Bay Rum is a classic scent for men. Most of the use, however, lies in the past. For many, it brings about thoughts of their grandfathers or some pirate sailing around the Caribbean. Despite any of that, it’s still a type of fragrance with many fans and others who’d like to give it a try. In this post, i’d like to present you some options to get the bay leaf experience in either aftershave or cologne form.
What are the Best Bay Rum Colognes and Aftershaves for Men?
St. Johns Bay Rum– St. John’s is a powerful example of bay rum and one that is heavily weighted towards the spicy notes. Seriously, this stuff is a clove and cinnamon experience in a bottle.
The bay leaf and rum won’t be taking over, but, this is an exhilarating aftershave for guys who want the spice bomb treatment.
Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum– Pinaud is a very inexpensive option for guys looking for this kind of scent. The rum here is strong, but surprisingly good for the price point. Plenty of spice and booze with Virgin Island bay rum, but less of the leaf.
This one can be used as either an aftershave or cologne. Bold and masculine, with a cinnamon rum kind of aroma.
Royall Bay Rhum– Royall Bay Rhum fits in the aftershave category, more than the cologne end of things, as it doesn’t have a huge longevity. That being said, the smell itself, is that classic sort of fragrance that we’re looking for.
This one leans heavy on the bay leaf, with less clove and spices than the other, but it does include a really great mint boost.
C.O. Bigelow Bay Rum– A nice and affordable bay rum, with a big hit of clove, for those who are a fan of that ingredient. It’s spicy and bold up top, with a light citrus finish.
It does settle down somewhat, from its intense introduction, and you will get more of the bay leaf and booze soaked smell.
Yes, a clove bomb at first, but it will balance out and provides a fantastic example of a bay rum scent.
Havana by Aramis– Havana is a fragrance that has a bay rum feel, while taking things in a slightly different direction. As its name would suggest, you’re going to get a tobacco note in spades, with this one. It’s less smoky and more of a cured tobacco.
Woody? Yep. Spicy? Yes. Bay Leaf? Some, but not a huge amount. Not really as boozy as it is herbal and woody. Dry and masculine in the dry down stage, with a deep fir note and classic oak moss aroma.
Havana straddles the line in two types of scent categories, but does a very good job of it.
Island Life by Tommy Bahama– Not as much of a boozy fragrance than the other offerings on the list, no bay leaf, but this does still manage to fit the bill in many ways.
Island Life is a tropical offering, with plenty of nutmeg spice, an oceanic/island vibe, and a fresh and clean cedar base note.
A nice scent, if you can still get a hold of a bottle, as it has been discontinued for a while. I figured that I may as well include it on this list, for those who are interested.
Man In Black- This cologne from Bvlgari isn’t a bay rum, really, as it doesn’t have a bay leaf note. However, it brings the spices and rum, in spades. It’s one of my favorites to put on in the autumn and winter months and it does a good job at getting close to what we’re looking for.
Add to the booze, tobacco, leather, and woods with a mix of spices including cinnamon. This is a winner, and one I suspect many guys looking for bay rum, will enjoy. It has more depth and feels darker than typical bay rum. Man in Black Review
Bentley for Men Intense– As far as colognes go, this is a really close example of that bay rum sort of aroma. It checks all of the boxes: rum, bay leaf, spices. Add to that, a nice leather note and woody base.
The opening of Bentley Intense is quite rum soaked with a plenty of cinnamon, bay leaf, and pepper. As it dries down, this one becomes smoother, with the boozy rum and leather pairing up. You still get the spices and bay leaf, but they are more reserved in the latter stages.
Agua Brava– This is kind of borderline, but close enough to bay rum, that I thought that I should include it on the list. Agua Brava is a classic scent from Antonio Puig, that doesn’t have the rum, but gives you plenty of spice and a woody base.
Pine and bay leaf combine to give you a masculine aroma, in the base, but you get a nice citrus and spice kick off up top. Again, not an exact match, but definitely shares many characteristics of what we’re in the hunt for.
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 test out and 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. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!
– If you want an alternative to Jimmy Choo Man, that smells quite a bit the same, Coach for Men is that scent. 
– King of Seduction is a fragrance that sits in the same family as Jimmy Choo Man, while not being a complete match. It has some similarities with Blue Seduction, Jimmy Choo Man, 
– First Instinct features a gin and tonic accord, which gives it that carbonated sensation of tonic water. It’s sweet with sort of a tropical vibe at times, along with a nice pepper note.
