Looking for a seasonally appropriate fall fragrance for men? Here are the best fall colognes you can buy right now
“Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance, with the stars up above in your eyes. A fantabulous night to make romance, ‘eath the cover of October skies…”
Indeed, Van Morrison fans, hold onto your pumpkin-spiced everything, fall will be here before you know it. Not only is it a great season for menswear, but it’s a great season for fragrance, too. And, to get us in the mood, I’ve put together some fresh fragrances to consider.
What Is a ‘Fall’ Fragrance?
Whether considering candles or cologne, many fragrances are seasonally agnostic. In other words, certain scents work best at specific times of year.
For summer, consider lighter, fruit-forward scents. Lemon. Orange zest. Floral, herbal notes of verbena and less on the spice and wood.
Also, consider employing lighter Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette, as heat and sweat can actually intensify the scented oils in fragrance.
In the fall, save the fruit for your apple cider or a Manhattan garnish. Bring in woodsmoke, tobacco, tonka, leather, and spice. Don’t overdo it, of course, but stronger concentrations are perfectly acceptable.
Speaking of concentration, for those following along at home, there are a few differences in oil concentration by volume in Toilette, Cologne, Toilette, and Parfum.
Eau de Cologne: 2-4%
Eau de Toilette: 4-8%
Eau de Parfum: 8-15%
Parfum: 15-20%
This difference usually (but not always) affects not only the projection (how strong the fragrance is) but the performance, too. The pros also call it sillage, or how long it lasts on the skin. Higher concentrations, as you might expect, will project more and have more sillage.
Some of the strength also depends on where you apply the fragrance. Our bodies have certain pulse points where fragrance works really well.
Some of the Best Fall Colognes for Men
Here are my top autumnal fragrances:
Oud Wood
Still one of the best fall colognes for men, in my opinion. Although I have this in my personal collection, it’s remarkably difficult to describe what, exactly, it smells like.
If anything it’s a reminder of my collegiate library — a little musky, a little leathery. But, there are wonderfully rich elements that are woody, smoky, and, dare I say, mysterious. Which, I suppose, is kind of the point.
If I have one gripe with Oud Wood, it’s that even the eau de parfum doesn’t perform great on my skin. Normally, two sprays of anything are plenty to last 8 hours or even more.
Here, for whatever reason, I need three. But, looking through Reddit forums on the matter, it seems I’m not alone. There is an “Intense” version of this guy, so perhaps that’ll last a little longer.
Top Notes: Oud Wood, Rosewood, Cardamom
Heart Notes: Sichuan Pepper, Sandalwood, Vetiver
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Amber, Vanilla
Azzaro the Most Wanted Parfum
I’ve complained before about the absurdity of fragrance marketing. Blaring music. Ridiculous dancing in digital and television ads. And eye-popping bottle art that, like a cheap wine with a twee character on its label, makes you think more about the package than the contents.
Azzaro’s revolver-shaped bottle is absurd. But you will notice it. And anyone who happens to be near your fragrance cabinet will see it. And ask about it.
But the fragrance is actually very good for fall. A little wood. A little amber. A few slightly sweet and salty caramel notes. All these notes make for an intriguing blend for this time of the year.
Top Notes: Cardamom, Fougère Amber
Heart Notes: Woody
Base: Spice, but unclear exactly what
Nishane Ani
A logical next step from Oud Wood at this time of year would be Tobacco Vanille. While I do like it and have it in my collection, it gets a lot of play around these parts of the Internet. We can dig deeper.
Nishane is an Istanbul-based perfume house with a unique take on one of the world’s true melting pots. While the language —“ a delicate sprinkle of scent has the capacity to kindle valued reminiscences along with enlightening feelings”— can be a little flowery, the mission is anything but.
Ani, a vanilla-based Extrait de Parfum, is named after a UNESCO World Heritage site and ancient city in Turkey. All that’s left today are the ruins of a beautiful city. But, at least according to the brand, you can build an empire even if you start with nothing but that.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Ginger, Pink Pepper
Heart Notes: Cardamom, Blackcurrant, Turkish Rose
Base Notes: Patchouli, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Ambergris, Musk, Sandalwood,
Polo Red Eau de Parfum
This one, in my view, leans more youthful. The marketing leans hard (okay, really hard) into the allure of the open road. Of freedom. Escapism. And embracing the unexpected.
Great for youth, without much in the way of care or responsibility. Or, if you find yourself with both of those things, trying to remember a time you didn’t.
I’ve previously written about the fragrance as a summer one because the orange-y top notes always stood out.
My thinking here has evolved, and much of it has to do with the weight. This is not light and splashy, though. The significant sillage means one spray might be plenty.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Blood Orange
Mid Notes: Orris Root and Lavender
Base Notes: Musk, Cedar, Opoponax (similar to myrrh)
John Varvatos John Varvatos
Value drove many early fragrance purchases. As we all do, I wanted to smell good. But, being an early-career professional, I didn’t have much to spend. Varvatos fits those two criteria, and I still wear it today.
It is a little fruity up top but more of a slight sugar buzz than a citrus splash. This is also the first time I’ve experienced leather in a fragrance.
I think it works well for this time of the year, and it’s a good blend of sweetness and spice. It’s definitely more of an evening scent, though. Try it over cocktails or at your local coffee house.
Top Notes: Tamarind, Sage Flower
Heart Notes: Herbs from the Mediterranean, Auramber
Base Notes: Vanilla, Leather Essence
By the Fireplace Maison Margiela
Summer nights by the bonfire are a tradition where I come from. It’s often another to kick off fall or the school year with another. And, of course, the scent of burning leaves (if you don’t get caught).
As the eagle-eyed will guess, it smells exactly like what the name would imply. Now, they suggest it was inspired by the cozy hearth in the middle of winter — curled up, hygge style. I wouldn’t disagree. But, fall nights are also good for this woody, amber fragrance.
While the retail price has definitely increased, I still think it’s pretty good value.
Top Notes: Pink Pepper, Orange Flower, Clove
Heart Notes: Chestnut, Guiac Wood
Base Notes: Vanilla, Balsam, Cashmeran
Jo Malone Hinoki and Cedarwood
From the fire and into the forest, now.
The forests of Japan are filled with Hinoki trees. This valuable wood is a backdrop for ritual bathing. This communing with the natural world awakens emotion. One emerges not only cleansed but also with a heightened sense of experience and appreciation — sight, taste, and scent.
Thanks to a unique model allowing customers to ‘pair’ and layer fragrances, British brand Jo Malone is highly recognizable in modern perfumery.
What I appreciate about the brand is how minimal and highly specific they are with ingredients. Some perfumers add element after element and couch these concoctions in flowery language.
We’re making perfume, not rocket fuel. There’s no need to overdo it.
Here, Jo Malone captures the essence of hinoki wood in an appropriately named fragrance. Nothing less, and only as much more, a few clean aromatics and some cedarwood, as absolutely necessary. But, if you’d like more, you could layer with Myrrh and Tonka for a warming sensation.
Top Notes: Clean, Aromatic Accord
Heart Notes: Hinoki wood
Base: Cedarwood
Creed Himalaya
While you wouldn’t be wrong to consider Aventus for fall, it’s too easy. We can do better.
Fall is the time of year when many of us become hikers. It’s not 90 degrees at 9 AM. A nine-mile hike becomes a joy rather than a chore. You’re not a sweaty, brow-beaten mess when sampling the delicious craft beer reward at the end of a long bike ride.
While you might not be climbing the mountains, you can at least sample them with Creed’s Himalaya. It’s a mixture of woody, spicy, and fresh notes inspired by the mountains and (yes, I know) a sense of adventure.
It’s also a little off the well-worn path of the House’s greatest hits. Like anything from this line, it’ll be pricey. But, it just might be worth it.
Top Notes: Lemon, Mandarin, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Juniper, Gunpowder, Nutmeg, Pepper, Jasmine
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedarwood
Parfums de Marly Carlisle
Many of the PDM fragrances are lighter, fruit and citrus-forward parfums. But, Carlisle, I think, is a nice bridge between the crisp and radiant and the rich and brooding.
At 430 USD at the time of this writing, it’s not cheap. But, as the company will let you pick out a sample of your choice with the purchase of another fragrance, this might be one to try before you buy.
- Top Notes: Green Apple, Saffron, Nutmeg
- Heart Notes: Rose, Osmanthus, Davana, Tonka Bean
- Base Notes: Patchouli, Opoponax
It’s a truly interesting scent and one that will get a ton of compliments.
Tumi Continuum
Tumi as a brand, is most known for their highly durable, upper mass-market luggage favored by business warriors and traveling consultants everywhere. But they’ve got a sneaky good fragrance collection that’s also well-priced.
I know many people like the 19 Degree collection. While I don’t mind it, I’m more partial to the Unwind for my weekends. However, those are better suited for spring and summer.
Continuum is a nice ‘bridge’ fragrance for fall and even into winter. While you will get some mandarin orange at the top, I find it more middle and base-heavy with amber, a little tobacco, and musk.
Like many in the Tumi collection (and on this list, if you buy into marketing descriptions), it’s an ode to adventure. To action. And trying new things.
The bottle also has a nifty locking mechanism for secure travel. Exactly what you’d expect.
Top Notes: Green Mandarin
Heart Notes: Incense, Amber, Oud
Base: Tobacco, Suede, Smoked Musk
FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about fall fragrances:
Where should you apply cologne?
Any fragrance can be applied, well, anywhere. But, certain body parts are better than others. We call them pulse points. These are on the inside of your wrist, behind your ear, and the inside of your elbow, to name a few.
But, any of the nine points on your body where you can, well, feel a pulse, are good spots. The reason this works is because it’s a particularly hot area on your body, and scent is activated by heat.
What scents are associated with fall?
Broad question, I know. But, leather, tobacco, musk, and soil are scents that I tend to associate with fall.
What is the best fall smell?
This is also very particular. What smells good to me might not smell great to you. But, again, I gravitate toward leather, musk, and the crisp air of an early morning. These scents are a little earthy, a little salty, even. I also gravitate toward a yeasty, bready sweetness.
Is floral cologne good for fall?
It can be, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. Instead, I’d go for something a little herbal. Sage, thyme, that kind of thing.
Wrapping Up: The Best Fragrances for Fall
It’s perhaps too easy to obsess about what is ‘correct’ when it comes to seasonal fragrance. Or to spend far too much time thinking about what fragrance best suits your personality. The truth is, those who do either have too much money, and time or are trying to sell you something.
Wear what you like, when you like. It’s far better to wear something you’re confident in and smells good to you than something someone else says is right.
Leave your questions and comments down below!
