Now that winter is afoot, so too is the opportunity for a fragrance overhaul. Fragrances react differently in the cold than they do in the heat, which is why, when the mercury drops, many adapt their scents in the same way that they adapt their wardrobes. Plus, there’s something to be said about the mood-enhancing properties of a good fragrance, which, in our current situation, is nothing to be sniffed at.

Choosing the perfect fragrance for the moment, of course, is the tricky part, but you’ve come to the right place. From richly cosy notes of vanilla to alpine blasts of bergamot, these are the scents that should define your season.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Grand Soir is a warm, somewhat regal scent that is based on “the radiance of a magnificent Parisian evening” and is largely regarded as the pinnacle of amber fragrances. The vibrant orange liquid contains a heady notes of amber, which lasts on skin for hours and hours, as well as the scent of Siam benzoin, a sweet, vanilla-like balsamic resin that lends Grand Soir an expansive (and expensive) feeling. If there’s a fragrance that could make a partner swoon, it’s this one.

As the name suggests, Bibliothèque by Byredo evokes the tranquil atmosphere of a magnificent library, where the scent of leather-bound books, dusty pages, rich, dark wood and academia hangs in the silent air. Don’t be fooled, though: this is not the fusty scent of a tweed-wearing, finger-shushing librarian. Instead, it’s a more contemporary spirited, unisex fragrance that is slightly powdery, with a hint of candylike sweetness. Like sitting by the blazing hearth on a rainy day with an old book, it’s just the thing for a winter’s day.

There are three scents with French titles that have made it onto our list here, but none quite as dramatically named as TOM FORD’s Soleil Neige. Not obviously a winter fragrance at first, it’s lighter and fresher than the others on this list, with a balanced bouquet of multiple floral notes that gently jostle one another before settling down into a bright, cheery scent that feels like a stroll through the Alps.

Mr Timothy Han’s wonderfully surprising, experimental fragrances are based on works of literature. Heart of Darkness, as we’re sure you’ve deduced, is inspired by Mr Joseph Conrad’s story of the same name, first published in 1899, which charts Charles Marlow’s journey into the entangled unknown of the Congo river. It’s a dark, green fragrance that smells like a humid jungle or mossy forest and works particularly well in winter because of the subtle notes of burning coal and amber. An unusual, unforgettable scent, this will make the perfect gift for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

D.S. & Durga’s USP is transporting the wearer to another place in time and space. Cowboy Grass, then, is an olfactory trip to the dry, grassy plains of the old West, where a chilly breeze blows through the prairie, full of the herbal, smoky scents of the landscape. Notes of rosewood, wild thyme and sage mingle together to create a fragrance that is very nearly overpowering, but that settles into a brooding, masculine scent that will take you through winter and beyond.