The best sweet smelling colognes are often marketed as female fragrances. Yet, if a guy wants to smell just as appealing, why shouldn’t he break down the gender barrier and unleash his sweeter side?
As CEO and co-founder of Scentbird, Mariya Nurislamova explains, “Technically, all scents can be considered unisex. However, brands would typically market fruit or floral-heavy fragrances as feminine, whereas scents featuring heady notes like wood, leather, and spices would be considered masculine.”
Scent stereotypes are a thing of the past. Today, the key to choosing your favorite fragrance lies firmly in personal appeal and stepping out of your cologne comfort zone.
There are three main types of sweet men’s colognes; fruity, floral, and gourmand. These are often refreshing and light, with a natural sweet nuance.
Many premium fruit-based scents like Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry and gourmand Black Phantom by Kilian are fragrances with a gender-neutral olfactory appeal. From cherries to chocolate and more, top, heart, and base notes combine to create a fragrance feast for the senses.
If you aren’t ready to go full-on fruity, some of the best vanilla colognes are a great way to experiment with sweet men’s cologne. Technical consultant at Belle Aire Creations, Dr Craig Warren, explains, “Vanilla produces the feeling of happiness universally around the world. Of all the materials that go in fragrances, vanilla is the most liked globally.”
Key Takeaways
When scrolling in your quest to find the sweet smelling colognes, your first decision is whether to choose a fruity, floral or gourmand scent. I’ve gone the extra mile to bring you a collection of the best sweet scents that deserve to make it into your rotation.
Like Jimmy Choo Man and Montale Café Intense, which I consider front runners in the best sweet men’s cologne competition. Whether you’re already a firm fan of sweet scents or thinking about indulging, check out my top 10 best sweet smelling colognes.
If smelling sweet is your MO this season, let me hook you up with one of my favorite fresh frags. Jimmy Choo Man, launched in 2014, is the designer brand’s debut men’s cologne.
At its heart, Jimmy Choo Man is a musky scent peppered with aromatics like lavender and pineapple leaf. But for me, the burst of green melon steals the show and provides the blend with its trademark sweetness. Imagine a modern and youthful twist on Bleu de Chanel, and you’re almost there.
Jimmy Choo Man is distinctive but stops short of being cloying, making it a great sweet cologne for the office. Longevity is a reasonable 4-5 hours. However, you will need a top-up if you plan to take it from desk to date night.
Top Notes: Lavender, melon | Middle Notes: Pineapple leaf, pink pepper | Base notes: Patchouli, suede | Size: 3.3oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, summer, fall
I take great pride in being the “fragrance guy” in my friend groups. The one people come to when they want a solid recommendation. Of all the questions thrown my way, the most frequent is, “What’s a great cheap scent?”.
When it comes to the best sweet smelling cologne that won’t break the bank, the answer is easy. Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla comes in at less than $25 for 3.4oz. Add to this it’s long-lasting formula and its value-for-money rating skyrockets.
I hear you asking, “Does budget cologne smell good, though?” In this case, yes, it does.
Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla is one for the guys who enjoy Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille-type scents. It’s not an exact dupe, but it does share similar DNA. With that in mind, this fragrance is a fall and winter staple. But skip it in the summer – the notes are a little heavy for hotter climes.
Top Notes: Cardamom | Middle Notes: Cashmere wood | Base notes: Bourbon vanilla, vetiver | Size: 3.3oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Fall, winter
For the luxury-loving lads who want to smell good enough to eat, By Kilian Black Phantom is a devilishly dark fragrance with notoriously good notes.
Opening with a boozy blend of pirate-inspired Martinique rum, strong coffee, and a daring bite of cyanide. Chocolate is a prominent element that carries through to the dry down, mingling with creamy sandalwood and something distinctly caramel-like.
Black Phantom is a standout sweet men’s cologne that justifies its premium price point. I reserve my bottle for special occasions and winter-time nights out. This stuff is pretty potent; a few spritzes are all you need. Any more, and you’ll cross the line from bold to brash.
Top Notes: Chocolate, rum | Middle Notes: Coffee, cyanide, heliotrope | Base notes: Caramel, sugar cane, sandalwood | Size: 1.7oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Fall, winter
The God of gourmand fragrances, Montale Café Intense, is legendary not only for its rich scent but it’s beast mode longevity. I’m not kidding when I say this cologne clings to shirts post-laundry.
This bougie fragrance is a rich concoction of coffee, rose, vanilla, white musk, and amber which are typical of Middle Eastern-inspired scents. There’s a creaminess in the blend that prevents the coffee notes from becoming bitter. The perfect warming cologne to surround yourself with in winter and fall.
The sillage, or scent trail, this cologne leaves in its wake is unbeatable. For some, this level of projection is obnoxious. But if you have the confidence to carry it off, a fragrance that leaves a lasting impression after you exit a room can be empowering.
Top Notes: Floral notes | Middle Notes: Rose, coffee | Base notes: Amber, vanilla, white musk | Size: 3.3oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Fall, winter
One look at the glossy black bottle, and you could be forgiven for assuming Ralph Lauren Polo Black is a heavy fragrance. I’m here to tell you, not to judge a cologne by its bottle.
Ralph Lauren Polo Black is the top men’s sweet cologne to rock day in and day out. Its bright tropical notes of mango and zesty tangerine are grounded with earthy patchouli, sandalwood, and smooth tonka bean. The final product is masculine and mass-appealing, a must-have for everyday cologne.
Its sweet and fruity notes are fun and uplifting. I spritz this when I need a morning mood boost. The aromatic citrus notes are ideal for channeling that clean guy aesthetic. Polo Black may not break the mold, but it’s a crowd-pleasing cologne that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Top Notes: Mango, tangerine, lemon | Middle Notes: Sage, wormwood | Base notes: Patchouli, tonka bean | Size: 3.3oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, summer, fall, winter
If you’ve ever stolen your girlfriend’s high-end shampoo and thought, “damn, that smells nice,” this one’s for you. Sweet and succulent stone fruit notes await you in Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom and Honey.
From blackcurrant and nectarine to peach and plum, NB&H is bursting with juicy fruits. This summertime scent, melded with fresh green notes and vetiver, feels light, clean, and invigorating.
While much of the Jo Malone line is unisex, the brand has a more feminine following. However, if you can step out of the box of gender stereotypes, you stand to discover some of the top-quality sweet smelling colognes.
Top Notes: Green notes, blackcurrant, petitgrain | Middle Notes: Nectarine, black locust | Base notes: Peach, plum, vetiver | Size: 1oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, summer
Calling all niche cologne enthusiasts. If you like to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest scent trends, you’ll love Snif. This fragrance brand creates genderless scents in vegan and cruelty-free formulas.
Ex on the Beach is a sultry blend of warm wood, earthy fig, and uplifting yellow florals. It’s intoxicating yet wearable. After 3-4 hours, the cologne dries down to a sweet woody scent that hugs the skin, much like the most popular pheromone fragrances.
Don’t let the name fool you; this isn’t a frivolous beachy scent for summer vacations. This is the best sweet smelling cologne for year-round wear. Ex on the Beach is uber-adaptable from spring to winter and a solid cologne choice for younger guys.
Top Notes: Fig, orange blossom | Middle Notes: Ylang-ylang, jasmine, peony | Base notes: Cedar | Size: 1oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, summer, fall, winter
If you’re new to the world of sweet men’s cologne, it’s time to bite into this sweet fruit from Tom Ford, evidently one of the brand’s most hyped releases.
I’ll admit, it was my wife who first purchased Lost Cherry. Despite her insistence it was unisex, I dismissed it as a frivolous, juvenile scent before even sniffing it. Then curiosity took over, and I stole a few spritzes. Long story short, Lost Cherry is now in my top 10 rotation and earns me the most compliments from women.
It goes without saying the star of the show is cherry. But far from being medicinal and artificial smelling, it’s rich, dark, and boozy. Cherry is flanked closely by bitter almond, creamy vanilla, and spices. This gourmand fragrance is ideal for big nights out and flirty dates.
Top Notes: Bitter almond, black cherry, liquor | Middle Notes: Sour cherry, plum, Turkish rose, jasmine | Base notes: Tonka bean, vanilla, cinnamon, benzoin, sandalwood, cloves, cedar, patchouli, vetiver | Size: 3.3oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Fall, winter
As the days grow longer and the temperature gets hotter, your scent should become lighter. Swap intense notes like tobacco and leather for elements like sweet fruits and clean musk.
No summery sweet cologne fits this bill better than Kenneth Cole Reaction. The notes list reads like a fruit bowl. Melon, green apple, lemon, watermelon, and lime blend with patchouli, lily of the valley, musk, and sandalwood. The vibe is aquatic, crisp, and refreshing.
To avoid your cologne becoming cloying in hot weather, you should opt for lighter notes. The crux is that lighter notes fade faster, so you’ll need more top-ups. Kenneth Cole Reaction is no exception, offering a wear time of 3-4 hours. Something to keep in mind when choosing your bottle size.
Top Notes: Melon, watermelon, green apple, lemon, lime | Middle Notes: Patchouli, lily of the valley | Base notes: Musk, sandalwood| Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, summer
Hear me out; the best sweet smelling cologne isn’t always the one with the most syrupy notes. But rather the one that knows when to rein it in and refine typically sweet notes into something more elegant and elusive.
For the guy that wants to embrace a sweet vanilla scent in a more subtle way, check out Diptyque Eau Duelle – a fragrance masterpiece for modern gents. A soft, sophisticated cologne with a masterful vanilla note that reads more light and airy than dollar store body spray.
Eau Duelle blends bourbon vanilla with a heady blend of aromatics and delicate spices that hug the skin. The fragrance is cozy and comforting – ideal for intimate encounters and mellow days.
Top Notes: Bourbon vanilla, elemi resin, juniper | Middle Notes: Pink peppercorn, cypriol, cardamom | Base notes: Cypriol| Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Fall, winter
What To Look For In The Best Sweet Smelling Colognes
Seasonal
Winter colognes have more woodsy, spicy notes, whereas the best summer colognes are inspired by citrus or marine notes. Reaction by Kenneth Cole, bursting with tropical fruits, is the perfect sweet cologne for spring and summer.
When colder weather sets in and it’s time to sweater up, budget-buy Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla will keep you warm. If you prefer to keep things more low maintenance, opt for a sweet men’s cologne that’ll carry you through the seasons. Ralph Lauren Polo Black will serve you well come rain or shine.
Longevity
Just because a fragrance smells sweet, doesn’t mean it won’t last the course. Two sweet men’s colognes with serious staying-put power are Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry and Montale’s Café Intense. One is boozy and juicy, while the other is intensely gourmand. Both major players have what it takes to last for 8+ hours on the skin and days on clothing.
The reason for this, explains former Quora exec and self-proclaimed perfume maker Tatiana Estevez, is that more expensive products have several layers of fragrance.
She says, “the top notes you smell immediately and last about half an hour; the mid notes develop after half an hour for 2-4 hours after that. Then come the base notes, which is what is left on your skin at the end of the day.”
If you’re looking for a fragrance that packs less of a punch on the nose, I recommend Jimmy Choo Man, which lingers on the skin for 4-5 hours.
Size
For me, deciding what size bottle of cologne to buy depends on the fragrance I’m buying rather than value for money alone. For instance, if it’s an Eau de Toilette, I often go for a larger bottle because these, like Snif Ex on the Beach, tend to be lighter scents that need reapplying more frequently.
The same goes for a versatile, everyday cologne, which I know I’ll use up quickly, such as Ralph Lauren Polo Black. On the flip side, if I’m splashing out on a special occasion sweet men’s cologne, like By Kilian’s Black Phantom, I’ll pull in the reins with a smaller size.
Final Verdict
Sweet men’s colognes can be sexy and seductive. Jimmy Choo Man is a standout fruity scent which delivers the perfect balance of sweetness and sophistication. But whether you go fruity, floral or gourmand, my expert roundup of the 10 best sweet smelling colognes will attract the sexes like bees to honey.
FAQ
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Follow these simple steps to make the most of your sweet men’s cologne. After showering, moisturize thoroughly. Baby soft skin holds fragrance for longer. For a longer-lasting scent, go for an EDP, keep it in its box, and don’t shake the bottle, which can lead to oxidation. Finally, store your favorite fragrances in a dry environment.
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According to researchers from the Karolinska Institute, vanilla and peach top the sweetest smelling poll. The best vanilla cologne for me is Diptyque Eau Duelle. An elegant sweet men’s cologne that will elevate your daily style. On the flip side, if you’re searching for peachy perfection, the scent of Malone’s unisex Nectarine Blossom and Honey is nectar to the nose.
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You may not realize it, but there are lots of sweet men’s colognes to choose from. From light and invigorating options with fruity notes like berries and citrus to floral fragrances featuring roses, jasmine, honeysuckle and more. If these don’t rock your world, check out, good-enough-to-eat gourmand colognes that smell like indulgent desserts. There’s a best sweet smelling cologne out there to suit you.
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