence, Buchart Colbert Faison D'Or, Celine Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Acqua di Parma Mandorlo di Sicilia, Chanel Paris-Edimbourg, Molecule 01 + Mandarin, Ellis Brooklyn Salt, and Miller et Bertaux Tulsivivah! These neatly sum up my fall preferences, balancing classic warmth, gentle sweetness, and aromatic depth.
Several others earned repeat appearances (two wears apiece), including Liis Ethereal Wave, Memo Eau de Memo, Sana Jardin Air of Aquarius, Estee Lauder Azuree Soleil, Buchart Colbert Le Bain de Lulu, Lubin Idole, 1907 Vanilla Dry, Bruno Acampora Musc, Une Nuit Nomade Sugar Leather, Guerlain Eau Secrète, Frapin 1270, Lush Turmeric Latte, ELDO Noël au Balcon, Marissa Zappas Annabel’s Birthday Cake, Chabaud Lait et Chocolat, Bamford Gray, Maison Louis Marie Bois de Balincourt, and Pineward White Fir. Everything else in the log made a single appearance.
There was a definite seasonal arc.
September leaned light and citrussy, with airy woods, aromatics, and transparent musks. These were fragrances that lifted off the skin rather than hugged it: Hermes Jardin sur le Nil, Laboratorio Olfattivo Pampelmo, 19-69 Capri, alongside Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Mandarin, Byredo Gypsy Water, and Maison Louis Marie Bois de Balincourt. Even when warmth appeared, it was sunlit rather than cozy.
October acted as a hinge month, holding onto freshness while introducing amber, spice, and soft vanilla as texture rather than dessert. I did more layering in this month, too. By November, the log shows a clear turn toward resins, musks, ambers, and spiced woods.
December was definitely all about the holidays. Several fragrances evoked the season explicitly. Pineward White Fir, worn on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, balances evergreen, spice, and a touch of orange. It's festive without being a novelty scent. ELDO Noël au Balcon shares some of that DNA but is quieter, honeyed and spiced, missing the evergreen. The spicy-gourmand department is rounded out by two scents that make me think of gingerbread: my old favorite, Fendi Theorema (classic, spicy gingerbread) and a new one, Kerosene Winter of 99, which is molasses-forward, rich and nostalgic.
Even On a Cloud, my most-worn scent, fits neatly into this palette: peppermint meringue, airy and sweet, like candy canes rather than cake. It's light, festive, cozy, but needs to be layered with something like Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint body cream to extend the wear.
As we move into the new year, I’m curious whether this cozy, festive streak will deepen or loosen its grip. Will On a Cloud keep its crown? (Though it evokes candy canes, I think peppermint might be nice in January, too.) Or will a surprise fragrance break through? Either way, I’ll be counting, and I hope you'll be here to read.
Happy 2026!
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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.
