Winter Scents: Warm And Woody Colognes For Cold Days

As the cold weather sets in, it's time to swap out the fresh and fruity fragrances of summer for something a little richer and warmer. Winter colognes are usually heavier than their summer counterparts, with woody, spicy, and sweet notes. If you're looking for a new scent to see you through the colder months, here are some of the best winter colognes for men.

Woody and spicy fragrances

Designer fragrances

• Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor & Rolf: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of amber and vanilla.
• Tom Ford Noir Extreme: a spicy and woodsy fragrance with notes of amber, cardamom, and sandalwood.
• Armani Beauty Armani Code Parfum: a woody aromatic fragrance with notes of tonka bean, iris, sage, and bergamot.
• Azzaro Wanted by Night: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of cinnamon and cherry tobacco.
• Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous: a warm and spicy fragrance with notes of leather, tonka bean, and sage.
• Tom Ford Oud Wood: an earthy and woody fragrance with notes of rare oud, sandalwood, Chinese pepper, and sensual amber.
• Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille: a warm and spicy fragrance with notes of tobacco leaf, vanilla, ginger, and cocoa.
• Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace: a warm and spicy fragrance with notes of clove oil, chestnut, and vanilla.
• Ralph Lauren Polo Red: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of grapefruit, saffron, and redwood.
• Ralph Lauren Polo Eau de Toilette: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of pine, patchouli, leather, and tobacco.
• Dior Homme Parfum: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• Parfums de Marly Herod: a warm and cozy fragrance with excellent performance.
• Spicebomb by Viktor & Rolf: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of citrus and tobacco.
• Parfums de Marly Layton: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• Bleecker Street by Bond No 9: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• YSL Y Le Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• La Nuit de L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent: a woody and spicy fragrance.
• Armani Code by Giorgio Armani: a woody and spicy fragrance.

Niche fragrances

• Black Soul Imperial by Ted Lapidus
• London for Men by Burberry: an amber spicy fragrance with a cinnamon cherry tobacco scent.
• Spicebomb by Viktor&Rolf: a cinnamon-forward fragrance.
• Spicebomb Infrared by Viktor&Rolf: a woody and spicy fragrance with notes of leather and cinnamon.
• Presence by Montblanc: a tobacco spicy fragrance that is not too sweet.
• Lagerfeld Men by Karl Lagerfeld: a discontinued fragrance that can still be found online.
• Bound by Tru Western: a spicy and woody fragrance with a vibrant, smoky, and rugged scent.
• Signature by Majouri: a classic and contemporary fragrance with intense woods and spice, including pink pepper, myrrh, ginger, white musk, and vetiver.
• Kinetic [-:- GMT] by Scent Story: a masculine and spicy cologne with smoky and woody notes.
• Hawas For Him by Rasasi: a woody spicy fragrance with grapefruit, pepper, violet leaf, patchouli, and amber notes.

Tobacco and vanilla notes

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum

This cologne is considered a classic and is one of the most popular fragrances from Tom Ford. It has a sexy, spicy air with notes of tobacco (in both leaf and blossom form) and rich, smooth vanilla. It's a long-lasting and statement-making fragrance.

Parfums de Marly Herod Eau de Parfum

This cologne is described as the ultimate winter cocktail, with warm spices and cozy sweetness. It has top notes of cinnamon and pepperwood, which give way to a delicate balance of sweet vanilla and dark, sensual tobacco. It's an intimate cologne with good longevity.

Burberry London for Men

This cologne has a unique combination of sweet, sour, tobacco, and pepper notes. It has a cinnamon and black pepper opening, with a tobacco note that has a cherry feeling. It's a versatile and divisive scent that takes confidence to pull off.

Twist Vanilla & Tobacco No. 12

This cologne is a surprising winner, beating out the classic Tom Ford fragrance. It has delicate vanilla and distinct tobacco notes, with high-quality vegan and fair-trade ingredients. It's a fraction of the price of the Tom Ford option.

Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Cologne Spray

This cologne uses slightly spicier black vanilla, with several different bottle sizes available. It's not the most potent or long-lasting option, but it's a great choice relative to the price.

Pete & Pedro Villain Eau De Parfum

This cologne is inspired by Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille but has a unique woody base layer. The middle notes can get a little muddled, but the complex base layer is impressive. It's a quality eau de parfum at a reasonable price.

Longevity and projection

When choosing a cologne, it's important to consider its longevity and projection. Longevity refers to how long a scent stays noticeable on your skin. You don't want to spritz on your favourite fragrance only to have it vanish within the hour. Fragrances with high longevity will keep you smelling delightful for hours, from your morning commute to your evening plans.

Projection, on the other hand, is the distance at which others can perceive your scent. It's the "scent bubble" around you. A fragrance with strong projection will make its presence known, filling the air and leaving a lasting impression. A strong projection might be enough for people to smell you from the next cubicle or across the room in a restaurant.

There are several factors that influence the longevity and projection of a fragrance. Firstly, it's important to consider the composition of the scent and the concentration of fragrance oils. Additionally, the interaction between the fragrance and your skin and body chemistry plays a role. Dry skin, for example, can negatively impact longevity, so applying an unscented moisturiser before your fragrance can help prolong its scent. Similarly, spraying your fragrance onto your clothes or hair can enhance its longevity.

Some fragrances are known for their exceptional longevity and projection. Here are some examples of fragrances that boast impressive longevity and projection, perfect for making a statement during the winter months:

• Tom Ford Noir Extreme: A spicy and woodsy fragrance with notes of amber, cardamom, and sandalwood.
• Armani Code Parfum: A timeless, masculine fragrance with a unique blend of tonka bean, iris, sage, and bergamot.
• Azzaro Wanted by Night: A fiery and magnetic blend of warm toffee, bourbon vanilla, red ginger, and incandescent woods.
• Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous: A decadent and warm fragrance with notes of leather, tonka bean, and sage.
• Tom Ford Oud Wood: A musky fragrance with hints of vanilla, featuring rare oud, sandalwood, and Chinese pepper.
• Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille: A modern and opulent blend of tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla, cocoa, and dry fruit accords.
• Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' By the Fireplace: A warm and nostalgic unisex fragrance with notes of chestnut, clove oil, and vanilla.

Sweet and spicy blends

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb

The original Spicebomb Eau de Toilette is a pure spicy fragrance with a mild sweetness. It blends fresh spicy, citrus, and woody notes with warm cinnamon and a subtle tobacco accord. It has average longevity, lasting a whole day, and its projection is decent without being overpowering. The top notes are pink pepper, elemi, bergamot, and grapefruit; the middle notes are cinnamon, saffron, and paprika; and the base notes are tobacco, leather, and vetiver.

Giorgio Armani Stronger With You

A sweet and spicy fragrance that is also light and clean, Stronger With You is a great choice if you are new to sweeter fragrances. The sweetness is balanced by clean sage and lavender notes. It has above-average longevity, lasting a day on the skin and longer on clothes, and its moderate projection makes it perfect for daily winter wear and the office. The top notes are sugar-coated chestnut, cardamom, pink peppercorn, and violet leaves; the middle notes are sage and lavender; and the base note is vanilla jungle essence.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Tobacco Vanille is a blend of spices, tobacco, and vanilla. It opens with sweet and spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, with a mellow tobacco presence throughout. It has over 10 hours of longevity and strong projection for the first few hours. The top notes are tobacco leaf, ginger, and spicy notes; the middle notes are vanilla, cacao, tonka bean, and tobacco blossom; and the base notes are dried fruits and woody notes.

Parfums de Marly Carlisle

Carlisle is a luxurious, well-balanced fragrance with a sweet, spicy, and woody scent. It opens with sweet, spicy, and warm notes of green apple and nutmeg, with a dry tobacco-like note in the background. The dry-down is refined and smooth, with a slightly woody vanilla base. It has above-average longevity, lasting 12+ hours, and performs well without being overpowering. The top notes are nutmeg, green apple, and saffron; the middle notes are tonka bean, rose, osmanthus, and davana; and the base notes are patchouli, vanille, and opoponax.

Afnan 9pm

Afnan 9pm is a high-quality, affordable fragrance inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male. It opens with a strong, smooth, fruity sweetness and a hint of clean lavender, followed by warm spiciness from cinnamon and a subtle floral orange blossom. It has above-average longevity, lasting a full day, and its projection is subtle but noticeable. The top notes are apple, cinnamon, wild lavender, and bergamot; the middle notes are orange blossom and lily-of-the-valley; and the base notes are vanilla, tonka bean, amber, and patchouli.

Warm and spicy winter fragrances

Winter is the perfect time to embrace warm and spicy fragrances. Whether you're looking for something woody and spicy or sweet and spicy, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some of the best winter colognes to keep you feeling cosy and smelling great during the colder months.

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb

A warm, spicy, and woody fragrance with average longevity, lasting around 7-8 hours. Spicebomb blends fresh spicy, citrus, and woody notes with warm cinnamon and a subtle tobacco scent. It's an excellent choice for any occasion and is more versatile than its extreme counterpart.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

This iconic fragrance is a must-have for winter. It's a sweet and spicy blend of tobacco, warm spices, vanilla, and dried fruit. Tobacco Vanille is the perfect cosy scent for cold nights and can also be worn as an everyday fragrance during the winter months. It has excellent longevity, lasting over 10 hours.

Parfums de Marly Carlisle

A luxurious and well-balanced niche fragrance with a warm, spicy, and woody scent. Carlisle has a sweet and spicy opening with green apple and nutmeg notes, followed by a refined and smooth dry-down. It's an excellent choice for special occasions or night outs, and its high-quality blend makes it a perfect fit for the winter season.

Giorgio Armani Stronger With You

A sweet and spicy fragrance with a clean and fresh twist, Stronger With You is a versatile choice for daily winter wear and office wear. It has above-average longevity, lasting over 10 hours, and moderate projection, making it a classy and wearable option. The sweetness of sugared chestnut is balanced by spicy cardamom and pink peppercorn, along with clean notes of sage and lavender.

Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' By the Fireplace

An enveloping, unisex fragrance that evokes the warmth and coziness of a crackling fire. By the Fireplace blends aromatic chestnuts, smoky clove oil, and sweet vanilla for a strong, long-lasting scent. It's the perfect winter fragrance to snuggle up with.

Honourable Mentions:

• Tom Ford Noir Extreme
• Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous
• Parfums de Marly Herod
• Azzaro Wanted by Night
• Dior Homme Parfum
• Prada L'homme Intense
• Tom Ford Noir
• Tom Ford Tuscan Leather
• Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

Frequently asked questions