On Valentine’s day, you want to create lasting and unforgettable scent memory. Since this special day comes only once a year, this list of the best Valentine’s Day perfumes will help you make a great decision and narrow down the selection to that one perfect scent.
Being your wife, girlfriend, or any other special person in your life, we always strive to make a great first impression by dressing smart and smelling top notch.
Great Italian fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo has summed up this idea perfectly:
The best investments in every man’s life are a custom tailored suit and an expensive cologne. It’s like buying the best first impression.
Massimo Ferragamo
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As for ladies, Scent Grail’s best Valentine’s Day perfumes list can be used as an informative buying guide without having to go to perfume stores and test multiple fragrances. Let’s begin.
Brief History Of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14 around the world. Also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine or Saint Valentine’s Day, it originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring the two Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine.
There are two different stories about how Valentine’s Day became what it is today:
- According to the earliest tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer.
- The 18th-century legends claim about Saint Valentine wrote a love letter signed “Your Valentine” which he wrote before his execution.
As mentioned Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius in the 5th century, as a celebration of Saint Valentine of Rome, but it wasn’t associated to love until the 14th century with the association with the “lovebirds” of early spring.
By 18th century, in England, the association of couples expressing love to each other by presenting gifts such as flowers, and sending greeting cards(valentines) made its way into popular culture.
While today Saint Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in any country around the world, it is one of the most popular traditions just as Halloween, celebrated by millions which some also use as a renewal of marriage vows.
According to CNBC article, “Americans were expected to spend an average of $142 on Valentine’s Day present for their significant other last year”.
Valentine’s Day Perfumes For Men: The List
The color red and roses are the first thing that comes to mind when Valentine’s Day is mentioned. If a lady wears something red makes a man perceives a woman to be warm and compassionate.
It is well worth making a reservation at the desired restaurant at least one week before the romantic date, and purchasing gifts on time.
As for the Valentine’s Day perfume list, I have decided to go with warm, inviting, spicy, and sensual perfumes that leave an alluring scent trail.
Parfums de Marly Herod
Top reasons to pick Herod: A quintessential ode to warm and spicy cherry tobacco and vanilla composition.
Herod is an upgrade from designer fragrances in a similar vein of scent profile that offers both quality and performance.
Good reactions and compliments by wearing this gorgeous fragrance are something you’ll receive on a daily basis. One of the best cold-weather offerings from Parfums de Marly house.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Oriental
- Perfumer: Olivier Pescheux
- Perfume Concentration: EDT
- Release Date: 2012
- Age group: 18+
- Main Notes: Vanilla, Tobacco, and Cinnamon
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic, Leisure, and Clubbing
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense
Top reasons to pick Amber Intense: Sophisticated and masculine reinterpretation of the 2006 release, Amber Intense is blended with high-quality indigents that celebrate Prada’s tradition while maintaining modern trends.
You can definitely smell the original soapy Amber DNA in here, but with upscale richness added to enhance the experience.
Myrrh and Patchouli gently wrap around the Amber to give a dark and mysterious scent aroma.
The fragrance itself is similar to Tom Ford Noir but with a less than double price tag.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2011
- Age group: 30+
- Main Notes: Myrrh, Amber, and Patchouli
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business and Romantic
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114
Top reasons to pick Ambre 114: Ambre 144 is the best amber fragrance you probably haven’t heard about before.
A pure three-dimensional powdery/vanillic perfume that deserves more attention. The opening is thick and spicy and floral from delightful nutmeg and rose which quickly progresses to a warm heart.
Once the rose and spices are gone, it transforms into an addictive amber that is out of this world. If I had to recommend a high-quality amber scent to someone who stays away from these types of thick scents, Ambre 114 would be the first one that comes to my mind. Great creation that doesn’t costs too much.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Spicy
- Perfumer: Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2001
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Amber, Benzion, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Yves Saint Laurent L’homme Ultime
Top reasons to pick Ultime: In my opinion, Ultime is the best perfume from the L’Homme line Yves Saint Laurent has released up to this date, and what a fragrance to wear on Valentine’s Day.
The main notes include signature ginger from L’Homme, but with added powdery rose, making Ultime slightly watery, contrasting silky cardamom, and cedar.
An extremely well-done fragrance that is unfortunately discontinued but still available, so get it while you still can. Along with Chanel’s Antaeus, Ultime is probably the best designer rose fragrance of all time and makes an excellent choice as a signature scent.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Woody
- Perfumer: Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion and Juliette Karagueuzoglou
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2016
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Ginger, Cedar, and Rose
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Business, Romantic, and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Tom Ford Ombre Leather
Top reasons to pick Ombre Leather: This perfume is the smoothest and the best modern leather perfume ever created.
We can discuss that Tuscan Leather adds a touch of smoke and ash, and that Dior Homme Parfum has that edgy powdery combination of Iris and Oud, but when everything is added and subtracted, Ombre Leather is the king of the modern leather genre.
Smooth and sexy, a high-quality perfume that your better half won’t forget any time soon.
- Fragrance Type: Leather
- Perfumer: Sonia Constant
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2018
- Age group: 30+
- Main Notes: Raspberry, Leather, Amber
- Longevity and Projection: 24 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Autumn and Winter
- Occasions: Business, Romantic, and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace
Top reasons to pick By the Fireplace: According to French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela, By the Fireplace is a perfume that is meant to remind you of a crackling fire on a winter morning.
The perfume is long-lasting sweet, smokey, and addictive thanks to sweet notes of vanilla, chestnut, and creamy guaiac wood.
Perfect for Fall and Winter, and especially Valentine’s Day as a romantic celebration of love. It also has a strong resemblance to the Christmas festivals going on.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Woody
- Perfumer: Marie Salamagne
- Perfume Concentration: EDT
- Release Date: 2015
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Chestnut, Guaiac Wood, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 10 -12 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Leisure
- Uniqueness:4/5
- Value for money: 8/10
18.21 Man Made Sweet Tobacco Spirits
Top reasons to pick Sweet Tobacco Spirits: Here is a great alternative for those already tired of Mugler Pure Havane, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, and V&R Spicebomb Extreme.
A similar theme of tobacco/vanilla is here, but there is a catch. A catch named red wine makes it more desirable for those special romantic moments.
This “spirit” accord makes Sweet Tobacco Spirits intoxicatingly rich and sweet, yet grounded by the earthy/musky backbone coming from musk and woods.
One of the best pipe tobacco perfumes on the market.
- Fragrance Type: Sweet Oriental
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2016
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Tonka Beans, Vanilla, and Red Wine
- Longevity and Projection: 24+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 9/10
Moschino Toy Boy
Top reasons to pick Toy Boy: Let me just say straight away that you should not judge this perfume by its bottle, in case you find it strange or whatnot.
What’s important in the perfume inside, and what a perfume it is? Valentine’s Day is associated with roses, and Toy Boy delivers just that with the manliest rose perfume out there.
Unique and dynamic fragrance make Toy Boy the most unique designer release in a couple of years, and should not be missed. A good thing to know is that those scared of the rose shouldn’t worry since the rose is not overpowering due to the cashmeran which in this case smells like clean laundry(white musk).
- Fragrance Type: Floral Spicy
- Perfumer: Yann Vasnier
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2019
- Age group: 30+
- Main Notes: Rose, Pepper, and Cashmeran
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Autumn and Winter
- Occasions: Leisure and Romantic
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Nishane Hacivat
Top reasons to pick Hacivat: Here is another alternative for those tired of the same Aventus/Club de Nuit Intense DNA.
Hacivat comes from the Turkish precious luxury niche perfume house of Nishane. Just as those two beforementioned perfumes, you can wear Hacivat in any season on any occasion.
The three most prominent notes are zesty yellow grapefruit, juicy pineapple, and oakmoss which is somehow reminiscent of green woodlands.
If you have been craving for a more grown-up Aventus, Nishane has answered your prayers with Hacivat. And yes, it still gets you a heck of compliments.
- Fragrance Type: Citrus Woody
- Perfumer: Jorge Lee
- Perfume Concentration: Extrait
- Release Date: 2017
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Grapefruit, Pineapple, and Oakmoss
- Longevity and Projection: 24+ hours with fantastic projection
- Seasons: Any seasons
- Occasions: Any occasion
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
By Kilian Black Phantom
Top reasons to pick Black Phantom: Just like a beautiful symphony, Black Phantom is a perfume of a love story you will remember all your life.
This is full-on and in-your-face gourmand perfume. The main notes include chocolate, almond, and rum-soaked coffee. Everything else plays a supporting role.
If you like very sweet boozy and rich scents, Black Phantom might be your secret weapon for Valentine’s Day romantic night.
Furthermore, I think this is perfectly unisex and would recommend By Kilian’s masterpiece to anyone who has got tired of Mugler’s A*Men. It shares a couple of the same notes and lasts until you wash it off. Sweet niche perfume dream.
- Fragrance Type: Warm Oriental
- Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur
- Perfume Concentration: EDP
- Release Date: 2017
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Chocolate, Coffee, and Almond
- Longevity and Projection: 24+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 4/5
- Value for money: 8/10
Conclusion
There you have it. These were my suggestions for Valentine’s Day perfumes for men you should check out. Which of these are you going to wear this Valentine’s Day? Let me know in the comment section below.
For this year, I have decided to mix and match between affordable and expensive scents without sacrificing quality. Even if you decide to go with the cheaper option, smelling “cheap” is out of the question when it comes to my lists.
To make sure that you are making a good decision before you are purchasing a perfume, check out my S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide. It is the easiest and the most relevant fragrance buying guide on the web.
Find out more Scent Grail articles about perfumery, check out top lists, and other helpful reviews via links below:
REVIEWS
- Chanel No 5
- Guerlain Shalimar
- Terre D’Hermès
- Etat Libre D’Orange Fat Electrician
- Bentley For Men Intense
- Lalique Encre Noire A L’Extreme
PERFUME LISTS
- Best Perfumes For Women Of All Time
- Top Fall Perfumes
- Best Men’s Fragrances Of All Time
- Best Office Colognes
- Best Winter Fragrances For Men
- Best Cheap Perfumes For Men
LEARNING CENTER
- 12 Youtube Fragrance Reviewers That I Still Watch
- My 11 Most Important Fragrances
- History Of Perfume
- Fragrance Addiction
- How To Wear Perfume
- How To Start A Perfume Collection
Until next time, have a great time and choose your scent wisely!
Best, Marin!
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– Marin Kristic
