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Vanilla colognes are sweet, creamy, fun to be around, slightly polarizing, and have the power to either make or break your style.
Vanilla as an ingredient can be very polarizing and in many cases a little overwhelming. That’s why we at scent selective took the time to put together a list of the best vanilla fragrances for men.
This list is for people who either had a good experience with a vanilla cologne, and are looking to expand their collection, or simply looking to explore the world of sweet creamy fragrances.
Our list of the best vanilla fragrances for him consists of both colognes enhanced with vanilla notes, and others with Vanilla as a main ingredient.
What are the Best Men's Vanilla Colognes?
How to find the best vanilla cologne for you
Sweet notes can be hard to work with, especially if wearing it as a signature, or everyday scent. Therefore, finding the perfect vanilla cologne for you may not be as easy as woody or citrusy colognes.Â
Use your experience to navigate what level of polarizing sweetness, suits your personal taste in this list of best vanilla-scented colognes. And find a scent that is aligned with your desired intensity levels, and appropriate for the season you’ll wear it.Â
While vanilla is undoubtedly a winter/fall scent, some lighter complexions can pass as a summer/spring smell.Â
Here at Scent Selective, we’ve put each scent through an extensive testing process, covering everything from the longevity of the fragrance to its shift in notes.Â
In-Depth Men's Vanilla Cologne Reviews
Valentino Uomo Intense
Valentino Uomo Intense Review
While the Valentino complexions are often highly spicy and sensual, this fragrance is just as spicy except balanced with gourmand notes of vanilla.
With a range of different notes, this fragrance includes everything from floral iris to Tonka bean, to a sweet dark vanilla character.
However, what stands out to us most about this fragrance is not its sweetness or essential spiciness, instead, it is the magnificent leather dry down.
Patchouly in this fragrance makes it a bewitching blend, hypnotizing, seductive, and best compared to Dior Homme.Â
A fragrance for date nights party nights and everything fun that would go on in the night, Valentino Uomo is an intense, youthful masterpiece.
The fragrance can easily be taken as an all-season fragrance since it is highly versatile and rich with a range of exotic notes.
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange and , Clary Sage
Middle Notes: Iris, Tonka Bean
Base Notes: Vanilla, Leather
What we liked
- Perfect all year round
- Touch of sophistication
- High-quality performance
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Review
A modern classic, this fragrance is usually the first fragrance on every list recommending the best vanilla fragrances for men.
Well, unlike many other vanilla colognes, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanilla is a fragrance enhanced with light notes of vanilla instead of being built around the ingredient.
This fragrance is perfect for any season and offers you the ability to mix this fragrance and layer it with different scents from the Tom Ford collection such as bitter peach.
The masculine scent opens on notes of tobacco and other light woody essences, it quickly develops into a sweeter sensation of vanilla and cacao.Â
The blend is flawless and works softly to create a warm hugging aura. An old-school sensation of creamy Tonka bean is paired with dry fruit accords and a hint of Tom Ford’s signature sophistication.
Ageless, masculine, and maintains a sophisticated character even when paired with an edgy taste in fashion. It’s an all-inclusive blend that is usually popular amongst young professionals.
Top Notes: Tobacco Leaf, Spicy Notes
Middle Notes: Vanilla, Cacao, Tonka Bean, Tobacco Blossom
Base Notes: Dried Fruits , Woody Notes
What we liked
- Expensive smelling character
- Blend of Vanilla creaminess with spice
- The ability to layer it with other TF fragrances
Kilian Paris Intoxicated
Kilian Paris Intoxicated Review
While most fragrances can be sprayed just upon dressing, this fragrance is one of those that you spray a long time before you want to wear it. Not that it can’t be worn right on time, but we truly believe that it projects better after it has dried down and had its full Notes activated.
This fragrance isn’t one for the faint-hearted. So if you are not a fan of intense fragrances and darker smells then you’re probably not going to like Killian Paris Intoxicated.
Killian Paris Intoxicated is a fragrance that requires a chic appearance and elegant style, it is one of the most powerful-smelling vanilla fragrances on this list of the best seven vanilla colognes for him.
In our opinion, this isn’t a fragrance best suited for cold seasons or windy weather. Killian Paris is however an excellent fragrance to wear in the summer, and it’s great for casual and formal wear alike.
While this masterpiece comes with a hefty price tag, its true vanilla character would be a great addition to any perfume collection.
Top Notes: Cardamom, Coffee, Nutmeg
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Vanilla , Tonic Bean
Base Notes: Rum, Vanilla, Almond, Pink Pepper
What we liked
- Intense with exceptional longevity
- Perfect for special occasions
- The definition of vanilla intensity
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Review
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme has a rather odd combination of notes that work seemingly well to create a bad boy/Gent aura of excellence silage of projection. Although the fragrance was introduced in 2013, nothing about this scent smells dated or irrelevant.Â
What is unique about this fragrance is its contrasting notes, upon opening on a blast of vanilla the fragrance quickly hits with notes of cumin.Â
The hyper notes of vanilla depict a high-quality seductive masterpiece, making it one of the most realistic vanilla scents out there. However, you will not notice the vanilla in its base until hours into its dry-down.Â
With excellent projection, comes seasonal use only. We recommend this best as a winter fragrance by all means.
Spicebomb Extreme is perfect for young age men who are all about intensity or simply love delicious vanilla sweetness. Even when sprayed moderately, this cologne will turn heads and get compliments.
By far one of our favorite colognes on this list of the best vanilla fragrances for men, Viktor &Rolf Spicebomb Extreme is a bold fragrance for every occasion.Â
While this fragrance is amongst the most popular on our list after Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, it remains an excellent choice due to its unique complexion.
Top Notes: Caraway, Cumin, Black Pepper
Middle Notes: Tobacco, White Musk, Lavender
Base Notes: Vanilla, Cinnamon, Leather, Bergamot
What we liked
- Perfect for casual and formal wear
- Polarizing leathery accords
- Excellent performance and projection
Giorgio Armani Code Absolu
Giorgio Armani Code Absolu Review
Made to be ruggedly seductive while maintaining its true character of elegance and sophistication, Armani Code Profumo is also a flanker that is designed to be more intense than the original creation from the brand.Â
This cologne is best worn at night, in cooler weather, on dates, or at casual events. It’s less of a formal scent but still does very well in most situations.
The sweet notes are nicely balanced with the mysterious, seductive vibe of the amber, leather, and Carmel intertwined smoothly to create a true gentleman’s scent.Â
A nighttime version of the original Armani Code, this fragrance is the best clubbing/going-out fragrance from the brand.Â
While the scent is the definition of crowd-pleasing sensuality, it gets its power and true character from the bold vibrant vanilla.
Perfect for every and any occasion but mainly suitable for cold winter/fall seasons, this fragrance is a genderless boost of confidence.
Top Notes: Cardamom, Green Apple, Green Mandarin
Middle Notes: Nutmeg, Lavender, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Amber, Leather
What we liked
- Bold and attention-grabbing
- More of a masculine scent than the original
- Rich incense leathery notes
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Parfum
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Parfum Review
This scent takes contemporary characters of its original crowd-pleasing formulation and finely intertwines them with the niche base of vanilla.Â
Opening on notes of spicy cardamom, and airy vanilla sweetness, this silky aura fragrance, is shortly infused with powdery hints of floral. More woody and generic than it is niche and vanilla base, this playful fragrance for men enjoys great longevity and loud projection.Â
Packaged in the old-school, iconic, body-shaped bottle, Gaultier Le Male is a perfected flanker for the bold and different.Â
This fragrance works more as a going-out, late-night fragrance, making it a perfect compliment-getter.
Aggressive, and dominant with its notes, this Jean Paul cologne is for the people who weren’t content with what the original offer.Â
Loved by ladies with an intensity that sensually draws anyone who comes across its polarizing character making it the best winter fragrance from Jean Paul Gaultier.
Top Notes: Cardamom, Lavender, Iris, Sandalwood
Middle Notes: Caraway, Neroli, Cinnamon, Powdery iris, Vanilla notes
Base Notes: Amber, Sandalwood, Tonka bean, Vanilla, Cedarwood
What we liked
- The ever-fresh/clean characteristics
- Perfect for everyday use
- Ageless and perfect for every occasion