The 12 Best Sandalwood Colognes for Men in 2025

The sandalwood in the middle note of this very woody fragrance acts as a smooth, warm bridge between the floral top note and the wood-heavy base. The warm sandalwood is a subtle temper to the more distinctive rosewood and cedar, but is a welcome addition, along with white musk, to turn what could be a lot of wood into something more wearable. It’s the thinking man’s wood fragrance.

Say what you will about the ubiquity of Santal 33, but it’s become one of the most popular and distinctive fragrances of our time. It’s instantly recognizable thanks to its smooth, woody, leathery vibe that dries down to reveal more greens and florals without losing the hip, wood-forward aspect that makes it so popular. Think of it as the blue jeans of fragrance—a staple that everyone can wear.

Like we said: Sandalwood works well with almost any fragrance family and notes. In this subtle and masculine scent, sandalwood shines through at the base with a smooth, grounding finish to a hyper-fresh top note and floral middle, bringing to life a natural vibe that’s cool, hip, and anything but traditional.

There’s a misleading simplicity to this scent that one could argue is the olfactory version of “quiet luxury.” The pepper in the top note gives it a kick of spice, a double dose of frankincense (olibanum) delivers a luxurious resinous quality, and the smooth base of sandalwood isn’t as apparent as some other sandalwood colognes, but still gives it a warm, smooth, woody longevity that sticks around for hours. It’s like a perfect cashmere baseball cap or fur-lined Chelsea boots—a comfortable staple that’s deceptively high quality.

Tom Ford doesn’t do subtle very often and even with this one, there is a lot going on. The spicy opening, the floral middle notes, and the rich deep base of wood, musk, and oud all sound like they’re going to overwhelm the senses. In practice, however, a deft hand created this, so everything intermingles like a symphony and the result has surprisingly low projection, but is still attention-grabbing enough that people will notice—and want to come in closer for a better whiff.

This deep, rich, über-elegant fragrance is not for the shrinking violet. It’s one of the ultimate sexy fragrances and when you wear it, it delivers a sensual draw that’s unmatched. It’s spicy and warm, with a hefty dash of musk that really amps up the carnal factor. Then, of course, we have the sandalwood, which, along with tonka bean and amber, creates a smooth, warm feeling like silk slipping over skin. Wear it when you want extra swagger.

The bolder version of the original Sauvage, this still has the fresh, blue quality that makes the original so great, but dials up the warmth with a lot of sandalwood that gives way to a base note of tonka bean and amber (two notes that really compliment sandalwood). The warm, woody quality of sandalwood sticks around on your skin for hours; seriously, the longevity here is something to behold. It’s a welcome take on a classic.

There’s no denying the citrus factor in this incredibly fresh, “blue” scent that dials it up even further with a dash of spice. But the main difference between this Eau de Parfum and the original Eau de Toilette is that this one is more wood-forward, which is where the base notes, including sandalwood, shine through. It blends well with the fresh citrus and spices of the top and middle notes and adds a masculine vibe, not to mention longevity, to the entire concoction.

Everything the House of Creed does is richly layered and exceedingly elegant, and this sandalwood fragrance is no exception. It dials up the warmth of the note with a opening spray of ginger and coriander (along with some fresh citrus to wake you up) before smoothing everything out with sandalwood and lavender. Interestingly, the sandalwood is in the middle note here, which is okay because it sticks around even once the warm, creamy base notes of tonka bean and musk come through. It’s a cozy, inviting cologne that’s perfect for colder weather.

This elegantly masculine scent is all about the clean feeling it gives you. It’s reminiscent of a barbershop, with the soapy lavender and the fresh citrus clearing the way for smooth sandalwood and tonka bean to ground everything. It gives the impression that you’re the kind of guy who gets regular barber shaves and definitely knows his way around a safety razor. It’s traditional and masculine yet modern and subtle at the same time.

There’s an underlying sweetness to this fragrance that amps up the woodiness in an interesting and unique way. Sticky fig, sweet jasmine, and subtle lily-of-the-valley play off of the sandalwood and cedarwood in the base to create a push pull between earthy and airy. Paired with the skin-scent musks, it’s a deeply inviting scent that’s light enough to wear during the day, but definitely sexy enough that it can (and should) be worn at night.

Fresh top notes of bergamot and cardamom immediately open your senses, but quickly give way to woody cypress and sandalwood. There’s no mistaking that this a wood fragrance—it has an earthy, smoky quality that’s reminiscent of walking through the forest. It somehow captures everything about wood: the green leaves, the crackling texture, the warmth of the earth at the roots. It’s both familiar and surprising at the same time.