The best amber colognes radiate warmth, resinous depth, and a sultry edge. Despite the name, amber doesn’t come from fossilized tree resin—it’s an imagined accord that captures that heady hue through notes like olibanum, benzoin, labdanum, vanilla, and woods (more on that below). Perfumers often round it out with gourmand, herbal, musky, or even citrus tones for contrast and lift.
“It’s a visual that influences the olfactive,” Carlos Huber, fragrance developer and founder of Arquiste, says. “A perfumer will use materials across the woody, spicy, balsamic, and animalic families to create an amber fragrance.”
Sometimes smoky and sweet, sometimes earthy and a touch feral (in the best, skin-warm kind of way) amber colognes have an intimate, intoxicating vibe all their own. And they feel especially right once the temperatures drop. “Although I consider them good perennial scents,” Huber adds, “they work especially well in fall and winter because of the warmth and texture—they ground you and wrap around you like a warm sweater.” Below, 11 amber colognes to keep you enveloped in olfactory warmth all season long.
The Best Amber Colognes, According to GQ
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir Eau de Parfum
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Perfumehead Cosmic Cowboy Extrait de Parfum
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Santa Maria Novella Ambra
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D.S. & Durga Amber Kiso
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Chanel Bleu De Chanel L’Exclusif
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Best Overall Amber Cologne: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir
Grand Soir, created by olfactory maestro Francis Kurkdjian, is one of the most celebrated amber colognes and a signature scent for many. (If there were a “top five” amber list, this one is always in the convo.) The composition blends amber, gourmand, and spicy notes for a masterclass in elegant warmth and sophistication. Creamy vanilla swirls through waves of labdanum, musk, and cedar, while a touch of bergamot keeps it crisp enough for daytime wear. A subtle dose of lavender (one of FK’s underrated signatures) adds an herbal lift, making it equally apropos for a swanky holiday soirée or date night. Warm and sweet, with flickers of citrus, spice, and a faint boozy haze, Grand Soir is amber’s orange glow bottled to near perfection.
Best Spicy Amber Cologne: Perfumehead Cosmic Cowboy
Perfumehead
Cosmic Cowboy Extrait de Parfum
There’s a lot going on in one of Perfumehead’s flagship scents, Cosmic Cowboy, and that’s what makes it so darn good. It’s a decadent collision of smoky, spicy, musky accords: super chic and sexy, with just a touch of funk (the good kind). Think musky amber with a faint boozy haze, channeling the decadent energy of a 1970s Sunset Strip night. Rich and spicy notes of galbanum, cinnamon bark, cacao, and tobacco blend with suede and musk. Vivid and velvety, this one’s for the scenester-slash-olfactory aficionado who knows how to make an entrance. People will ask what you’re wearing, and they won’t be talking about lived-in leather jacket.
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