10 Best Colognes for Fall 2024, According to Grooming Experts

Sweet scents can often be polarizing and many people think of them as feminine, but some of the most iconic men’s colognes of all time fall into the sweet category. It’s all about what the sweetness is mixed with. In this case, there is smooth, nutty almond mixed with sugar and vanilla, but because the base contains suede, pine tar and labdanum, there is a masculine, leathery bent to this scent.

The almond note never disappears completely, but it evolves from a sweet note to something more subtle and grounded as the cologne dries on your skin (what we call the dry down). Instead of leaving you smelling like food, this makes you smell warm and smooth—and attractive in a way that makes people want to get close to you.

We wouldn’t necessarily consider the original Sauvage a fall cologne, though it is a solid bet for all seasons (it’s the best-selling men’s fragrance in the world, after all), but the new Eau Forte isn’t the original. Not only does it have a slightly different ratio from the classic Sauvage notes, but it’s also water-based (instead of alcohol-based), which allows the notes, especially the spices, to smell smoother and warmer.

Think of this as painting with watercolors whereas the original version is like painting with spray paint. There is still a freshness to this version, but it’s not sharp or citrusy; instead, it’s more subtle and blends with the spices to bring them out instead of competing with them. We think it’s a perfect choice for daytime wear during the fall—crisp like the autumn air, but warm and sexy like you’re wearing a cashmere sweater.

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If we’re talking fall colognes, you really can’t go wrong with woods. Woody notes come in all forms, but the warm, smokey quality they often provide is an ideal scent for all. Think of a forest as the leaves turn or sitting around a fire or chopping wood—what could be more autumnal than that? And if we’re talking about woody colognes, we can’t omit Oud Wood.

At this point, the original Oud Wood has entered the pantheon of greatest men’s colognes of all time, but this new version takes it to a whole new level. The scent is very similar, but this one, since it’s a parfum, is more concentrated making it bolder and longer lasting. This blend of spices and woods results in a smell that’s both sophisticated and masculine. While we prefer it for the evening, it’s wearable during the day, too, which makes it a great option for a signature fall scent.

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There really isn’t a better fall activity than sitting around a campfire, right? And if we’re talking campfire vibes, this cologne captures them with almost photo-realistic quality. You can nearly hear the wood crackle and feel the flames dance in front of you when you smell it. There’s a spicy, smokey quality to this one, even though it’s heavy on the leather and oud (oud is a wood after all).

If you just read the notes, it doesn’t sound like it would necessarily evoke a campfire, but one spray of the deep, warm fragrance instantly transports you. But best of all, when you wear it, it doesn’t make you smell like you just came in from roasting marshmallows. It’s a cozy, comfortable scent that’s evocative enough to draw people to you and ask if that amazing scent is coming from you.

Amber, as both a fragrance family and note, is known for its warmth and depth and this inexpensive cologne is all about that warmth. The smooth, cozy vibes of this cologne are ideal for fall and while the brand says it was designed to be worn in the evening, we find that it’s versatile enough to be worn whenever you want, even during the day or to the office (who doesn’t want some sophisticated fall vibes while they work, right?).

There’s a bite of freshness at the opening, with a little bit of citrus, that dries down fairly quickly to reveal deeper layers of spice, earthy patchouli and grounded vetiver. Many colognes at this price point are heavy on the freshness and don’t last very long, but we were impressed at both the longevity of this one and how multifaceted it is. It smells far more expensive than it actually is, which is always the mark of a great budget-friendly cologne.

Fall is the perfect time to dial up the spice in your cologne and if we’re going to talk about spicy colognes, we can’t forget Spicebomb. It’s a veritable bouquet of spices—perhaps one of the spiciest fragrances out there. This new version adds black leather for an aggressive yet smooth element and tobacco which adds a smoky depth.

You still absolutely get the spices—how could you not—but the leather and tobacco help anchor it to your skin and give it smoother, more grounded quality than if you just covered your body in spice. It’s like wearing the perfect vintage leather jacket with just the faintest hint of smoke still clinging to it. It’s a bold fragrance that’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for a darker, cooler fall vibe, this is the one.

Typically you think of fresh colognes as having more of a summer vibe, but this parfum version of fresh-floral MYSLF includes black pepper, which adds a depth of spice that makes it perfect for fall. Don’t get us wrong, there’s still absolutely a freshness to this juice that can’t be denied—it’s the orange blossom that’s a hallmark of this fragrance pillar but the addition of spice takes it into a darker, more traditionally masculine territory.

As it dries on your skin, the woody notes and patchouli give it a warmth and depth that blends well with the floral and spice notes to create a versatile cologne that’s equally suitable for day or night. If you find fall colognes to be on the heavy side, try this one for a lighter, yet still seasonal, finish.

The BOSS Bottle family contains multitudes but what they all have in common is a masculine confidence. This one has that confidence baked into the DNA but takes it to a bolder, darker place with hefty doses of incense and leather, which give it a smoky-smooth quality that’s impossible to ignore.

If the original BOSS is a power suit, this is wearing a leather jacket over a tuxedo. The boldness doesn’t overshadow the sophistication and elegance of this cologne, which is ideal for a formal occasion or a special date. A dash of sweetness from the myrrh and the earthiness of patchouli keep it from getting too aggressive and instead help it stick to your skin for hours (and hours and hours).

Like all Stetson colognes, this one is inspired by the American West, which doesn’t necessarily seem like an obvious inspiration for a fall fragrance but think about notes like leather, smoke, mesquite wood, cedar, sandalwood and sage and tell us those don’t scream fall vibes. Compared to other Stetson scents (like Original) this one dials up the smoke and leather in a major way, as well as the mesquite wood which gives it a distinct woody vibe thanks to the specific note it brings to the mix.

When all mixed together, it smells like a campfire, but not in a totally obvious way that makes you smell like you’ve just spent the afternoon chopping wood. It’s a traditionally masculine cologne that’s crowd-pleasing and non-aggressive. It’s not going to smoke out a room when you walk in, which also makes it great for daytime wear.

Le Male is one of the greatest men’s colognes of all time and is enjoying a resurgence right now thanks to fragrancehead TikTok. It’s not just hype, either. Le Male has stood up to the test of time and smells just as good today as it did when it first launched, although now there’s a sense of nostalgia built in as well.

Each evolution of Le Male brings out something new and this Elixir dials up the warm vanilla and adds a dose of sweet honey. You’d think the double helping of sweetness would be cloying, but it’s not. Instead, it creates a smooth warmth on your skin that amplifies the smoky tobacco that adds a cool, masculine element to the sweetness. Don’t get us wrong, it’s undeniably sweet, but it’s a good kind of sweetness that’s deep, warm and inviting—just what you want in the fall.