'Tis the season to get cosy - and flirty. The clocks have finally changed, the nights are drawing in and most people just want to hibernate in the confines of their own four walls.
It's difficult to want to get out of the house this time of year, but dressing and smelling good might just give you that boost to get out of the house. And bath bomb and smellies guru Lush are certainly on hand for the latter.
There's nothing that will put a smile on your face like getting a compliment about your perfume or aftershave. Apparently, there's a handful of fragrances that are super popular right now for their powers to get people sniffing your way.
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We've had a chat with Lush's very own Fragrance Category Lead, Lee Howes, to see what scents are trending this time of the year - and it looks like aphrodisiacs are very much 'in'.
If you're not in the know then an aphrodisiac is a substance that is thought to increase sexual desire. This season Lush have chosen a number of aphrodisiacs to power their new perfumes - that will leave you smelling 'edible' in more ways than one...
Gourmand
Gourmand is on the lips of all fragrance enthusiasts at the moment. But what is it? Well, it's a category of fragrance that smells 'edible' - literally so good you want to eat it.
But, we wouldn't advise that. The new 'Chelsea Morning' spray captures that perfectly with it's butterscotch-esque scent, that will leave you and who is ever sniffing licking their lips.
Lee shared: "The trend for gourmand fragrances feels never ending, and there’s a good reason - these warm comforting scents are completely genderless (as all fragrance is) and make us feel incredible as well as edible.
"If you’re not into trick or treating, then you can easily get your sweet fix by focusing on fragrances based on creamy vanilla or enlivening, zesty, sherbet-like notes. Our new perfume uses lots of tonka and vanilla, blended with uplifting lemon myrtle and the maple-syrupy note of fenugreek, making it perfect for as the weather cools."
Deep and earthy
A Halloween nears, then something more alluring and 'mysterious' is recommended by the fragrance expert. And it has the most 'effective' aphrodisiac of them all - patchouli.
Your costume might scare people, but your whiff will certainly have them running your way.
Lee continued: "If you want to lean into the haunted festivities, then look for something with a bit of mystery. Deeper, darker and smoky ingredients can be really atmospheric and exciting, enticing those around you to want to know more.
"Look for ingredients like patchouli and tobacco."
Embracing autumn
Coffee is one of the only things that can get people through the transition of summer to autumn. Sipping a caffeinated brew can become the perfect pick me up - but now you can smell like one too.
Lush's new 'Turmeric Latte' fragrance apparently smells like the foam on top of your coffee - and it acts as the perfect aphrodisiac.
The fragrance expert added: "If Halloween isn’t your thing but you love the changing seasons, look for coffee notes in a fragrance. Again, as the weather changes we often want to feel a bit more wrapped up, and finding the right comforting fragrance can really help you get there.
"Our limited edition Turmeric Latte has just launched, and is the perfect scent to spray onto your skin or lightly on a scarf as we look towards winter. It smells like the foam on the top of your coffee cup, subtly sweet but really cosy."
Striking florals
While you might think florals are more of a spring thing, you'd be wrong. Apparently, violet is great for this time of year and so is lily being the flower of death and all.
However, instead of sweet florals, the punchier notes like the above are the way to go for autumn. Lee said: "To make a statement, explore bold florals. We usually associate flowery scent with spring and summer, with warm roses and light gardenias. Instead, look for something cooler, more crisp and punchy.
"Violet is a great choice for any budding vampires to create a cool air of mystery, or you can go all in and wear a lily fragrance - commonly thought of as the flower of funerals. Lush’s Death and Decay fragrance, a crisp and clean lily fragrance which is more beautiful than the name might suggest!
Slow Things Down
Lavender is often thought as a natural stress-reliever, or something a gran wears. But, it also turns out that lavender is an aphrodisiac that will keep you calm, collected and in the mood for canoodling.
Lee noted: "If your schedule is looking busy and you actually need to unwind or bring in some balance, herbal scents are always useful. They can ground us a bit and help us to feel more calm.
"Lavender, chamomile and fennel could be lovely notes to watch out for..."
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