You may have noticed that fragrances that you would wear during the summer don’t quite fit in the colder months. Indeed, the best winter fragrances have unique characteristics that we will describe in this guide.
In this guide, you will discover the top 10 best men’s fragrances for winter:
- Carolina Herrera CH Men Prive
- Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb
- Dolce & Gabbana The One
- Armani Code
- Prada l’Homme Intense
- Bleu de Chanel
- Guerlain Habit Rouge
- Jean-Paul Gaultier Ultra Male
- Azzaro Wanted
- Paco Rabanne 1 Million
Simply use the links above to jump ahead to a fragrance that interests you or scroll down to discover them all!
How To Buy Cologne
Best Colognes By Season
Best Colognes By Budget
Best Colognes By Occasion
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Spicy Leather
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Romantic
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
If you’re looking for a deep nighttime fragrance, CH Men Privé is an excellent choice. More accessible than the mature options below, it’s a wonderfully unctuous and alluring scent. Like Azzuro Wanted, it’s rich in spices but it also has a distinctive gourmand element, too.
Read More: Carolina Herrera CH Men Privé Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Grapefruit, Single Malt Whisky
- Heart: Lavender, Sage, Cardamon, Thyme
- Base: Labdanum, Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Guaiacwood
"Perfect for younger men seeking to try an oriental-style winter fragrance."
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Spicy
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Romantic
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
Bursting with the pine elemi and bergamot notes, Spicebomb paints a picture of Christmas Day. The following spice cabinet heart extends this before drawing us into a rich leather and tobacco base. The overall experience is remarkably festive and perfect for those cold winter mornings.
Read More: Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Pepper, Elemi
- Heart: Saffron, Cinnamon, Paprika
- Base: Vetiver, Guaiac, Agarwood, Labdanum
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Romantic
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
With a bittersweet grapefruit opening contrasted against fresh basil, The One is an intoxicating scent. The spicy heart notes evoke an exceedingly festive vibe with a lingering sweet neroli note. Finally, the resulting smokey notes create a sweet vanilla pipe tobacco accord.
Read More: Dolce & Gabbana The One Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Grapefruit, Basil, Coriander
- Heart: Nutmeg, Ginger, Neroli, Cardamom
- Base: Tonka Bean, Ambergris, Cedar, Guaiac
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Spicy Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Romantic
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
A bittersweet citrus yet peppery head evokes a winter pantry, which is extended by the anise, olive blossom and mouthwatering vanilla heart. The final powdery base features a vibrant musky leather and tobacco accord, which is strongly reminiscent of a worn armchair by a smokey fire.
Read More: Armani Code Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Lemon, Pepper
- Heart: Vanilla, Anise, Olive Blossom
- Base: Tonka Bean, Guaiacwood, Labdanum
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
Combining both refreshing and warming elements, Prada l’Homme Intense is a bold winter cologne for men. Best worn for going out and dating rather than the office, it’s adventurous and inspires confidence.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Iris, Pepper, Yuzu
- Heart: Patchouli, Cardamon, Violet
- Base: Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Guaiacwood
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Aromatic
- Seasonality: Spring
- Occasion: Romantic
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
- Amazon: From $157 [Buy Now]
- FragranceX: [Check Stocks]
Why Is It Good For Dating?
Although a mostly springtime fragrance, Bleu de Chanel works wonderfully during the winter. During its coldest moments, Bleu de Chanel’s playfully alluring aromatic profile offers reassurance as well as tantalising sensuality.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Grapefruit, Lemon, Red Pepper, Mint
- Heart: Jasmine, Nutmeg, Ginger, Lavender
- Base: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Labdanum
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
A balsamic fragrance with deep oriental notes, Habit Rouge is un undisputed classic. However, it hasn’t aged as much as some other old-school fragrances and speak volumes about its wearer as a mature and established professional with a romantic streak. Be sure to opt for the Eau de Parfum version!
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Basil, Redwood
- Heart: Rose, Sandalwood, Patchouli
- Base: Labdanum, Benzoin, Oakmoss, Vanilla
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Amber Oriental Fougère
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
Although we rate Ultra Male as an autumnal fragrance, it’s a wonderful choice for winter too thanks to its rich spice cabinet heart. Sage, cumin, cinnamon, and coriander offer a sharp contrast to the cold air. Meanwhile, the fruity opening is lively and brisk during winter.
Read More: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Pear, Mint, Bergamot, Lavender
- Heart: Sage, Cumin, Cinnamon, Coriander
- Base: Cedar, Patchouli, Labdanum
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Spicy
- Seasonality: Fall & Spring
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
Versatile and approachable, Azzaro Wanted offers a light gourmand bouquet that can be worn throughout the colder seasons, including fall and winter. It’s casual but can also be used for the office and is a great option for dating.
Read More: Azzaro Wanted Fragrance Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Lemon, Ginger, Lavender
- Heart: Cardamon, Geranium, Cade, Blackcurrant
- Base: Vetiver, Tonka Bean, Agarwood, Ambergris
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Spicy Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For Winter?
Bittersweet grapefruit and blood oranges echo an Old Fashioned cocktail with a heady and sweet heart. Once well into the base, the sweet notes linger whilst providing an oily and heavy leathery accord. Overall, 1 Million is a rich and vibrant fragrance reminiscent of festive drinks.
Read More: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Grapefruit, Blood Orange, Mint
- Heart: Neroli, Rose, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
- Base: Patchouli, Agarwood, Labdanum
Also Featured In
Why Do We Associate Fragrances With A Season?
People have a tendency to associate a particular smell with a specific memory. This is because our minds will often create links between our experiences as sensory information.
For instance, we know not to touch fire because it burns just as our noses can tell that milk has turned sour. Likewise, we can sense dangers by smelling smoke or gas.
We develop these abilities not just by instinct but through experiences during our upbringing. Similarly, our minds will create bonds between pleasant memories and aromas.
Some people love the smell of freshly-cut grass whilst others prefer sun cream. In both cases, it’s because they associate these scents with a pleasant recollection like playing in the garden or a day at the beach.
These memories also provoke an emotion and when perfumers devise new blends, they’re fully aware of the effects they can have. In fact, some of the best fragrances don’t just smell good but feature something that comforts us through memories.
How Do We Identify Winter Colognes?
Firstly, our sense of smell performs differently during the winter. In fact, it’s much less sensitive than warmer months and won’t detect the same aromas. This is actually one reason that summer fragrances will smell odd during the season.
However, we will associate particular fragrances with winter for similar reasons as those stated above. As the mornings become frosty and the nights draw in, there are fewer natural smells in the air.
Flowers no longer blossom, herbs have withered and wildlife have gone into hibernation. However, we create our own aromas in order to comfort us during the most desolate season of the year. We’ll light fires, make bouquets of dried herbs, drink cocoa and fill households with incense.
The Danes refer to this practice as “Hygge”, which translates from a Norwegian word meaning “well-being”. In order to create joy and happiness throughout winter, we do things that make us feel good.
In many ways, this tradition parallels with what we tend to universally recognise as the Christmas Spirit in the Western world.
During the season, we’ll relish rich food and spices as well as herbs, nuts, and tangerines. We’ll also cuddle up in comfy leather sofas in front of a fire while sipping on a hearty drink.
Common Examples of Winter Fragrance Notes
As highlighted above, many of the notes that you’ll discover in a fragrance are quite opulent and particularly powdery. In fact many firmly reside within the Oriental fragrance family with various gourmand spices as well as resins.
Meanwhile, many woods will be used too. However, whilst some can be fresh and piney to remind us of Christmas trees, many can also be resinous, dark and rounded to think of a log fire.
Similarly, you’ll likely notice that there are many citrus notes just like the other seasons. Yet rather than focusing on fresh and tangy citrus, they will be bitter, spicy and mellow to evoke imagery of mulled wines, rich food and spiced orange pomander balls.
Finally, we’ll encounter many leather accords as well as tobacco, which may provide us with an extra feeling of comfort and warmth.
What Next?
We hope you enjoyed discovering our best winter fragrances with the above guide. If you enjoyed it, remember that you can explore the other seasons at the top of this page.
Otherwise, check out some of our other fragrance resources below:
Men’s Fragrances Contents
