This time of year, I want a man to smell like the olfactory equivalent of an impossibly thick Scottish cashmere sweater.
Warm, elegant, cozy, expensive. Like you move through your day accompanied by a butler carrying a portable fireplace.
The best fall colognes help you achieve this vibe via a transportive spritz or two. Look for fragrances that layer notes like amber wood, warm spices, vetiver, leather, musk and patchouli. Or, you may want something with a citrus-y topnote to keep things as crisp as a falling leaf on a sunny autumn afternoon.
Okay Taylor, I’m all in, I can hear you saying. You love the idea of adopting a signature scent for fall, but if you don’t know where to start? Never fear, Team SG has done the sniffing for you!
But first, a disclaimer. This isn’t an in-depth analysis of the difference between an eau de toilette and an eau de parfum. That’s just not our bag here at SG HQ! You’ll have to troll some wonky Reddit forum for that.
Instead, what you’ll find in this fall fragrance roundup are the best “sweater weather” scents that women want to smell on a guy. If you find one that speaks to the man you envision yourself to be this season, that’s a success!
Looking for men’s scents for other seasons?
The tl;dr? As the leaves start to change and the weather gets cooler, it’s time to switch up your cologne game.
Check out our top picks for the best fall fragrances for men and find your signature scent for the season.
Below, find the best fall colognes for men:
BEST OVERALL
Our team’s pick for a can’t-miss men’s fall fragrance
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
- Fragrance description: “Tom Ford reinvents classic tobacco with creamy tonka bean, vanilla, cocoa, dry fruit accords, and sweet wood sap for a modern, opulent, and heady impression of confidence and power..”
- Top Notes: Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla, Ginger
A classic for a reason!
Tom Ford’s iconic fall fragrance is giving opulence. It’s giving warm vibes for cooler weather.
Developed to remind the wearer of an English gentleman‘s club — the type with a fireplace roaring even in the summertime — Tobacco Vanille is blended with rich spices, vanilla, and tobacco flower, helping any man wearing it to make a powerful impression.
best splurge
Ready to ball out with your cologne? We’ve got your picks
Creed Aventus
- Fragrance description: “Aventus Cologne opens with a fruity yet aromatic burst of ginger, mandarin and pink peppercorn, that is then complemented by a sumptuous heart of patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver. A leathery balsamic base of styrax, birch, musk and tonka provide the final touch to the vibrant fragrance. This cult-classic scent with a rebellious modern twist embodies vitality, success, true grit and style.”
- Notes: Ginger, Mandarin, Pink Peppercorn
Ready for a “Treat yo’self” moment? A Creed fragrance might just be the splurge you’re looking for.
Aventus has always been our team’s favorite, but there are several that serve up Man of the Woods Who Also Owns the Woods vibes like Viking and Green Irish Tweed.
Bond No. 9 FiDi
- Fragrance description: “An energetic, magnetic, audacious scent tailor-made for an outgoing, confident, modern man.”
- Notes: Madagascar Black Pepper, Bergamot, Mandarin, Nutmeg, Lotus Flower, Cedarwood Essence, Vanilla and Musk
There are still plenty of women looking for a man in finance. You can smell like one with this Bond No. 9 scent, whether you’ve got blue eyes and a trust fund or not.
best everyday
When it comes to the best fall colognes, the one you wear the most is a good place to start
Commodity Book
- Fragrance description: “This crisp, woody fragrance tips its hat to the Hemingways and Fitzgeralds of the world, conjuring the warmth of a quiet moment curled up with a good book. Its complex blend of sparkling bergamot, crisp cedarwood, and warm sandalwood results in an unexpectedly fresh scent..”
- Notes: Bergamot, Sandalwood, and Cedarwood
This woodsy fragrance smells sophisticated, like it belongs on someone with a home library that’s got one of those wheeled ladders…even if, in reality, the books on your bedside table have gone unread for months.
Glossier You
- Fragrance description: “Formulated to be a skin-scent enhancer—meaning it smells a little different on everyone. Sparkling pink pepper, earthy iris, with a warm, slightly-sweet base, this eau de parfum leaves a scent impact that is uniquely you: soft, warm and familiar.”
- Notes: Pink Pepper, Ambrox, Iris
Here at SG HQ, we would put Glossier’s You firmly in the camp of a scent on its way to icon status.
The cool girl makeup and skincare brand’s first fragrance is described as “the ultimate personal fragrance,” and it really is one you need to try for yourself, since asking someone to describe it to you won’t really work.
Why? It’s mainly made up of base notes, the effect is one of letting more of you shine through. But if I had to try, I’d say it’s clean, crisp, and smells slightly expensive.
best on a budget
You don’t have to break the bank to smell your best
Ellis Brooklyn Après
- Fragrance description: “The freedom of the mountains, the rush of alpine air, the bracing freshness of evergreens, and the richness of bourbon, praline and vanilla, APRÈS is a celebration of the wintry outdoors. APRÈS opens dewy like first snow and then evolves into a boozy-woodsy brew laced with spices and sweetness. Addictive, compelling and bold, APRÈS is a beautifully structured scent with both strong sillage and longevity.”
- Notes: Saffron, Juniper Berries, Cardamom
A great eau de parfum with masculine sensuality that gives off a heavier scent when first applying it, then lightens up as the day goes on.
Don’t be fooled by the product description that lists this as a women’s perfume, either. This thing is unisex all the way. The clean formulation may appeal to you, too, if you’re sensitive to certain chemicals.
Grooming Lounge You’re So Money
- Fragrance description: “This fragrance captures a timeless feeling that transcends boundaries and defines the essence of masculinity and consequential cash. Aromatic and woody to a fault… it’s so money!”
- Top Notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Cardamom
The best fall colognes are the ones that don’t make you break into tears as you hand over your credit card at checkout. An affordable crowd pleaser, this eau de toilette smells fresh for the fall season without giving off a whiff of teenage body spray vibes, despite the slightly juvenile name. A steal at twice the price.
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Classic fall colognes
And a few tried and true, classic fall fragrances for men our team loves in fall: Boy Smells Woodphoria, Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Autumn Vibes, and Yves Saint Laurent Y Le Parfum
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Check out more men’s fragrance roundups on Style Girlfriend:
The Best Spring Fragrances for Men
