The 11 Best New Colognes for Fall 2023

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The most exciting time in fragrance is right now, when new scents hit stores in rapid fire just in time for all your fresh new fall fits. Traditionally, fall colognes are heavier, warmer, and cozier to go with the vibes of the season. But don’t get it twisted—there’s no pumpkin spice in this new crop of richly layered, exceedingly wearable fragrances. Sure, plenty are spicy, but you’ll also find freshness, florals, and exotic notes mixed in with the more expected woods and amber. The best thing about all these new scents, though, is that while they’re perfectly appropriate for fall, all of them can carry through to any other season as well. Fragrance, while it may be seasonal, is mostly about your personality. Change your fragrance based on your mood or outfit or stick to the same one for months or years; it’s up to you. All of these new ‘fumes deserve a place in your rotation no matter how fast or slow it is.

L'Or de Louis

In case you couldn’t tell from the shimmering glass orb with literal flecks of gold mixed in, this cologne is all about opulence. Inspired by Louis XIV’s Grand Orangery, a marvel of a time when citrus was considered an exotic delicacy, this fragrance is all about luxury—but not in the way you think. The floral orange blossom announces itself immediately in the top note, giving it a sweet, fresh energy when mingled with other notes of pomegranate, jasmine, and bergamot. But then it mingles effortlessly into a heart of honey, musk and cedarwood before revealing a smoky base of firewood smoke, and cade wood. It’s the type of scent that shimmers with confidence.

Smoking Hot

A new twist on the idea of a smoky scent, this surprisingly sweet cologne gets its smokiness from Kentucky tobacco but turns it on its head with the addition of apple shisha (think: flavored hookah smoke) and a dash of green apple, cinnamon, and bourbon. It starts out sweet, but reveals layer upon layer of depth as the smoke rises to the top and the cinnamon lends a seasonal spiciness. The end result, surprisingly, smells like those Red Hots candy you remember from trick-or-treating, but, like, in a grown up way that you actually want to wear and strikes the perfect balance between familiar and unexpected.

Father Figure

According to the brand, this clean, fresh scent is inspired by “hidden gardens.” But when we smell it, it transports us back to the fresh, clean vibes of 1990s men’s colognes (you know the ones). The fig in the top note is sweet and earthy and the lavender in the heart lends a freshness that mingles well as it dries down to reveal base notes of musk, sandalwood, and patchouli. This is not the type of cologne that announces itself, but rather subtly evolves with time. It’s an ideal everyday cologne that’s all about quiet, modern masculinity.

Althair Eau de Parfum

Don’t sleep on vanilla, which is having a major moment in fragrance right now, and not just because it’s a fall staple. But if you think it’s going to make you smell like a sugar cookie—or worse, one of those sugar cookie-scented candles—think again. This is a grown-up vanilla fragrance that uses spices like cardamom and cinnamon to add depth and break up the sweetness, plus grounding notes in the base like musk and guaiac wood. The result is a warm, inviting scent that’s still a little sweet, but as far from baked goods as you can possibly get.

Refined Woods Eau De Parfum

With his new collection of three fragrances, we’re that much closer to getting an answer to the age old question: "What does David Beckham smell like?" Out of the three, this is the best one—a wood-forward cologne that’s surprisingly fresh and wearable. The freshness comes from clary sage, lavender, geranium, and vetiver, which are layered throughout to provide an uplifting feeling to what could otherwise be a heavy combination of cedarwood and tonka. It’s an ideal combination for daytime wear: masculine but not aggressive, and complete with a healthy dash of Beckham swagger.

Myrrhe Mystere Eau de Parfum

The double dose of mysterious myrrh (in the form of essence and resinoid absolute) gives this intoxicating cologne a smokey, spicy feeling right away and then dries down into something deeply sensual as the other notes of sandalwood, vanilla, and musk are revealed. It still has the hot rugged Tom Ford olfactory signature—instantly identifiable as a luxury cologne —but it's subtle enough that you can wear it with a suit or a sweater (just make sure the sweater in question is cashmere).

Xanaboud

This lively oud-based scent is all about maximalism. Inspired by the “last burnished hour before sunset,” according to the brand, it's a richly layered cornucopia of bergamot, rose, jasmine, patchouli, suede, vanilla, and more (including the all-important oud). It smells somehow fresh, floral, sweaty. and earthy all at the same time. The more you wear it, the more it evolves right under your nose. It’s a party scent, worn best under the dim lights of a dance floor or in the shadowy corners of a banquette.

Ouranon Eau de Parfum

The punchy earthy and herbal notes of this new cologne are more green than what we’d typically think of as “fresh,” which makes it the perfect fall scent for those who favor sharper, crisper vibes. The green feeling comes from notes like petitgrain, chamomile, and hay (yes, hay) infused with a bit of lavender for freshness. But the spicer, smokier notes of frankincense and patchouli round out a mineral-y myrrh to create a unique scent that’s tailor made for the chillier seasons. It’s light and subtle enough for daytime wear but you can layer on a bit more at night to up the sex appeal.

Deep Dark Vanilla Eau de Parfum

If there was ever such a thing as dude vanilla, this is it. The inescapable vanilla quality, which comes from the dark vanilla absolute in the base, is anything but cloying and sweet because, in this case, it’s mixed with a healthy dose of patchouli that brings unctuousness and earthiness to this juice. Throw in some green notes of hay, vine, and cypress—as well as a dash of orchid and pink pepper—and what you get is a deep, musky, surprisingly vibrant vanilla scent that’s maybe technically a gourmand but is anything but sweet.

Menace Eau de Parfum

You may usually think of aquatic fragrances for summer (because, duh) but this fresh, citrus-forward cologne—the first true masculine-leaning scent in the brand’s offering—tempers that summertime wateriness into something more fall-appropriate with a base of musk, cedar, and patchouli. There’s a healthy dose of citrus (lime and tangerine) for those who enjoy a fresher feeling, but that top dries down quickly to a sexier vibe once the musk and patchouli take center stage. Does it smell kind of like the fresh aquatic colognes of the '90s? Yes. Is that the point? Also yes.

Vanilla Era

We told you vanilla was a thing right now, didn’t we? This is probably the most vanilla-y vanilla on this list in that you can really identify the vanilla, but it’s in a good way, not a mall-store-body-milk kind of way. It’s combined with black amber, cashmere wood, iso e super (a synthetic woody-musky-ambery note), and black pepper to make it deeper, earthier, and a little spicer. There’s also a mix of botanicals (beet root, saffron, tulip) that round it out and give it a genderless, but slightly masculine-leaning feel.

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