Quick answer: A spicy perfume uses notes such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, saffron, cardamom and ginger. For warm spice on autumn and winter evenings, choose Mykonos Dark Secret (saffron, cinnamon and black cherry) or Mykonos Aphrodite (burnt cinnamon and myrrh). For a fresh spicy perfume you can wear to work, choose Mykonos Conquer (cardamom and ginger) or Mykonos Inception (ginger, cinnamon and black tea).
Spice is what gives a perfume warmth and bite. A pinch of cardamom makes citrus sparkle; a dose of cinnamon or clove turns vanilla into something darker and more grown-up. Not every spicy perfume is heavy, though. The difference comes down to which spices are used and what they are paired with. This guide sorts our range by spice, including Mykonos Invade, Mykonos Bonfire Vanilla and Mykonos Inferno, so you can find the one you like and know when to wear it.
Warm spice vs fresh spice
Perfumers split spices into two broad groups:
- Warm spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and saffron are sweet, rich and slightly resinous. They usually sit with vanilla, amber, tobacco and woods, and they feel best in cold weather.
- Fresh spices such as cardamom, ginger and pink pepper are bright, zesty and cool. They usually sit with citrus, and they work in any season.
Most of our spicy perfumes mix both, but one group usually leads. Our guide to fragrance families explained shows where spicy scents fit in the bigger picture.
Cinnamon perfumes
Aphrodite: burnt cinnamon, myrrh and tobacco
Aphrodite opens with jasmine, burnt cinnamon and myrrh, moves into cedarwood, tonka bean and sandalwood, and settles on white musk, tobacco, vanilla and mineral amber. The accord is woody, warm spicy and vanilla. The brand describes it as mysterious, sensual and self-possessed.
It is unisex, rated strong in intensity, sillage and projection, with a rated longevity of 12+ hours. It is tagged for autumn and winter evenings and special occasions, and comes in 50 ml and 100 ml. See how it compares with its closest neighbour in Dark Secret vs Aphrodite.
Invade: cinnamon bark, caramel and lavender
Invade, our collaboration with SetiawanAde, opens with pink pepper, lavender absolute and juniper; cashmeran, cinnamon bark and caramel form the heart; and amber, Madagascar vanilla and dry woods make up the base. The accord is warm spicy, vanilla and woody, with a fresh, spicy start and a smooth, smouldering finish.
It is listed for men, rated strong in intensity with moderate-to-strong sillage and projection and a rated longevity of 10+ hours. It is tagged for autumn and winter, for daily wear and evenings, and comes as a 50 ml extrait. Our guide to lavender perfumes looks at its herbal side.
Inception: cinnamon with black tea and citrus
Inception shows how light a cinnamon perfume can be. Bergamot, ginger, orange and lemon open it; neroli, cinnamon, black tea and biga flower form the heart; and guaiac wood, musk, cedarwood and Lorenox™ make up the base. The cinnamon is a warm thread in a citrus, aromatic and woody accord rather than the main event.
It is listed for men, rated moderate in intensity with strong sillage, moderate-to-strong projection and a rated longevity of 12+ hours. It is tagged for spring and summer, for daily wear, evenings and work, and comes in 50 ml and 100 ml. At the time of writing it had 60 customer reviews averaging 4.53 out of 5.
Saffron perfume
Dark Secret: saffron, black cherry and nutmeg
Dark Secret is the only perfume in our range with saffron. It opens with black cherry, saffron and bergamot; cinnamon, nutmeg, marigold, jasmine and praline form the heart; and amber, musk, tonka bean and sandalwood make up the base. The accord is sweet, warm spicy and woody, with three warm spices layered over dark fruit.
It is unisex, rated strong in intensity, sillage and projection, with a rated longevity of 12+ hours. It is tagged for autumn and winter evenings and special occasions, and comes as a 100 ml extrait. Our guide to cherry perfumes looks at its fruity side.
Clove and nutmeg perfumes
Bonfire Vanilla: clove, nutmeg and smoke
Bonfire Vanilla opens with clove, nutmeg, pink pepper, orange zest and vanilla. Smoked wood, pepper, guaiac wood and burnt brown sugar form the heart, and smoked wood, vanilla, marshmallow and caramel make up the base. The brand describes a smoky-sweet gourmand that starts spicy and strong and dries down cosy and warm.
It is unisex, rated strong in intensity, sillage and projection, with a rated longevity of 10+ hours. It is tagged for autumn and winter evenings and special occasions, and comes as a 50 ml extrait. Our Bonfire Vanilla review covers it in detail, and our guide to smoky perfumes explores the smoke.
Inferno: clove and cardamom under caramelised pineapple
Inferno proves that a spicy perfume can work in summer. Blackcurrant, bergamot, grapefruit and caramelised pineapple open it; clove, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and rose form a spiced heart; and patchouli, oakmoss, amber, musk, vetiver, tonka bean and ambroxan make up the base. The accord is fruity, spicy and mossy.
It is unisex, rated strong in intensity and tagged for summer, for daily wear, evenings and special occasions. As part of the Sunforged collection, it comes in 100 ml only. Read our Inferno review for more.
Cardamom and ginger: the fresh spicy perfume
Conquer: cardamom, ginger and orris
Conquer opens with bergamot, ginger and cardamom, softens into orris and orange blossom, and settles on patchouli, musk, modern amber and vanilla. The accord is citrus, fresh and warm spicy, and the brand describes it as controlled, grounded and quietly powerful.
It is listed for men, rated strong in intensity, sillage and projection, with a rated longevity of 12+ hours. It is tagged for autumn and winter, for daily wear, evenings and work, and comes in 50 ml and 100 ml. If you are choosing between it and Invade, read Conquer vs Invade. Ginger also runs through many of our fresher scents; browse them in our ginger perfumes.
Spicy perfume at a glance
| Perfume | Spices | Also | Season | Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphrodite | Burnt cinnamon | Myrrh, tobacco, vanilla | Autumn, winter | Evening, special |
| Invade | Cinnamon bark, pink pepper | Lavender, caramel, vanilla | Autumn, winter | Daily, evening |
| Inception | Cinnamon, ginger | Black tea, neroli, woods | Spring, summer | Daily, evening, work |
| Dark Secret | Saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg | Black cherry, praline, amber | Autumn, winter | Evening, special |
| Bonfire Vanilla | Clove, nutmeg, pink pepper | Smoked wood, marshmallow, caramel | Autumn, winter | Evening, special |
| Inferno | Clove, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom | Caramelised pineapple, oakmoss | Summer | Daily, evening, special |
| Conquer | Cardamom, ginger | Orris, amber, vanilla | Autumn, winter | Daily, evening, work |
How to wear a spicy perfume
Warm spices bloom in cold air and can feel intense in heat, which is why five of these seven are tagged for autumn and winter. All seven are extraits, so start with two sprays and build from there. For the office, stick to Conquer or Inception, both listed for work. For an evening out, Aphrodite, Dark Secret and Bonfire Vanilla are listed for evenings and special occasions; see our date-night perfumes for more. Browse the whole warm side of our range in the Woody & Vanilla collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best spicy perfume for men?
Conquer, Invade and Inception are listed for men, ranging from fresh (Inception) to warm (Invade). Aphrodite, Dark Secret, Bonfire Vanilla and Inferno are unisex and suit men just as well.
Is there a spicy perfume for summer?
Yes. Inferno is tagged for summer, and Inception for spring and summer. Both pair their spice with bright citrus or fruit.
Which spicy perfume lasts longest?
Aphrodite, Dark Secret, Conquer and Inception are all rated 12+ hours. Invade and Bonfire Vanilla are rated 10+ hours.
Which of your perfumes contains saffron?
Only Dark Secret, where saffron opens alongside black cherry and bergamot.