Commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann reports the fragrance filled a gap in her collection. "I tend to gravitate towards the woody scents in my collection, but I didn't have an appropriately spicy and subtly sweet woody scent until now," she says. "It's very bold up front, but the dry down is super lovely."

Senior staff writer Elizabeth Gulino notes its masculine character. "My first thought when I sprayed Lore's Somewhere But Nowhere on my skin was that it was masculine—and it is!—and that it should be worn beside a crackling outdoor fireplace, but don't let that deter you from spritzing it on as soon as possible," she says.

The Prestige Picks

At $355, Chanel Coromandel ($355, in 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz) pairs patchouli with amber and benzoin. Contributor Kara Nesvig calls it a rich, powerful, ultra-glamorous spin on the note. "It absolutely radiates on the skin in the colder months; there's nothing like catching a whiff on a sweater or jacket collar after a few days and sinking into the velvety patchouli and amber blend," she says.

Dior's La Collection Privée Purple Oud ($350, 3.4 oz) was created in homage to Christian Dior's couture designs. Oud is lifted by pink pepper, orange and saffron. Commerce editor Sarah Han, who says woody is not her typical preference, reaches for it as a going-out scent: "It's strong, makes a statement, but not overwhelming. It's that hint of freshness that makes it approachable."

Entry Points and Everyday Wear

Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace ($89, in 0.34 oz, 1 oz and 3.4 oz) builds clove, vanilla and chestnut into a fireside memory. Director of programming and development Logan Tsugita recommends it as a first woody fragrance: "If you're looking to test the waters on woody fragrances, I think this is the perfect fragrance to start."

Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt ($100, in 0.34 oz and 1.7 oz) survived the sandalwood boom that followed Le Labo Santal 33's runaway success in the 2010s. Temporary features director Kara McGrath calls it her ideal fragrance: "It's woody, but not too earthy. It's warm, but not too sweet. It's unique, but not odd or overpowering."

Expert Guidance for Newcomers

Saint-Ford recommends sandalwood as an entry point into the genre. "It has this beautiful creamy, almost velvety quality, so it doesn't immediately read as a traditional heavy woody fragrance," he says. "It works beautifully with vanilla, florals, musks, and even fruits, which makes it a really easy doorway into the woody family."

Woody fragrances also outlast lighter scents like citrus because of their chemistry. Their "heavier, less volatile molecules" evaporate more slowly, Saint-Ford explains. "They anchor everything and can remain on the skin long after the top notes disappear," he says — the reason woods so often anchor a fragrance's base.

For brands, the takeaway is clear: a Sephora-shelf newcomer can now win the category's top award, while heritage houses like Chanel and Dior hold the premium end. The woody category, as Allure's list shows, stretches from $89 mass-prestige to $355 luxury with room for both.