The Best Vanilla Colognes Will Make You Smell Sexier, According to Grooming Experts

There are sweet vanillas and there are, well, unsweet vanillas and this falls firmly into the second category. At first spray, you absolutely know this is a vanilla fragrance, but pretty immediately realize there’s something more to it. There’s a dry factor to this cologne, brought to you by the wood and papyrus, that adds a crisp, starchy layer and an earthy element from the beetroot and a spiciness from the black pepper. It’s the vanilla scent for people who hate vanilla.

Le Male is an icon in men’s fragrance, and this Le Parfum version dials up the intensity with a spiciness that hits your nose immediately but, almost as quickly, dissipates to reveal the blend of lavender and vanilla that form the base of the iconic Le Male scent. There’s an additional hit of spiciness in the base thanks to oriental notes and a woody element as well, making this a warm, spicy, sultry scent that’s ideal for a night out on the town.

An instant classic since the moment it hit shelves, this smoky, spicy scent taught guys that, yes, they can wear vanilla fragrances. That vanilla is unmistakable in the mix here, but serves to temper and smooth the more aggressive notes like tobacco leaf, spicy notes and tobacco blossom. The smoky-spicy vibe is what really shines through here which makes it a head turner no matter where you go. It’s incomparably elegant in a way you don’t often think a vanilla scent can be.

You’ll notice on this list that you don’t often see a lot of citrus or fresh herb notes mixed with vanilla, but that’s where this uber-popular cologne differs. The top note is unmistakably fresh with a hit of lemon, mint and green apple. The sweet tonka bean acts as a bridge to the sweeter base note of vanilla, which lingers on your skin and mixes with the woods and vetiver for a versatile finish that’s light and fresh. This could just be the most versatile vanilla scent out there–so versatile in fact, you can wear it in the summer.

This cologne is unabashedly bold and sweet. It’s not for the wallflower and it’s definitely not for someone who doesn’t like sweet smelling stuff. The opening note features sweet apple which gives away to a bold damask rose. The rose lingers, but fades a bit to the background as darker notes of patchouli, cedar, tonka bean take over–as well as the all-important vanilla absolute. The longevity is great and the bold, sweet vibe sticks to your skin for hours.

There is nothing understated about this bold fragrance that’s sweet without being cloying or gourmandy. The double dose of rose, which is deep and floral, brings out a sweet element to the oud that’s like nothing you’ve ever smelled (at least, when it comes to oud). The vanilla isn’t the star here, but is important because it smooths out the edges and gives everything a warm cloud of sophistication. This cologne is elegant, sophisticated and surprising – all the things you want in a signature scent.

When it comes to wearable vanilla fragrances, this one is one of the best. It’s a little spicy (cinnamon, cardamom), a little floral (orange blossom), pretty sweet (praline, vanilla) and slightly woody (guaiac wood). Overall, the effect is a smooth, rich vanilla that doesn’t shy away from the inherent sweetness of the note, but instead turns it on its head by making it that star but shockingly not gourmand. A few sprays of this and you’ll smell sophisticated, not like a sugar cookie.

Capturing a vibe isn’t easy, but it’s what Replica is known for and this brand does it better than any other. Case in point: this popular cologne that actually does evoke the feeling of being inside a smoky, boozy jazz club–leather banquets and smooth notes included. The smokiness from the tobacco leaf and the rum hit you right away – the rum is very boozy–as well as a hit of fresh neroli and lemon, but once the vanilla bean starts to peek through the whole composition rounds out with a welcome sweetness that makes the one of the most distinctive, and wearable, scents on this list.

Yes, the vanilla here is front and center, but the supporting characters are just as important, if not more so, because the notes like vine, hay and cypress give this an unexpected green quality that’s unlike anything else on this list. The vanilla leaves used in addition to vanilla absolute also add to this richly layered concoction that’s not only herbal, but dark, moody and brooding–not something you usually think of for vanilla. That’s exactly the point and why this is so good.

This might be a body spray, but your nose won’t know. This surprisingly elegant and richly layered scent smells just as good as any of the more traditional colognes on this list. It’s an unexpected vibe for a body spray, which usually lean more toward the “aggressively fresh” arena, but this is warm, deep and unmistakably vanilla – in a very good way.

Can Men Wear Vanilla Cologne?

What Types of Vanilla Are in Cologne?

How We Selected