Top 5 Byredo Fragrances for Fall

By Juan Markos 

Los Angeles, CA 10/18/2026

Byredo is my favorite perfume house because their fragrances are exceptionally unique. The bottles, branding, and packaging have a modern and simplistic aesthetic. Despite their straightforward appearance, the scents inside are sophisticated and captivating. Each fragrance is inspired by the memories, photographs, places, experiences, and works of art and literature of the founder, Ben Gorham. Byredo beautifully translates memories and artistic expression into perfumes, which is why it stands out as one of my favorite niche perfume houses. I love how the scents evolve as you wear them, telling different stories throughout the day. While some Byredo perfumes tend to get all the attention, many others are often overlooked. That's why I’ve compiled a list of my go-to fall scents by Byredo.

5. Desert Dawn

Desert Dawn is inspired by the boundless creativity found in isolation, transporting you to a vast desert at sunrise. The fragrance opens with sweet and spicy cardamom and rose petals. At its heart, you'll find warm woods cedarwood and sandalwood that capture the dry heat of the desert. The base features Silk Musk, which has a soft, powdery, and clean scent, complemented by crisp papyrus. I believe the combination of woods and spice makes Desert Dawn a perfect fragrance for fall.

4. Black Saffron

Saffron is traditionally worn by Hindu monks, symbolizing their commitment to abstaining from material possessions, thoughts, and pleasures. This connection to saffron's aroma, taste, and color greatly influenced the upbringing of Byredo’s founders in India. The fragrance embodies the themes of unity and inclusion. 

Black Saffron is a floral-forward scent ideal for fall, featuring notes of pomelo, black violet, crystal rose, and leather (Accord Cuir). Its base includes blonde woods, raspberry, and vetiver. The overall scent profile is spicy, leathery, and woody, with vetiver adding a touch of vibrancy to this dark yet floral fragrance. It has become my favorite floral scent for the fall.

3. 1996

The fragrance is officially named "1996," created through a collaboration between Byredo and photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The scent is inspired by their 1996 photograph "Kristen 1996." Unfortunately, it has been discontinued, but it can still be found at discounters and auction houses online. 

This scent is one of my signatures, and I wear it year-round. It features a balanced blend of cool, spicy, and sharp openings. The top notes include juniper berries and black pepper, while the heart reveals dominant notes of leather, orris, and violet, transitioning the fragrance into a powdery floral and almost dusty scent. In the base, you’ll find leather, patchouli, and vanilla.

This fragrance evokes memories of my youth: cold nights, leather jackets, and the lingering aroma of gin, smoke, and fresh floral scents from girls at small concert venues. It is my most complimented fragrance. Even though I wear it in warmer weather, where it can become quite prominent, it is especially perfect for colder months.

2. Mumbai Noise

Mumbai Noise pays homage to the vibrant contrasts of the city, inspired by Ben Ghoram's memories of Mumbai's rich past. The scent blends warm woods and amber with the sweet, plummy depth of Davana, which, surprisingly, is not a fruit but an aromatic herb native to Southern India, belonging to the daisy family. Although it's an herb, the stems are distilled into an essential oil that carries a rich and boozy scent resembling dried plum or apricot. 

Davana is high in a compound called Davanone, which reacts uniquely to different skin chemistries. On some individuals, it smells like plum, while on others, it can have a jammy or rummy aroma, making this scent very unique and transformative. It features a sweet and fruity oud scent. 

In the heart of the fragrance, you'll find coffee and tonka bean, which at times evokes the scent of sweet chocolate that pairs nicely with the smoky oud, sandalwood, and labdanum base. I wouldn't classify this scent as a gourmand, but it is sweet and spicy, reminiscent of cool, boozy nights and Halloween treats.

1. Eleventh Hour

Eleventh Hour is the spiciest scent in my collection, inspired by the words of Swiss explorer Ella Maillart. In 1951, she was one of the first Westerners to reach Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha. She said, “I wanted to travel until I did not have to search anymore. Today I know that life is a journey that brings you to the end of the world, a return to the harmony we have lost.” 

Like many other Byredo scents, this one alludes to the chaotic times ahead: the turbulence of life as we know it. “When oceans rise, the highest places will be the last refuges, and zones that were once considered hostile to humans will become shelters.” Eleventh Hour is an exploration of the scent of endings, a journey to the end of time; it represents the aroma of our surroundings in the hypothetical last place on Earth, the last perfume on Earth. This scent symbolizes life after chaos and new beginnings, marking the end of life as we know it and an unexpected future.

The top notes are bergamot and Ban Timmur, a Nepali pepper. The heart features wild fig, carrot seeds, and rum, while the base comprises tonka bean, cashmere woods, cedar, Iso E Super, olibanum, and labdanum. Although Ban Timmur is present in the opening, it lingers and blends throughout the entire scent. It’s not just chili pepper; it evokes warm holiday spices and sweets. 

This is a woody scent, with Iso E Super bringing to mind freshly cut wood, new buildings, and new hope. I plan to wear this as my scent of the day on Halloween, as it reminds me of sweets, spiced mulled cider, and cozy weather.

These are my favorite fall scents from Byredo. What are yours?