Vanilla is having a moment in the world of cologne, and it's about time. Vanilla has been used in masculine scents for decades, usually as a base note to add warmth and smoothness. Now, vanilla is taking centre stage, and there are a plethora of vanilla colognes to choose from.
Vanilla colognes range from sweet to spicy, with some leaning more feminine, and others embracing the masculine. The best vanilla colognes utilise different aspects of vanilla, from vanilla leaves to vanilla absolute, to showcase the versatility of this note.
Vanilla colognes are perfect for those who want a warm, inviting fragrance. They can be elegant, sexy, and bold, and are versatile enough to be worn every day or saved for special occasions.
What You'll Learn
Best Overall Vanilla Cologne
Vanilla is having a moment in men's cologne, and it's about time! Vanilla notes have been used in masculine scents for decades, usually as a base to add warmth and smoothness. But now, vanilla is taking centre stage.
The best overall vanilla cologne is Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray. This is the platonic ideal of a masculine vanilla fragrance. It's the perfect mix of sweet, smooth vanilla and spicy, smoky tobacco in almost equal measure. The vanilla is unmistakable from the very first spritz and weaves its way through the other layers of spices, woods, and a double helping of tobacco. Instead of making everything sweet and cloying, the vanilla transforms the traditional masculine notes into a smoother, sexier mix that’s elegant and inviting. It’s bold enough to be a special occasion cologne, but not so aggressive that you can’t wear it every day.
Other vanilla colognes worth mentioning include:
- Boy Smells Vanilla Era Eau de Parfum: This fragrance is surprisingly unsweet, despite being quite obviously a vanilla scent. The vanilla comes out immediately and lingers through the entire dry-down. But it’s the dry-down that really makes this one special. Layered with spicy black pepper, smoky resinous olibanum, warm cashmere wood, and crisp papyrus, the vanilla helps to bring out these individual notes and provides a through-line to let them shine, transforming it into something mature, evolved, and unexpected.
- Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum: Vanilla has always played an important role in Le Male and all of its variations, but the Parfum version dials up the volume on spices like cardamom that add a warm sultriness to the vanilla. The overall effect is an elegant and mature take on Le Male that’s suitable for daytime but really comes into its own when the sun goes down.
- Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum: In this cologne, the bourbon vanilla in the base note works to anchor the scent to your skin with a touch of sweetness and a bit of booziness, allowing the spiciness to take centre stage and the woodsy notes to add a bit of wood-fired smokiness. It’s a warm, inviting fragrance that is the olfactory equivalent of a glass of bourbon shared by a roaring fire.
- D.S. & DURGA Deep Dark Vanilla Eau de Parfum: The deepness and darkness of this bold cologne come from the double helping of vanilla, from both an absolute and leaves, which are used less frequently when creating vanilla colognes. It’s a modern take on vanilla, full of twists and turns as the scent evolves on the skin, and thanks to its ultra-concentration, there’s plenty of time for that evolution.
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Best Vanilla Colognes for a Party
Vanilla is a versatile note in fragrances, and it can be used in both masculine and feminine perfumes. Vanilla has been used in masculine scents for decades, usually in the base as a way to add warmth and smoothness. However, vanilla is now taking centre stage in colognes.
Perfumehead La La Love Extrait de Parfum is the perfect scent for a party. It tells the story of the morning after a wild party, with warm and deep vanilla mixed with notes of saffron, cognac, nutmeg, davana, incense, sandalwood, black tea, Peru balsam, tonka bean, amber, and musk. This combination brings an earthy sexiness that makes the fragrance more wearable and masculine.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray is another excellent choice for a party. It is a bold and elegant fragrance that combines sweet, smooth vanilla with spicy, smoky tobacco. The vanilla is unmistakable from the very first spritz, and it weaves its way through the other layers of spices, woods, and a double helping of tobacco. This cologne is perfect for a special occasion, but it's not too aggressive to wear every day.
Other vanilla colognes that are great for parties include Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum, which is a mature and elegant take on the iconic Le Male fragrance, and Paco Rabanne 1 Million Elixir Parfum Intense, a bold, brash, and unapologetically sweet fragrance with notes of vanilla absolute, apple, damask rose, and tonka bean.
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Best Everyday Vanilla Colognes
Vanilla is having a moment in men's cologne, and it's about time too. Vanilla notes have been used in masculine scents for decades, usually as a base to add warmth and smoothness. But now vanilla is taking centre stage.
Boy Smells Vanilla Era Eau de Parfum
Allow this fragrance to change your mind about vanilla colognes. It’s surprisingly unsweet, despite being obviously a vanilla scent. The vanilla comes out immediately and lingers throughout the entire dry-down. But it’s the dry-down that really makes this one special. Layered with spicy black pepper, smoky resinous olibanum, warm cashmere wood, and crisp papyrus, the vanilla helps to bring out these individual notes and provides a through-line to let them shine, transforming it into something mature, evolved, and unexpected.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray
Is this the platonic ideal of a masculine vanilla fragrance? Arguably, yes. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, smooth vanilla and spicy, smoky tobacco in almost equal measure. The vanilla is unmistakable from the very first spritz and weaves its way through the other layers of spices, woods, and a double helping of tobacco. Instead of making everything sweet and cloying, the vanilla transforms the traditional masculine notes into a smoother, sexier mix that’s elegant and inviting. It’s bold enough to be a special occasion cologne, but not so aggressive that you can’t wear it every day.
Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum
In terms of vanilla colognes, this one doesn’t smack you across the face. Instead, the bourbon vanilla in the base note works to anchor the scent to your skin with a touch of sweetness and a bit of booziness, allowing the spiciness to take centre stage and the woodsy notes to add a bit of wood-fired smokiness. It’s a warm, inviting fragrance that is the olfactory equivalent of a glass of bourbon shared by a roaring fire.
Versace Eros Eau de Parfum
Vanilla fragrances tend toward warmth and sweetness, but this one turns that idea upside down. The opening note is undeniably sweet, but it's countered with a zing of lemon and mint and the crispness of green apple. That fresh quality allows the deeper notes of vanilla, cedar, vetiver, and oakmoss to take on a different quality, breathing a bit without bogging everything down. It’s a surprisingly versatile vanilla cologne that can even be worn in warm weather.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum
Le Male is one of the most iconic men’s colognes of all time and is enjoying a resurgence thanks to #FragranceTok. Vanilla has always played an important role in Le Male and all of its variations, but the Parfum version dials up the volume on spices like cardamom that add a warm sultriness to the vanilla. The overall effect is an elegant and mature take on Le Male that’s suitable for daytime, but really finds its calling when the sun goes down.
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Best Spicy Vanilla Colognes
Vanilla is having a moment in men's cologne, and it's about time! Vanilla notes have been used in masculine scents for decades, usually as a base to add warmth and smoothness. But now, vanilla is taking centre stage.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum
Le Male is an iconic men's cologne, and it's enjoying a resurgence. Vanilla has always played an important role in Le Male and its variations, but the Parfum version dials up the volume on spices like cardamom that add a warm sultriness to the vanilla. It's an elegant and mature take on a classic that's suitable for daytime but comes into its own after dark.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray
Could this be the platonic ideal of a masculine vanilla fragrance? Arguably, yes. It's the perfect mix of sweet, smooth vanilla and spicy, smoky tobacco in almost equal measure. The vanilla is unmistakable from the very first spritz and weaves its way through the other layers of spices, woods, and a double helping of tobacco. The vanilla transforms the traditional masculine notes into a smoother, sexier mix that's elegant and inviting. It's bold enough for special occasions but not so aggressive that you can't wear it every day.
Spicebomb Extreme by Viktor&Rolf
One of several recommendations from fragrance enthusiasts on Reddit, Spicebomb Extreme is described as "cinnamon and spices with a lot of vanilla". It's "long-lasting" and "perfect".
Tom Ford Vanille Fatale
Described by one Redditor as "very nice", Vanille Fatale is "intoxicating" and "high quality". It lasts "easily 24 hours" and just "one spray is enough".
Armani Code Absolu Giorgio Armani
A suggestion from a Redditor for a good vanilla fragrance for men.
Eau des Baux L'Occitane en Provence
This vanilla fragrance gets several recommendations from Redditors. It's described as "hard to beat" and "long-lasting". One person says it's their "favourite vanilla".
Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Another suggestion from a Redditor.
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Best Warm Vanilla Colognes
Vanilla is a versatile note in fragrances, adding warmth and smoothness. It can be combined with other notes like spices and woods to create a sophisticated, grown-up scent. Here are some of the best warm vanilla colognes for men:
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray
This cologne is described as the "platonic ideal of a masculine vanilla fragrance." It combines sweet, smooth vanilla with spicy, smoky tobacco, creating a bold yet elegant and inviting scent. It's versatile enough to be worn for special occasions or every day.
Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum
This cologne has a subtle approach to vanilla, using bourbon vanilla as a base note to add a touch of sweetness and booziness while allowing the spiciness and woodsy notes to take center stage. It creates a warm and inviting fragrance, reminiscent of sharing a glass of bourbon by a roaring fire.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum
Le Male is an iconic men's cologne, and vanilla has always played an important role in its variations. The Parfum version dials up the volume on spices like cardamom, adding a warm sultriness to the vanilla. It's an elegant and mature take on the classic fragrance, suitable for daytime and especially captivating when the sun goes down.
Boy Smells Vanilla Era Eau de Parfum
This fragrance challenges the notion of vanilla colognes being overly sweet. While it is unmistakably a vanilla scent, it is surprisingly unsweet. The vanilla is immediate and lingers through the dry-down, bringing out individual notes like spicy black pepper, smoky resinous olibanum, and warm cashmere wood, creating a mature and unexpected scent.
Jo Malone London Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne Intense
This cologne is a vanilla-tinged aquatic fragrance. It opens with a mix of bright, juicy grapefruit tea and spicy cardamom, drying down to a floral vetiver base. The Bourbon vanilla note gives it a warm and comforting vibe, like lounging in the sun on a beach.
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Frequently asked questions
Boy Smells Vanilla Era Eau de Parfum is a great option for an everyday vanilla cologne. It is surprisingly unsweet, despite being a vanilla scent, and the vanilla lingers through the entire dry-down.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray is considered the platonic ideal of a masculine vanilla fragrance. It is the perfect mix of sweet, smooth vanilla and spicy, smokey tobacco.
Perfumehead La La Love Extrait de Parfum is a great option for a party. It is a warm and deep vanilla mixed with notes like saffron, sandalwood, incense, and musk to bring an earthy sexiness.