11 Best Amber Perfumes For All Budgets: Sweet and Spicy Scents

A warm, sensual fragrance is a must-have for the fall and winter. With the chilly weather, we need a scent that will make us feel nice and cozy to make the cold a little more bearable. While there are dozens of fragrance notes out there that match this vibe, from woody musk to warm vanilla, one of our favorite notes, or in this case accords, for this time of year is amber, the perfect crossover between sweet and smoky. It works well with many different note pairings and equates to the feeling of snuggling up under a warm blanket. To help you find the right one, we rounded up the best amber perfumes that will have you smelling divine all season long.

What is amber?

If you’re not familiar with amber scents, you may not know exactly what it is. And even if you know what amber smells like, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding what it is. Many people think amber is a type of note, a name you hear a lot in the perfume world. A note is a single ingredient, such as vanilla or jasmine, common perfume notes.

However, amber is actually an accord, not a note, meaning it’s a blend of different ingredients that make the scent of amber. Common amber accords often include a mix of vanilla, tonka bean, patchouli, labdanum and benzoin, and maybe others.

What does amber perfume smell like?

Amber accord can be described as sweet and spicy. It’s rich, complex and warm, making it a standout for fall and winter, whereas, in the summer and spring, you may turn to lighter, citrusy or floral scents. Amber perfume usually has more depth than a vanilla perfume, but still has that sweetness. But it’s not as smoky as a powerful woody perfume, although it has a bit of that smoky, musky scent. It’s a great blend of the two ends of the spectrum.

11 best amber perfumes

Keep reading for the best amber perfumes to wear for the fall and winter. These top picks range from drugstore to high-end.

Kayali Invite Only Amber 23 Perfume

Kayali Invite Only Amber 23 Perfume

Kayali is becoming a leader in the fragrance world, with one of their most popular scents, Kayali Vanilla 28 perfume, going viral on social media. While we do love that one, one of our other favorites is Kayali Invite Only Amber 23 Perfume. With notes of black cherry, honey de Provence, tobacco leaf, chocolate hazelnut accord, rose, oud oil, amber resin and Madagascan vanilla, among others, it’s seductive, warm, sweet and smoky. Plus, it gets an A+ for packaging with its luxe and sophisticated glass bottle with a diamond-look-a-like cap and warm brown coloring.

Dossier Ambery Vanilla

For an affordable amber perfume, try Dossier Ambery Vanilla, a dupe for the beloved YSL Black Opium. It costs just $29 for 50 mL or 1.69 fl. oz., and smells like luxury. It has notes of pear, licorice, orange blossom, jasmine flowers, vanilla and black coffee. It’s warm, sweet and slightly spicy, and a compelling amber perfume.

Mugler Alien Goddess Intense Eau de Parfum

Ellis Brooklyn Super Amber Eau de Parfum

The brand describes Ellis Brooklyn Super Amber Eau de Parfum as a “cashmere blanket on warm bare skin.” It’s cozy, sweet and musky, thanks to notes of amber, vanilla accord, Virginia cedarwood and musk. Plus, it smells unique on everyone, as it interacts with your own specific skin chemistry.

Good Chemistry Queen Bee Body Mist

For a drugstore amber fragrance, one our favorites is Good Chemistry Queen Bee Body Mist. They have both this body mist version, which rings in at around $14, as well as an eau de parfum version. This body mist version is light and great for reapplying on the go or layering with your favorite perfume. It has notes of black currant, peony and, of course, amber.

Glossier You Doux Eau de Parfum

Glossier recently released a new perfume to their collection, Glossier You Doux Eau de Parfum, which is a great ambery scent. It’s soft, woody and slightly sweet, with notes of sweet violet, palo santo, frankincense, myrrh, ambrette and ambrox. It’s not too overpowering and enhances your skin’s natural scent. To top it off, it costs less than $100.

Nemat Amber Perfume Oil

Perfume oils are having a huge moment, and understandably so. Perfume oils are typically longer-lasting and stronger than traditional perfumes, and are so easy to throw in your bag and go. Plus, they tend to be more affordable despite their longer-lasting properties. Nemat Amber Perfume Oil is our favorite amber perfume oil and is sweet and woody.

Dior Ambre Nuit Eau de Parfum

If you’re looking to splurge, Dior Ambre Nuit Eau de Parfum is a classic and a fan favorite. It’s bold, seductive and has a hint of floral (but not too much), thanks to notes of amber and Damascus rose.

Noyz Unmute Eau De Parfum

This pick, Noyz Unmute Eau De Parfum, is one of my absolute all-time favorites, and a scent I’m constantly getting compliments on. It’s sweet and spicy, and the packaging is contemporary and sassy. Notes include black plum, pistachio, cashmere woods, Madagascar vanilla and amber (among others), which all blend beautifully together to create this amber perfume.

Phlur Soft Spot Eau de Parfum

Phlur Soft Spot Eau de Parfum is a popular one, and we can see (or smell) why. It’s sultry, slightly floral-y and musky, with notes of vanilla orchid, sandalwood, musk and amber.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir

You may know Maison Francis Kurkdjian for their beloved, highly sought-after Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume, but we’re here to recommend Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir as well. The amber fragrance includes key notes of benzoin, rose honey, incense absolute, ylang-ylang, cumin, cedarwood and sandalwood. It’s another great splurge option if you’re looking to treat yourself (or a loved one).