10 Best Autumn/Fall Colognes for Men

Updated January 2023

Classic

Dunhill Icon

Editor's Pick

Hugo Boss The Scent​

Premium

Terre d’Hermes

How We Found the Best Autumn/Fall Colognes

5 Experts Interviewed

24 Fragrances Tested

Top 10 Picks

Liam Carson

Liam Carson

Autumn is definitely our favorite time of the year.

The earthy tones, falling leaves, pumpkin spice lattes and most importantly, the chance to bring our Autumnal colognes out of hibernation.

Characterized by warm and spicy notes, today we’re taking a look at the best fall colognes for the autumn season.

Summary List

Autumn Fragrances Ranked by Cologne Critic

Editor's Pick

Best Overall Autumn/Fall Cologne - Hugo Boss The Scent​

Why we chose it

The scent was first released by Hugo Boss in 2015, featuring notes of mandarin, orange, ginger, bergamot and the exclusive Maninka fruit.

For us, there is something just so nostalgic about The Scent, and when we catch a whiff, we can’t help but be taken back in time.

The scent is timeless and somewhat irresistible, with an air of mystery surrounding it, which is a reflection of the man it best suits.

Inoffensive, pleasant and well rounded with an added warmth, we love this for Autumn use.  A cologne best used for a cosy night in front of the fire with a sophisticated gentleman.

Main Accords

  • Leather
  • Aromatic
  • Warm Spiicy

Classic

Classic Scent - Dunhill Icon

Our Take

Icon is for the male looking for a signature classic scent.

First released in 2015, Icon is a woody-aromatic that quickly surged in popularity.

Opening notes include bergamot and black pepper which create an irresistible and spicy kick, followed by cardamom and lavender in the heart of the fragrance.  The base contains oud wood, orris-leather accord, oakmoss and vetiver, making a divine combination for the Autumn.

Icon is uplifting, invigorating and best worn by the confident male.

Icon makes for a great office cologne as it’s a scent that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Main Accords

  • Citrus
  • Woody
  • Aromatic

Premium

Premium Scent - Hermes Terre d’Hermes Parfum

Our Take

If we could bottle up the signature scents of the Autumn, the scent of Terre d’Hermes comes pretty close.

Terre, French for ‘Earth’ lets you know this fragrance is masculine, Earthy affair, with an added touch of fruity aromatics.

Featuring in the opening is citrusy orange and grapefruit, with base notes of cedar, patchouli and vetiver.

We find Terre d’Hermes not too overpowering, which makes it a very wise choice for an office environment or informal situations.  In actual fact, Terre d’Hermes featured recently on our list of top office colognes but makes a fantastic autumn fragrance.

Main Accords

  • Earthy
  • Citrus
  • Woody

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

Our Take

Tuscan Leather features on a lot of our top ten lists, which says a lot about its quality and versatility.

Tuscan Leather was one of the first additions to Tom Ford’s Private Blend Collection, an exclusive list of fragrances which center around a single aromatic, in this case, leather.  We feel that Tuscan Leather is one of the best quality colognes on the market.

One of the things we love about Tuscan Leather is its ability to turn heads.  Strong, sultry and masculine, this is definitely a fragrance for intimate and intense situations, office use is best avoided.

The price to some can be a little off putting, make no mistake, this isn’t a cheap fragrance, but your return on investment is incredibly high.

The smokey, leather notes make Tuscan Leather an undeniable autumn fragrance and a perfect choice for your cologne collection.  Just go easy on the application, as a little goes a long way!  Definitely one of the best men’s fall fragrances your money can buy.

Main Accords

  • Fruity
  • Smokey
  • Leather

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme

Our Take

If you’re unfamiliar, Bottega Veneta is an Italian luxury goods retailer, most traditionally known for its knot bags.

Nevertheless, Pour Homme represents a beautiful venture into the world of fine men’s fragrances.

Pour Homme’s main notes include cedar leaves, cardamom, pimento, fir balsam, leather and tonka bean, a fragrance perfect for the fall months.

The fragrance was inspired by an area in Italy known as the Veneto region.  It represents a beautiful aromatic filled with leather and woody accords, a nod to Italy’s famous leather industry.

The scent is undeniably masculine, and because of the woody aromatics, is definitely something suited towards the colder months.

Pour Homme is a classy scent, so pair this with a nice shirt for an evening dinner event.

Main Accords

  • Woody
  • Aromatic
  • Fresh Spicy

Dolce & Gabbana The One

Our Take

Next up is a fragrance powerhouse.  The One by Dolce & Gabbana is a favorite in the fragrance community, and we struggle to find someone who has something bad to say about it.

We had this in our top Winter colognes list, but it lends itself equally to the Autumn as well.

The One is as a woody yet spicy fragrance, featuring a herbal-citrus opening of basil,  coriander and grapefruit.  Middle notes include orange blossom, cardamom and ginger, while In the dry down tobacco, cedar, and amber release a warm and comforting aroma.

We think that The One is uniquely suited to more intimate occasions when it can be appreciated up close.  One sniff of this cologne will definitely see your loved one coming back for more.

Main Accords

  • Amber
  • Tobacco
  • Warm Spicy

Prada Luna Rossa Black

Our Take

Luna Rossa Black is built off the success of the original Luna Rossa cologne.

A warm and spicy perfume, featuring bergamot, musk and ambergris, Luna Rossa Black is an obvious choice for the Autumn.

Luna Rossa Black is definitely a mature fragrance, mostly because of the musky, manly smell emanating in the dry down.

This cologne received a lot of compliments in our testing, so wear this if you need a confidence boost.   It also lasts a long time, so it makes for a safe office cologne when longevity is important, you’ll definitely get a full days use out of Luna Rossa Black.

Main Accords

  • Tonka
  • Musky
  • Amber

Emporio Armani Stronger With You

Our Take

Stronger with you is the male offering to the female ‘Because It’s You”, which were first released as a pair in 2017.

Stronger with you comes with a spicy and explosive opening, featuring cardamom pink pepper and violet leaves, but we really think this fragrance develops into something beautiful in the base, where vanilla and musk make an intoxicating combination.

One thing we love about Stronger with you is its uniqueness.  Although its fragrance combination is not entirely unusual for an Autumn fragrance, the cologne is definitely for those that want to stand out.

Sweet yet intensely masculine, wear this on an autumn date night for the maximum effect.

Main Accords

  • Vanilla
  • Aromatic
  • Warm Spicy

Versace Eros

Our Take

Next up is what we label a ‘party’ fragrance from the house of Versace.  Eros is full of youth and curiosity, one for an energetic night out with friends during the colder months. 

This scent definitely has the ability to draw your attention.  The opening is a juicy and fresh aroma formed by apple, lemon and mint, but the comforting vanilla pulls through in the base to create a solid autumnal aromatic.

Longevity performs solidly, in excess of 8 hours.  A few sprays of Eros will leave you smelling great all night.

Many compare Eros to Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million, so if you’re looking for something a bit more unique, take a look at some of the other offerings on our list.

Wear this for nights out celebrating, or as a perfect gift to a young son or nephew.

Main Accords

  • Vanilla
  • Balsamic
  • Fresh Spicy

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de L’Homme

Our Take

Yves Saint Laurent market La Nuit de l’Homme as bright, fresh and sophisticated, which is a perfect categorization for this cologne.

La Nuit de l’Homme centers around the main note of cardamom, but we absolutely adore the cedar and amber heart.  Here you really experience the warmth that establishes itself firmly as an autumnal/winter cologne.

Unfortunately, we often hear complaints about the longevity of La Nuit de l’Homme. Still, it’s an excellent choice for occasions when longevity isn’t so important.

Unsurprisingly, La Nuit de l’Homme is best used for evening wear, an excellent choice for an autumnal walk through the forest, or a casual drink at a casual bar.

Main Accords

  • Woody
  • Aromatic
  • Warm Spicy

Expert Tips

Best Autumn Fragrances for Men 2020

Visually we can sense a change in seasons.  When fall hits, we see browns, oranges and earthy tones, but have you ever stopped to think why we do the same with scents?

Much of this is caused by the temperature of the air.

When the air is warmer, we can smell more of the environment around us. In contrast, in the winter, the cooler air temperature means there are simply less aromatic molecules in the air.

This holds true for why some fragrances are marketed as best for summer or winter use, it’s all to do with their scent profile.

Let’s first get one thing straight.

When it comes to colognes, there really are no rules.  If you’re adventurous and confident enough, a cologne can we be worn all year round, no matter its profile of notes.

With that being said, some particular notes tend to remind us more of the fall months.

While aquatic, floral and fresh fragrances lend themselves to the warmer months, heavier, intense aromas featuring vanilla, musk and spices are more suited to the colder months of fall and winter.

Much of this is to do with how scents work on our skin when the weather is warmer.  Cologne evaporates slower from our skin when its cooler, which is why we tend to wear more intense fragrances. 

Wearing something similar in the summer months could be overpowering, due to the quick evaporation of the perfume molecules into the air.

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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.