Searching for the best tobacco cologne for men? Well look no further, because we’ve got the goods.
Did you know that there are more than 70 species of the tobacco plant? And with each variation in species, growing conditions, or processing methods, you can find wildly different aromatic properties. That’s one reason why cigars are considered a luxury item — and why tobacco colognes can have such varied and complex aromatic profiles.
In this guide, we’ll be discussing the reasoning behind our choices for the best tobacco colognes for men, and giving you our picks for the five best tobacco colognes for men. By the end of the article, you’ll know exactly which tobacco colognes are the best to add to your collection.
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5 Best Tobacco Cologne For Men In 2022
Tobacco has been a popular addition to colognes since the early days of perfuming in France, so there are plenty of tobacco-inflected colognes to choose from. We’re confident that the following five bottlings showcase the best of the best in this style. They’ll be worth properly storing for the best possible fragrance.
Parfums De Marly Herod (Our Top Pick)
For a stellar example of the complexity and nuance that tobacco can bring to a cologne, look no farther than Parfums de Marly’s Herod. A woody spicy style cologne that debuted in 2012, it places rich golden tobacco directly at the center of its composition, creating a beautiful balance that’s the envy of every other cologne in this style.
Cinnamon and black peppercorns create a spicy introduction in Herod’s top notes, giving way slowly to its center. Rich and complex tobacco is on full display in Herod’s heart notes, accented graciously by burning incense, osmanthus blossoms, and resinous labdanum. Grounded by a base of vanilla, musk, cedar, and vetiver, the total effect is one of amazing complexity and ethereal balance.
Long lasting, but with a balanced intensity and dispersion, Parfums de Marly Herod is worthy of becoming any man’s signature scent. It’s unique and fascinating composition almost guarantees that it will become a legend of the fragrance world, given enough time.
Notes:
- Top notes of cinnamon and black peppercorns
- Middle notes of tobacco, incense, osmanthus, and labdanum
- Base notes of vanilla, musk, cedar, nagarmotha, and vetiver
Best For:
- Year-round wear
- All day wear
- Becoming your new signature scent
Burberry London
Wrapped in its trademark tartan coat bottle, Burberry London is one of the most instantly recognizable and easily approachable tobacco colognes. An oriental spicy style fragrance, it was released in 2006 and continues to be the company’s best-selling cologne for men.
The classic combination of cinnamon and bergamot peel is joined by lavender in London’s top notes, which move swiftly into a heart of leather and mimosa flowers. Tobacco is the dominant base note here, providing a foundation for wood resins and oakmoss to show unexpected density. Overall, the impression is of a British smoking room, complete with heavy wooden chairs.
With a moderate intensity and moderate longevity, Burberry London is a tobacco cologne that’s quite easy to wear just about anywhere. It shows its aromatics best in the colder months of the year, but is versatile enough to be worn to the office any time of year.
Notes:
- Top notes of cinnamon, lavender, and bergamot
- Middle notes of leather and mimosa
- Base notes of tobacco, opoponax, guaiac wood, and oakmoss
Best For:
- Fall and winter wear
- Wearing to work
Thierry Mugler Pure Havane
Builds on the hugely successful base of the original A*Men, Thierry Mugler’s Pure Havane offers an incredibly tobacco-centric take on the oriental vanilla style. It’s one of the most long-lasting and intense tobacco colognes available today, making it a great value purchase based on how much wear time you get out of a single bottle.
The opening of Pure Havane leaves nothing to the imagination, immediately enticing you with rich tobacco notes paired with white honey for sweetness and a subtle floral characteristic. From there, the heart progresses to vanilla, cacao, and patchouli, a sweet yet pungent combination. Anchored by a base of amber, labdanum, and styrax, it’s a concentrated fragrance that puts its greatest emphasis on the top notes.
Incredibly long lasting and quite intense, Thierry Mugler Pure Havane is a particular favorite of cigar lovers. It’s rich and seductive notes make it an ideal tobacco cologne for date nights and late nights.
Notes:
- Top notes of tobacco and white honey
- Middle notes of vanilla, cacao, and patchouli
- Base notes of amber, labdanum, and styrax
Best For:
- Dedicated tobacco lovers
- Date nights
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Tom Ford’s fragrance line is unique in the perfuming world for its focus on unisex fragrances — and Tobacco Vanille is a perfect example of this. An oriental spicy fragrance in a unisex style, it was released in 2007 and continues to be a favorite of men and women alike.
Tobacco is beautifully present throughout the entire composition of Tobacco Vanille, starting with its pairing alongside cinnamon, clove, and allspice in the top notes. Heart notes display strong tobacco blossom fragrance, as well as vanilla, cacao, and tonka bean for added volume. Dried fruits and wood resins in the base function almost solely to showcase the more delicate and complex top and heart notes.
With a longevity approaching eternal and a gigantic dispersion, Tobacco Vanille requires a delicate hand during application. Once you’ve splashed on even a drop, it will stick with you all day — making it a great choice of cologne to wear when you’re looking to make a lasting impression on someone.
Notes:
- Top notes of tobacco, cinnamon, clove, and allspice
- Middle notes of vanilla, cacao, tonka bean, and tobacco blossom
- Base notes of dried fruits and wood resins
Best For:
- Making a lasting impression
- Cold weather wear
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme
The intensely exaggerated follow-up to the super popular Spicebomb, Viktor & Rolf’s Spicebomb Extreme has steadily gained a cult following since its debut in 2015. An oriental spicy style cologne, it’s the least tobacco-centric of all the colognes featured in this review, and likely to appeal to men who want an extremely powerful fragrance.
Lavender and caraway make for an odd couple in Spicebomb Extreme’s top notes, giving a simultaneously herbal and savory intro that quickly moves into this fragrance’s intense heart notes. Tobacco and black pepper abound here, with a relatively small portion of tobacco playing a supporting role to huge hits of black pepper. Base notes of vanilla and amber serve to round and soften the composition, keeping it from ranging too far into the extremes of spiciness.
Long lasting and intense, Spicebomb Extreme is a cologne that’s best suited for special occasions, as it’s too powerful for everyday wear. Consider wearing it during the holidays, where the cold weather will enhance its natural attributes.
Notes:
- Top notes of lavender and caraway
- Middle notes of black pepper and tobacco
- Base notes of vanilla and amber
Best For:
- Special occasions
- Men who want a strongly spicy cologne
What Is A Tobacco Fragrance?
Tobacco fragrances can be made in any of the major styles of cologne — aromatic, fougere, woody, and more. What makes a tobacco cologne unique is, of course, it’s inclusion of tobacco as part of its aromatic composition. Because of the rich and deep smell of tobacco, you’re unlikely to find it paired with refreshing or citrus-heavy fragrances, as it is a better match for dark and spicy aromatics.
What Does Tobacco Cologne Smell Like?
Tobacco colognes have an exceptionally wide array of aromatics, since they are not their own recognized style of cologne. While every tobacco cologne will showcase the characteristic rich, dark, and fruity tones of good tobacco, the options for additional aromatics are nearly limitless. Most often, however, you’ll find spicy, musky, and sweet aromatics paired with tobacco, as well as the occasional herbal or pungent scent. It’s a pretty unique scent that works well in many situations, including as a go-to cologne for travel.
Do Tobacco Perfumes Smell Like Cigarettes?
Absolutely not! And thank goodness — because even cigarette smokers know that cigarettes don’t smell good when the smoke soaks into your clothes.
Much of the off putting smell of cigarettes comes from the chemical additives rather than the tobacco itself. Tobacco perfumes and colognes smell more like a fine cigar before it’s lit: Fruity, dark, and concentrated vegetation, but not a heavy musk. So it won’t smell like a cologne that went bad. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Some men (and women) love this scent.
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.
