Gothic Florals | The Darker Side of Floral Perfume.
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Mention floral perfume and you might immediately think of fresh roses, delicate spring flowers and light, feminine fragrances.
But flowers have a darker side too.
Pair rose with oud or patchouli and it becomes much richer. Jasmine has naturally occurring compounds that can give it a heady, almost animalic quality, while incense can bring smoke into a floral fragrance.
These are the perfumes we’re calling gothic florals. They’re perfect for an autumn bridal perfume, and with Halloween approaching, now seems like a very good time to explore them.
What Is a Gothic Floral Perfume?
A gothic floral perfume combines prominent flower notes with deeper ingredients such as oud, incense, patchouli or dark woods. Rose, jasmine and other white flowers work particularly well in these fragrances because their stronger aromas can still be detected alongside richer notes.
5 Gothic Floral Perfumes to Try
Fancy venturing over to the dark side of the floral family? We’ve picked five vegan perfumes that show what happens when beautiful floral notes meet some of perfumery’s deeper ingredients.
Portrait of a Lady
The ultimate Halloween perfume, rose is firmly at the centre of our Portrait of a Lady inspired perfume, but this isn’t your typical fresh rose fragrance.
Patchouli dominates the base, while warm spices, woods and smoky notes give the rose a much darker setting. There’s even a fitting literary connection. The original fragrance takes its name from Henry James’s 1881 novel The Portrait of a Lady.
If you love rose but usually find traditional rose perfumes a little too delicate, this takes the flower somewhere much richer.
Black Orchid
With a name like Black Orchid, we couldn’t leave this one out.
Our Black Orchid inspired perfume opens with blackcurrant and mandarin before orchid, ylang-ylang and jasmine emerge. Those florals are surrounded by rich spices and warm woods, giving the fragrance a heavier character than you’d expect from a typical floral perfume.
Jasmine is especially interesting here because of its naturally indolic side. It’s a good example of how white flowers can become rich and heady when they’re used in a darker composition.
Oud Ispahan Inspired Perfume
Rose and oud are one of perfumery’s classic combinations, and our Oud Ispahan inspired perfume shows exactly why they work so well together.
The rose brings a recognisable floral scent, while oud introduces a rich woody character. Labdanum adds its warm, resinous aroma to the fragrance too.
The result takes rose a long way from the fresh, green versions you might wear during spring. Remember men can wear floral fragrances too and this unisex one a try if you already know you enjoy stronger oud perfumes.
Rose D’Arabie Inspired Perfume
For another take on dark rose, our Rose D’Arabie inspired perfume combines rose with oud, patchouli and vanilla.
Eden describes this as its strongest rose and oud fragrance, so expect the rose to have some serious competition. Oud brings the woody character, patchouli adds an earthier smell and vanilla introduces sweetness.
It’s a particularly good choice if you love rose perfumes but want something much richer for autumn evenings.
Oud Save the Queen Inspired Perfume
Our Oud Save the Queen inspired perfume brings several floral notes into a much more complex fragrance.
Orange blossom, jasmine and rose appear alongside oud, tea, bergamot, vanilla, tonka bean and resins. The combination gives you plenty of floral character, but the oud and resins take the fragrance into warmer, smokier territory.
Try this one if you’re already a fan of rich perfumes and want a gothic floral with plenty going on beyond the flowers.
Are Gothic Floral Perfumes Just for Autumn and Winter?
You can wear a gothic floral at any time of year, although it’s easy to see why these fragrances become particularly appealing once autumn arrives.
Oud, incense, resins and patchouli tend to create richer fragrances, which many perfume lovers enjoy during cooler weather. If you normally swap your lighter summer scents for deeper perfumes in autumn, a dark floral is an easy way to make that seasonal change.
And, of course, they make a pretty fitting perfume choice for a bewitching Halloween perfume.
Find Your Darker Floral
You likely think of bright, fresh bouquets when it comes to floral fragrances. But rose can become rich and woody alongside oud, while jasmine brings its own headier qualities to a fragrance.
So, if your usual floral perfume collection is looking a little too innocent this Halloween, explore Eden’s luxury vegan perfumes and discover the darker side of your favourite flowers.