Battle of the Autumn Apples
Fall gourmands are my favorite type of fragrance, and I've been on a quest for the perfect "autumn apple" gourmand as the upcoming season fast approaches.
Some claim to resemble apple cider, candy apple, and even apple pie... but which scents deserve the most recognition, in a hypothetical "battle of the autumn apples"?
Here are 10 apple-forward gourmands I've rounded up, and how they compare (with my favorite picks listed at the bottom):
1. 
Ambre d'Alexandrie
Despite no apple notes being listed, this was recommended to me as an "edible apple pie" - with some even swearing it was so delicious, they wanted to "eat their own arm" (really!). Unfortunately, this was nothing close to a realistic apple pie on my skin. To me, it was mostly a "spice blend" + vanilla amber fragrance - almost leaning unisex with its musky nature and depth, and no fruit or "crust" to be found; pleasant enough, but not the "autumn apple" I expected.
2. 
Apple Brandy on the Rocks
This is popular, with many comparing it to a "boozy apple pie". Boozy, yes - but apple pie? Not to my nose. I picked up boozy apple in the beginning, but it was more like a "candle" than I personally care for. The apple note disappeared quickly, for a dry-down of somewhat synthetic + musky ambroxan and rum - not very sweet or gourmand overall. It wasn't bad, but ultimately not my favorite - especially for the price.
3. 
Chill
You know those caramel apple lollipops that pop up in grocery stores around Halloween? If you bottled them into a fragrance, you'd have this gooey caramel + candy apple-goodness - hyper realistic, playful, and sweet. The opening notes fade too fast, sadly - but the caramel and sweet musk stick around for enjoyment. I'm surprised I haven't heard more people talking about "Chill" - it's fun and at $25 a bottle, a total bargain for an EDP. One of my favorite "autumn apples"!
4. 
Manifest Your Future
Most of the "autumn apple" fragrances I tried had an apple that leaned sweeter - like a "cider" or "candy apple". This was one of the exceptions, as the apple here was quite tart + mouth-puckering! It is paired with musky sweetness, creamy coconut milk, spiced Biscoff cookie, a bit of sage - a fun "spin" on the "traditional" spiced-apple scent profile. Despite being an EDP, it performed more like an EDT on my skin - disappearing after a couple of hours; but it was still one of my favorites from the "autumn apple" lineup.
5. 
Irresistible Apple Eau de Toilette
This Bath & Body Works classic has been discontinued for many years, but is a unique "autumn apple" choice: very distinctively a "Red Delicious" apple, hyper-realistic, and reminiscent of picking apples in an apple orchard. The musky-powder dry-down comes quickly, with only a soft echo of the apple remaining - but it remains a lovely nod to autumn.
6. 
Moon Spiced Apple
One of my favorites from the "autumn apple" list, Moon Spiced Apple is like a vanilla-flavored Moon Pie (the treat layered with soft graham cracker cookies, vanilla marshmallow fluff creme, and dipped in a vanilla frosted coating), injected with apple pie filling. It's cozy, sweet, creamy, softly-spicy, and a delicious gourmand for fall!
7. 
Pumpkin Apple Cider
This sounded so promising, but unfortunately had very poor performance - so poor that it was hard to get much of any notes, beyond a bit of apple juice. I prefer "apple cider" over apple juice notes, and there wasn't enough of anything else for this to be very memorable - so it wasn't a favorite of mine from the sampled scents.
8. 
Pumpkin Apple
If you enjoy the fan-favorite "Pumpkin Apple" candle from Bath & Body Works, you'll love this! It smells almost identical to the candle, but has a touch more of the apple note to make it wearable (instead of being "candle-like"). The apple note is sweet and vibrant, with the warmth of fall spices to bring it to life. They've only released it in a travel-sized mist, but I hope they'll bring it back again as a full-size - it's one of my favorite "autumn apple" scents, and instantly puts me in a fall mood.
9. 
Champagne Apple & Honey
While the 2023 formulation is pleasant, it is very different from previous versions. "Champagne Apple & Honey" has long been a sweet "apple cider" scent profile: like a sugary-sweet Fuji apple, with the sparkling sharpness of cider shining through.
This year however, I pick up more of a youthful "candy apple" combined with bubblegum. The image it first brought to mind was of the neon-colored "Ouch" fruity gum-strips shaped like bandages, that came in a tin can from the 90's. This new version is nice enough - you may enjoy it if you love more candy-like scents - but I personally prefer the original "cider" scent profile from previous years.
10. 
Leaves
Saving one of the best for last, "Leaves" is an "autumn apple" lover's dream! If Bath & Body Works' "Leaves" candle has been a yearly favorite for you, you'll probably enjoy this too. It's a strong apple cider - juicy and nectar-like - with all of the autumn spices that will leave you ready for a pumpkin patch, "fall foliage tour", or just a cozy night in. The projection and longevity are both amazing for a mist, so you get quite a bang for your buck. "Leaves" has quickly become one of my most favorite "autumn apple" + fall gourmands!
My top favorites from the "Battle of the Autumn Apples":
- Leaves - the ultimate apple cider
- Pumpkin Apple - vibrant apple with fall spices
- Moon Spiced Apple - a cozy, sweet, and creamy apple gourmand
- Manifest Your Future - a tart spin on the traditional spiced-apple profile
- Chill - caramel apple lollipops from Halloween
I'm not a huge fan of apple in fragrances, but there are a couple I like. My favorite has to be Angel's Share by Kilian. Although there isn't an actual apple note listed, I definitely get an apple pie vibe from it :)