A sexy cologne is a weapon you want in your arsenal. Even if you’re typically a citrusy- or floral-scent guy, swapping out your signature for special occasions that call for a certain level of sex appeal is never a bad idea. Most of the sexy scents below are going to be in the warm, amber, woody family; there’s a lot of smoke and a lot of spice, but don’t feel like you’re just going to be walking around smelling like the butt of a cigarette that’s gone for a swim in a whiskey barrel, because that is not the case.
The key to mastering a heady, intense scent is to balance it out with brighter, fresher notes—maybe some not-too-sweet florals, like violet and orchid; maybe some fruits, like bergamot and lemon; maybe even something dry and nutty, like almond and pistachio and tonka bean. Sound good? Trust me—it’ll smell even better.
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Warm, rich, and velvety, this scent from D.S. & Durga’s gold line bottles up the finest of ingredients from India and Sri Lanka. It’s spicy but not overly so; there are base notes of sandalwood and vetiver that add subtle sensuality to this fragrance, designed in small batches with rare oils. There’s something elusive about the wearer of this scent—he’s a man of mystery, shrouded in fragrant herbs and spices.
Top notes
Frangipani, gardenia, saffron
Heart notes
Yellow lotus, rose absolute, agarwood
Base notes
Sandalwood, vetiver, musk ambrette
Size
50ml
sexiest subtle scent
Penhaligon’s Fortuitous Finley Eau de Parfum
This is a scent that’s certainly seductive but never overpowering. It isn’t too intense or bold, either; instead, Fortuitous Finley is smooth and subtle, with a blend of spices and florals—namely salted pistachio, wild violet leaf, and fresh cardamom—grounded by leather.
Top notes
Violet leaf
Heart notes
Pistachio
Base notes
Leather
Size
75ml
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sexiest vanilla scent
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum
Surely you knew Tobacco Vanille would be somewhere in here. One of Tom Ford’s most iconic scents, this fragrance is dark, heady, and musky. The smokiness of tobacco leaf is underscored by smooth, creamy vanilla and tonka bean, with a spicy ginger edge. With the addition of almonds, fruit, and cocoa, this scent is rounded out with an opulent finish—it’s as luxe and powerful as it is sexy and sleek.
Key notes
Tobacco leaf, vanilla, ginger, creamy tonka bean, cocoa, dry fruit accords, sweet wood sap
Size
10, 30, 50, and 100ml
sexiest amber scent
Byredo Animalique Eau de Parfum
Consider your inhibitions shattered. Animalique is all about channeling the animalistic, the freest and most expressive, parts of yourself, with a delightful combination of fruits and florals, paired with warm base notes. The mimosa and violet notes are light and refreshing, punctuated by bright lemon and bergamot, finished with warm amber, sexy suede, and smoky tobacco leaf.
Top notes
Bergamot, lemon
Heart notes
Suede, violet, mimosa
Base notes
Amber, sandalwood, tobacco leaf
Size
100ml
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sexiest spicy scent
Bianco Profumo Cherry Leather Eau de Parfum
This one is all about the spices and the suede. Cherry Leather bottles up all things sharp and sensual, smooth and rugged as a worn-in leather jacket. With key notes of cherry, black pepper, star anise, suede, amber, and musk, this is an intense nighttime scent that smells as dangerous as it sounds.
Key notes
Fennel, star anise, black pepper, saffron, ambrette seed, cherry, bitter almond, guaiac wood, pine tar, suede, amber, oakwood, moss, musk
Size
50ml
sexiest smoky scent
Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette
A lot of people might claim that ‘Replica by the Fireplace’ is Maison Margiela’s sexiest scent, and while it is one of the more alluring fragrances out there, in my books, Jazz Club takes the cake. This bottles up the feeling you get in the back of a dimly lit bar; a cold, smooth drink in hand; velvet on your seat; a cigar just put out. It’s smoky and spicy, with tobacco leaf and pink pepper, underscored with a refined, warm rum for a sophisticated finish.
Key notes
Pink pepper, rum absolute, tobacco leaf absolute
Size
10, 30, and 100ml
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sexiest citrus scent
Le Labo Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum
Le Labo proves that a fragrance doesn’t have to be hot and heavy to be sexy; instead, it can be soft and bright and fresh. That’s exactly what this one is, with its citrusy notes like bergamot and fig. Spices of black tea and bay leaf add a subtle edge, and the entire thing is given an alluring finish with vetiver, cedarwood, and musk.
Key notes
Black tea leaf, bergamot, fig, bay leaf, cedarwood, vetiver, musks
Size
0.5, 1.7, and 3.4oz
sexiest woody scent
Jo Malone London Myrrh & Tonka Cologne Intense
Jo Malone crafts a woody, rich, vibrant scent that opens with fresh lavender. It isn’t too light or sweet, though, thanks to the myrrh and tonka bean; instead, it becomes a little bit heady, a little bit sensual, and intoxicatingly aromatic. With almond, vanilla, and tobacco accents, this fragrance is the perfect harmony between light and dark.
Top notes
Lavender
Heart notes
Omumbiri myrrh
Base notes
Tonka bean
Size
1.7 and 3.4oz
sexiest earthy scent
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette
I’ve known Bleu de Chanel looks good, ever since Timothée Chalamet starred in the Scorcese-directed short film tied into this scent’s release. But it smells just as chic and sexy too. With sandalwood, cedar, and citrus, this is an inviting and captivating scent for a leading man (like Timothée Chalamet). It’s urban and provocative, with a surprising zestiness from grapefruit, grounded by the woods.
Key notes
Citrus accord, labdanum, sandalwood, cedar
Sizes
1.7, 3.4, and 5oz
sexiest nighttime scent
Dior Sauvage
Smoky, woody, and surprisingly citrusy, Dior’s earthy Sauvage is all about keeping you surprised at every turn. It’s the perfect scent for evenings on the town, with sensual vanilla absolute and patchouli acting in perfect harmony with Calabrian bergamot.
Key notes
Calabrian bergamot, patchouli, vanilla absolute
Sizes
30, 60, 100, and 200ml
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Why You Can Trust Esquire
We know a thing or two about grooming. From our annual Grooming Awards and Cologne Awards to our frequent roundups of the best products for your skin, hair, and more, we’re constantly testing out products and selecting the very best ones for you. These are all fragrances we swear by, and you will too once you try ’em out. We’ve put in the work and done our due diligence to curate these colognes for you—and now you get to enjoy them.