The 22 Best Winter Fragrances: Cologne Options for Men to Smell Cool and Fresh This Season

As we've said before, one of the benefits of shopping for fragrances in-person is that you get to smell each fragrance you are considering purchasing beforehand. Since you cannot do that online obviously, the next best bet is paying attention to the ingredients, and reading reviews from those who have purchased the product in question. In general, winter scents tend to have a spicy woody smell to them with warmer notes/ingredients. Let's take a deeper look:

Scents: As we just mentioned, winter scents have a warmer smell to them, which is very much in line with winter/the holiday season. The same way Gingerbread, peppermint hot chocolate, and fireplaces are a huge part of winter and cold weather, amber, leather, and wood are major staples of what makes up winter fragrances.

Concentration: The concentration of a fragrance is another element you need to pay attention to. The fragrance concentration is what you see on the front of fragrance bottles (I.E. "eau de cologne" and "eau de parfum"), and no they are not all the same. The four categories of concentration are "eau de cologne," "eau de parfum," "eau de toilette," and "parfum," all of which represent the different lengths of time a fragrances lasts.

Eau de cologne is the lightest scent, as it's estimated to have 1 to 5% concentration and will last you roughly 1.5 hours. Eau de toilette is next, with roughly 8 to 12% concentration that will last you about 2 to 3 hours. Eau de parfum is a slightly stronger, with about 12 to 20% concentration that will get you about 5 to 6 hours, and parfum is the strongest with an estimated 20 to 40% concentration that will last you about 8 hours.

Price: The price. What are you willing to pay? That's something that can only be answered by you. We'd say $150 to $200 is a good amount to set aside for fragrance purchasing as you should be able to get a bottle that will last you a hot minute.

Consider your climate: Especially with this being the winter season, you'll want to factor in what type of winter you are going to be having. Does where you live get very cold? If so, a fragrance with a lighter concentration will probably do the job. If, however, where you live is hot/warm, then you may want to opt for a stronger concentration such as parfum.

• Top Notes: Lavender, Bergamot, Mint, Thyme
• Middle Notes: Geranium, Jasmine, Cedar, Sandalwood, Oak Moss
• Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Vanilla
• Sizes: 50ml, 100ml
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Having been around since 1995, Burberry's Classic Men's Fragrance has been serving folks well for almost 30 years. A true representation of what it means to be a "winter fragrance," it's top notes consists of Bergamot, Lavender, Mint, and Thyme, which blends together beautifully with its six middle notes (some of which are Geranium and Jasmine), and its base of Amber, Musk, Vanilla. Throw in the $94 price tag that's considerably cheaper than a lot of other luxury fragrance, and this should be an automatic.

• Top Notes: Tobacco Leaf, Spicy Notes
• Middle Notes: Tobacco Blossom, Cacao, Vanilla, Tonka Bean
• Base Notes: Woody Notes, Dried Fruits
• Sizes: 0.30z, 1.0oz, 1.7oz, 3.40z
• Type: Eau de Parfum

Want to really knock em dead during the holiday gatherings this year, grab a bottle of Tobacco Vanille and spritz some on before you head out to your events. You'll be thanking us later. What makes this fragrance so great? For us, it's the combination of Tobacco Leaf and Spicy notes mixed every so slightly with sweeter ingredients like Vanilla and Cacao. The Woody Notes and Dried Fruits as base notes are also modest additions that help make the scent subtly powerful as well. Sugar, spice, and everything nice.

• Top Notes: Juniper Berry, Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin Orange
• Middle Notes: Patchouli, Cardamom
• Base Notes: Vetiver, Agarwood
• Sizes: 50ml, 100ml
• Type: Eau de Parfum

What better fragrance to wear on a holiday date night than DATE for Men—the scent is literally called 'DATE!" You'd be remiss not to take advantage, and plenty of folks has as DATE is a fan favorite in the fragrance enthusiast community. The scent blends together Juniper Berry, Bergamot, Lemon, and Mandarin Orange as its top notes, which the brand describes as "the fruity opening of flirtiness on a date that ultimately leads to seduction." Like we just said, this is a fan favorite, so we'd venture to say there's been quite a bit of seducing going on in these streets.

• Top Notes: Pineapple, Bergamot, Black Currant and Apple
• Middle Notes: Moroccan Jasmine, Rose, Patchouli, Rose, Moroccan Jasmine, Birch
• Base Notes: Musk, Oak Moss, Ambergris and Vanille
• Sizes: 3.30z
• Type: Eau de Parfum

We have absolutely no qualms with calling CREED Aventus one of the best men's fragrances on the market. Not only has been around for ages, but works for just about any setting and scenario you can think of. The fragrance is loaded with ingredients, which from range from Pineapple and Black Currant, all the way to Rose Moroccan Jasmine, and Oak Moss. The CREED Aventus requires an investment, but one that's certainly worth making.

• Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Black Pepper, Lemon, Chinotto and Rosemary
• Middle Notes: Rose, Geranium, Pepper
• Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Texas Cedar, Vanilla, Oakmoss, Patchouli
• Sizes: 0.17oz, 1oz, 3.4oz, 6.7oz
• Type: Eau de Parfum

There's Versace Eros, and then there's Versace Eros Flame. The latter is the slightly sexier version with a spicy woody scent that has hints of citrus that can be detected upon first smell. Slightly spicy and slightly sweet, Eros Flame made its debut in the year 2018, and is quickly catching up to the popularity of its big brother. A great holiday gift that should last a long time as you don't need to apply that much in the first place.

• Top Notes: Lavender, Cedar, Chamomile, Mandarin Orange, Hawthorn, Nutmeg Flower, Bergamot, Lemon
• Middle Notes: Violet Leaf, Nutmeg, Cedar, Sandalwood, Carnation, Honeysuckle, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley
• Base Notes:  Leather, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Patchouli and Tonka Bean
• Sizes: 3.40z
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Dior Fahrenheight definitely takes the temperature up several notches with it's mixture of top notes which from Chamomile, Mandarin Orange, and Lavender, all the way to Lemon. The middle notes add to the warm glorious smell with a mixture of Honeysuckle, Nutmeg, Violet Leaf, and more, and the base note blends of Leather, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Patchouli and Tonka Bean finish the scent off perfectly. Dior Fahrenheight is an intoxicating smell that definitely has "signature fragrance" potential.

• Top Notes: Citrus notes, Pink pepper Vetiver
• Middle Notes: Grapefruit Cedar Labdanum
• Base Notes: Ginger, Sandalwood, Frankincense
• Sizes: 3.4oz, 1.7oz, 5oz
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Straight from the legendary House of Chanel, "Bleu de Chanel" is the perfect scent to spritz on for the winter as it has Citrus and Pink pepper Vetiver in it's top notes to give that winter citrus smell that we all love, along with Grapefruit Cedar Labdanum in its middle note, and Ginger, Sandalwood, and Frankincense to top it all off with the base. The smell is captivating, represents love and romance, and will have you smelling luxurious all day long.

• Top Notes: Black Pepper
• Middle Notes: Cedar, Patchouli, Oud
• Base Notes: Tonka, Musk
• Sizes: 50ml
• Type: Parfum

Ah! If you didn't know Comme Des Garcons had a fragrance now did you, well now you do. A straight up parfum that has Black Pepper, Cedar, Patchouli, Oud, Tonka and Musk as it's notes, the Black Pepper fragrance represents its name to the fullest as it possesses the spice necessary to make it a winter scent, but not to the point of it being overwhelming. A fragrance that can balance both.

• Top Notes: Lemon, Bergamot
• Middle Notes: Olive Blossom, Guaiac Wood, Star Anise
• Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Leather, Tobacco
• Sizes: 1.7oz, 2.50z, 4.3oz
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Get on code this winter season with Armani Code, a ravishing scent filled with Lemon and Bergamot with its top scents, a mixture of Olive Blossom, Star Anise, and Guaiac Wood as its middle, and Leather, Tonka Bean, and Tobacco as its base. All blend together to create an intoxicating and exotic scent that will have you (and others) instantly addicted.

• Top Notes: Cardamom, Red Apple, Calabrian Bergamot
• Middle Notes: Bourbon Geranium, Clary Sage, Lavender
• Base Notes: Patchouli, Haitian Vetiver, Tobacco Leaf
• Sizes: 1.7oz, 3.4oz
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Doesn't the design of this bottle look like a luxurious building that would be in the middle of Rome? Luxury Uomo Born in Roma Coral Fantasy is, and luxury is what it represents. From the Cardamom, Red Apple, and Calabrian Bergamot at the top, all the way to Patchouli, Haitian Vetiver, and Tobacco Leaf at the bottom, this fragrance is sweet smelling one that still keeps its winter flavor.

• Top Notes: Pepper, Calabrian Bergmot
• Middle Notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Geranium, Elemi, Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Pink Pepper
• Base Notes: Ambroxan, Cedar and Labdanum 
• Sizes: 1.0oz, 3.4oz, 2.0oz, 6.8oz 
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Dior's Sauvage fragrance has a case for being one of the sexiest scents of all time in our opinion, and it's not hard to see why when you look at the ingredients it's composed of. Pepper, Calabrian Bergmot, Lavender, Geranium, Cedar, Ambroxan, and more, which all result in slightly outdoors citrus smell that is both compelling and captivating.

• Top Notes: Geranium
• Middle Notes: Tonka Bean
• Base Notes: Sandalwood
• Sizes: 100ml
• Type: Eau de Parfum

Speaking of sexy scents, any fragrance that has the word scandal in it is bound to be a little bit on the sexy side, and sexy is exactly what Jean Paul Gaultier's Scandal Les Parfums is. The cologne keeps it simple on the ingredients side with Geranium as the top note, Tonka Bean as the middle, and a base of Sandalwood, but simple is all that it needs as the scent speaks and smells for itself.

• Top Notes: Pink Pepper
• Middle Notes: Atlas Cedar and Patchouli
• Base Notes: Leather
• Sizes: 3.40z
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Michael Kors' Extreme Journey is another fragrance that keeps simple, mixing and matching Pink Pepper, Atlas Cedar, Patchouli, and Leather to create a musky cologne with a citrus scent that stands out among the best of them. The brand itself says this is a scent that "captures the rugged intensity of racing through Saharan sands," so it's safe to say Extreme Journey does a good job of taking things up a notch.

• Top Notes: Neroli, Mint, Galbanol
• Middle Notes: Lavender, Rosemary
• Base Notes: Vetiver, Musk
• Sizes: 1.4oz, 3.7oz, 60z
• Type: Eau de Cologne

If specifically searching for a tried and true fragrance that has been highly rated and revered for over a century, make your way over to Acqua Di Parma, which has been on store shelves since 1916. The top notes consist of Neroli, Mint, and Galbanol, which is backed up by the middle notes of Lavender and Rosemary. Throw in the Vetiver and Musk base notes, and you're good to go after a couple of sprays.

• Top Notes: Lavender and Bitter Orange 
• Middle Notes: Mint and Clary Sage
• Base Notes: Ambroxan, Ambrette 
• Sizes: 1.7oz, 3.4oz
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Prada's Luna Rossa is also another good option that has been tested, vested, and has some years behind it. The fragrance is one that instantly captivates due to its unique mixtures of sweet and citrus with Lavender, Bitter Orange, Mint, Clary Sage, Amroxan, and Ambrette, and remains one that you can smell coming from a mile away. If you still haven't found your defining scent yet, Luna Rossa is a good fragrance to test out.

• Top Notes: Leather
• Middle Notes: Patchouli, Cypress
• Base Notes: Woody Notes,Vetiver 
• Sizes: 1.7oz, 5.0oz
• Type: Eau de Parfum

Gucci has created two different version of their Guilty Absolute scent—one for women and one for men. The latter contains a blend of Leather, Patchouli, Cypress, Woody Notes, and Vetiver that comes together to create a scent that instantly heats thing up like a fireplace in the middle of winter. The fragrance is a sexy one, but still one that can be worn to the office.

• Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Ylang-ylang, Blackcurrant
• Middle Notes: Lotus Wood, Orchid, Fruity Notes, Floral Notes
• Base Notes: Sandalwood, Chocolate, Incense, Patchouli, Vetiver
• Sizes: 1.7oz, 3.4oz
• Type: Parfum

And since we're on the topic of winter fragrances that can also be worn to the office, gents we present Tom Ford Black Orchid. The fragrance itself needs no introduction as its internationally known and locally respected as a P.IM.P in the perfume community, and while ingredients like Bergamot, Lemon, Lotus Wood, and Chocolate help make the scent notable, it's not to overbearing which is what we love the most.

• Top Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot
• Middle Notes: Black Pepper, Vetiver, Woodsy Notes, Spices, Leather
• Base Notes: Incense, Ebony tree, Tonka Bean, Patchouli
• Sizes: 4.2oz
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Issey Miyake describes their Nuit d'Issey fragrance as being a combination of elegance, strength and masculinity as it opens with Bergamot and Grapefruit as its top notes, and closes with Incense, Ebony tree, Tonka Bean, and Patchouli as its bottom notes. Grand opening, grand closing.

• Top Notes: Black Pepper, White Pepper, Bergamot
• Middle Notes: Cedar, Sage
• Base Notes: Amberwood, Cacao, Tonka Bean
• Sizes: 1.70z, 3.40z
• Type: Eau de Toilette

Ready to feel like a bad boy like Diddy? Then make sure you snag Caroline Herrera's Bad Boy fragrance before the winter officially starts. While the top notes of Black Pepper, White Pepper and Bergamot help kick things off, in our opinion it's the Cedar and Sage middle note blend that really elevates this scent. Designed by the brand to "seduce and captivate at a lightning speed," the fragrance can be worn any time of the day. Let us know how that seducing and captivating goes.

• Top Notes: Sugar Cane, Dried Grape, Vanilla, Rhum
• Middle Notes: Dark Chocolate, Coffee, Caramel, Almond
• Base Notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood, Iris
• Sizes: 1.70z
• Type: Eau de Parfum

If Black Phantom sounds fancy, well, it's because the fragrance is kind of fancy schmancy. Ingredients like Vanilla, Rhum, Sugar Cane, Dark Chocolate, and Iris are just a small part of what makes this scent so luxurious. Throw in the wonderful design and the overall masculine nature of the scent, the ladies will be falling all over you.

• Top Notes: Coriander, Basil, Grapefruit
• Middle Notes: Ginger, Orange Blossom, Cardamom
• Base Notes: Amber, Cedar, Tobacco
• Sizes: 1.60z, 3.30z
• Type: Eau de Parfum

Lock in those digits and secure that date night this winter season with Dolce & Gabbana's "The One." The fragrance opens with Coriander, Basil, and Grapefruit at the top, Ginger, Orange Blossom, and Cardamom slide right on into the middle to add the winter citrus, and Amber, Cedar, and Tobacco slide right on into base with the spices. "The One" is sure to make you find "the one," so make sure to rock it this winter!

• Top Notes: Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, vanilla, agarwood (Oud), benzoin, violet
• Middle Notes: Vanilla, violet
• Base Notes: Agarwood, benzoin
• Sizes: 2.40z, 6.8oz
• Type: Eau de Parfum

Elegantly crafted with a dark green container that's perfectly contrasted with shiny gold top he OUD Satin Mood from Maison Francis Kurkdjian is a sensual scent that blends together ingredients like Bulgarian and Turkish rose, benzoin, and vanilla to achieve an extravagant rich warm citrus scent that is also filled with hints of ambery wood that will have you smelling extra good. There's two different sizes available (2.4oz and 6.8oz), with prices ranging between $310 and $605.