We all know the usual drill when it comes to switching into our fall fragrance wardrobes. Rich gourmands, spicy musks, and dark berry notes rush to front and center. Solar scents , with their citrus and floral notes, have typically been reserved for summer. But this autumn, marketers are deploying phrases like “the feeling of sun-drenched skin” and “inspired by the warmth of the Italian countryside” to describe the newest perfume drops. It seems the solar category is coming for the colder seasons too.

Zerlina Dubois , a master perfumer, says I’m not imagining this shift to solar, and that it’s part of the larger, ongoing trend of people seeking out comforting scents in these otherwise unpredictable times. “In a world that can feel frightening and unpredictable—with uncertainty surrounding AI, politics and the economy—we seek safety, comfort and familiarity,” Dubois says.…