Light up your life – Fragrances for Diwali

As Diwali approaches, life gradually shimmers with anticipation. Homes and hearts are filled with glowing lanterns, sweets, prayers and the warmth of reunions – a festival that truly celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, invites everyone to honour new beginnings and radiate joy, making it the ideal moment to surround yourself in scents that spark optimism and illuminate your spirit.

Fragrance has long played a central role in Indian celebrations – from wafting temple incense to garlands threaded with the blooms of the season. Perfume connects us to the deeper emotions of the festival: hope, love, togetherness. It’s a beautiful way to bring the light of Diwali into your everyday, with each scent offering a different kind of inner glow. The choices below channel the exhilaration, harmony and radiance at the heart of Diwali, with ingredients and stories chosen to uplift, empower and connect you to joyful memories.

Vallense Spirit

Refreshingly green, this scent begins with a crisp rush of Mitcham mint and vibrant geranium, encouraging instant alertness and optimism. Earthy labdanum and fir balsam provide grounded warmth, before patchouli, creamy sandalwood and Vallense’s signature musk bask in the light of holy grass and petrichor. Wearing Spirit is walking in lush sunlight: invigorating and transformative – a gentle, invisible amulet for the soul.​​

Try a sample as part of the Vallense Discovery Set: £21 for 3 x 2ml eau de parfum in our Shop

Ataratma Aroha Absolute

Playful and profound, Aroha Absolute floats bright strawberry and mango through cloud-soft incense, underpinned by Moroccan orange flower and soulful jasmine – the sacred blossom of Indian tradition. Frankincense rises from the heart, while vetiver and patchouli in the base invite balance and harmony. Like an offering at a temple, this scent elevates both mood and spirit, enveloping you in an aura of joyful ascension.​​

£215 for 50ml eau de parfum ataratma.com

Shloksha Madurai Mathura

Inspired by flower-laden Krishna temples of Madurai and Mathura, the star note is kadam blossom, suffusing the air with its revered freshness. Lively bergamot opens onto a delicate rose heart, while the base swirls musky sandalwood with a distinctive touch of soft gasoline, conjuring garlanded statues and temple bells. A perfume suffused with energy, serenity and radiance: a gentle, floral light to guide your journey.​​

£54.96 for 30ml eau de parfum in our Shop

Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple

Moroccan neroli glimmers like sunlight on polished sandalwood, while creamy Madagascan vanilla and Haitian vetiver add a mellow, meditative depth. Atlas cedarwood weaves through the heart, evoking the dappled shade of ancient forests. The result is a sacred sanctuary in a bottle – a warm, enveloping embrace that brings peace and grounding with every breath.​​

£180 for 100ml eau de parfum libertylondon.com

MEMO Paris Indian Leather

Lavish Cypriol merges with Persian rose and jasmine for a floral burst, settling into a soft yet powerful symphony of Indian oud, patchouli, olibanum and vanilla bean. Styrax carries the memory of sacred rituals and sun-warmed leather, conjuring tranquil temple courtyards and dusk-lit celebration. Indian Leather is a fragrant journey of tranquillity, sensuality and delight, perfect for the luminous festivities of Diwali.​​

£235 for 75ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

Each fragrance here has been selected to bring a sense of joy and celebration to your Diwali (or simply celebrating autumn in scented form), helping you honour the festival’s essential themes: light, hope and new beginnings.​​ Something we can all enjoy, every time we spritz one of these gloriously evocative, so-seasonally perfect perfumes…

Written by Suzy Nightingale