Tobacco has a long history as a cash crop in the United States, mostly for use in smoking products. However, while the smell of cigarettes can be really repulsive, the essence of the tobacco itself can be amazing when it is included in a fragrance.
Tobacco usually gives of an air of masculinity, warmth, and smoothness. In this post, I want to present to you twelve cologne options with prominent tobacco notes in their composition.
Favorite Tobacco Scents for Men
Luxury Tobacco Fragrance
PARFUMS de MARLY Herod, 4.2 fl. oz.
–A luxury and pretty high end priced scent from French house, Parfums de Marly. The tobacco note found in Herod, is utterly amazing. Playing off of that are spices and a sweet vanilla note.
So, like Man in Black, we have cinnamon spice but also a dark pepper note. It’s spicy but smooth and there is a smoky aroma provided by incense, which permeates that composition. It dries down into a rich and resinous cologne, that is captivating and sexy.
Herod has a maturity and classiness to it and could fit into office wear much better than a fragrance, like Eros. Still, this one can garner the complements and has all day longevity. This is one of the sexiest men’s colognes, in my opinion.
Spicy, Coffee, Tobacco
Magenta Tanzanite by Armani– This one is unisex and some would say it leans feminine. To me, sure, but only slightly. However, this does have an interesting and deep use of the tobacco note, that its worth checking out for anyone.
Magenta Tanzanite kicks things off with a mass of spice. Early, it’s mainly about the cardamom, then that will shift more towards cinnamon. But, you also get a fresh ginger in there for even more.
Vanilla, myrrh, tonka bean, and coffee notes give this an interesting sweetness. It’s got elements similar to Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford (listed below) but this Armani absolutely does its own thing with more spice, a different tobacco scent, and that coffee note that really presents itself in the mid.
Note: The Dua Brand has their own inspired version of this called Purple Stone of Return, in case Armani discontinues Magenta.
Hookah Smoke
Smoking Hot by Kilian– This is a newer entry to the list, that I’ve only gotten to try once, but I think it deserves a place on the list. Even if, it might not be for everyone.
Smoking Hot lives up to the name, giving you a definite smoky aroma, to go with the sweetish tobacco note. Apple and cinnamon are also present through much of the wear. Yes, some slight similarities with the Kilian Liquors perfumes (Angels’ and Apple Brandy). Not too many, though.
Yet, it’s sweetness never reaches the absolute levels of those two. Smooth and has a scent that hangs very nicely in the air around you. Later, some vanilla and light moss notes peak through, also.
Kind of too pricey for this one to really become a mainstream hit. However, for some people, this is going to be a great bet for their signature tobacco perfume.
Mass Appealing Option with Great Performance
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz– While the name Spicebomb does carry a certain connotation as to exactly how it should smell, Spicebomb Extreme is actually a great tobacco rich fragrance for men.
This is a smoother and warmer fragrance, rather than a completely spicy cologne. It opens with our tobacco note, lavender, and rich vanilla. The cumin and cinnamon notes are there, but greatly toned down versus the original.
Not only does Extreme smell great, it actually lives up to the latter part of its name, in terms of performance. It is indeed extreme, with a strong sillage and seemingly never-ending longevity. It’s honestly, one of the longest lasting scents that I’ve reviewed. Spicebomb Extreme Review
Well-Known Designer Tobacco
TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)
– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.
Expensive? Yes, but it delivers an experience that is all its own. This is masculine, refined, and a fragrance that really shines in the winter time. This Tom Ford beauty is dark and has a certain thickness to it. The tobacco note is great, like lightly smoked pipe tobacco/
This is another one, like Sublime Vanille, that features an absolutely divine vanilla note. It’s very realistic and smells utterly perfect to my nose. Add to the two main notes, you get a lovely cacao, fruits, and creamy tonka bean.
The scent is also quite dry and doesn’t have a ‘juicy’ fruit sensation. Overall, it is super sweet and spicy, while being a performance scent that will last and project for ages. Tobacco Vanille Review
Dark, Spicy, and Woody
BURBERRY London for Men Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl. oz
A fresh and spicy blend of woodsy notes and tobacco. Probably the most masculine of the popular Burberry scents and one which is fantastic in the autumn.
Burberry London starts off with that sweet and warm tobacco note and is paired with cinnamon for that spiced kick.
This cologne is dry and earthy at times with the oak moss and calming lavender note. However, the main attractions are the tobacco, leather, and cinnamon. The whole composition is dark and very rich.
The sillage of London is pretty moderate, but you’ll definitely notice you’re wearing it. Longevity is solid and it is quite versatile in its application. I always received complements with this one back in the day. Read my full London Review
Old School Scent
Tabarome By Creed For Men. Eau De Parfum Spray 4.0 Oz
An expensive blend of ginger and tobacco, which is refined and classy. It opens with an air of freshness and some citrus top notes, bergamot and tangerine.
Though, those two fade into the background rather quickly, and you then really start to get the spicy ginger and a rich floral tobacco note. Yes, this isn’t the pipe tobacco more like the flower on the plant blended with a hint of the cured kind.
It is a very well blended fragrance led by those two aforementioned notes. Also, there is the standard Creed ambergris, and smooth masculine leather.
Tabarome is a classic old-school men’s fragrance. It isn’t heavy handed, instead it is understated, and straight to the point. Creed Tabarome Review
Sweet Honey, Fruit, Tobacco
Tobacolor by Dior– This is a unisex wear from Dior’s La Collection Privee. Tobacolor is a very sweet, warm, smoky, and rich perfume. It’s going to be different from a lot of the other entries on the list, fruitier, but still with great smokiness and our target note.
It is led by notes of plum and peach up top. Warm, ambery, thick with honey, almost like a jam. The sweetness and smoky aspects here can pack quite a punch, early on, but Tobacolor will settle down…while retaining that essence.
As it dries down, the aroma actually does get drier. Dried fruits, cured tobacco, some spice, that smoke, and all wrapped up in the amber note. The performance delivers and that sillage stays pretty darn strong, even after the big open.
Tobacco Red
Red Tobacco by Mancera– This is another one that is on the pricier side of things. But for some, Red Tobacco is worth it.
The opening is spicy, sweet, yet dry. For me, much of the tobacco is going to come through in the dry down. Cinnamon and saffron tend to come out early, along with some vanilla and fruitiness.
This dry warmth will become smoother after that somewhat rough start, as you get more vanilla, amber, and the tobacco note itself. Yet, the spiciness will remain somewhat throughout the wear. At that point, its a spiced tobacco with vanilla and some dry woods/patchouli.
A bold fragrance with a dense and intense presentation.
Clean Green Tobacco Scent
Dreamer By Versace 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Men
– You can now get a hold of a full bottle of The Dreamer for right at $30, which is a great price, for this Versace fragrance. It was released in the 1990s and so the price has been reduced, but don’t let that fool you, Dreamer is still a fantastic men’s cologne.
Update: This one has been reformulated. It still has tobacco, but it’s going to be a different experience versus what I wrote here, about the original version.
It opens up with extremely smooth, fresh, and green aroma led by the tobacco note. This isn’t a dark tobacco or smoked tobacco, rather, it is the scent of the flower itself. This is paired with that usual calming lavender note which adds a clean sensation to so many fragrances out there.
The opening feels more powdery than the cologne that you get during the dry down period. Yet, The Dreamer retains its sweet tobacco profile, and only gets better as it moves along.
Finally, you get the woody notes of fir and cedar. This is blended with vetiver and the slight herbal spice of clary sage. It’s masculine, deep, and has a cool dryness about it. This Versace is an absolute winner and one that I love wearing a cooler days of the year. Nice performance with a soft and non-offensive sillage.
Sweet Tobacco and Honey
Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce
A gourmand take on tobacco featuring notes of vanilla and honey. It opens like a Cuban cigar that’s been drenched in honey and then dipped in sugar. Very sweet in the start, so just be aware of what you’re getting into.
It’s very rich, warm, and smooth. This is a lighter and sweeter type of tobacco, not at all dark.
These ingredients are later joined by a cocoa note, which smells to me like a chocolate powder. It’s a stronger sort of fragrance with decent longevity. Overall,
Pure Havane is a gourmand tobacco scent with a warm profile. Pure Havane is also versatile, sexy, and built for cold weather. Read my full Review: Pure Havane
Smooth and Leathery
John Varvatos Vintage Eau de Toilette Spray, 4.2 fl. oz.
Smooth, fresh, and a completely classic use of tobacco and leather. The tobacco in Vintage is smokier than probably any of the others on the list.
There are fruity notes underneath, but it is a very masculine scent that uses plenty of woods (like the fir note).
Tonka bean helps to smooth it out some, as does the nicely added suede. However, there is also patchouli and dry oak moss. Varvatos Vintage has an outdoorsy edge and is better suited for the older gentleman.
Still, it only projects moderately, so even with all of this manliness, you aren’t going to choke out a room with it. This really is a gorgeous fragrance. I just wish that Varvatos colognes lasted longer, so, be sure to find a cheap bottle.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides.
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– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.
– You can now get a hold of a full bottle of The Dreamer for right at $30, which is a great price, for this Versace fragrance. It was released in the 1990s and so the price has been reduced, but don’t let that fool you, Dreamer is still a fantastic men’s cologne.
