Cult Gaia, a consistent favorite of Team Who What Wear, brought us some exciting news earlier this month. The brand decided to expand beyond its highly coveted fashion offerings and moved into the world of luxury fragrance. Naturally, our beauty team was all over it. The brand entered the chat with three new fine fragrances—each offering something totally unique.
According to the brand, these scents are all about connecting to the natural world. They’re rooted in grounding elements like rich woods and earthy resins but also make use of sparkling botanicals. They truly transport you to another place, and we had to share our thoughts on each. If you’re curious about our reviews, keep scrolling! We’re sharing them below.
CULT GAIA
Mast Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Italian bergamot, coconut, vetiver, orange blossom, pink pepper, Brazilian tonka bean, amber
I’ll admit I thought this one was going to smell a bit sweeter with notes of coconut, orange blossom, and tonka bean, but it’s definitely more of an earthy scent. If you like bergamot-heavy scents, then this one is for you. It is the very top note, so it stands out the most upon first spritz and gives the fragrance a refreshing, almost-zingy quality. It honestly makes me feel like I’m vacationing on the Amalfi Coast.
CULT GAIA
Noor Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Madagascar black pepper, fig, rose pepper, lavender, geranium essence, rose centifolia, Haitian vetiver, Siberian pine, incense resins
For those who like a rich, earthy, more masculine-leaning scent, this is it! I’m such a huge fan of spicier notes in the fragrance category, and the blend of notes here just absolutely sings. While I wouldn’t categorize this as light or sparkling scent, per se, it’s comforting and grounding and has a smoky undertone to it. You definitely won’t smell like anyone else in the room if you decide to snag this one—I honestly haven’t smelled anything like it.
CULT GAIA
Zan Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Pink pepper, Guatemalan cardamom, white incense, ambrette, Virginia cedarwood, ambrox, musk
Both Who What Wear senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider and I deemed this one our favorite of the bunch. I was pleasantly surprised because, based on the notes, this seemed like a fragrance I wouldn’t typically go for, but boy was I happy to be proven wrong. There’s a slight sweetness to this one that I love, and it smells really fresh, clean, and uplifting. It’s a great scent for fall if you’re looking for something seasonal.
“Zan is, hands down, my favorite of the bunch. I’ve been spritzing it nonstop since I received it a couple weeks ago. It’s at once soft and spicy—that pink pepper really shines through! As it dries, I get gorgeous whiffs of amber and musk that truly last me all day. This is a perfume with some serious longevity, and it’s one I’ll be wearing all autumn long.” — Schneider
More Perfumes I Love for Fall
Jo Malone London
Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense
This is my absolute favorite fall scent. The notes of lavender, myrrh, and tonka bean blend for such a unique and rich fragrance.
KAYALI
Vanilla 28 Eau De Parfum
This fragrance from Kayali is warm and sweet with notes of vanilla orchids, tonka absolute, and amber woods.
Yves Saint Laurent
Libre Eau De Parfum
This scent honestly is one of my top picks year-round. Notes of orange blossom, lavender, and musk blend so beautifully together. I wear it for almost every event I go to.
BURBERRY
Her Eau De Parfum
This fruity, floral scent features notes of dark berries, jasmine, amber, and musk. It’s the perfect gourmand for fall IMO.
Ariana Grande
Cloud Eau De Parfum
Low-key, this fragrance kind of smells like Baccarat Rouge 540 with a hint of lavender. Additional notes of musk, pear, and crème de coconut round out this delicious scent.
PHLUR
Vanilla Skin Body & Hair Fragrance Mist
If you love a gourmand, trust me, this heady vanilla scent will be your new fall fave. It’s warm, slightly woody, and sweet with notes of vanilla and cashmere wood.
