Top 10 Best Tom Ford Cologne for Men [RANKED]

The Best Tom Ford Cologne For The Summer

An orangey-citrus scent with a twist. This stuff smells GREAT.

Let’s take a look:

When you first spray this, you get a blast of super fresh, effervescent orange and grapefruit… Mixed with whispers of light florals, and some spicy fresh herbs.

Nice.

Bright & Refreshing

It smells so natural, bright, and refreshing. And is extremely well blended, with no sharp edges. Top marks.

The beautiful part?

This is super versatile — all seasons, all ages, men or women. You can wear this anytime, anywhere, and you won’t offend anyone — even if you overspray. 🙂

Shines in the Heat

However, it shines in the spring and summer (for daytime use). The perfect summer cologne or for vacations.

Speaking of… to discover some more amazing fragrances that work great in the high heat, check out our best summer colognes list.

But here’s the bad part:

Being a fresh, citrus based scent, this fragrance is not super long lasting. I get it.

In our tests, we were getting an average of 4–5 hours of longevity after an application on skin.

And I’ll be straight with you…

Usually, we would not recommend a fragrance to you that has poor lasting performance — especially with such a high price point.

However, we had to make an exception for Mandarino Di Amalfi, simply because it just smells so good. So please keep this in mind.

Because here’s the truth:

If the performance was better with this, it would have been much higher up on this list (probably in the top 5). But because of the performance, it lost points, and, sadly, only made it on our #10 spot.

We think the lasting power of a fragrance is an important factor, and should justify the price.

But let’s face it:

Fresh, Juicy Citrus

Summer citrus and aquatic based scents are not super-long lasting because citrus is very volatile on the skin. HOWEVER — all is not lost because…

Fortunately, there’s an EASY solution to this:

To make your citrus based scents last longer, just simply give your clothes a quick spritz.

Problem solved — with the press of a button. 🙂

Sidenote: The bottle looks gorgeous.

Dark Chocolate & Roses

First off…

If you don’t like rose fragrances, stay well clear. 🙂

Although totally unisex, this is not a macho scent. Therefore, some guys might find this a little too feminine to pull off. By the way…

If you do love rose scents, be sure to also check our best rose perfumes list as most are unisex. Anyway…

With that said, here’s what you need to know:

Noir De Noir was the creation of 3 superstar perfumers and is one of the originals in the Private Blend Collection, which has stood the test of time.

In fact, today, it is still one of their best sellers… and for good reason: This smells…

Ridiculously Luxurious

Let me tell you how it smells…

To keep it simple, this smells of dark red rose petals, blended with luxury dark chocolate liqueur… with an added rich, velvety, captivating vanilla sweetness. It’s sweet — but not overly sweet.

It has a seductive, dark and mysterious feel to it.

Now, the rose is the star of the show in this fragrance — it’s a beautiful, dark, creamy, woody rose.

Dark Woody Rose

And when it starts to settle, a patchouli, vanilla, and transparent woody-oud combo join the party — to give it a nice, rich, dark chocolatey vibe.

Is it sexy? Absolutely.

Now, this is strictly a cool weather fragrance and go easy with the sprays, as this packs-a-punch. It’s unisex, and more suited for the 25-up crowd. And the good news…

Noir De Noir is an EDP, and for the first few hours, it projects just over arm’s length — leaving a heavy scent trail.

It then softens up, and we got around 6–9 plus hours of longevity.

Upscale

Now, this is a super-unique, upscale fragrance suitable for dressed up events, special romantic occasions, etc.

However, I would not recommend you wear this for the office, or for casual use, as it’s complex and sophisticated.

And, to wear this casually, would be like wearing a tuxedo to go grocery shopping. 🙂

Because make no mistake:

You WILL get noticed with this on.

It is What it Says

Now:

The controversial name of this fragrance generated a LOT of hype. And even a backlash of unfair reviews from some people – who hadn’t even smelled the scent. They were just upset about the NAME of the scent.

Crazy.

Anyway… this is not an average run-of-the-mill fragrance. This is a creative, luxury fragrance… that is super unique, yet mass-appealing.

Here’s a quick rundown…

Sweet, Sexy & Powdery

Fabulous opens with a blast of powdery almond, mixed with a sweet creamy tonka note… and a hint of leather with some spicy nuances.

But here’s the beautiful part:

As it starts to settle, the leather note starts to come more into play. Along with some iris and coffee, to give it a delicious semi-gourmand vibe.

Seductive

It smells sweet, leathery, creamy and nutty… Sexy and seductive.

It’s best for fall, winter, and on cool spring nights. And as this is quite powdery, avoid wearing in the high summer heat, and be careful not to overspray.

For any age (man or woman) and more suited for formal, special occasions, dates, nights out. It doesn’t scream out for attention — but you will get noticed. Lasting power was ballpark: 6-8 plus hours.

Simply put:

This is Effing Fabulous!!! (Sorry, couldn’t resist. 🙂)

Sweet & Sexy

Tobacco Vanille is another one of the OGs from the Private Blend Collection, which has stood the test of time.

In fact, this is arguably their best seller from the entire collection. You’re probably wondering…

What’s it smell like? Guess what.

Tobacco and Vanilla — no surprises here. 🙂

By the way, this also made it onto our best vanilla perfumes and best tobacco fragrances lists — for good reason!

However, I should point something out:

Spicy

Please don’t judge the fragrance on the initial spray, as the opening can be quite harsh, with a sharp clove note. But when it eventually calms down… the magic begins.

In a nutshell:

Tobacco Vanille has a spicy-sweet, creamy vanilla, marshmallow vibe… mixed with dry tobacco leaf, and woody, dried fruit notes.

In fact, the vanilla is the backbone of this fragrance. And it becomes slightly sweeter with time… and is joined with a nice hint of honey.

It’s perfectly blended, and smells natural.

Bold

This is very strong and potent, so only use in the cooler seasons: fall and winter. And best suited for nighttime. The good news, it can be worn by both men and women.

However, it’s not for the younger crowd. This has a grown-up feel about it… So I suggest 25-up.

Black-Tie

This is more of a classy, special occasions scent. Dates, upscale black-tie events, nights out. As it’s not really suited for everyday casual use.

Now, a quick word of warning:

Do not overspray this, or you will choke people out. This is a thick, bold scent, and you have to be very confident to wear it.

Here’s how to use it:

Less is More

1–2 sprays MAX. That’s all you need. 🙂

Less-is-more when it comes to Tobacco Vanille. Because for the first few hours it pushes out, and we got a respectable 7–9 plus hours of wear.

Here is a tip that works great:

Apply this an hour before you go out, to give it time to smooth out. Watch heads turn. 🙂

The Gold Standard of Leather Fragrances

Here’s the truth:

Many other fragrance houses have tried (and tried!) to replicate this fragrance — but failed.

In fact, Tuscan Leather has stood the test of time as it was one of the originals in the line. And today, it’s still one of their best sellers. And for good reason:

This smells phenomenal. 🙂

Fun fact:

Canadian rapper Drake, even borrowed the name Tuscan Leather for one of his singles on his third album — “Nothing Was the Same.”

As Drake’s lyrics go… “Tom Ford Tuscan Leather smelling like a brick.” (Allegedly referring to a brick of a certain expensive white colored illegal substance, that some people say this scent smells like. Hmmm.)

Anyway… make no mistake:

Screams Sophistication

When you rock this… people will want to know what you have on. It screams sophistication and smells incredibly expensive — and so it should.

Simply put:

This is a fragrance that means business.

How’s it smell?

It’s a slightly smoky, fruity leather scent. That smells of an incredibly authentic raw leather and suede note… mixed with a nice raspberry sweetness, a whisper of incense, and some woods.

Think of the smell inside of a brand-new luxury car with a leather interior. So if you don’t like the smell of leather — stay well clear.

Bold

This is a thick, bold scent, and is best worn in the cooler seasons. Can be worn day or night, dressed up, or even casual. And more suited for the 20-up crowd. Could even be work friendly.

Now, a quick heads-up:

Be cautious with the sprayer… as this one projects like crazy. Less-is-more with Tuscan Leather. And don’t apply this is the high summer heat. Or you will regret it. 🙂

And the good news:

In our tests, this was still rolling for 9 plus hours.

If you don’t want to smell like everyone else, try this.

Best Tom Ford Cologne for the Office

Update: The brand recently released a newer, more concentrated Grey Vetiver Parfum version. However, we have fully tested this newer Parfum version, but we don’t think it’s as good as the EDP version.

So, we believe this EDP version is still the best and is the one we recommend. Plus, it’s cheaper! With that said…

In case you don’t know:

Vetiver is a grass that is used as an ingredient in fragrances, and it has a green earthy woody scent.

But here’s the deal:

Not all vetiver colognes are created equal. Some are clean smelling, and some are earthy and smoky smelling.

Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver falls under the clean smelling vetiver category. And this stuff smells GREAT. In fact, this is currently our #1 pick on our vetiver colognes list — for good reason! 🙂

Modern Sharp Dressed Man

With Grey Vetiver, Tom Ford has created his own modern take on a vetiver fragrance… aimed for the modern, sharp dressed man. And he nailed it.

How’s it smell?

It has a fresh grapefruit citrus, with a clean, soapy, smooth vetiver note in the background… with some mild spicy and woody nuances.

Fresh & Classy

It’s a fresh, classy, masculine fragrance — for a confident polished man. You can’t go wrong with this mass-appealing crowd pleaser.

Because it’s super-safe and easy to wear, in all seasons, and for any occasion. However, it shines for spring and summer daytime use.

Now:

This is a perfect office cologne, or for upscale suit and tie events. But can even be worn casually — for when you just want to smell super clean and fresh.

Professionals

More suited for the 25-up crowd. In fact, this would make a great signature scent for young professionals.

It also has great lasting performance for a citrus based scent, and will be sure to bag you some nice compliments.

And you’ll be pleased to know, this should get you through a work day, as we consistently got 6–8 plus hours from it.

Bottom line:

This should be a staple in every well-dressed man’s collection.

One Word: Classy!

Even better…

Two words: SUPER classy!

Because Beau De Jour was tailor-made for well-groomed, classy gentleman. Case in point:

Apparently, this is Mr Tom Ford’s, himself, signature scent — one of his favorites, out of all his collection, that he wears most of the time. Very fitting.

And as the story goes, Ford wanted a scent that would evoke what classical Hollywood actor Cary Grant’s neck would smell like. The quintessential gentleman and best-dressed actor in his time. In fact, I’ll make it easy for you:

Imagine…

The aroma of a perfectly groomed, elegant gentleman… Who’s stepping freshly out of an old-school barbershop after a haircut and a luxurious traditional straight edge razor shave… Performed using hot towels, rich creamy lather, aftershave lotions, talc — the works!

Imagining it? Great. Now you understand Beau De Jour. More specifically it’s…

A Vintage Barbershop Scent with A Modern Twist

Barbershop?

Oh, if you’re unfamiliar with the term, Beau De Jour falls under the genre of an aromatic fougere scent in a subcategory known as a “barbershop” fougere.

To keep it simple, these are scents that are reminiscent of how a gentleman would smell like after a trip to a traditional barbershop, back in the day.

The combination of the aromas of luxurious minty-lavender shaving cream, talcum powders, aftershave lotions, antiseptics etc. — all captured in a scent.

All of which may evoke memories for you, of trips for a haircut with your father (depending on how old you are, that is). Anyway…

BDJ is in this “barbershop” genre, but gets the TF luxurious, modernized touch for the modern man — so it doesn’t smell “dated”, per se (more on this in a minute).

That said, before you jump into this thing with both feet, I want to be abundantly clear:

This is Grown Man’s Stuff

So please take heed, my friend:

If you’re under 30 (maybe even 35), I don’t think you will appreciate this — I’ll do my best to steer you from the rocks.

On top of that, I must inform you Beau De Jour is a BIG departure from the typical, mainstream fresh-sweet, blue shower-gel type scents, which are currently popular on the market. BDJ is a serious, gentlemanly scent, so…

This sets you apart from the rest of the crowd — in a good way!

As it makes a powerful first impression that separates the true, confident gentleman from the tire-kickers and wannabes. 🙂

By the way, Beau De Jour is in the same wheelhouse as scents such as: Azzaro Pour Homme, Penhaligon’s Sartorial, Davidoff Zino, and the absolute classic, now discontinued, YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme (remember the tin can?).

So if you’re familiar with any of those, you know the drill. And if you like any of those — I think you’ll LOVE Beau De Jour.

Enough! I think you get the point. 🙂

Oh, and before I forget, the beautiful part…

As with Ombre Leather, Beau De Jour also began life in the Private Blend line before it too was discontinued, repackaged, and re-released a year later, in the Signature collection — at a MUCH more affordable price.

So, in essence, you’re getting a once exclusive Private Blend scent in a new, different (and cooler looking) bottle… for nearly half the price. Great!

Not going to complain about that, right?

Anyway, by now you’re probably thinking…

All this sounds pretty cool… But what does it actually smell like? I thought you’d never ask!

What Does Beau De Jour Smell Like?

Right from the get-go, you get a huge dose of sharp, green aromatic lavender mixed with some rosemary and a touch of lively mint and hints of basil.

The lavender is turned up to 11, and it has a clean, spicy, green herbaceous quality — giving off that refined, classical hyper-masculine smell.

Fast forward about 30 minutes, and the lavender smooths out, giving a cool, calming effect… and an underlying layer of patchouli and oakmoss give it some earthy, woody depth.

It has a smooth, clean, green herbal-minty shaving cream feel to it — which gives you…

An Air of Clean Confidence

And finally, as it plays out, a rich amber accord creeps in, lending a hint of modern semi-sweetness and warmth, which gives this retro scent a contemporary twist.

So it doesn’t smell “dated”, so to speak — just mature and masculine.

And the craziest part…

This received an unusually large amount of compliments and got appraising looks from women (and guys) I passed by… Which, if I’m brutally honest, I wasn’t expecting from this type of scent DNA.

Not complaining, though. 🙂

But do me a favor, try this on your skin, as a paper test strip doesn’t do it justice. Also, give it a while to settle before passing judgement — trust me.

A Gentleman’s Daily Driver

And you’ll be pleased to know, if you’re a mature, sharply-dressed guy over 30, you will get a LOT of wear out of this, as it can be worn all year. Just modulate your sprays as needed.

That said, I would avoid wearing it on super-hot days outside (or if you live somewhere humid), as it may get too cloying.

It’s a true gentleman’s “daily driver” and more suited for smart-casual/formal daytime wear. And is an absolute killer business/office scent, by the way. This is where it shines.

A quick heads-up, though:

It opens up quite strong, so don’t go nuts with the sprayer (2–3 is the sweet spot). Then it projects about an arm’s length for the first 2–3 hours — leaving a noticeable scent trail.

It then becomes more “gentlemanly” and radiates closer to your skin, giving off gentle, clean wafts when you move about. And the good news…

Beau De Jour comes in an EDP concentration, and in test after test, it lasted in the respectable neighbourhood of 6-9 plus hours.

Oh, and I gotta say…

Both the bottle and the juice look pretty cool. The juice is a light green color, and comes in a classy translucent frosted glass bottle with a ribbed side, reminiscent of vintage barbershop bottles.

Plus, the cap sports the same ribbed effect, and is topped off with the TF logo. Awesome.

Bottom line:

Beau De Jour is a MUST smell for all barbershop scent lovers. Or for any classy gentlemen over 30, for that matter.

The Best Tom Ford Cologne for Clubbing

Here’s the deal:

Noir Extreme is a more affordable option from the brand, as it’s from their Signature Collection. However, this has such a high-quality vibe about it, that it actually deserves to be in their Private Blend Collection.

By the way…

This is a flanker to the original “Tom Ford Noir” — but smells completely different, and MUCH better. And…

Warm Deliciousness

Despite the name Extreme, this is actually a very subtle scent. It has a warm, spicy, woody, vanilla, nutty smell. Very sensual.

It opens with a huge blast of cardamom. Then, when the spices start to calm… it smooths out beautifully, into creamy-sweet, warm deliciousness.

The beautiful part?

This has a gourmand (edible smelling) quality. In fact, it smells just like a Kulfi, which is an Indian frozen dessert.

Which leads to some over-the-top compliments.

But be careful…

Your significant other may want to eat you up. 😍

Very Classy & Super Unique

To be clear:

This is not suited for teenagers. It’s mature and classy, and best suited for the stylish 25-up crowd.

Perfect for suit and tie, or smart-casual. Put simply, this is for people who like to dress well.

Dates

Use in cooler seasons, and best for nighttime wear. Perfect for dates, romantic settings, special nights out… and makes an amazing clubbing scent.

We got around 5–8 plus hours of longevity with soft projection.

The beautiful part?

Women absolutely LOVE this stuff. Not complaining. 🙂

Update: They have since released a more concentrated Noir Extreme Parfum. Of course, we had to put it through its paces and performed side-by-side sniff tests with the EDP version on this list. The result?

We think this EDP version is superior to the Noir Extreme Parfum. Oh, and it’s cheaper!

A More Affordable Option to Tuscan Leather

A little secret:

To our understanding, this award winning scent, is actually a re-release of a previous limited edition fragrance, that was named: Ombre Leather 16.

 But here’s the beautiful part:

“Ombre Leather 16” was originally part of the brand’s high-end (expensive) Private Blend Collection. However… it has now been re-named (to simply Ombre Leather), re-packaged, and re-released in the brand’s more affordable Signature line.

Simply put:

You are getting the same high-quality niche fragrance, at a more affordable price — in a different bottle!

Can you say jackpot? 🙂

Tuscan Leather’s Younger Cousin

Now, Ombre Leather smells quite similar to our #6 pick on this list, Tuscan Leather. However, Ombre Leather is lighter, fresher, and more versatile. Also, it’s more toned down and a bit smoother and creamier.

Now, to be clear:

They are not exactly the same. But share a LOT of similarities, making this a great more affordable option. Let’s have a closer look…

Luxurious Leather

This opens with a beautiful, deep fruity leather — mixed with a soft floral touch of jasmine.

They are joined with some warm spicy cardamon and woody nuances to create this masculine, but not overpowering, fragrance.

The beautiful part?

Because it’s lighter than Tuscan Leather, you can rock this one in the spring, fall, and winter… and maybe even on a cool summer night (go with one spray). Even better…

Dressed-up, Dressed-down

This is super versatile: it can be worn dressed up, dressed down, days or nights. For work, casual, dates, nights out. More suited for the 20-up crowd.

This one will be sure to bag you a LOT of compliments.

Performs

Also, it has good long lasting performance (6–8 plus hours). But admittedly, not as good as its MUCH more expensive cousin, Tuscan Leather.

Is it better than Tuscan Leather?

We don’t think so (smell wise). However, it’s VERY close, but because this is a LOT more affordable, it scored higher on this list.

So if you LOVE Tuscan Leather, but the price scares you off — give this a try.

Side note: The black matt bottle looks gorgeous.

Masculine Classy Confidence

First off…

Don’t be put off by the name of this fragrance. To be honest, some oud fragrances can be very overpowering — this is not one of those. 🙂

Now, in case you don’t know…

Oud is a scented resin that is distilled from the rare agarwood tree. The tree only grows in certain parts of the world, and due to its rarity — oud is SUPER expensive. How’s it smell?

Oud has a sophisticated, dark woody quality. By the way, this also made it onto our best oud colognes list — for good reason!

Anyway…

Modern

What Tom Ford have done here, is to create a very safe, modern oud fragrance. Simply put: Tom Ford’s Oud Wood is one of the best smelling and most wearable oud scents on the market.

In fact:

This has a soft transparent oud note, that is blended with other smooth creamy woody notes and spices.

It smells dry, and slightly spicy… with whispers of sweet vanilla nuances. All masterly blended together.

By the way, if you love woody fragrances, be sure to check out our best sandalwood colognes list.

Warm & Sensual

This is a masculine, sophisticated scent, and best suited to the 25-up crowd.

And is appropriate for the spring, fall, and winter (days or nights). However, avoid wearing this in the high summer heat.

The beautiful part:

It can be worn dressed up with a suit and tie (Think… James Bond 007 in a Tom Ford suit 🙂), or even casually.

Great for the office, dates, special occasions, nights out (however, this is not a clubbing type scent).

Now, to be clear:

Elegant

Oud Wood is a very subtle fragrance, that doesn’t scream out for attention. So if you’re looking for a heavy-hitter, this is NOT it.

It projects about an arm’s length for the first few hours… then sits close to the skin, hanging on for about 5-8 plus hours.

Bottom line:

This should be part of every modern, well-dressed gentleman’s collection.

Unique & Daring

I’ll be straight with you…

Tobacco Oud didn’t make it into our top 10 list, simply because it may be too challenging for some people… Especially if you’re new to the world of complex fragrances.

However, we have included it here as an honorable mention, because it should definitely not be overlooked.

Complex

So if you’re just starting off your fragrance journey, we suggest that you first try some of the other scents above in the top 10 list.

But do me a favor…

If you’ve been into fragrances for a while, and you want a fragrance that smells super-unique… I urge you to try this. Because make no mistake:

This is an amazing, super high-quality fragrance.

Sweet Boozy Pipe Tobacco

It smells of pipe tobacco, mixed with some spicy nuances… and a sweet boozy whiskey vibe.

To be honest, at first it can be quite harsh, but it smooths out beautifully when the amber and sandalwood join the show. And it turns into a rich, warm, comforting dark scent. Very nice.

And, to be clear:

Despite the name Tobacco Oud, the oud is not a prominent note. It’s a safe, transparent oud that plays nice, and lingers in the background.

In fact, it’s the tobacco that is the backbone of this scent — from start to finish. Speaking of… If you’re a fan of tobacco scents, then you should definitely check out our best tobacco colognes list.

And the good news… the lasting performance does not disappoint as we bagged 5-9 hours — so two thumbs up there.

Special Occasions

Best for fall, winter, and even on cool spring nights. However, do not rock this in the high heat.

Great for black tie events, special occasions, and could be used in smart-casual situations.

This is pure masculinity, and more suited for the 25-up crowd; you have to be VERY confident to wear this. Please take heed.

If you’re a CEO, this could be one for you. 🙂

All Tom Ford fragrances are created in collaboration with world renowned perfumers.

Here’s the deal:

Their line-up is split into two groups: The Signature Collection and The Private Blend Collection.

In the words of Mr Tom Ford himself:

I’ll explain:

More Affordable

The Signature Collection are the brand’s more affordable fragrances. Think, designer quality.

They are less complex, more easy to wear, and more mass-appealing.

But make no mistake:

These are still high-quality amazing fragrances. In fact, some of the Signature line scents made it into our top 10 list.

And:

Creative Luxury Scents

The Private Blend Collection are the brand’s creative, luxury fragrances. Think, Niche quality.

They use super high-quality ingredients, have more challenging notes, and are more complex to the nose.

To be clear:

These are aimed at the true fragrance connoisseur, and those of you that want to smell super unique — and stand out from the crowd.

But here’s the thing:

If you want to stand out, you are going to have to spend the extra coin, as these are super expensive. And, by the way:

Exclusive

These are more exclusive and harder to find. And usually only available in Tom Ford boutiques, high end department stores, and in some airports around the world.

Anyway…

When the Private Blend Collection was first introduced, it originally consisted of only 12 fragrances.

However, this collection has grown over the years and they are all currently Eau De Parfum concentration.

Here’s how it works…

Olfactive Categories

The collection have been grouped in 9 different olfactive categories. Each fragrance will fit in a category below, based on it notes:

• Eau fresh
• Fougere
• Floral
• Green
• Musk
• Leather
• Oriental
• Tobacco
• Woods

Yikes, right?

With currently over 40 scents to choose from, it can be quite overwhelming to even know where to start.

But don’t worry:

We’ve done all the hard work for you, because we put them all through their paces. And above, we tell you how they smell and even explain which scent works best in each situation… making it super easy for you to choose.

We hope you enjoyed our article and found this list useful.  If you did, we would love it if you would share it to your favourite social networks!