Throwback Monday: Warm and cozy

warm and cozy Costes 2 go to scents
The temps have turned cooler here at last, bringing along some drizzle and wind. Not cold enough to pull out the real heater-upper scents but something warm and cozy is a must. As I poked around in one of my fragrance stashes, my eye caught on a bit of Costes 2.

This is an oldie but goodie, one I fell for early on in my fall down the perfumista rabbit hole. It’s a soft, comforting scent that feels like a cashmere throw wrapped around your shoulders to ward off the evening’s chill outside on the patio. On stressful days, I’ve found it be quite calming as well. And with the holiday crush quickly bearing down on us, I’ll take all the calming and warm and cozy I can get. For those of you who celebrate it, can you believe Thanksgiving is roughly a week and a half away?

Costes 2 notes are benzoin, Turkish rose, gaiac wood, Tunisian orange blossom and Ceylon cinnamon incense.

This fragrance was popular when it debuted, but you don’t hear a lot about it or its older sibling, the original Costes, much anymore. But they are lovely scents created by the fabulous Olivia Giacobetti and made for the uber-chic Hotel Costes in Paris.

If you don’t happen to have this in your fragrance arsenal, but do have Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Pour le Soir (not the Absolue!), you’re in luck. The MFK offers a very similar effect, although it’s not QUITE as yummy on my skin as the Costes 2. Of course, YMMV.

Upon more digging about, I spy Byredo’s Gypsy Water, which fills the bill similarly, just taking a little different route with its bergamot, incense and pine needles. It’s another low-key fragrance that’s gorgeous for this time of year.

So please share with us: What’s your favorite warm and cozy scent? What’s that just-right fragrance that takes the chill off for you?

  • Libby says:

    I also love DK black cashmere, it is so cozy! I also like SJP Stash, and another DK, liquid cashmere? It was a limited edition and I don’t see it anywhere any more. CdG Avignon is nice too. I have the original Coates as a sample and quite like it, I’ll need to try Costes 2.

  • hczerwiec says:

    I really need to try and find the Costes! They sound delicious! I love MFK’s Ciel de GUM, Guerlain’s Cuir Beluga, and SL Chergui when I’m feeling cozy. I’m also kind of digging Ambre Narguile right now (the Nazghul!!!) AND I REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT’S LIKE EXPERIENCING HABANITA IN REVERSE — anyone else have this experience?

  • Neva says:

    Here are my two favourites that feel like a warm scarf in wintertime: Feminite du Bois and the powdery mb02 from Biehl Parfumkunstwerke.

  • sara says:

    My favorite cozy scent to take away the chill are: SL Chergui, Les Nereides Opoponax, Laura Tonatto Amir, and Guerlain Mitsouko. Dior Addict and Chanel Coco fit the bill for going out on a cold night.

  • tfk31 says:

    The Costes sound yummy.
    My cozy scents for fall ( as opposed to the Canadian winter) have lately been Petits Papiers by Mad et Len, Guerlain’s Bois d’Armenie and Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood.

    The winter lovelies are waiting though, as the temps are dropping fast.

  • Dina C. says:

    Those sound really cozy and nice, Ann. I don’t think I have those though. My cozy ones are vintage Arpege, which I wore this weekend, Bois des Iles, 31 Rue Cambon, and L’Ambre des Merveilles when I feel like wearing amber. Old school chypres and piney/vetivery greens also suit fall like SL Fille en Aiguilles and Sycomore. I was burning a Nest candle last night called Birchwood Pine, which smells like Thymes Fraser Fir.

  • Cara says:

    Ginestet Botrytis hits the mark for me!

  • Kathleen says:

    Costes no 2 sounds right up my alley. I’m doubling down on ambers with the winter chill.
    TF Amber Absolute; Ambre Russe; Forte and Manle Amber Absolutely just sampled and is heaven. I’ve also worn L’Heure Bleue and Arpege with sufficient coziness.

  • Portia says:

    Hey Ann,
    I love Huitieme Art Ambre Ceruleen and MdO Vanille as the chill starts.
    Portia xx

  • Lemoncake says:

    My favorite cozy sent is Frederic Malle’s Dries van Noten…vanilla, safron, sandlewood. Perfect for a cold rainy or snowy day.

  • matty says:

    Pour le Soir sounds like a good match.. I think I’ve got a sample somewhere…must look !

  • Tara C says:

    I love both the Costes fragrances, but no. 2 especially has quite poor longevity on my dry skin, so I wear MFK Cologne pour le Soir (and the Absolue) as my cozy scents, as well as a raft of other sweet orientals.

  • Rina (NOT in CAN) says:

    For me, it IS the Absolue! Very close second is DK Black Cashmere.