The 13 Best Colognes to Wear This Fall

The latest iteration of Bleu de Chanel—one of our editors' all-time favorites—L’Exclusif is a darker, sultrier take. "I added labdanum extract that brings a shade of darkness but also increased the intensity of woods," Olivier Polge, Chanel’s in-house perfumer, previously told Esquire. "And the woodiness has been pushed to a level that, in combination with labdanum, develops this leathery aspect."
Fragrance family | Woody |
Notes | Sandalwood, labdanum, amber |
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Leave it to Diptyque to craft one of the smoothest, most elegant patchouli colognes on the market. Tempo leans into the note's herbal qualities, layering it with sage, violet leaf, and mate tea. Plus, the sleek apothecary-style bottle is a bonus.
Fragrance family | Herbal, woody |
Notes | Patchouli, sage, violet leaf, mate |
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Spicy, bold, and seductive, Azzaro's The Most Wanted Intense is built to turn heads. With cardamom, toffee, and amberwood in play—and a powerful sillage—it’s great for a night on the town or a more dressed up date night. Please just go easy when spraying.
Fragrance Family | Woody, spicy |
Notes | Cardamom, toffee, amberwood |
Cooler weather means you can finally break out smoky, resinous ouds without overwhelming the room. This Versace pick errs on the subtler side—balanced with neroli, black pepper, and cardamom—making it approachable for even oud virgins.
Fragrance family | Woody |
Notes | Oud, neroli, black pepper, cardamom |
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You don’t have to ditch fresh blends in the cooler months—just look for versions with warmer base notes to ground them. Parfum de Marly's Castley opens up with bright bergamot and ginger, then settles with a rich, ambery dry-down.
Fragrance Family | Fresh, spicy |
Notes | Bergamot, ginger, black pepper, benzoin, labdanum |
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Made with a higher concentration of perfume oils for lasting power, this amber, incense, and mandarin-forward cologne is bound to earn compliments. I can literaly smell this on my boyfriend from across the room, it's that potent.
Fragrance family | Woody, spicy |
Noes | Incense, mandarin, osmanthus, amber, guaiacwood |
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For a leather cologne that doesn't smell like the backseat of an 80s coupe, reach for Tom Ford's Eau d'Ombre Leather. Its lighter, eau de toilette concentration keeps it understated, while a touch of vanilla adds sensual warmth.
Fragrance family | Leather, woody |
Notes | Leather, vanilla, cardamom, ginger, ambrofix |
Chamomile, hay, lavender, frankincense, and myrrh come together seamlessly in Aesop's Ouranon. Strikingly unique yet surprisingly versatile, this cologne calls to mind sun-warmed grass and leaves just beginning to turn.
Fragrance family | Amber, aromatic |
Notes | chamomile, hay, lavender, frankincense, myrrh |
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If you prefer your fragrance on the sweeter side, try this crowd-pleaser from Giorgio Armani. Gourmand notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and chestnut are tempered by pink pepper, lavender, and amber for a scent that's indulgent but never cloying.
Fragrance family | Gourmand, spicy |
Notes | cinnamon, vanilla, and chestnut, pink pepper, lavender, amber, |
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