Before you know it, the winter will knock on your doorstep. As the seasons change from summer to autumn, autumn and winter, so do our clothes change. That’s why it’s important to switch our colognes as well. Choosing the best winter fragrances for men can get overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.
That’s why I have compiled a list of 20 Eau de Toilette and Eau de Perfume fragrances for men for various situations and different styles. Winter fragrances tend to be more resinous, woody, spicy, and sweet in their scent profile.
But, one of the common mistakes that people make is that they stop wearing their summer fragrances during this season.
Although this may be true for pure fresh and citrus fragrances, there are exceptions that you’ll see here. Hopefully, this will shatter this common tabu.
This list will cover everything from seasons, targeted age groups, fragrance notes, and more. Remember that you can wear what you like and what feels the most comfortable for you.
Now, let’s learn a thing or two about these fragrances and check out which made the Scent Grail’s list for 2020.
TOP SCENT GRAIL PICKS:
- best casual choice: Dolce & Gabbana The One Intense -> Buy Here
- best date and clubbing choice: Mancera Red Tobacco -> Buy Here
- best professional choice: Dior Fahrenheit -> Buy Here
- best wildcard choice: Creed Aventus -> Buy Here
- best festive season choice: Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille -> Buy Here
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What Is A Winter Scent?
Winter fragrances are associated with colder seasons. Most commonly, Fall and Winter.
During this time when the temperatures are low, and the air is dry, your fragrances need to be able to push more to create a scent bubble around you.
As you know, when the temperatures are high, our body heats up and produces sweat which helps the light and citrusy fragrance to pump-out out of the skin easily.
Unfortunately, that won’t do the cut when it’s cold outside. That’s why perfumers create stronger fragrances with different warm and woody aromas that cut through the cold air.
This acquired knowledge leads us to the next important chapter.
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Winter fragrance notes
Now, you may ask yourself, how do I recognize winter fragrance notes? That is an excellent question.
Here are some notes and accords you’ll find in the winter fragrance:
WOODS
Woody notes such as Oud, Cedar, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, and Patchouli are most commonly used in the base of winter fragrances.
MUSKS AND ANIMALICS
Leather, various Musks, and Ambers are often used as “fantasy notes” through the mixing of different ingredients to get a certain accord. These are seen in many winter fragrance note breakdowns.
ORIENTAL NOTES AND RESINS
Benzoin, Vanilla, Incense, Myrrh, Labdanum, and Elemi are found in the oriental bases of cold-weather fragrances.
Can you wear summer fragrances in Winter?
Yes, you can, and I have heard about this misconception a million times. That you couldn’t possibly wear any summer fragrance in the winter.
Well, in this best winter fragrances for men list we will destroy this illusion, and include a few summer fragrances which you can confidently rock in the dead winter cold.
People work in different environments. Some work in an office, while others are in public service. And as such, if you work in the office, in most cases you can’t possibly wear something strong.
That’s why a summer fragrance or two will definitely come in handy. Now, that we have learned about what are winter scents, notes, and summer fragrance tabu, it’s time to the list.
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1. Dolce & Gabbana The One Intense
Why choose The One: The One Edp Intense is a flanker of the much-loved predecessor from 2008. This new 2020 creation takes a step forward with its warm and comforting aroma. The fragrance envelops you with delicious cardamom and modern leather with a musky cashmeran scent trail. The One Intense base is addictive, and intoxicating which reminds the wearer of the timeless sophistication.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Leather
- Perfumer: Jean-Christophe Herault
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2020
- Age group: 20+
- Main Notes: Leather, Cashmeran, and Cardamom
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with an average projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Daytime
- Occasions: Leisure and Romantic
2. Diptyque Tam Dao
Why choose Tam Dao: The exquisite sandalwood note that will knock off your feet. Lasting beauty and fresh woody base with a touch of creaminess make Tam Dao one of the best choices in its perfume genre.
- Fragrance Type: Woody
- Perfumer: Daniel Moliere
- Perfume Concentration: Edt
- Release Date: 2013
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Amber, Sandalwood, and Cedar
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with an average projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day time
- Occasions: Leisure and Professional
3. Dior Homme Intense
Why choose Dior Homme Intense: DHI is one of the most beloved men’s fragrances of all time. A modern powdery Iris with a musky base makes Dior’s masterpiece a great choice for romantic and clubbing scenarios.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Woody
- Perfumer: Francois Demachy
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2011
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Iris, Ambrette, and Lavender
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with a moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Romantic and Clubbing
4. Mancera Red Tobacco
Why choose Mancera Red Tobacco: The perfume opens up potent and unapologetic with a leather-ish note. As the fragrance transits from mid to base, you end up with one of the best dry downs in the game. Fresh tobacco, and mouthwatering vanilla, sprinkled with a touch of hot cinnamon.
- Fragrance Type: Woody Oriental
- Perfumer: Pierre Montale
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2017
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Tobacco
- Longevity and Projection: 15+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Romantic and Clubbing
5. Creed Aventus
Why choose Creed Aventus: The most famous niche fragrance in the world opens up with juicy pineapple and black currant. The provocative birch joins the composition in the mid-stage and dries down to a musky and ambery base.
- Fragrance Type: Fruity Woody
- Perfumer: Olivier and Erwin Creed
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2010
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Pineapple, Musk, and Birch
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: All year round, Daytime
- Occasions: Leisure, and Professional
6. Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum
Why choose Ysl Y: The perfume is versatile and unique enough to stand on its own in the sea of similar “blue” scents. Green apple, spicy ginger, and zesty bergamot play the main role in the first part of the fragrance development, and the wearer experiences a very satisfying woody musky dry down.
- Fragrance Type: Aromatic Spicy
- Perfumer: Dominique Ropion
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2018
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Apple, Ginger, Amberwood
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: All Year Round, Daytime
- Occasions: Leisure, and Professional
7. Paco Rabanne 1 Million Parfum
Why choose 1 Million Parfum: The newest 1 Million flanker takes 360 degrees on the old formula and does something completely different. Celebrating its success and history, the base remains recognizable as ever, while the opening and development phase fragrance celebrates the summer and the sea. Tuberose in combination with salt and Monoi Oil creates a sunscreen accord effect. A must-try!
- Fragrance Type: Floral
- Perfumer: Quentin Bisch and Christophe Raynaud
- Perfume Concentration: Parfum Extract
- Release Date: 2020
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Tuberose, Ambergris, and Leather
- Longevity and Projection: 12+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: All Year Round, Daytime
- Occasions: Leisure
8. Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb Extreme
Why choose Spicebomb Extreme: cozy and comforting, yet alluring and not overbearing. That’s what Spicebomb Extreme is. The fragrance opens up big with tobacco and pepper and mellows down to clean lavender, tonka, and vanilla dry down. The scent profile is playful which makes it an ideal candidate for clubbing.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Spicy
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2015
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Tobacco, Vanilla, and Black Pepper
- Longevity and Projection: 12+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Romantic and Clubbing
9. Roja Dove Elysium Pour Homme Parfum Cologne
Why choose Elysium: Ideal for work and leisure, Elysium proves that you can wear a “summer classified” fragrance even in the winter. Modern and complex, the fragrance opens up with sour grapefruit, gets aromatic in the mid-stage(Juniper Berries), and dries down to perfectly crafted vetiver and precious ambergris perfume.
- Fragrance Type: Aromatic Fougere
- Perfumer: Roja Dove
- Perfume Concentration: Edc
- Release Date: 2017
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Grapefruit, Ambergris, and Vetiver
- Longevity and Projection: 4 – 6 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: All Year Round, Daytime
- Occasions: Leisure and Professional
10. Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men
Why choose Noir Extreme Men: Deep, dark, and Gourmand. This description would suit Noir Extreme perfectly. A different take on the classic Noir formula and Extreme is a complete unisex perfume. Kulfi gives it a delicious dessert vibe. This vibe is sweet and amped up with resinous amber and green cardamom notes.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Spicy
- Perfumer: Sonia Constant
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2015
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Kulfi, Cardamom, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Leisure and Romantic
11. Amouage Epic Man
Why choose Epic Man: Distinct and recognizable. One of the first “big” Oud fragrances to make a splash, and also one of the most beloved up to this date. Strong balsamic incense cuts through the air like a knife and the holy agarwood keeps your spirit high. Made for winners and fragrance aficionados.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Woody
- Perfumer: Randa Hammami
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2009
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Incense, Oud, and Pepper
- Longevity and Projection: 15+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure
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12. Jovoy Psychedelique
Why choose Psychedelique: Deep and sophisticated while being a serious patchouli fragrance. Still, the patchouli can be too much for untrained noses at first, but once you see its many faces like luxurious amber, musk, and vanilla, you’ll fall in love at that instant. A true classic.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Woody
- Perfumer: Jacques Flori
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2011
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Patchouli, Amber, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 15+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day time
- Occasions: Professional
13. Moschino Toy Boy
Why choose Toy Boy: One of the best designer releases from 2019 comes packed in a cute bear bottle. Due to this, Toy Boy has been unrightfully ignored by the public. Don’t make that mistake and check this rose and pepper creation and see why is good. This EDP projects amazingly.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Floral
- Perfumer: Yann Vasnier
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2019
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Rose and Pepper
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Romantic
14. Mugler Pure Malt
Why choose Pure Malt: Pure Malt is boozy and sweet at the same time. An original and beloved creation from Thierry Mugler’s house. Rich and dried fruits, combined which recognizable chocolate from the original A*Men and just the right amount of Scotch Whiskey make this one great clubbing and casual fragrance.
- Fragrance Type: Woody Oriental
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Concentration: Edt
- Release Date: 2009
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Peat, Malt, and Fruits
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Leisure and Clubbing
15. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Why choose Tobacco Vanille: This oriental creation has been loved at first sniff by countless fragrance enthusiasts. The perfume is constructed from rich and warm vanilla, backed up by cherry and sweet tobacco. Delicious and one of the few scents that transport you to the festive time of year.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Woody
- Perfumer: Olivier Gillotin
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2007
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Dried Fruits, Tobacco, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 15+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure, and Romantic
16. Montale Intense Cafe
Why choose Intense Cafe: Imagine sitting on the street terrace of an old Paris coffee. While you are sipping the finest creamy coffee, a woman passes by smelling the most expensive roses. That’s what Intense Coffee is. Interesting. Ain’t it?
- Fragrance Type: Floral Oriental
- Perfumer: Pierre Montale
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2013
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Rose, Coffee beans, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 15+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure, and Romantic
17. Dior Fahrenheit
Why choose Fahrenheit: Smelling classic and modern at the same time, Fahrenheit still stands as one of the best perfume creations. The fragrance opens up with an intoxicating smell of violet which gives it that signature “gasoline” accord. As the scent dives into the base, the aroma is smoothened out by the expensive leather finish. The even better reply would be: if you still haven’t tried it, what are you waiting for?
- Fragrance Type: Floral Leather
- Perfumer: Jean-Louis Sieuzac and Michel Almairac
- Perfume Concentration: Edt
- Release Date: 1988
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Violet, Leather, and Musk
- Longevity and Projection: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure and Professional
18. Versace Eros Flame
Why choose Eros Flame: Eros flame is long-lasting citrus and sweet perfume ideal for a younger demographic. A more balanced version of the original with fresh citrus and creamy Tonka notes won’t leave anyone unnoticed.
- Fragrance Type: Citrus Spicy
- Perfumer: Olivier Pescheux
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2018
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Mandarin Orange, Tonka, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure and Clubbing
19. Azzaro Wanted By Night
Why choose Wanted By Night: Wanted By Night opens up with festive Mandarin Orange and spicy Cinnamon. As the scent goes into development, a green Juniper berry makes the composition more aromatic. A nice and strong Tobacco at the base keeps the fragrance well-orchestrated, warm, and alluring.
- Fragrance Type: Spicy Oriental
- Perfumer: Quentin Bisch and Michel Girard
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2018
- Age Group: 20+
- Main Notes: Cinnamon, Mandarin Orange, and Tobacco
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Nighttime
- Occasions: Romantic and Clubbing
20. Zadig & Voltaire This is Him
Why choose This is Him: Wonderful and long-lasting incense fragrance, great for those looking for something different from your mass-pleasing designer scents. Dark and seductive, mysterious and bold, This is Him suits nicely individuals who want more.
- Fragrance Type: Oriental Woody
- Perfumer: Nathalie Lorson and Aurelien Guichard
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2016
- Age Group: 30+
- Main Notes: Sandalwood, Incense, and Vanilla
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter, Day and Night
- Occasions: Leisure and Professional
Winter Fragrances For Men – Conclusion
What are your personal best winter fragrances for men? Hopefully, you found your favorite on my perfume blog and maybe saw something new and not regularly seen in these types of lists.
Don’t be shy to try out summer fragrances in the winter as well. Some of them do wonders in a controlled climate environment.
If you are interested in lists such as this, please consider subscribing to my newsletter to stay in touch with everything list and signature scent-related.
Until next time, smell great and be safe!
Best, Marin!
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– Marin Kristic
