Unlike fragrance categories such as aquatic, leather or citrus, woody fragrances span a wide spectrum from fresh, crisp pine to rich, heady oud, as well as being present as base notes in many other fragrances. It’s common to find scent notes like vetiver, cedarwood, sandalwood, and pine in other fragrance families, with these ingredients lending scents a well-rounded quality and increasing longevity. With that in mind, fragrances not typically classed as woody can still appeal to those who favour the almost universally pleasing notes.
The best woody fragrances for men communicate a sense of quiet confidence. Refined and elegant, they’re neither too subtle nor too overpowering, with the variety of the woody fragrance family meaning there’s one for every kind of taste. Whether you’re after a nature-inspired scent like Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt or Aesop Hwyl, or a warm, fall fragrance like Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace, we’ve compiled the best woody fragrances for men of all time.
Our favourite woody fragrances for men
- Best overall woody fragrance: Comme Des Garçons Wonderwood
- Best daily driver: Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt
- Best old-world luxury woody fragrance: Atkinsons James
- Best true woody fragrance: DS & Durga Bowmakers
What are woody fragrances?
Woody fragrances typically feature aromatic or citrus top notes; crisp, dry woods in the heart notes; and rich, resinous base notes. Due to the broad nature of the woody fragrance category, woody perfumes can be divided into subcategories of woody oriental, woody leather, woody chypre, woody aromatic, woody spicy, woody fruity, and woody floral. The best woody fragrances for men are warm and earthy, redolent of time spent in nature without being too overpowering. While the woody category is inextricably linked to a sense of quiet masculinity, their versatile nature lends them universal appeal, with many woody scents working equally as well on women.
What are the best woody fragrance notes?
The best woody perfumes contain notes like sandalwood (creamy and seductive), patchouli (earthy, smoky, and spicy), pine (crisp, bright, and fresh), vetiver (dry, smoky, and verdant), cedarwood (soft and aromatic with a touch of citrus), and oudh (heavy, heady, and nuanced).
The best woody fragrances for men in 2025
Got wood? These fragrances sure do.
1. Clive Christian 1872 Masculine
Price: $549AUD
A woody citrus fragrance, Clive Christian 1872 Masculine sees mossy woods meet herbaceous aromatics to form an invigoratingly fresh yet mysterious scent with more than a hint of old-world elegance.
Brand: Clive Christian
Olfactory family: Citrus Aromatic
Scent notes: petitgrain, rosemary, grapefruit, lime, nutmeg, bergamot, black pepper, clary sage, jasmine, marigold, cyclamen, freesia, sandalwood, cedarwood, frankincense
2. Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Price: from $180AUD
A unique take on a woody fragrance, the Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt shifts the focus from the forest to the sea. Mineral notes recall the rugged cliff faces, which intermingle with the woody undertones of sage.
Brand: Jo Malone London
Olfactory family: Aromatic
Scent notes: seaweed, sage, sea salt, ambrette, grapefruit
3. Kiehl’s Original Musk
Price: $115AUD
A contemporary take on a Kiehl’s scent from the 1920s, Original Musk is the ideal genderless fragrance. Powdery white florals meet subtle resins in a surprisingly nuanced formula that smells slightly animalic on some.
Brand: Kiehl’s
Olfactory family: Floral Woody Musk
Scent notes: rose, lily, ylang-ylang, neroli, tonka, white patchouli, musk
4. Atkinsons James
Price: $310AUD
Equal parts fresh and warm, this scent was inspired by the founder of the heritage British fragrance house. Bright bergamot, pink peppercorn, and sage catch the nose first, making way for warm amber and white florals, underscored by a rich, earthy, and slightly sensual base of patchouli, musk, and vetiver. Masculine without being overpowering, it’s a scent for the contemporary gent.
Brand: Atkinsons
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: bergamot, finger lime, pink peppercorn, clary sage, elemi, white flowers accord, violet leaves, vetiver, patchouli, musk, akigalawood
5. Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
Price: $396AUD
Although vetiver isn’t actually a wood (it’s a grass), its intoxicating dry, earthy, sharp notes lend it to use in many great woody fragrances. In this elegant expression, it meets bright citrus and pink peppercorn, alongside refined base notes of myrrh, cedarwood, oakmoss, and musk.
Brand: Frederic Malle
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: bergamot, bitter orange, vetiver, pink pepper, clove, sandalwood, cedar, oakmoss, musk
6. Tom Ford Oud Wood
Price: $410AUD
One for the true wood lovers, this scent contains intense oud(h) wood, tempering it with warm, spicy notes of cardamon, pepper, and vanilla to create a genderless scent that makes a strong statement.
Brand: Tom Ford
Olfactory family: Amber Woody
Scent notes: oudh wood, sandalwood, pepper, cardamom, rosewood, tonka bean, vetiver, amber, vanilla.
7. Dior Fahrenheit
Price: $132AUD
Mandarin, violet leaf, cedarwood, and leather come together to create an alluring scent that’s warm, spicy, and just a little dirty — the latter care of the oily, leathery notes.
Brand: Dior
Olfactory family: Woody Floral Musk
Scent notes: nutmeg flower, lavender, cedar, chamomile, mandarin orange, hawthorn, bergamot, lemon, violet leaf, nutmeg, cedar, sandalwood, carnation, honeysuckle, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, leather, vetiver, musk, amber, patchouli, tonka bean
8. Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace
Price: $235AUD
It’s all in the name here. Warm and cosy, this fragrance opens with bright pink peppercorn, orange blossom, and clove, before settling into spicy, woody notes. Vanilla and cashmeran linger on the skin for a sweet, comforting finish. The scent of contentment.
Brand: Maison Margiela
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: pink peppercorn, orange flower petals, clove oil, chestnut accord, guaiac wood, cade, vanilla accord, Peru balsam, cashmeran.
9. Comme Des Garçons Wonderwood
Price: $165AUD
Dry, fresh, and clean, Comme Des Garçons Wonderwood is one of the best woody fragrances for men — a veritable celebration of the category. The olfactory equivalent of strolling through a forest, sans the usual green, herbal notes.
Brand: Comme Des Garçons
Olfactory family: Woody
Scent notes: vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli, guaiac wood, cedarwood, oudh, cypress
10. Burberry Hero
Price: $145AUD
Ruggedly masculine. Sitting in the sensory space where the ocean meets the rocky shore, Burberry Hero exudes masculinity courtesy of pine needles and a trio of cedarwood oils, while possessing a smoky, sweet, comforting quality thanks to benzoin, incense, and the faintest hint of vanilla.
Editor’s note: we’re recommending the eau de parfum version here, not the eau de toilette.
Brand: Burberry
Olfactory family: Woody Spicy
Scent notes: pine needles, incense, bergamot, amyris, cypriol, benzoin, cedarwood
11. Kilian Sacred Wood
Price: $395AUD
An alluringly mysterious take on a woody fragrance, Kilian Sacred Wood sees creamy Indian sandalwood meet spicy balsam and myrrh. A milky, creamy quality lingers on the skin in this interesting interpretation of sandalwood.
Brand: Kilian
Olfactory family: Woody Spicy
Scent notes: ambrette seed, amyris, mysore sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, tolu, copahu balm
12. Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician
Price: $150AUD
Cedarwood meets vetiver in this scent from one of our favourite niche fragrance houses. Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician leans into the resinous side of vetiver, accenting it with the creaminess of chestnut and cedarwood. Base notes of gum resin and vanilla contribute to its sweet stickiness which contrasts nicely with the traditionally fresh, sharp profile of vetiver.
Brand: Etat Libre d’Orange
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: black pepper, elemi resin, cedarwood, vetiver, opoponax, myrrh, vanilla
13. L’Occitane Baux
Price: $99AUD
One for the old world gentleman. The addition of pink pepper, cardamon, and vanilla in L’Occitane Baux make it a scent that’s masculine while still being warm and inviting.
Brand: L’Occitane
Olfactory family: Woody Spicy
Scent notes: bergamot, cardamom, pink pepper, cypress, incense, cinnamon, vanilla, tonka bean, cedar
14. Diptyque Orphéon
Price: $297AUD
A clean woody chypre fragrance, Diptyque Orphéon is soft and comforting. Recalling the scent of a bar of yesteryear, creamy woody notes are accented by gin-like juniper and white florals. Fizzy, creamy, and powdery, it’s a more delicate take on a classic woody scent.
Brand: Diptyque
Olfactory family: Woody Floral
Scent notes: juniper berries, tonka beans, cedarwood, jasmine
15. Aesop Hwyl
Price: $190AUD
The olfactory equivalent of forest bathing, Aesop Hwyl is redolent of a stroll through a Japanese forest. Hinoki and cypress woods are tempered with resin and spice, as well as dark verdant, earthy, and slightly medicinal notes of thyme, vetiver, and frankincense with a touch of smoke.
Brand: Aesop
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: thyme, elemi, pink pepper, cypress, suede, geranium, vetiver, frankincense, cedar
16. D.S. & Durga Bowmakers
Price: $291AUD
Inspired by the scents found in the shops of 19th century string instrument craftsmen from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, D.S. & Durga Bowmakers is a decidedly rugged woody fragrance. Sawdust, maple shavings, aged walnut, and mahogany are accented by slightly industrial notes of polish and varnish. One for the true woody fragrance lovers, the woody notes in D.S. & Durga Bowmakers are relatively unadorned and unembellished making for an authentic take on the popular fragrance note.
Brand: D.S. & Durga
Olfactory family: Woody Aromatic
Scent notes: violin varnish, mahogany, outdoors accord, amber pine rosin, maplewood, cypress, spiced tree resin, cedar, moss
Alternatives to these woody fragrances for men
Still haven’t found the perfect woody cologne? Try these.
- Creed Royal Oud (from $399AUD): From one of the most lauded fragrance houses in the world, Creed Royal Oud offers an opulent and exotic take on woods. A woody fragrance for men and women, it sees pink pepper, cedarwood, cardamom, and clove dance upon a woody, musky base of sandalwood, oud, frankincense, and guaiac wood. The result is rich, leathery, and elegant; a vibe that befits a fragrance inspired by Persian palaces.
- Dossier Woody Sandalwood ($89AUD): Touted as a dupe for Le Labo Santal 33, Dossier Woody Sandalwood is an eminently wearable woody fragrance in its own right. Vibrant violet leaf and cardamom are complemented by the creamy notes of Indian sandalwood, while a slightly powdery musk base note gives it a comforting vibe.
Woody vanilla fragrances
While the best woody fragrances for men on this list are centred around woody notes, the best woody vanilla fragrances see them share the spotlight. Vanilla is a multifaceted scent note; while it’s often seen in gourmand fragrances as a creamy, sweet note, it can also be dry, woody, smoky, and even leathery. The lush, creamy, and sometimes exotic notes of vanilla provide the ideal complement to woody notes, with the best woody vanilla fragrances showcasing this symbiosis.
- Maison Margiela Whispers In The Library ($225AUD): The ideal scent for those who prefer the smell of vanilla beans to the traditional sweet gourmand takes on vanilla. A dark academia scent if ever there was one, Maison Margiela Whispers In The Library recalls an antique library with sweet cosy benzoins intermingled with woody and sensual vanilla absolute, underscored by sharp cedarwood and dry, smoky vetiver.
- The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods (from $44AUD): A very pure take on a woody vanilla perfume, The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods is one of our favourite scents for layering. A warm, gourmand interpretation, ripe pear lends a gentle freshness to sweet notes of vanilla and very light blonde woods. The vanilla is the strongest note here, with the woods lending depth rather than being the star of the show.
- Goldfield & Banks Silky Woods (from $61AUD): This is one of our all time favourite interpretations of a woody vanilla fragrance. Courtesy of Australian perfume house Goldfield & Banks, Silky Woods is a smooth, silky, creamy vanilla scent. The sweetness of vanilla is elevated with agarwood, sandalwood, leather, and a hint of tobacco, making for a luxurious sensual fragrance.
Enjoyed this article? Why not head to our fragrance section for more content or check out our other fragrance guides here:
- The Best Summer Fragrances
- Our Favourite Winter Perfumes For Women
- Timeless Colognes For Men
- Smell Like A Gentleman With These Forgotten Fragrances Of Yesteryear
- Best Nuanced Woody Floral Fragrances For Complicated Sensorialists
- Real Men Smell Like Flowers; These Are The Best Floral Scents For Men
Words by Theo Rosen
