The most interesting new fragrances I’ve sniffed this season all have a little kick to them. Cardamom, the aromatic spice that I already loved in my chai lattes and now adore just as much in my perfume. Sure, pumpkin spice is nice for candles and a warm vanilla will forever be a classic fall scent, but cardamom feels like the cool, sophisticated cousin in the autumnal fragrance family.
Cardamom delivers that same warm fireside energy I crave the second temperatures drop, but with a little more intrigue: The note can read warm, fresh, woody, creamy, or subtly sweet depending on what surrounds it, making it a surprisingly versatile add-on to just about any type of fragrance. Sometimes, cardamom is even hiding in plain sight. I just knew I kept gravitating toward the same kind of spiced, woody warmth.
It’s rarely the note on the label, but it’s very often the reason you love something.” And with so many of the latest fragrance launches leaning into cardamom right now, I had to find out why. Ahead, fragrance experts explain what cardamom perfumes actually smell like, some options worth trying, and why this might just be the fall fragrance trend worth investing in this season. Before we get into the actual smell, an important distinction: A “cardamom fragrance” doesn’t necessarily mean cardamom is the only—or even the loudest—thing you’re going to smell.
Just like vanilla, musk, or sandalwood, the spice can play very different roles depending on the notes around it. After all, the super-sweet gourmands that have dominated the past few years aren’t for everyone. If I had to sum up cardamom fragrances, I’d say they’re bright yet warm—but that doesn’t quite capture everything happening here, because what you actually smell on your skin depends heavily on its supporting cast.
Cardamom is a chameleon, Trizzino quips, and explains that it can be added to a range of notes. Much more subtle than a cinnamon or clove note, it works quietly in the background to create a more expensive-smelling fragrance. It’s also usually one of the opening notes of a perfume, so it tends to be one of the first things you smell when you spray it.
Maybe it’s because we’ve spent the past few years smelling like bakeries, but fragrance’s gourmand obsession seems ripe for a little spice. But because it’s so versatile, it shows up in tons of fragrances you might not expect (like in Trizzino’s experience). It makes sense cardamom-laced scents are trending lately, now that fall is officially here.
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