Whiskey is a classic scent, combining it with cologne gives you the best of both worlds. It has a strong and bold aroma but is also smooth and refined.
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If you're looking for a new cologne or just want to play around with different scents, whiskey is a great option. While it may appear an unusual choice, plenty of great colognes incorporate whiskey into their scent profile.
Whiskey and Cologne: What's the Connection?
Whiskey is a complex drink with a long and storied history, whose production has changed over centuries as technology and tastes evolved and people have come to enjoy more mindful drinking. Many people describe whiskey's earthy or woodsy aroma as one of its most distinctive qualities.
Cologne is a product used to cover body odor or enhance your natural scent. Cologne comes in wide different varieties, from the classic eau de toilette to the more modern colognes that have been infused with other ingredients such as coffee beans or cocoa powder.
Although these two products appear to have nothing in common, they share some interesting similarities. Both are made from distilled alcohol and have strong scents that can be overwhelming if they are not diluted with water or another liquid before being applied to your skin.
Why Add Whiskey to Cologne?
Many popular fragrances contain whiskey. Whisky's earthy aroma and rich texture have made it a popular fragrance ingredient for centuries. It's a great fixative and very versatile. Whiskey can be used alone or in perfume formulas.
So, why add whiskey to cologne? The whiskey adds character to cologne without drastically altering its scent. It can intensify, change the aroma, and prolong the fragrance of your cologne. However, before blending your preferred fragrance with whiskey, you may want to test different concentrations.
10 Best Whiskey-Scented Colognes
Best for Date Night
Exciting, rich, and luxurious describe CH Men Prive's woods-and-leather scent. Layers of whiskey's explosive accords are intensified by black leather.
Top notes of grapefruit, pomelo, and whiskey lead into frozen lavender, sage, red thyme, and cardamom. Leather, tonka bean, and benzoin are base notes. The fragrance lasts 5 hours or less, depending on your activities.
PROS: Not overpowering
CONS: Does not last very long
- For: Men
- Seasons: Fall / Winter
- Wear it: Date night, special occasions
- Launched: 2015
Best for Old-Fashioned Scents
Demeter Whiskey Tobacco by Demeter is a warm, woody fragrance perfect for winter or late fall. It's a woody scent with an undercurrent of tobacco.
With this fragrance, you'll get that classic tobacco smell, but it's not too strong or overwhelming. It has a woody base, with just a hint of sweetness from the whiskey accord in the mix.
It is masculine enough to appeal to younger guys who want to smell sophisticated without being too sweet or floral.
PROS: Smells like tobacco and whiskey but is not overpowering
CONS: If you don't like strong scents, then you probably wouldn't like this one
- For: Men
- Seasons: Winter or late Fall
- Wear it: Evening
- Launched: 1993
Best for the Man Who Wants to Smell Like a Gentleman
The 24 Old Bond Street Triple Extract by Atkinsons Eau de Cologne is a great choice if you want to smell like a man's man. The fragrance is based on the traditional recipe for eau de cologne, which uses three times as much of each ingredient as other fragrances for a bold, masculine scent that lasts all day.
Wear this during the day, especially if you're headed to the office. It'll make you feel confident and ready to take on anything!
PROS: Scent lasts all day long and doesn't fade quickly
CONS: Scent is too subtle for some people
- For: Men
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Wear it: Day
- Launched: 2014
Best for Chilly Autumn Evenings
Halloween Man X by Jesus Del Pozo Eau De Toilette Spray is the perfect scent for men who want to smell like whiskey and cologne. This men's cologne is a must-have for any guy who wants to smell like whiskey. It is a bold, potent fragrance that will make you stand out.
It has a fragrance that combines the notes of lemon, cardamom, and lavender with smoky leather, whiskey, and vanilla.
PROS: Sleek and masculine design, affordable
CONS: Scent is too subtle for some people
- For: Men
- Seasons: Fall
- Wear it: Day
- Launched: 2019
Best for All Day Wear
Kenneth Cole Serenity by Kenneth Cole is a versatile fragrance that can be worn with just about any occasion. It has top notes of white pepper and whiskey accord, middle notes of peach nectar, sandalwood, and cashmere, and base notes of tonka, labdanum, and vanilla.
This fragrance has moderate longevity and can be worn any time of the day all year. It is a fresh scent that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on your day.
PROS: Versatile scent
CONS: Scent is too subtle for some people
- For: Men and women
- Seasons: All seasons
- Wear it: Day and night
- Launched: 2018
Best for Night Out
Gritti Loody Prive by Gritti is a long-lasting whiskey cologne that you can wear all day long, especially on a night out. It is a long-lasting whiskey cologne with great sillage and longevity.
It is a long-lasting whiskey cologne with great longevity and silage. It opens with notes of rose, woody amber, and whiskey, which blend together to create a warm, masculine scent. The base comprises patchouli, which adds an earthy element to the overall scent.
PROS: Sleek design, long-lasting
CONS: overpowering for some people
- For: Men and women
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Wear it: Night
- Launched: 2015
Best for Longevity
The Baldessarini Ambre Oud is a scent for men that's both sophisticated and sexy.
It is a fragrance for men that combines the scent of amber and agarwood to create a warm, rich aroma with notes of tobacco and leather. This fragrance is best suited for casual settings, and the scent lasts all day.
PROS: Scent lasts up to 12 hours
CONS: Not many people like the scent
- For: Men
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Wear it: Night
- Launched: 2017
Best for Concerts and Nightclubs
The Franck Boclet Vinyl is the epitome of a robust and masculine fragrance. With notes of whiskey, woody, warm, and spicy scents, this fragrance will make you feel like you've just walked out of a bar.
It is long-lasting, so if you plan on dancing through the night, this is a great choice as it will last a long time.
PROS: Scent lasts for several hours and doesn't fade quickly
CONS: Price tag
- For: Men
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Wear it: Night
- Launched: 2019
Best for Elegance
Gentleman by Givenchy Eau de Parfum Spray is a warm, amber fragrance perfect for the man who wants to be remembered. This scent has a blend of whiskey and iris with earthy notes, vanilla, and wood. It's elegant, but it's also masculine. So it can be worn by anyone who wants to feel like a gentleman.
This fragrance is best for date nights or other special occasions when you want to make an impression on someone.
PROS: Sophisticated design and scent
CONS: High price
- For: Men
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Wear it: Day and Night
- Launched: 2018
Best for the Office
Tom Ford Oud Wood is the perfect choice for the office. It's fresh and woody but not too overpowering. The cologne has a sweet, woody fragrance that blends together notes of cedar, vanilla, amber, and oud wood.
This Tom Ford cologne is a unisex fragrance best suited for daytime wear, perfect for anyone who wants something that isn't too strong or overpowering but still has a lot of personality.
PROS: Crowd favorite, pleasant smell
CONS: High price
- For: Men and women
- Seasons: Spring, Fall, Winter
- Wear it: Day and night
- Launched: 2007
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Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.