Finding the best Salvatore Ferragamo cologne for men doesn’t have to be a drag — we’ve collected all the information you’ll need to make an informed decision in this article.
While he started in business as a shoemaker at just 9 years old, Salvatore Ferragamo’s vision for a fashion empire couldn’t be contained to a single area. With his empire expanded to offerings for handbags, luggage, and luxury accessories, Ferragamo turned his nose towards the world of fine fragrances.
In this guide, we’ll be breaking down the top five Salvatore Ferragamo colognes for men, including full explanations of their aromatic profiles as well as how to wear each scent best. Read on, and you’ll discover which of these legendary Italian-inspired colognes is right for you!
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5 Best Salvatore Ferragamo Cologne For Men In 2022
Each of the five colognes featured below brings something truly special to the table. If you’re on the fence about buying a Salvatore Ferragamo cologne, give each a read through and compare your opinions on our five favorite scents.
F by Ferragamo Black (Our Top Pick)
A modern, intense, evening-oriented rendition of the original F by Ferragamo, in our minds Black is easily the best Salvatore Ferragamo cologne for men. In spite of its seemingly simple composition, F by Ferragamo Black is a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Simultaneously masculine and approachable, it’s a cologne that we think should be in every man’s wardrobe.
Fields of French lavender and freshly squeezed granny smith apples are the first impressions you’ll get from Black, which transition smoothly into a spicy center filled with black pepper and coriander. Rare and exotic tonka beans bind the entire fragrance together, giving a subtle impression of vanilla, almonds, and allspice throughout the entire sensory experience.
Designed with nighttime wear in mind, F by Ferragamo Black is a fantastic date night cologne. It’s intense and long-lasting, and perfect for wear during the fall and winter.
Notes:
- Top notes of lavender and green apple
- Middle notes of black pepper and coriander
- Base notes of tonka bean and labdanum
Best For:
- Nighttime wear
- Date nights
- Fall and winter wear
Subtil
True to its name, Salvatore Ferragamo’s “Subtil” is a restrained take on a woody and spicy cologne. With a fresh and modern feel but classic formulation, Subtil is a truly interesting take on a contemporary cologne — offering a strongly masculine scent that doesn’t overstep its bounds.
Ginger, orange peel, and cardamom form a spicy and exotic trifecta for Subtil’s top notes, underscored by watery lotus flowers. Artemisia and violet join coriander and pink pepper to add depth to the heart of Subtil, while a classic blend of amber, musk, and patchouli lends length and elegance to the entire composition.
With its mostly warm and fresh notes, Subtil is ideally suited for wear during the spring and summer, or during the day in the colder months of the year. It’s long-lasting but not very intense, making it suitable for wearing to work or when going out with friends.
Notes:
- Top notes of ginger, mandarin orange, lotus leaf, and cardamom
- Middle notes of coriander, pink pepper, violet, and artemisia
- Base notes of amber, musk, and patchouli
Best For:
- Wearing to the office
- Spring and summer wear
- Daytime wear
Acqua Essenziale Blu
The more intense offspring of the original Acqua Essenziale, Blu is inspired by the power and majesty of the open ocean. Based around an intoxicating lab-made floral scent, it’s an effusive and unforgettable fragrance that will make an impression on any room you wear it in.
A classic combination of citrus and cardamom draws you in quickly to Acqua Essenziale Blu, before giving way to pervasive notes of lavender and cedar. The proprietary “paradisone” molecule gives an incredibly powerful aroma of tropical flowers throughout the entire cologne, which is gracefully balanced out by base notes of tonka bean and patchouli.
Intense and long-lasting, Acqua Essenziale Blu is the cologne you should reach for when you want to make a splash at a party or get-together. It shows its best side during the spring and summer, but even daytime wear during the fall and winter is appropriate.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon, bergamot, and cardamom
- Middle notes of lavender, cypriol, paradisone, and cedar
- Base notes of tonka bean, benzoin, ambroxan, and patchouli
Best For:
- Making a big impression
- Spring and summer wear
- Daytime wear
Free Time
A recent addition to the F by Ferragamo lineup, Free Time seeks to embody the feeling of leisure promised by its name. Light, fresh, and easygoing, it immediately conjures up images of summertime fun and long days spent at the beach with nothing much to do but soak up the sun.
Lemon zest and crushed ginger lead the way in Free Time, opening the scent quickly to a heart of pink peppercorns and green cardamom. A simple yet profound base of vetiver, musk, and cedar is only subtly present throughout the entire experience, lending a refined elegance that helps the cologne to stand out from other simple summer scents.
Possessing only moderate intensity and duration, Free Time is one of Salvatore Ferragamo’s most approachable colognes for summertime wear. It’s just strong enough to stay on through an entire evening barbecue at the beach, but you may need to reapply once for all-day wear.
Notes:
- Top notes of lemon zest and ginger
- Middle notes of pink pepper and cardamom
- Base notes of vetiver, cedar, and musk
Best For:
- Summertime wear
Uomo
Designed to represent an expression of Italian lifestyle in fragrance form, Uomo is Salvatore Ferragamo’s most culinary-inflected cologne. Built around the flavor and aroma of a finely crafted tiramisu, it’s a one-of-a-kind scent that you won’t find from anybody except Ferragamo.
A pungent and aromatic blend of black pepper, green cardamom, and Sicilian bergamot peel adorn the top notes of Uomo, acting as a foil to the rich tiramisu heart of this unforgettable cologne. Orange blossom and almonds back up the heart notes, transitioning smoothly into a finish of sandalwood and tonka bean at the base.
Quite strong and displaying an admirable duration, Uomo is a one-spray cologne that can last all day. Aside from making it a fantastic value, this also positions Uomo to be an ideal all-rounder of a cologne for everyday wear or special occasions.
Notes:
- Top notes of cardamom, black pepper, and bergamot
- Middle notes of tiramisu, ambroxan, and orange blossom
- Base notes of cashmere wood, sandalwood, and tonka bean
Best For:
- All-day wear
- Spring, fall, and winter wear
What Does Salvatore Ferragamo Smell Like?
Thanks to the deep and wide variety of colognes and perfumes represented in Salvatore Ferragamo’s catalog, it can be difficult to pin down exactly what a Ferragamo scent smells like.
That said, you can always expect a Salvatore Ferragamo fragrance to strike a balance between classical composition, Italian heritage, and forward-thinking innovation. Leaning heavily on the natural environment of Italy, you’ll find heavy use of citrus and cardamom in the top notes of many Ferragamo colognes, as well as a strong culinary inflection that makes them particularly approachable.
What Is The Best Salvatore Ferragamo Cologne?
While we’ve gone to great lengths to explain why we think each of the five Salvatore Ferragamo colognes reviewed above are fantastic choices, in the end the best Salvatore Ferragamo cologne will be the one that best suits your tastes.
That’s why we recommend taking a closer look at the aromatic notes of each cologne, rolling them around in your mind, and imagining how each cologne might smell in the situations you encounter in daily life. That way, you can decide which cologne is best for you, rather than just which one we think is best.
For more fragrances you may like, check out brands like Curve, Nautica, or Armaf.
Brian Adee
Brian has been fascinated with fragrances since his 8th birthday, when his Dad gifted him a bottle of Acqua di Gio. Since then, he has become a men's grooming & style aficionado who teaches men how to look sharp. Backed by personal experience, Brian's articles are known for his no-holds-barred style where he holds nothing back. You will get his real opinions on the latest men's grooming products and best practices where he reveals the best (and worst) style advice every man should know.