If you want a scent that’s rich, warm and earthy, then a woody fragrance is what you should be looking for. Think notes like musk, cedarwood, oak, sandalwood, amber and rosewood, which often sit at the base of fragrances to give them a warm depth that offsets sweeter layers.
The woody fragrance family is actually one of the most popular notes for men’s fragrances and colognes. In fact, I recently did a round-up for the 10 popular Father’s Day fragrances and a lot of those entries were woody and aromatic – but I’ve found fresh choices for you in this guide.
Below, I’ve listed the best woody fragrances for men, including picks from Tom Ford, Le Labo, Moncler, Hermès and more.
P.S. If you fancy something sweet yet sour, check out these citrus fragrances and for an ocean-inspired scent, we have a guide to the best salty fragrances.
Best Woody Fragrances for Men
I mean, you can’t have a woody fragrance round-up without Tom Ford’s Oud Wood. Launched back in 2007, Oud Wood has stood the test of time as it’s such a versatile fragrance which can be worn from day to night. It has strong woody notes of rosewood, amber, sandalwood, vetiver, oud and cardamom which gives the fragrance warmth and spice.
A nice unisex scent, Le Labo Santal 33 is sensual, addictive and smoky. It has strong wood notes, including Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cardamom and cedarwood, which gives it hints of spice, leather and musk. It’s balanced with sweeter notes of violet and ambrox to suit all genders.
A woody aromatic scent, Moncler’s Pour Homme is an intriguing fragrance with notes of wood, herbs and spice. It has an exclusive note of alpine green accord which balances with clary sage, pine, cedarwood and vetiver. If you buy the 150ml version, the bottle comes with LED writing.
As you’d expect from the name, the Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace smiles like an open wood fire. Another unisex fragrance, Replica By The Fireplace is warming and woody, with notes of chestnut, guaiac wood oil, pink pepper and cloves. It has sweet notes of vanilla and orange flower petals to add a hint of sweetness.
The Hermès Terre D’Hermès Eau Intense Vetiver has strong notes of vetiver which gives this fragrance a woody, plant-like smell. As wood and spice go together so well, this scent has layers of green bergamot and Sichuan pepper to give it a bit of a kick.
Another oud fragrance, Acqua Di Parma Oud is the best woody scent from the iconic perfume manufacturer. The Acqua Di Parma Oud is intense and warming, and has bright citrus notes to better the ‘darker’ and richer layers, like agarwood, amyris wood and coriander.
Rabanne Invictus is a fresh and woody fragrance, so it’s great for all day wear. In a fun trophy bottle, Rabanne Invictus combines guaiac wood and marine accord with grapefruit, so while the scent is predominantly woody, it still has lighter layers that give it that clean feel.
Arguably the most recognisable fragrance bottle out there, Diesel Only The Brave is a woody amber scent with hints of citrus. The base of the scent is amber, leather, and cedar to give it that warmth and to hold up the other aromatics in the top and heart notes, like lemon, mandarin, coriander, violet leaves, rosemary and labdanum.
Another citrusy woody fragrance, Dsquared2 Wood Pour Homme is a combination of fresh notes and smoky earthiness. It’s a great summer fragrance but can also be worn throughout the year with its warmer layers. You can expect bergamot, vetiver, ambroxan, white woods, cardamon, ginger, tangerine and lemon notes with this one.
