Will these scents awaken your inner goth?
Creature of the light, the dark, or somewhere in the middle? These are my ultimate gothic fragrances, for every kind of ghoul...
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You may think this fragrance edit is just for goths - but you’d be wrong. Even though you might not identify with the subculture of goth, the darkness of gothic arts, or marvel at the spectacle that is a gothic-style building, it is autumn in the Western hemisphere, and with that comes a move towards heavier, darker and more brooding scents that suit the weather change. These notes also tend to work better with the cooler temperatures by staying longer on the skin than lighter floral and citrus notes that fare better in warm weather.
So, if you’re looking for a new scent for the autumnal season, then I’m not overblowing my tiny, spike-encrusted trumpet by saying, nobody is going to do this more justice than a goth, who also happens to be a beauty journalist. (ie, me.)
Enjoy…
The trad - but not always sad - goth
Not all goths have a predilection for gloom of course, but generally speaking, we do enjoy revelling in the dark side. These are the ultimate scents for a goth who likes black (of course), Edgar Allan Poe, Whitby, Siouxie Sioux, The Cure, fishnets, velvet, big hair, romantic gothic fiction, and vampire tales. Even if you’re not a goth, if any of the above appeals to you, you might find your new favourite seasonal scent below…
Serge Lutens La Fille De Berlin, £94.50 for 50ml, EDP
Why is it great? Serge Lutens is a creative genius; a fashion designer, photographer, filmmaker and hair stylist who is known for fragrances that reveal the wearer's personality - that’s sorcery, or sorcery-adjacent right? He also always wears black which makes him an honourary goth, IMHO. Fun fact; this scent was created in 2013, by perfumer Christophe Sheldrake who now works in-house at Chanel.
Smells like? It’s not often a fragrance smells as it looks, but the blood red juice of this evocative scent is sweet, spicy, deep and memorable. Their official blurb is pretty comical - honestly French perfume descriptions when translated are often unintentionally hilarious, behold: “She's a rose with thorns, don't mess with her. She's a girl who goes to extremes. When she can, she soothes; and when she wants ... ! Her fragrance lifts you higher, she rocks and shocks." Essentially, there’s a duality of sweet notes with a tough edge. But either way, I want whatever that copywriter was on!
Notes: Rose, pepper, geranium, palmarosa, honey, moss, patchouli.
Tom Ford Noir de Noir, £220 for 50ml, EDP
Why is it great? The name sort of says it all - it’s dark and decadent, in the best way.
Smells like? This scent embodies the gender and sexual fluidity that us goths are known for; it’s laden with rich florals but has a woody earthiness that lingers (until death do you part…) It’s deep and dark as the moniker suggests, but it’s not cloying or overpowering at all. It’s also supremely long-lasting, which is excellent news for any vampiric creatures looking to party all night, and sleep all day.
Notes: black truffle, vanilla, patchouli, oud wood, tree moss, saffron
The - I’m sexy and I know it - glam goth
I truly believe this kind of sexy goth - or alter ego - lurks within us all. The kind that is clad in latex and spikes (or just an outfit you feel hot in), frequents Antichrist and Reptile (excellent goth nights in London), loves a bit of industrial music and adores eyeliner. Lots of it. When the opening bars of Nine Inch Nails’s ‘Closer’ plays, they’re just a Jager-Bomb from slut-dropping next to any available goth who might resemble a stripper's pole. But on a serious(!) note, if you’re looking for a scent that evokes the sultry, hot side and fearless side of your personality, then these are the ones to hunt down.
Cursed Fragrances Vampiren Veil, £5 for 3ml, EDP trial vial
Why is it great? This small batch vegan fragrance brand is made in the UK, and makes beautiful scents. They don’t just give a courtesy nod to the goth life, they are fully invested. And nobody else will be wearing it either.
Smells like: This scent is sweet and a little bit fruity but amber/ resin combo stops it from being sickly, and adds a sultry dry down. I’m going to quote directly from their website copy because this is full-blown Shadow Daddy stuff; “His final lucid moments, he grows drunk on her scent and hypnotised by her empty, blood-red eyes, stumbles into her waiting embrace. She gazes down upon her prey, her insatiable hunger demanding immediate relief…!” HOT
Notes: burnt sugar, fir tree resin, black amber, saffron, jasmine, strawberry, ambroxan
Ex Nihilo Sweet Morphine, £180 for 50ml, EDP
Why is it great? I’m notoriously secretive about two things; 1) Where I got my favourite brocade cape from (somewhere in Paris, FYI) and 2) My most beloved fragrances. This perfume is my signature scent and I’m divulging it purely because I love you (and if that’s not worth a paid subscription friends, frankly I don’t know what else is.) I’m also just a huge fan of this French brand and seem to adore almost every scent they make, which is very rare. And the bottle and name are first-rate goth approved.
Smells like? Sex magic in a single spritz. It’s powdery at first, gets a little sweeter and then the deeper notes kick in and trap you in their creeping vines. This scent really knows itself; it’s sweet but prickly, delicate but ballsy, pretty but could cut you in a flash. The clash is irresistible.
Notes: lilac, bergamot, iris, mimosa, vetiver, patchouli, bourbon vanilla.