Fragrances for Valentine’s Day – The Modest Man

Here are some scents to keep you smelling great for your date!

Ah, Valentine’s Day. 

I thought it best to compile this list in a few different fragrance ‘families’, giving you, dear reader, a few ideas on how and where you might wear them.

And, perhaps a guess at where you are in a stage of a relationship. 

Quick Take

Here are our recommendations from the list:

Read on for more info and the complete list…

Fresh and Sporty Valentine’s Day Fragrances

A new relationship seems to come with a degree of confidence. From “Whew, someone’s finally interested in me!” to “How did I pull this off”, walking out the door holding someone’s hand instills a sense of possibility and potential. 

Consider these for a daytime hike, walk in the park, or outdoor ice rink. 

Polo Red

That’s Polo Red, inspired by the seduction and thrill of the open road. New relationship. New excitement. And everything to gain. 

Polo Red is offered in both an Eau de Toilette and an Eau de Parfum. Ralph calls it ‘ambery and woody’, but having worn it myself for the better part of a year, I get far more ginger and sage with some cedarwood. 

The Eau de Toilette is decidedly more fruit-forward, with grapefruit and oils at the top, saffron and sage in the middle, and a base of redwood, amber, and some coffee to round it out. 

The Eau de Parfum is especially intense, so consider keeping application to one spray to start or opting for the Eau de Toilette lest you overwhelm your date. 

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue 

Perhaps it’s too early in the relationship to whisk your newly-significant other off to the Mediterranean for a whirlwind weekend, but it might be nice to dream. Unless, of course, you live there. Then it’s just another weekend. 

Either way, Light Blue is way a to capture that in a bottle and get a little closer to the sun-kissed sands. Even if you’re reading in the Northern Hemisphere where February tends to be rather dreary and cold. 

Light Blue is a decidedly fresh and invigorating fragrance. Top notes are, like Polo Red, of grapefruit and other citrus oils. A little pepper and rosemary offer some herbal middle notes. And, rosewood transitions nicely into muskwood for the base. 

And, at $65.00 at the time of writing, it’s attractively priced as fragrances go.

Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette

Despite the rather generic descriptor of being ‘for the man who defies convention’ (seriously, what does that even mean?), the fragrance is anything but. While it may not have the icon status of No.5, this is an attractive and easy-to-wear blend of citrus and subtle wood notes great for day wear. 

Grapefruit forward, with hints of cedar and (surprisingly exotic) Caledonian sandalwood, this seems to perform well and last quite a long time on the skin.

Tumi Atlas

A relatively new fragrance launched in 2022, Tumi’s Atlas is designed to celebrate individuality and freedom. Sure, that might sound a little contradictory for a Valentine’s Day list. But hey, I dig the scent — and this is my list after all!

It’s got both fresh fruit and herbal notes from Florida grapefruit and Italian bergamot. Vetiver from both Java and Haiti feature, and the base is an Indian sandalwood. 

At $125 at the time of this writing, it might raise an eyebrow from those who think of Tumi primarily as a luxury luggage company. But, I’ve tried a number of fragrances from the brand and have been pleasantly surprised. 

Earthy, Spicy, Musky Valentine’s Day Fragrances

At this point in your relationship, you’re getting a little more comfortable with each other’s habits, quirks, and features. While your guard isn’t entirely down yet, the more natural form of you takes shape. 

These fragrances are more ‘nature’ inspired, with particular attention to earthy characteristics. 

Montblanc Explorer

I feel like this is a nice transition from our first category. This is a little layered and, in the words of Montblanc, ‘celebrates the adventure and exploration of the mountains.’ 

It’s herbal and a little citrusy at the top, the way fresh mountain air might be. Middle notes are wild violet and sage — again, tapping once again into the inspiration of the peaks. Base notes are warmer and less musky — definitely cedar-forward, but in a good way. 

Le Labo Santal 33

Directly inspired by the wide-open plains of the American West and the idyllic tableau of a roaring fire and endless, inky, star-speckled sky above, the buzzword-laden description alone is well worth the price of admission. 

The scent itself is quite nice, too. It starts out with a touch of cardamom spice, with some herbal hints of iris and violet. Middle notes are where the sandal and cedarwoods join the party.

(This is what Le Labo calls a ‘wood alloy’…despite alloys, by definition, containing metal… but I suppose it’s better marketing jargon than ‘hey, we burned two kinds of wood and they smell great together!’ ) Base notes of leather and musk tie the fragrance together.

This would be nice for a romantic weekend getaway in a cabin for just the two of you, yes, which can be what’s needed after far too long apart. But, equally great in the back of a cocktail bar. 

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Moving into a true ‘woodsy’ category, this fragrance from Tom Ford is, to my mind, an enticing balance of both earthy and sensual scents to transition well between day and night. 

This is also a very complex fragrance Soft pepper and cardamom. Oud spices and deep woody notes follow. 

I’ve worn this fragrance in the winter, and it works very well with the general mood of the season. 

However, it’s worth noting that as wonderful as it smells, the fragrance’s performance, at least on my skin, seems a little weak for a parfum. Consider adding an extra spray before leaving the house if you’re going to be out for more than about five hours.

Spice and Wood

While Aventus gets a ton of love around the internet, another complex and, frankly, luxurious fragrance is Spice and Wood from the House of Creed. While Royal Oud would indeed fit the ‘earthy and woody’ category just fine too, I wanted to include something that’s a combination of each of the above. 

The top notes are some fruit-lemon and apple. Then it moves into an alluring blend of spices; clove, desert peppers, patchouli. White birch creates the bridge between the spices and the ‘woods’ of iris, cedarwood, moss, and musk. 

Is this an attractive fragrance? I think so. Is it expensive? Hooo boy, yes. But, third-party ‘grey’ market dealers have it for a far more palatable price. 

Rich and Sensual Fragrances for Valentine’s Day

At this point in your relationship, you’re comfortable and confident with each other and ready to build a life together. You’re in it for the long haul. 

Maybe you’re married. Maybe you have children together. And, while the last may make you feel anything other than ‘rich’ or ‘sensual’, a little fragrance goes a long way. 

Valentino Uomo Intense

Calling something “Uomo” and putting it in an architectural bottle like this conjures images of the glamour and sophistication of old Italian movies. Which, I suppose, is exactly what Valentino was going for. 

This fragrance starts off with mandarin orange and clary sage oils. Iris and tonka beans offer both an herbal note and a comforting vanilla-like aroma. Base notes here are even more vanilla and leather. 

What results is an elegant, masculine fragrance perfect for this time of the year. 

Ralph’s Club Elixir

This might be at home in the category above, too, but I’ve found it so unusual I had to include it here. 

This is an exceptionally intense, long-lasting fragrance with mandarin, grapefruit, cardamom at the top, sage, lavender, and geranium in the middle, and balsam, leather, and patchouli at the base. Sweet amber and rich wood invoke that ‘after-hours’ experience. 

I’ve worn this personally, and it’s one of two I use on date nights when my wife and I get some time to ourselves.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

The other fragrance I tend to use on date nights is Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille. While it was launched back in 2007, I didn’t experience it in person until many years later — it’s still the only time I’ve ever asked another guy what fragrance he was wearing. It smelled that good. 

It starts out with, well, tobacco leaves and dried fruits. Middle notes are tonka bean (bringing in the vanilla), natural vanilla, and a little more fruit. There’s a surprisingly sweet, almost chocolatey, finish here that is pretty darn intoxicating. 

While the performance of the Oud Wood is rather mild, I’ve found Tobacco Vanille, on my skin, to be more than exceptional. It can be strong, though. I’ve spritzed at 9 am and could still smell it quite well on my skin at 9 am the next day. Try experimenting with a single spray before going for two.

Parfums de Marly Herod

To round things out with a niche, luxury fragrance, consider the Herod from Parfums de Marly. 

Another complex fragrance ideal for Fall/Winter evening wear, this begins with a burst of spices- cinnamon and pepper, though which kind I’m unsure. Pink, black, smokey? Any way is just fine. 

Tobacco, fruity oshmathus, a woody ciste accent, and incense are the heart notes. Musk, a hint of vanilla, and patchouli round out the base. 

This is an elegant, elevated fragrance from an upstart Parisian brand firmly rooted in the classic and haute parfums. Look for more of them in the near future.

Wrap Up: More Than Scent Alone

Fragrance advertising for both men and women borders on the ridiculous. Vigorous, bad dancing for no reason. Unnecessary guitar solos. Bold colors. Loud music. Skin. Lots of skin. 

But, these antics move a lot of smelly water. The global fragrance market is valued at well over $50B, with expectations it’s just going to rise throughout the 2020s. 

Does my wife like it when I wear fragrance? Of course. 

Does she have a hand in what fragrances I choose? To some extent, yes. I value her opinion and wouldn’t deliberately wear something she can’t stand. 

What we choose to wear — clothing, shoes, hats, or fragrances — may be to attract someone or something. It’s hard to find much fault, especially on a website like this, which covers many of those topics. In the end, though, a successful relationship is more than skin deep. 

What is your favorite cologne to wear on a date? Let me know in the comments!