8 Best Tobacco Colognes To Keep You Spicy and Warm in 2023

Is your current cologne no longer hitting the high notes? Are you looking for an olfactory upgrade? Then my advice is, don’t cross the best tobacco colognes off your list when searching for a fragrance to switch up your scent stash.

If, like me, you’re a non-smoker, you may wonder why colognes with tobacco notes smell amazing, yet cigarettes stink! Excellent question. Tobacco doesn’t smell bad. But smoke does, as it contains many toxins.

Tobacco colognes are made from tobacco absolute, which comes from dried fermented tobacco leaves. The leaves aren’t smoked, so rather than a chemical smell, they have a manly aroma that’s earthy and a little powdery. The best tobacco colognes are sure to become your next addiction without affecting your health!

Tobacco blends perfectly with woody, sweet, and spicy notes like musk, patchouli, pepper, sandalwood, vanilla, and leather. When you finally find your signature scent, it’s like slipping on your coziest sweater on a cold day.

I have sniffed and searched, so you don’t have to, to bring you the best smoking hot tobacco colognes for men. From Diptyque and Tom Ford to Calvin Klein, Parfums de Marly, and more, read on to discover the 8 best tobacco colognes for men in 2023.

Key Takeaways

If any fragrances can get the pulse points racing, it’s these 8 best tobacco colognes. Tobacco is one of the richest, deepest, and sweetest notes you can add to perfume. It’s warm and inviting, and once you’ve tried it, you’re hooked. So give into your craving and check out my favorite tried, tested, and treasured best tobacco colognes for men.

Our Top Picks

holding a bottle of davidoff cool water — davidoffparfums / instagram

When it comes to the best tobacco colognes, each interprets this unusual note differently. Parfums de Marly Herod is one for the purists. The tobacco note is hyper-realistic. Subtly sweet and warm with a refined finish that conjures images of gents smoking cherry wood pipes in an exclusive old boys’ club.

Herod is the jewel in the crown of the Parfums de Marly lineup. The opening is rich and spicy, with hints of cinnamon that blend into the smoky vanilla-wood base. It’s a suave scent for the well-dressed guy. Flannel shirt and sweatpant lovers need not apply.

This fragrance’s true triumph is showcasing traditionally heavy notes in a way that isn’t overpowering or brash. A few sprays to the chest will have those in your orbit drawing closer without inducing headaches.

Not the Tom Ford cologne you were expecting to see? Don’t get me wrong. I’m a long-serving Tobacco Vanille fan. But if you’re already a tobacco aficionado, my money’s on the fact you already own a bottle. So, let me introduce you to Tobacco Oud, the more daring and devilish brother of Tobacco Vanille.

Just one spritz of this killer cologne unleashes an intoxicating aroma of spiced whiskey. After several minutes on the skin, the powerful opening settles into something warmer and woodier. Then, the tobacco comes through, mellowed with sandalwood and vanilla. But it’s the oud that gives this cologne its bad-boy edge.

Longevity is impressive as hell, but that’s no surprise. We’re talking Tom Ford here. When it comes to the best tobacco colognes, Tobacco Oud is one of my all-time favorite winter colognes. But, be warned, not everyone is man enough to appreciate this signature scent; prepare to grab attention.

I’m hit with major nostalgia when I think of CK One and its various OG flankers. Spiky hair and baggy pale denim come to mind. But, this is not the generic CK One of the nineties and noughties as we know it. CK One Shock is a shockingly good, pardon the pun, twist on this classic scent.

With top notes of clementine and cucumber, this fresh fragrance is a fun spin on the best tobacco colognes. Cardamom, pepper, and basil sit at the heart, while tobacco, amber, wood, musk, and patchouli carry the base.

The light, uplifting opening makes Ck One Shock a top fragrance pick for young guys. A little sweet and a touch spicy, Ck One Shock is one of the best tobacco colognes for daytime wear and is a great spring scent.

This Brazilian brand launched 50 years ago as a small pharmacy offering natural products. Today, their fragrances remain cruelty-free, a box we all need to tick in 2023.

Coffee Man is the ideal budget-friendly starter fragrance for guys trying out tobacco scents. A quality tobacco cologne with unique notes for less than $50 per 3.4oz; what’s not to love?

As the name suggests, coffee is upfront and present, flanked by sandalwood, amber, and patchouli, but the tobacco and leather make this a true hero scent. A laundry list of spices, botanicals, and florals join the party but hold more of a supporting role.

The result is a refined, masculine scent for nighttime occasions. I enjoy 6-8 hours of wear from Coffee Man before I need a top-up which is a respectable performance from an EDT.

Top Notes: Pepper, cardamom, ginger, bamboo, bergamot, grapefruit | Middle Notes: Tobacco, nutmeg, iris, violet, geranium| Base notes: Coffee, amber, leather, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli | Size: 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Fall, winter

Founded by Killian Hennessy, heir to the Hennessy cognac dynasty, By Killian is the epitome of modern luxury. Back to Black is one of the best tobacco colognes for guys looking to level up their fragrance game.

The spiced honey opening is sweetened with bursts of ripe cherry, counter-balanced with smoky incense and tobacco. Sensual and addictive, this is a scent for special occasions and dangerous liaisons.

Back to Black is not a cologne that fades into the background; this scent lasts 8+ hours on the skin. I suggest testing a sample before committing, which is a good practice to keep before investing in any high-end scent.

By Killian Back to Black is a feast for the eyes as much as for the nose. The black lacquered bottle, hand-engraved on all sides, screams opulence. It is one of the few cologne bottles I kept for display after I empty the last drop.

Diptyque Volutes is tobacco cologne, but not as you know it. Most of the best tobacco colognes for men pair this aroma with heavier notes like wood, incense, and leather. Diptyque Volutes flips this trend on its head.

Volutes opens with light, powdery, florals blended with subtle spices. As your body heat prompts the fragrance to develop, wisps of soft honey-tobacco and golden benzoin round out the blend.

On my skin, I find projection is moderate. Only those standing within an arm’s length or so catch my scent, which makes this one of the few tobacco colognes I wear to work. Volutes is quietly confident, not a loud attention-seeker. Yet, the unique blend will leave a lasting impression.

Volutes is a classy scent best suited to mature men. Don’t mistake maturity for age, but rather a state of mind. If you want others to perceive you as smart and sophisticated, this could become one of your favorite fragrances of all time.

Trying to kill time in a department store with my partner, I wandered off to the men’s fragrance section. Spotting Davidoff Cool Water tucked away in the corner; I took a sniff out of nostalgic curiosity. I couldn’t believe what I smelled.

It wasn’t the generic, single-note fragrance I stereotyped in my mind, but something much more interesting. The salty sea notes layer with minty botanicals and spice. As the sample settled on my wrist, I detected wafts of musk, fresh-cut tobacco, and rain-soaked wood.

Some liken Cool Water to Creed Green Irish Tweed. What if I told you this wasn’t a coincidence? In the book, The Ghost Perfumer, Cool Water creator Pierre Bourdon accuses Olivier Creed of stealing his formula and modifying it to create this posh, pricey fragrance.

Aromatic, green, and clean with subtle depth, not only is this one of the best tobacco colognes for summer, but also one of my favorite musk scents.

Choose a luxury cologne that’s highly concentrated and long-lasting, and over time, the cost per wear can rival that of a low-cost fragrance. Turn your attention to Mancera Red Tobacco. My bottle, purchased in 2018, is still delivering. A few sprays is all you need, and will cling on for 10+ hours without breaking a sweat.

Like the tough guy with a rugged exterior but a heart of gold, Red Tobacco rewards those who stick around long enough to peel back the layers. The opening is polarizing. An overpowering hit of spices, oud, and incense. Hang in there, though, and that’s when the magic happens. After 20 minutes, Red Tobacco transforms into something creamy, warm, and sensual, with dry pipe tobacco taking center stage.

The best way to enjoy this ultimate long-lasting fragrance is to spritz it sparingly half an hour before going out. Do that, and you’ll master the best tobacco cologne for Fall and Winter.

half empty bottle of volutes sitting on the piano — milly.b_tokyo / instagram

What to Look for in the Best Tobacco Colognes

Price

It’s not surprising that some of the best tobacco colognes for men can be costly. But rest assured, no expensive cologne makes it to my roundup unless it can back up its price tag with quality ingredients and a wow factor. If you’re ready to indulge in a stellar scent, Tom Ford Tobacco Oud, Parfums de Marly Herod, and By Killian Back to Black are no-brainers.

On the flip side, there’s Calvin Klein CK One Shock, Davidoff Cool Water, and O’Boticario Coffee Man. These are the best tobacco colognes to take you from breakfast to the bar, 7-days a week, without putting a dent in your wallet. Close to the $50 mark, they’re the perfect way to test-ride tobacco colognes before joining the big buck brigade.

Seasonality

The scent of tobacco is warm and comforting. So, it naturally works well in fall and winter. For me, nothing evokes memories of warm fires in winter more than Tom Ford Tobacco Oud with notes of tobacco, oud, and whisky. “I think fragrance might be more important than clothes,” says Ford. “Because, like music or food, scent is a very direct sensory stimulant. It provokes the senses, it brings up emotion and memory and feeling.”

To make the best tobacco colognes work well for you in warmer months, too, look for one with lighter, fresher notes. Take, for instance, Davidoff Coll Water and Calvin Klein CK One Shock. I also love wearing Diptyque Volutes on breezier spring days.

Longevity

If you’re on the hunt for a long-lasting fragrance, opt for Eau de Parfum. It may mean splashing the cash, but thanks to the higher perfume concentration, you’ll end up needing to spray less.

I am lucky enough to review countless colognes, and when it comes to longevity, I can vouch for Red Tobacco by Mancera. This premium scent is head and shoulders above the rest for both staying power and potency. It can last for up to 24 hours. But go easy on the spritzing. Spray too much, and you’ll knock everyone around you out rather than off their feet!

flat lay of mens clothes and cologne — parfumsdemarly / Instagram

FAQ

- For me, tobacco brings a lot to the table. Its notes in the best tobacco colognes are inviting and often intoxicating. Tobacco is a sweet, sensual, and seductive scent. It adds depth of character to a cornucopia of colognes. From sweet and floral to spicy and crisp, tobacco plays a supporting, if not starring, role in almost all fragrance families.