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The 17 Best Winter Fragrances for Men to Smell Fine and Fresh (Even If That Heavy Coat Is Sweat-Inducing)

They're cozier than cashmere—trust

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Sephora, Amazon

OK, I know...we're finally about to leave the freezing cold winter months behind, and you don't want to be reminded about anything frosty until next November. Or maybe even December. Fair enough. That said, until those spring days arrive, why not savor the coziest scents to boost your spirit? Plus, why not get a head start on holiday gifting for later this year, especially during end-of-season sales? That's exactly why I've rounded up the 17 best winter fragrances for men to smell fine and fresh. After all, let's face it—nothing ruins a outfit faster than not smelling all that great, and even though the weather is much chilly/downright freezing in certain parts of the world for a few months, you can still sweat and smell...pretty bad underneath your heavy coats and jackets.

From the classic Burberry Eau de Toilette (from $85) to the spicy Dior Fahrenheight ($120), I've got you guys covered with some fresh scents that will have you smelling like Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves (or OK, how I'd imagine they'd smell) in no time.

How I Chose the Best Winter Fragrances for Men

One of the benefits of shopping for fragrances in-person is that you get to smell each fragrance you are considering purchasing beforehand. Since that cannot be done online, I scoured through hundreds of reviews and recommendations from editors before selecting what is considered by many critics and fragrance enthusiasts to be the best of the best when it comes to men's colognes, specifically for winter. That meant focusing on spicy, warming and cozy scents, though I looked to appeal to a range of tastes and budgets.

The Best Winter Fragrances for Men at a Glance

1

Best Classic Option

Burberry Eau de Toilette

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3

Best for Date Night

DATE for Men

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4

Best for the Holiday Season

Creed Aventus

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5

Best Design

Versace Eros Flame

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Best Classic Option

1. Burberry Eau de Toilette

Burberry

First released in 1995, this cologne has been serving folks well for 30 years with its musky top notes of bergamot, lavender, mint and thyme, which blends effortlessly into its luxurious base mixture of amber, musk and vanilla. A fragrance that lasts all day (according to its buyers), it currently has nearly 2,000 5-star ratings, with one shopper writing, "I bought this for my husband. It has a clean smell that isn't too overpowering." As if the scent isn't enough, the price point is actually quite affordable for the bottle size, and you don't need to spray too much to make a difference. It's a solid investment, in my opinion.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: lavender, bergamot, mint, thyme
  • Middle Notes: geranium, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, oak moss
  • Base Notes: amber, musk, vanilla
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.3 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Best for Gifting

2. Tom Ford Tabacco Vanille

Tom Ford

Want to really knock 'em dead at the corporate office party this year? Grab a bottle of Tobacco Vanille and spritz some on before you head out. What makes this fragrance so great, you ask? For me, it's the combination of the tobacco leaf and spicy notes top and middle notes, which are mixed ever-so-slightly with sweeter base ingredients like vanilla and cacao. It smells like a dream in-person, and you'll be thanking me later for the recommendation. I'm not kidding.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: tobacco leaf, spicy notes
  • Middle Notes: tobacco blossom, cacao, vanilla, tonka bean
  • Base Notes: woody notes, dried fruits
  • Sizes: 0.3 ounces, 1.0 ounces, 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best for Date Night

3. DATE for Men

DATE

He'll definitely enjoy a little bit of DATE for date night (get it?). Seriously, you would be remiss if you did not get him this cologne, as it is a fan favorite in the fragrance enthusiast community, which should come as no surprise considering the brand itself describes this as being "the fruity opening of flirtiness on a date that ultimately leads to seduction." According to buyers, DATE also lives up to its reputation of being great for the winter, as one reviewer notes, "It's a very good unisex fragrance best suited for colder weather, but it also works perfectly in summer evenings. I received a lot of compliments!"

Fast Facts

  • Notes: juniper berry, bergamot, lemon, mandarin orange
  • Middle Notes: patchouli, cardamom
  • Base Notes: vetiver, agarwood
  • Sizes: 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best for the Holiday Season

4. Creed Aventus

Creed

I have no qualms calling this one of the best men's fragrances on the market. Not only has been around for ages, but it works for just about any setting and scenario you can think of. Not to mention, it's packed with tons of ingredients that smell amazing such as pineapple and black currant, all the way to rose moroccan jasmine and oak moss. It requires a steeper investment, but lasts longer than others because you literally only need one spritz and you're good!

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: lemon, pink pepper, apple, bergamot, blackcurrant
  • Middle Notes: pineapple, jasmine, patchouli
  • Base Notes: birch, ambroxan, cedarwood, oakmoss, musk 
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Design

5. Versace Eros Flame

Versace

Let's not get it twisted—there's Versace Eros, and then there's Versace Eros Flame. The latter is the slightly sexier version of its predecessor, boasting a spicy woody scent that has hints of citrus that can be detected upon first smell. Slightly spicy and slightly sweet, Eros Flame made its debut in 2018, and is quickly catching up to the popularity of its big brother. If there's any fragrance I have no problem saying you should buy in two's, it's this one. Plus, look at that price!

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: mandarin orange, black pepper, lemon, chinotto and rosemary
  • Middle Notes: rose, geranium, pepper
  • Base Notes: tonka bean, sandalwood, texas cedar, vanilla, oakmoss, patchouli
  • Sizes: 0.3 ounces, 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces, 6.7 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Spicy Scent

6. Dior Fahrenheit

Dior

Dior Fahrenheit is definitely a scent that takes the temperature up several notches, with its note mixture of chamomile, orange and lavender, just to name a few. Described as being "intoxicating," Fahrenheit lives up to its expectations. "I bought this for my boyfriend as a gift and he is obsessed," writes one Sephora buyer. "The scent lasts for so long (roughly seven hours), and I would describe it as a warm, spicy scent. The sandalwood is very present, and it smells like a warm campfire." Seeing as though all of the reviews are in line with this one, you certainly can't go wrong with making the splurge.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: lavender, cedar, chamomile, mandarin orange, hawthorn, nutmeg flower, bergamot, lemon
  • Middle Notes: violet leaf, nutmeg, cedar, sandalwood, carnation, honeysuckle, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley
  • Base Notes: leather, vetiver, musk, amber, patchouli and tonka bean
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Best Wintry Scent

7. Bleu de Chanel

Chanel

Straight from the legendary House of Chanel, "Bleu de Chanel" is the perfect scent to spritz on for cooler months thanks to its citrus and pink pepper vetiver top notes. Add those in with grapefruit cedar labdanum, ginger, sandalwood and frankincense as your middle and base notes, and what you get in return is a captivating smell that represents love and romance.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: citrus notes, pink pepper vetiver
  • Middle Notes: grapefruit cedar labdanum
  • Base Notes: ginger, sandalwood, frankincense
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces, 5 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Best for Streetwear Lovers

8. Comme des Garcons Black Pepper Parfum

Comme des Garcons

Ah! If you didn't know Comme Des Garcons had a fragrance, well, now you do. I have personally tested this scent, and would describe it as a mixture of sweet and sour. On the one hand, you've got heavier notes like black pepper and musk, which gives it a woody scent that works especially well for winter, but then you've also got sweeter note mixtures like tonka and oud, which makes it a good transitional scent for the springtime and summer. I love how you get the best of both worlds here, and the bottle is adorable (though a tad bit too tiny, in my opinion). Plus, it is classified as a parfum, meaning this bad boy lasts all day long.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: black pepper
  • Middle Notes: cedar, patchouli, oud
  • Base Notes: tonka, musk
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces
  • Type: parfum

Best Luxury Scent

9. Armani Code

Armani

Get on code with Armani Code, a lauded fragrance that smells and looks just like the ocean. Speaking from personal experience, a lot of fragrances claim to offer an "exotic scent," but end up falling disappointingly short. Not the case with Armani Code, which gets its sultry spice from tobacco and star anise and has plenty of 5-star reviews across the internet."You get a large bottle at a bargain price, and now my son smells as good as his dad! " As the review mentions, you can currently snag a 2.5-ounce bottle for just $65, so this really is a large bottle for a bargain price.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: lemon, bergamot
  • Middle Notes: olive blossom, guaiac wood, star anise
  • Base Notes: tonka Bean, leather, tobacco
  • Sizes: 2.5 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Best for a Sweet Scent

10. Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Coral Fantasy

Valentino

Doesn't the design of this bottle just look oh so luxurious? Attractiveness aside, he (and you) will appreciate the entrancing nature of this scent, which consists of cardamom, red apple, calabrian bergamot and more. "When I say this fragrance will have you turning heads…it’s fruity yet masculine with the wood dry down," writes one Nordstrom buyer, who is very clearly happy with his purchase. "I had to buy another one and gift it to a friend for his 30th birthday!"

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: cardamom, red apple, calabrian bergamot
  • Middle Notes: bourbon geranium, clary sage, lavender
  • Base Notes: patchouli, haitian vetiver, tobacco leaf
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces, 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Sexiest Scent

11. Dior Sauvage

Dior

Is it truly Dior if it isn't sexy? Not in my opinion! In fact, Dior Sauvage has a case for being one of the sexiest scents of all time, which is definitely because of its slightly outdoorsy citrusy smell that is both compelling and captivating. If you've been on the hunt for a "signature scent," Sauvage will serve you well.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: pepper, calabrian bergmot
  • Middle Notes: vetiver, patchouli, geranium, elemi, sichuan pepper, lavender, pink pepper
  • Base Notes: ambroxan, cedar and labdanum
  • Sizes: 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

12. Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal

Jean Paul Gaultier

Speaking of sexy scents, any fragrance that has the word 'scandal' in it is bound to be a little bit on the sexy side, don't you think? Well, sexy is exactly what Jean Paul Gaultier's Scandal Les Parfums is, according to its buyers, who also appreciate its simplicity—the three key fragrance notes pair well together, without competing against one another. "This scent is very sweet, and is definitely one of my favorites from Jean Paul Gaultier," raves one shopper, with another adding, "The aroma is very good." With geranium as the top note, tonka bean as the middle and a base of sandalwood, this is a fragrance that speaks for itself.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: geranium
  • Middle Notes: tonka bean
  • Base Notes: sandalwood
  • Sizes: 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Transitional Scent

13. Michael Kors Extreme Journey

Michael Kors

The brand itself says this is a scent that "captures the rugged intensity of racing through Saharan sands," which means the heat is definitely turned up some when he puts this on. According to reviewers, it also does a solid job of lasting all day without having to reapply much, and the price is great for its under $60 value.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: pink pepper
  • Middle Notes: atlas cedar, patchouli
  • Base Notes: leather
  • Sizes: 1.7 ounces
  • Type: eau de toilette

Best Splurge

14. Acqua Di Parma

Acqua di Parma

If specifically searching for a tried-and-true fragrance for him that has been highly rated and revered for over a century, make your way over to Acqua Di Parma, which has been on store shelves since 1916. The top notes consist of neroli, mint and galbanol, which is grounded by the herbal middle notes of lavender and rosemary. Throw in the vetiver and musk base notes, and he's got an earthy, sultry scent that's equal parts rugged and cozy.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: neroli, mint, galbanol
  • Middle Notes: lavender, rosemary
  • Base Notes: vetiver, musk
  • Sizes: 3.4 ounces, 6 ounces
  • Type: Eau de Cologne

A Tried-and-True Fragrance

15. Prada Luna Rossa

Prada

Prada's Luna Rossa is also another iconic scent with a fan following—one that's endured for years, BTW. The fragrance instantly captivates due to its unique mixtures of sweet and citrus with lavender, bitter orange, mint, clary sage, amroxan and ambrette, and remains one that you can smell coming from a mile away. If you still haven't found your "defining scent yet," I'd say give Luna Rossa a try.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: leather
  • Middle Notes: patchouli, cypress
  • Base Notes: woody notes,vetiver 
  • Sizes: 3.4 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best for Date Night

16. Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme

Gucci

Gucci has smartly created two different versions of their Guilty Absolute scent—one for women, and one for men. The latter is incredible, according to those who have given it a shot. Consisting of a mixture of woody, warming notes that instantly heats things up like a fireplace in the middle of winter, this fragrance is definitely sexy, but still tame enough that it can be worn to the office.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: leather
  • Middle Notes: patchouli, cypress
  • Base Notes: woody notes,vetiver 
  • Sizes: 5 ounces
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Rare Fragrance

17. Nuit d’Issey

Nuit d'Issey

Issey Miyake describes their Nuit d'Issey fragrance as "a combination of elegance, strength and masculinity," opening with bergamot and grapefruit as its top notes, and tonka bean and patchouli as its base. Due to its overall strength of powerful notes, this scent is one that can last throughout the entire workday, according to buyers. "After trying many colognes and figuring out which one smells best on me, I finally found 'the one,'" says a Nordstrom shopper. "I not only receive compliments from my friends, but have had complete strangers stop to compliment me and ask me for name of the fragrance." Well then, looks like you may have to make this his next cologne pickup.

Fast Facts

  • Top Notes: grapefruit, bergamot
  • Middle Notes: black pepper, vetiver, woodsy notes, spices, leather
  • Base Notes: incense, ebony tree, tonka bean, patchouli
  • Sizes: 4.2oz
  • Type: eau de toilette

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you look for in a winter fragrance?

  • Scents: Winter scents have a warmer (and often, spicier) smell to them, which is very much in line with winter/the holiday season. The same way gingerbread, peppermint hot chocolate and fireplaces are a huge part of winter and cold weather—amber, leather and wood are the major staples of what makes up winter fragrances.
  • Concentration: The concentration of a fragrance is another element you need to pay attention to. The fragrance concentration is what you see on the front of fragrance bottles (I.E. "eau de cologne" and "eau de parfum"), and no, they are not all the same. The four categories of concentration are "eau de cologne," "eau de parfum," "eau de toilette" and "parfum," all of which represents the different lengths of time a fragrances lasts. Eau de cologne is the lightest scent, as it's estimated to have one to five percent concentration and will last you roughly an hour. Eau de toilette is next, with roughly eight to 12 percent concentration that will last you a couple hours. Eau de parfum is a slightly stronger, with about 12-to-20 percent concentration that will get you through about half a day, and parfum is the strongest, with an estimated 20 to 40 percent concentration that will last you a full work day.
  • Price: What are you willing to pay? That's something that can only be answered by you. I'd say $150 to $200 is a good amount to set aside for fragrance purchasing, as you should be able to get a large enough bottle that will last you a hot minute.
  • Consider your climate: Especially in the winter, you'll want to factor in what type of winter you are going to have based on where you live. Does where you live get very cold? If so, a fragrance with a lighter concentration will probably do the job. If, however, where you live is hot/warm, then you may want to opt for a stronger concentration, such as parfum.


Screenshot 2024 03 04 at 4.32.14 PM

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