Pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and bonfires, oh my. The best fall colognes for men capture the essence of autumn. As a transitional season, fall evokes all kinds of feelings: the desire to cling to summer weather, the temptation to seek warmth with others, and of course, the impending cold of the winter season. Autumn scents bottle these sentiments, enabling gentlemen to fully lean into this special time of year.
The best fall colognes veer towards earthy wood and crisp greenery, with enough sweetness and warmth to combat the howling autumn winds. Whether you’re looking for a spicy and mysterious scent or something fresh and floral, the best fall colognes are exciting options to add to your annual rotation.
Keep reading to discover the top ten best fall colognes for men to bridge the gap between the hot and cold months.
Key Takeaways
Autumn is all about cozy scents, which is why Byredo Bibliotheque is a top pick for the best fall colognes. It smells like pure comfort, packed with wood, spice, and subtle sweetness.
If you’re looking for a new everyday autumn fragrance, & Horace is unbelievably versatile and adapts to the wearer’s skin. Though if you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana.
Our Top Picks
What does fall smell like? Leather-bound books? Cozy evenings around the fire? Earthy autumn leaves and sweet ciders? Byredo encapsulates all of this and more in the best fall cologne for men: Bibliotheque.
Overwhelmingly comforting, like a warm hug on a chilly day, Bibliotheque bottles the best feelings of fall. It smells like a home library, with soaring wooden shelves and hundreds of old books. The top notes are sweet yet spicy with a blend of plum and cinnamon before transforming into a leathery heart and deep wood base notes. If you crave a bit of toasty satisfaction, Byredo Bibliotheque is the best fall cologne for men.
Top Notes: Peach, Plum, Cinnamon | Middle Notes: Leather Accord, Violet | Base Notes: Birchwood, Patchouli, Vanilla | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Parfum
19-69 operates on the mantra of “bottling counterculture,” concocting unique, attention-grabbing scents you can’t find anywhere else. As a relative newcomer to the cologne world, 19-69 has been on the scene since 2017 and has expanded its current offerings from five to thirteen niche perfumes.
This is the best fall cologne for men seeking a fragrance laden with warm spices and alluring sweetness. Featuring a captivating blend of white honey, amber, and sandalwood, this Moroccan-inspired scent brings a bit of warmth to chilly weather, inviting whoever’s close by to draw in nearer.
Top Notes: Sweet Orange, Lime, White Honey | Middle Notes: Geranium, Amber, Patchouli | Base Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Beans, Leather Accord, Sandalwood | Size: 1 / 1.6 / 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Parfum
&Horace is one of the best colognes for men for everyday wear. Plus, you’ll be hard-pressed to find fall colognes that smell better than this woody fragrance that’s packed with spice. Opening with bright bergamot and tangy white pepper, &Horace tempers out the freshness with sweet floral heart notes and a deep base of tobacco and sandalwood.
Designed for ultimate versatility, this cologne for men actually adapts to your individual skin. It smells different on everyone, making it a top choice for a new signature scent. Though it’s ideal for fall, especially given the wood-heavy characteristics, &Horace works flawlessly year-round with enough freshness and depth to transcend the seasons.
Top Notes: Bergamot, White Pepper | Middle Notes: Iris, Cedarwood | Base Notes: Tobacco, Sandalwood | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Parfum
Shopping for fragrances on Amazon can be a bit hit or miss. But this is one of the best fall colognes for men, and it’s available for quick purchase through the online retail giant. It’s an excellent choice if you’re after an elegant, refined, yet masculine scent that will never go out of style.
This fougere fragrance (that’s a fancy way of saying natural and grassy) smells like wide open spaces. It’s sensual thanks to irresistible lavender and jasmine, with stark woody qualities from sandalwood, cedarwood, and oakmoss. It’s a flirty fall cologne for men designed for versatility and a top choice for the best sandalwood colognes. Wear it every day or save it for special occasions—the choice is yours.
Top Notes: Lavender, Bergamot | Middle Notes: Sandalwood, Jasmine | Base Notes: White Cedarwood, Oak Moss | Size: 1 / 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette
If you’re shopping for the best fall colognes on a budget, Dolce & Gabbana’s signature scent is a worthy consideration that won’t break the bank. This fresh autumn scent is a top choice if you’re looking for an invigorating daily scent to carry you through the fall season. Plus, it’s one of the best colognes under $50 (well, just slightly above $50).
It opens with a punchy lemon, with herby heart notes of sage that compliment autumn weather flawlessly. The cologne deepens with rich sandalwood and musk, giving it enough dimension for colder wear. It’s also a top choice for the best musk colognes without being overly heavy. Pour Homme is a masculine fall scent that won’t disappoint, adding a hefty dose of brightness as winter creeps closer.
Top Notes: Italian Lemon, Tarragon, Orange Blossom | Middle Notes: Sage, Lavender, Balsamic | Base Notes: Coumarin, Cashmeran, Sandalwood | Size: 2.5 / 4.2 / 6.7oz | Type: Eau de Toilette
Boss Bottled is one of the best fall colognes for young men looking for a versatile signature scent. Wear it to the office, impress a hot date, or show your family you keep up with personal hygiene. It’s fresh and smells incredible—compliments are inevitable.
Opening with strong apple notes and a floral clove heart, this is the best fall cologne for men looking to capture the top aspects of the season. Yeah, we love sipping on cider too. The wood base anchors the fresh scent, further enhancing the autumn qualities. There’s no doubt this is among the best colognes for young men wondering what to wear during fall.
Top Notes: Apple | Middle Notes: Geraniums, Clove | Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cedar, Vetiver | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette
This fall cologne is as unique as unique comes. You’d think a dark rum scent would leave you smelling like Captain Jack Sparrow, and you wouldn’t be half wrong. This Malin + Goetz fragrance leans heavily into sticky sweetness with plum, vanilla, and amber: a perfect combination for fall.
Of course, what is rum without a bit of spice? This shows through in the punchy anise, stinky leather, and herbal patchouli that temper the sweetness and essence of a pirate. What you’re left with is a captivating fall cologne suitable for the man who wanders off the beaten path. If you’ve had enough of the same old fresh autumn scents, give this fall cologne for men a try.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Plum, Anise | Middle Notes: Leather, Rum, Vanilla | Base Notes: Patchouli, Amber, Milk | Size: 1.7oz | Type: Eau de Parfum
Reminiscent of the autumn countryside, grassy hills, and blooming roses, this is among the best fall colognes if you’re seeking something fresh and earthy. Think of all the smells you get while picnicking among the fiery leaves and fresh flowers. Diptyque has bottled this essence to create one of the most special fall colognes.
L’Ombre Dans L’Eau, translated to Shadow in the Water, has a similar scent to jumping in a pile of leaves. It’s fresh and green to start, with a sweet floral heart and warm base. This particular Diptyque cologne has been on the market for over 30 years, making it a timeless scent for all ages.
Top Notes: Black Currant Leaves | Middle Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Petitgrain | Base Notes: Black Currant | Size: 1.7oz | Type: Eau de Toilette
There’s just something about cardamom and cedar wood that smells like autumn. The combination of wood, spice, and smoke in this fall cologne for men evokes memories of expansive starry skies and cool evenings around a roaring campfire.
Le Labo Santal 33 is a cowboy’s companion in its finest form. The sweet iris and violet balance out the manly leather and sandalwood base. It’ll remind you of your favorite boots and sweater weather, smelling of autumn adventures and long nights spent with friends.
Top Notes: Cardamom | Middle Notes: Iris, Violet | Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cedarwood | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Parfum
Jo Malone makes colognes for guys who want to smell good. It’s as simple as that. Rather than loading up their fragrances with heaps of ingredients, Jo Malone takes a parred-back approach to create some of the best fall scents and colognes women love on men.
Imagine standing on grassy cliffs overlooking the ocean while sea spray whips in your face and the wind carries autumn aromas under your nose. That’s the essence of Wood Sage & Sea Salt. The fragrance opens with ambrette seeds, which possess a sweet yet musky quality, followed by crisp sea salt and earthy sage. The combination of sweet, fresh, and herbaceous creates the best fall colognes for any man seeking simple sophistication.
Top Notes: Ambrette Seeds | Middle Notes: Sea Salt | Base Notes: Sage | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Cologne
What to Look for in the Best Fall Colognes
Scent
Scent majorly determines the characteristics of the best fall colognes for men, so choose wisely when weighing the different options.
An autumn fragrance that’s filled with wood and spice will be inherently more comforting than a fresh scent bursting with herbs and citrus. If you want to go the cozy route with your fall cologne, it’s wise to pick notes of sandalwood, cloves, and leather accord. Rather opt for a hefty dose of autumn brightness? Choose a scent filled with bergamot, fresh greenery, and sea salt.
When choosing a fall fragrance, it’s worth remembering that heavier, sweeter scents are great for nighttime wear, while more parred back, lighter scents are ideal for daily autumn wear.
Intensity
When choosing the best fall colognes, you’ll be faced with options like Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, and Cologne.
Eau de Toilettes are the least intense colognes for men since they have the least amount of concentrated scent. This makes them a top pick for daily wear or for layering different fragrances together.
Eau de Parfums are a step up from Eau de Toilettes in the intensity department. While it won’t feel like you’re bathing in the scent, an Eau de Parfum is typically a long-lasting cologne. Choose this if you want to get a bit more fragrance out of your fall scent.
Pure colognes are the most intense choice, as they have the highest amount of scent concentrate. A couple of spritzes go a long way, especially if you’re hunting for a fragrance that will last all day long.
Size
If you’re shopping for a scent to wear exclusively during autumn, it’s unlikely you’ll need seven ounces of it. Though if you plan on wearing it daily throughout the season, it’s worth investing in a medium-sized, 3.4-ounce bottle.
Choosing a fall cologne for nighttime, special occasions, or to take on the go? It pays to stick to a 1.7-ounce bottle that’s just enough cologne for your intended purposes.
Final Verdict
The final verdict is there are a lot of outstanding fall colognes for men obsessed with smelling good. Our number one pick is Byredo Bibliotheque because it perfectly encapsulates the best feelings of fall.
For a budget choice, we’re huge fans of Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, and as far as unique fall colognes for men go, try out 19-69 Kasbah, Malin + Goetz Dark Rum, or & Horace.
FAQ
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A mix of wood, spice, and comforting smells like deep leather, sweet florals, or dark amber makes for the best fall colognes. The combination of these notes bottles all the most lovable qualities of autumn for a timeless, familiar scent.
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In the cologne world, fragrances packed with clove, pepper, leather, cedar, and sandalwood, are all scents associated with fall, especially when coupled with sweeter notes like honey, amber, and deep florals.
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The best fall smells tend to be a mix of sweet, spicy, and earthy, with a touch of brightness. Kind of like apple cider or pumpkin pie. Look for notes of black pepper, oak moss, vanilla, anise, and florals if you want something distinctly reminiscent of the autumn months.
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