Fall is a magical time of year. The days become shorter and the nights become longer, and all I really want to do is read books and be cozy.
Fall brings to mind scenes of red and amber trees, crisp foggy mornings, and overcast days spent at coffee shops. This is the sort of vibe we aim for in our fall fragrances here at More Scents Than Sense.
Cozy, warm, and evocative.
Here are the fragrances you’ll want to break out as soon as the leaves start to change.
Note: There will be some overlap between this list and our “Best Winter Men’s Fragrances List”.
How We Rank Our Fragrances
We smell them, wear them, and research them. We gather data to determine complement factor, originality, and ideal setting.
Afterwards, when creating a list of the best men’s fall fragrances, we tap into our vast resource of fragrance knowledge to give you a more under the radar guide. This isn’t your average list, where you’ll see the same perfumes listed on a hundred other websites, and leave smelling like a hundred other guys.
We don’t want that.
Without further ado, our choices for the best autumn men’s fragrances.
The Fragrances
Now that we’ve gotten the blathering out of the way, let’s take a look at the ten best fall fragrances for men.
1. La Nuit de L’Homme
First on this list, we have La Nuit de L’Homme, by Yves Saint Laurent. This fragrance, released back in 2009 is warm and spicy, evocative of sweaters and fall forests.
Leading the charge is Indian cardamom, with notes of lavender, woods, vetiver, and carraway rounding out the scent. It’s just the perfect amount of sweetness permeating through the gentle spice. This is a subtle scent; it sneaks up on you, wraps its arms around you, rather than shouting at you from across the room.
When I first put this fragrance on, I was blown away by its different-ness. It didn’t smell like anything I’d ever smelled before. Compliments are plentiful when wearing La Nuit de L’Homme. I’d recommend it for pretty much anytime in the fall or winter.
Read our La Nuit de L’Homme review for more.
Occasion: Anytime in the Fall
Compliments: 8/10
Longevity: 6/10
Scent: 9/10
2. Ultra Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier
I could go on and on about how great this fragrance is. Perfect for fall evenings and cloudy fall days, to the coldest days in winter, this cologne by the nose of Francis Kurkdjian is a veritable modern masterpiece.
It initially envelops you in a gorgeous cloud of juicy pear, mint, and citrus before settling into sweet-spicy black vanilla, amber, and woods.
This scent is a real compliment getter – and even if they don’t say it (which they usually do), you can see it in their eyes, or the way that they’re standing.
The key thing to remember with this one is to not overspray. Ultra Male easily heats up, and can quickly turn from cozy to cloying. It’s all in how well you wear it.
I would recommend this scent for the person who is younger, more enigmatic, thoughtful yet spontaneous. There is a sort of electricity to the scent.
If this perfume was a color, it would be a deep purple, on the lighter side, but subdued.
Occasion: Nighttime, parties, cold cloudy days
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 7.5/10
Scent: 9.5/10
3. Terre d’Hermes
What says fall more than dark, lush woods? Terre d’Hermes is an amazing cologne for men that like simple, manly, wooded scents.
While it may be simple, Terre d’Hermes exhibits outstanding depth, with a very complex scent evolution. It’s woods start to finish, but saying that all woods smell the same is like saying all shades of blue look the same.
It just isn’t true, and the woody evolution here is outstanding. Every stage of the scent smells different, and smells amazing.
This fragrance smells more formal: think suit and tie, button up shirts, and that general aesthetic. That’s not to say that you couldn’t wear it in a sweatshirt, but it smells classy, sophisticated, and really shines when you’re dressed well.
I would recommend getting this scent if you’re the kind of person who works in a corporate environment, or has a busy, bustline lifestyle and is always on the move.
If this scent was a color, it would be a mellow orange, brown color, with the occasional hint of silvery metallic sheen.
To read more about this fragrance, check out our full Terre D’Hermes review.
Occasion: Formal wear, suit and tie
Scent: 8/10
Compliments: 7/10
Longevity: 9/10
4. Fan di Fendi pour Homme
This one flies way under the radar, and I have absolutely no idea why. It shouldn’t. If you’re looking for a beautiful fall scent that you won’t smell on many other men, this is the one for you.
Fan di Fendi pour Homme is leathery and spicy, but mostly leathery. The defining note here is the leather, but the fragrance is actually very well balanced. It’s not too strong or edgy, and is great for autumn daytime wear.
The longevity and sillage of this fragrance are very above-average, and just a few sprays goes a long way.
This perfume doesn’t grab attention like some others, but it’s an extremely classy, likable scent that is hard to go wrong with.
This cologne is for the person who wants to smell good, regardless of where they find themselves over the course of a day.
If this scent was a color, it would be a pale yellowish-gold.
Occasion: Anytime in the fall
Scent: 8.5/10
Compliments: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10
5. Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule
Probably the most unique fragrance on this list, Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule is a knockout unisex scent that seems almost to have been made for the fall.
A simpler scent, Santal Majuscule has three notes: cinnamon, sandalwood, and cacao. While more linear, this fragrance is beautifully creamy, and smells extremely premium, classy, and attractive.
The compliments you get wearing this perfume are more sparing, but when you get them, they’re extremely enthusiastic. It’s a fragrance that is impossible to like: you either love it or you don’t.
Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule is deep and mysterious; keep this in mind when you wear it. It offers an additional layer of intrigue, and can provide wearers a charismatic, compelling aura.
I would recommend getting this fragrance if you’re the type of person who likes long walks on cloudy autumn evenings.
If this scent was a color, it would be a dark maroon.
Occasion: Cloudy fall days, dinner dates, rainy Saturdays
Scent: 8/10
Compliments: 7.5/10
Longevity: 9/10
6. Spicebomb
This is one men’s fragrance that lives up to its name. Spicebomb is just that – extraordinarily spicy and complex, its an explosion of smoky, spicy goodness. This perfume easily lasts twelve hours on skin, and even longer on clothes, projecting it’s glory into the night.
Spicebomb is a compliment magnet, and its charisma and innate charm are beyond compare. The scent is loud, yes, but it remains classy and wearable. Just don’t overspray or you’ll be reported to the spicy police.
I would recommend this fragrance for anyone looking to smell like sex in the fall, someone innately thoughtful, tasteful and charming.
If this scent was a color, it would be all deep grays and blues.
Occasion: Colder fall days and nights, outdoor music festivals
Scent: 9.5/10
Compliments: 8.5/10
Longevity: 10/10
7. Dior Homme EDP
Irisy, leathery, and surprisingly heady, Dior’s Homme EDP is a bold fragrance from Dior that demands attention.
While it really is a head turner, it remains stylishly classy, with a super suave drydown. This is another more polarizing, more unisex fragrance, and one people either love or hate (they usually love it though).
Performance and projection are good, with heavier projection lasting around 5 hours before settling into a warm-cloud skin scent.
I would recommend this perfume for the classically “tall, dark, and handsome” man, someone with ample class and mystery.
If this scent was a color, it would be the shades of night.
Occasion: Really anytime in the fall
Scent: 9/10
Compliments: 8.5/10
Longevity: 9/10
8. Burberry London
Burberry London is one of my personal favorites, and in my opinion, the perfect fall fragrance. Day or night, the spice here is done so well its heart-wrenching.
One of the coziest scents known to man, it’s warm, complex, and inviting. With notes of cinnamon, leather, tobacco, and woods, the perfume is evocative of pumpkin patches and fall trees.
Burberry London is very versatile, both in when you can wear it, and who can wear it. It works anytime, but gets even better when it is cooler, and fall is in full swing.
I would recommend this scent for the man that loves to get lost in dreams, and who wanders the world looking for something he hasn’t found yet. Its a very charming scent, filled with yearning.
If this perfume was a color, it would be a deep orange-brown.
Occasion: Foggy fall days, rainy mornings, cold fall days
Scent: 10/10
Compliments: 9.5/10
Longevity: 9/10
9. A*Men Pure Havane
Pure Havane is a more gourmand-leaning cologne from Mugler in their A*Men line. It’s a great fall fragrance, and smells very different from a lot of other typical fall smells.
It’s very sweet, with strong notes of white honey, chocolate, vanilla and amber. If you wear Mugler’s Pure Havane, I guarantee that you’ll smell delicious.
This scent blends perfectly with crisp fall air. You can wear this perfume with almost any fall themed clothing or aesthetic, at any stage of your life. For a gourmand, it’s surprisingly versatile.
I would recommend this scent for the man who likes sweeter fragrances, and for someone who has a very outgoing personality.
If this scent was a color, it would be a bright red or yellow.
Occasion: Anytime you want to smell yummy
Scent: 8/10
Compliments: 8.5/10
Longevity: 7/10
10. Tom Ford Noir Extreme
Sexy warm chocolatey spice, this is a scent that makes people want to nuzzle in. It’s an innately warm and inviting perfume, with great performance and soft, steady projection.
Tom Ford Noir Extreme is a very romantic men’s fragrance, and hints at intimacy and close-ness.
This cologne shines in formal evening situations and date nights. While you could wear it to work, you probably shouldn’t.
I would recommend this scent for the romantic man who likes fostering real mental and physical closeness.
If this scent was a color, it would be all deep browns and russets shot through with gold.
Occasion: Dates, night events
Scent: 9/10
Compliments: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
Some Usage Tips
Wearing a perfume the wrong way is the easiest way to turn a brilliant juice into a sour experience. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re getting the best out of your bottle.
Tip #1: Don’t Overspray
I can’t say this enough; far too many men spray way too much cologne on themselves and proceed to walk around smelling like a perfumery, choking people out and generally giving the mass populace a headache.
Don’t, I repeat, don’t be that guy.
A fragrance is best when it is tastefully done, and subtlety is often the best way to get the results you’re looking for.
Tip #2: Spray the Right Spots
For best results, you’ll want to spray parts of the body that are warm. This helps “activate” the fragrance and react properly with your skin.
These spots are called pulse points, and you’ll get dramatically better and longer-lasting results when you target these areas.
Tip #3: Spray Your Clothes (Sometimes)
This is a little controversial, and many so-called “fragrance gurus” would probably try and hit me if they knew I was telling you this, but spraying your clothing the night before you wear it can actually be a great way to increase projection and the cozy factor.
This works particularly well with fall and winter scents, on things like hoodies and sweaters.
