Unlock Your Senses: 21 Groundbreaking Fragrances Dropped This September That Will Shift Your Mood and Boost Your Confidence Instantly

Kenneth Cole’s new Inspire EDT is the closest thing on this list to a classic men’s cologne. You know it, you love it. Fresh bergamot and other citrus notes mingle with black pepper, woods, and amber. It’s fresh, it’s manly—and, oh yeah, it was created in partnership with Joe Jonas himself. Take a look at the campaign photos. You won’t regret it.

I’m always a fan of whatever Fulton & Roark does, and this new extrait de parfum continues to show why. The first thing that comes to mind when I smell Lovers Lane is romance. It’s not romantic in the light and airy way, but in a deeper, richer, more complex way. It has a lovely floral heart of rose and peony, which is balanced out by tart black plum, creamy coconut milk, and fresh pink pepper at the top—and grounded by smooth woods, vanilla, and tonka bean at the base.

Just in time for fall, Perfumehead has come out with the perfect smoky scent. It’s not overpowering, even being a coltrait (cologne-extrait hybrid)—it’s a beautiful balance of smoky, woody, earthy, and even floral notes. What stands out here is the vetiver, which in itself is a blend of earthy, smoky, and woody scents.

Not only is this bottle a work of art, but what’s inside it is just as gorgeous. A floral, woody scent unfolds with iris at the top and heart along with ambrette and rose, and the dry down is a slightly sweet vanilla bourbon with resinous cistus labdanum.

Everything from L’Objet is elevated and luxurious, and these two new eaux de parfum are no exception. Inspired by California, Ojai and Alento are two sides of the same coin. While Ojai is a bright, fruity floral with citrusy bergamot, ripe mango, and rose, Alento is softer and sweeter with notes of orange blossom, creamy vanilla, and white musks.

Dries Van Noten is one of those luxury perfumeries whose bottles are so gorgeous you almost want to drop hundreds just to have them as decor. I’m obsessed with this new Velvet Violet EDP, both the beautiful bottle and the elegant fragrance inside. It’s a complex scent with woody, floral, and gourmand qualities. What stands out here is the woody freshness of violet leaf and the rich nuttiness of toasted sesame.

We all know Creed Aventus. But now there’s a new Creed fragrance that might be our new favorite: Iris Debonair. It draws on Creed’s British and French heritage with notes of English lavender and French iris, and the outcome is a fresh fougère we can all get behind.

Fans of strawberry rhubarb pie, listen up—you love the taste, and the smell is arguably just as delicious. Henry Rose launched my new favorite gourmand fragrance this month: Rhu Berry, a delectable blend of rhubarb, strawberry jam, and musks. It really does smell like a fresh piece of pie, and I’m fully obsessed.

Florals aren’t just for summer, and Belnu’s new Still Bloom is proof of that. It definitely has that classic floral scent with a heart of rose and geranium, but it’s also warm, woody, and spicy. Cardamom, sesame, and black tea add spice and a bit of smooth nuttiness at the top, and the base is a blend of woods and musks. It’s the perfect floral for fall and winter.

Belnu also just launched this lovely new vanilla fragrance, which is slightly nutty, rich, and very soothing. It’s undoubtedly vanilla-centered, but it’s not too sweet. With an opening of white almond, creamy coconut milk, and calming chamomile, it sets you up for cozy comfort right from the start. Then comes violet leaf and vanilla at the heart and smooth sandalwood and amber at the base.

Bold, rugged, and rich, Leland Francis’s new Rowdy Boy extrait is anything but ordinary. There’s a fun mix of fresh and warm here with citrus at the top and spicy, earthy, woody notes at the heart and base. Bergamot, clary sage, hay, and sandalwood combine to evoke sun-dappled farm fields.

Another brand that keeps blowing me away with each new fragrance is Brazilian perfumery Granado. And with two new eaux de parfum this month, I’ve been blown away doubly. First is this delicious fig fragrance that highlights the rich, jammy side of fig, which teams up with sweet dates, florals, and woods for a nice creamy gourmand.

Next is this dark chypre fragrance that contrasts the bright juiciness of raspberries with warm leather and earthy labdanum. It evokes the smoothness of rich velvet and is perfect for an evening date or fancy dinner.

Speaking of warm and rich scents, Noyz just launched a new amber scent that’s both sweet and boozy. Black sugar and smoked vanilla provide a sexy kind of sweetness, and cognac adds something a little dark and dangerous. But the base of amber, cocoa, cashmere woods, and tonka bean makes it an ultimately warm and cozy scent perfect for winter.

Abel and Tibi teamed up to create a new peppery, green, woody fragrance that just launched today. It features herbaceous yerba maté from South America, citric timut pepper from Nepal, and earthy vetiver from Madagascar. If you’re not quite ready to get into the rich gourmands or warm, smoky winter scents, this is a good one to keep your fall fresh.

If you are ready for the gourmands, on the other hand, DedCool has a fun new fragrance you’ll love: Mocha Magic. It’s chocolaty with bittersweet notes of espresso, mocha, and bourbon—and straight-up sweet notes of cream, biscotti, toffee, and vanilla. Yum.

This one is for all the aspiring cowboys out there. (In the words of Kacey Musgraves, everybody wants to be a cowboy these days.) The fifth Leather Vintage Label cologne from Tru Western is inspired by the west Texas desert with notes of dry desert acacia, crisp cactus water, and warm amberwood.

Sweet and smoky seems to be the overarching theme this month, and Olfactory NYC got in on the trend with its new Atlas fragrance. It’s rich, warm, and confident with juicy blackberry, aromatic thyme, and smooth bourbon vanilla.