Best Sandalwood Cologne for Men – Most Popular Smelling Perfume

Back when it was first created, cologne was used as a cure for headaches. After tweaking the alcohol content in the mixture, Johann Maria was able to produce the first cologne.

In modern times, the use of body sprays and perfumes has gone up immensely. Among these many well-reputed brands, we feel that the sandalwood fragrance has been underestimated.

If you’ve already used perfumes with sandalwood notes, you know how versatile and long-lasting the fragrance is. For those who haven’t, it is definitely worth a try!

Here, we’ll help you find the best sandalwood colognes for men. Let’s go pick out the right fragrance for you.

10 Best Sandalwood Colognes for Men

We have spent hours looking into tons of different mens sandalwood cologne to pick out the best ones for you. So, without further ado, let’s get right into the reviews!

1. Truefitt & Hill

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Excelling in the industry for over 2 centuries, Truefitt & Hill is known as one of the oldest perfume brands in London. With years of research, they have managed to perfect their formulas to create the best sandalwood mens fragrance.

Other than the sweet earthy tone of sandalwood, there are other soft base notes of tonka and cedarwood. They go hand in hand with the sandalwood to create a musky scent.

What’s more, there are various layers to the perfume, which makes it all the more enticing. Under the base notes of sandalwood is a soft layer of lavender, thyme, and jasmine.

The smell of the flowers is carefully matched with pineapple and melon to create a playful fruity scent.

If you thought that’s all, you’re wrong. Truefitt & Hill has topped off this cologne with notes of lemon and bergamot that add the right finishing touch to the overall experience.

When it comes to packaging, these guys have knocked it out of the park. The box comes with a half and half ratio of a wooden pattern contrasted with a solid muted brown background.

Inside, you will find the bottle with a Truefitt & Hill sticker in the middle. The matte finish of the bottle is slightly brown-tinted to go well with the sandalwood aesthetic they have been building on.

Smell Notes:

• Woody
• Fruity
• Floral

2. Bond No. 9 New York Sandalwood​

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When we talk about sandalwood perfume for men, nothing compares to the richness of the New York Sandalwood by Bond No. 9.

Even if you’re skeptical about switching perfumes, trust us, this is a decision you will not regret.

The New York sandalwood cologne is available in two different sizes. Among them, the smaller 1.7-ounce bottle is for those who aren’t out as much, and a larger 3.4-ounce bottle for those who are.

When compared to the sandalwood feeling in the Drakkar Noir, this is softer and earthier. This is mainly due to the orris root and cardamom contents in the mixture.

Upon the first sniff, you will begin to notice a refined sweet smell. This later changes into a more aromatic musky fragrance. The mixture of carrot shades with the cardamom accentuates the earthy feeling you get from Bond No. 9.

Moreover, the packaging is truly a sight to see. Imagine having a bright gold bottle of perfume sitting in your cabinet. Pretty sweet, right?

Starting from the boxing to the bottle itself, the entire unit is colored in gold with the Bond No. 9 engraving. The packaging promotes a sense of confidence as it makes you feel like you’re worth a million bucks.

Smell Notes:

• Earthy
• Woody
• Powdery

3. Taylor of Old Bond Street – Best Sandalwood Aftershave

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Up next on our list, we have the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Cologne. They first gained fame by producing high-quality shaving creams.

Gradually, they began making men’s aftershave. After producing some of the best sandalwood aftershaves in the market, they began turning towards cologne.

Compared to other sandalwood perfumes, the Taylor of Old Bond Street has a distinct personality. Unlike the others, this scent is more on the woody and musky side, rather than being playful.

Anyone wearing this on a daily basis is bound to fit himself into a serious persona. The mild strength of the sandalwood will give you all the confidence you need, whenever you need it.

In addition, the luxury cologne comes in a simple and old-timey looking bottle. With rounded corners, the rectangular bottle is kept simple and sleek.

The Taylor of Old Bond Street sticker on the front has an ancient look to it with classic fonts. And the overall design keeps the perfume in line with its British background.

Unfortunately, you don’t receive size options with this specific perfume. It is only available in the 3.3 ounce or 100ml size.

Smell Notes:

• Woody
• Powdery
• Aromatic

Also Read: Best Smelling Old Spice Scents

4. Santal Royal by Guerlain

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The next sandalwood fragrance we have for you is the Santal Royal by Guerlain. Coming all the way from France, the brand’s rich history of selling high-end fragrances is reflected in the design of its products.

While it is true that this list is comprised mostly of men’s sandalwood fragrances, we just couldn’t skip out on this unisex beauty from Guerlain.

The perfumers at Guerlain worked for years to find the rarest combinations of ingredients to complement the sandalwood notes.

They have added various contradicting layers within the scent, which takes your senses on a trip of their own.

The base notes consist of sandalwood, amber, oud, and leather. When combined, this set of ingredients packs a woody punch but also has room for other layers to work their magic.

At the heart of the cologne is a rare combo of peach, rose, and cinnamon, which adds the right bit of spiciness to liven up the scent.

Moreover, at the very top are notes of neroli and jasmine to balance out the boldness of the leather and sandalwood.

The whole experience you get from Guerlain is truly enchanting. Although it is priced higher, it’s definitely worth considering. It is by far one of the best men’s sandalwood cologne out there!

Smell Notes:

• Oud
• Woody
• Powdery

5. Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche – Best Masculine Colognes

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First introduced in 1982, Drakkar Noir has been a prominent brand in the perfume industry since forever. This is ideally one of the best sandalwood colognes for men who are looking to go for a casual look.

Let’s talk about the unboxing experience, to begin with. From the outside, the cologne is packed in a textured black box. Inside of it is the signature matte black bottle with nothing but the Drakkar Noir logo. Even from the bottle, the perfume oozes masculine energy.

Keeping the whole minimalistic theme intact, this classic sandalwood fragrance packs the right amount of flavors for any occasion. With notes of sandalwood, lavender, and citrus, this package keeps an 80’s vibe contained within it.

The combination of the lavender and citrus fruit notes with the sandalwood produces a gentle yet masculine scent. Once someone gets a whiff of the cologne you’re wearing, they’ll know you mean business.

What we love most about this Drakkar Noir is its ability to complement a different range of outfits. You could wear this to a casual date night or even put it on during a serious work meeting.

Smell Notes:

• Woody
• Aromatic
• Fresh Spicy

6. Diptyque Tam Dao – Best Eau De Parfum for Men

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If you’re someone who’s on the lookout for a unique scent that isn’t too overpowering, check out the Diptyque Tam Dao Eau de Parfum.

Like the Guerlain one mentioned before, this cologne is also unisex. Made with the freshest base notes of Brazilian rosewood, amber, and white musk, the earthy smell is present in a very subtle way.

The Tam Dao takes a different approach from the most popular sandalwood perfumes, as it uses notes of sandalwood in the middle, rather than the base. This brings out the woody fragrance just right without coming off too strong.

Furthermore, the top notes consist of Italian cypress, myrtle, and rose. This creates a twist in the overall smell of the perfume, as it ends up creating a floral musk combination. And this makes it compatible with both women and men.

The Tam Dao is the perfect companion for your usual date night or a hangout with your best buds. It will have you smelling fresh for hours due to its rose top note.

In addition, the base notes contain a unique selection of spices that enhance the exotic scent of the perfume. This goes well with the warmth of the Brazilian rosewood and the sweet smell of the rose.

Smell Notes:

• Woody
• Powdery
• Warm Spicy

Also Read: Perfume for Office Use

7. Geo Trumper Sandalwood

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If you haven’t yet found the right sandalwood perfume, let us present the Sandalwood Cologne by Geo. F. Trumper. This one hasn’t yet received the merit it deserves.

In terms of packaging and the note composition, it can seem to be less appealing. But that does not mean that it doesn’t get the job done.

If you’re someone who is on the run throughout most of your days, then this isn’t the best sandalwood perfume for you. The cologne suits better to a man attending formal parties or meetings for a couple of hours.

This fragrance has a very warm and gentlemanly character to it due to the woody aromatic base notes. Consisting of sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, leather, and amber, the base notes have a very strong presence.

Following the base notes is a layer of jasmine, rose, and carnation, which adds a summery touch. This creates a slight contrast to the woody base notes to add a sense of depth to the smell.

Moreover, the top note has a combination of spices and flowers like lavender, citrus, and spice. The spices do a very good job in bringing out the aromatic smell from the base layer, while also highlighting the flower fragrances from the middle notes.

Smell Notes:

• Vanilla
• Floral
• Woody

8. Tom Ford Santal Blush

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Finishing off our list, we have this 50ml sandalwood oil cologne from Tom Ford. For anyone looking to try out new mixes of sandalwood, this is worth a try.

What makes this stand out is its lack of depth when it comes to the combination of notes. Now don’t get us wrong, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell great.

In fact, the combination of sandalwood and spices gives the Santal Blush a strong bold scent.

The base notes contain sandalwood, Virginia cedar, musk, and oud to bring out that rich earthy smell you get from most sandalwood colognes.

And the middle notes contain a combination of ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose. You would think that it would add a floral scent to the overall perfume, but the middle note is very understated. This keeps the seriousness of the musky scent intact but also has a subtle playfulness due to the flowers.

To top it all off, Tom Ford blends a selection of spices, cinnamon, fenugreek, and caraway to bring out the warm and spicy fragrance you find in musk colognes.

The summation of the base, middle, and top notes gives you a subtle fragrance that is distinctive when compared to some of the best sandalwood colognes for men in the market today.

Smell Notes:

• Woody
• Powdery
• Warm Spicy

Also Read: Hugo Boss Colognes

9. Prada L’Homme ​

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If you want to go designer with your cologne, then there’s nothing quite like the L’Homme by Prada.

Initially, the company started off with making bags and apparel. Shortly after, they began formulating a scent to go with their brand. And the rest is history.

From 1913 till now, the brand has gained worldwide recognition and is loved by most, if not all of their customers. Placing itself on our list of the best sandalwood colognes for men, this designer scent will entice anyone that walks past you.

This particular perfume was launched back in 2016, and the timing was perfect. The combination of cardamom, sandalwood, and violet makes you feel like you’re one with nature.

Also, this complements the spring season well, as it brings out a touch of nature’s finest spices.

Furthermore, the fragrance is strong yet very soothing. This is an ideal characteristic for those looking for a multifunctional perfume. When using it casually, the smell isn’t too strict.

The iris, geranium, and carrot seed combination keeps the firmness of the perfume, while also having a playful undertone.

What’s more, the formulation of the cologne mixture allows it to stick to your skin for long periods of time. So, don’t be shocked if you’re still smelling good after a day of strenuous activity.

Smell Notes:

• Floral
• Woody
• Powdery

Also Read: Aquatic Cologne for Men

10. Santal Majuscule by Serge Lutens – Last Long Sandalwood Colognes​​​

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Presented to the world back in 2012, the Santal Majuscule from Serge Lutens has quickly gained popularity amongst musky cologne users.

The long-lasting fragrance keeps you fresh for many hours throughout the day without losing its potency. Serge Lutens has specially devised its formula to build a perfume that is right for the lifestyle of the average working man.

While most high end Sandalwood colognes have a hard musky tone, the Santal Majuscule tends to be light yet very bold.

Well, the combination of notes is very interesting in this particular fragrance as it uses less fruity and flowery bases. Instead, the overall experience of the perfume has a sensual and warm vibe to it.

The premium and minimalistic packaging of the Santal Majuscule makes it worth staring at. And the textured black box is kept simple without any patterns. Also, the matte texture and the gold accents near the logo make it stand out well.

Weighing in at almost 200 grams, the bottle is tall and slim. The perfume liquid has a brown color to it, which creates a contrast with the transparency of the bottle, making it more appealing.

At the top, Serge Lutens has placed a round cap that comes off easily when you need to put in a few sprays. The roundness of the cap contradicts the rectangular shape of the bottle but also adds to its character.

Smell Notes:

• Cacao
• Woody
• Warm Spicy

FAQ on Men’s Sandalwood Colognes

What does sandalwood smell like?

Generally, sandalwood has an earthy smell to it. But, unlike other woody notes, sandalwood tends to create a soft floral fragrance when combined with other ingredients

Is sandalwood cologne good for men?

While it’s true that most sandalwood colognes are manufactured for men, certain ones are unisex. For men, sandalwood scents are ideal for professional workspaces or casual outings.

Is sandalwood a men’s scent?

No, it isn’t. This is a common misconception most people tend to have. Sandalwood can be paired with a wide range of flower notes to create a feminine scent as well.

Why is sandalwood oil so expensive?

Obtaining sandalwood oil is very difficult, as the trees need to reach a certain age to produce high-quality oil. Due to the high demand and scarce supply, the prices of sandalwood oil have been pushed up.

Is sandalwood a masculine scent?

No. Sandalwood on its own has a woody and floral scent. However, when mixed with a combination of fruits and flowers, it can be made into a feminine scent as well.

Final Words

Picking out a fragrance for yourself is not as easy as it may seem. You would need to focus on the right blend of notes to make yourself stand out amongst others.

We ardently hope these reviews of the best sandalwood colognes for men have helped you select your own distinct fragrance.

Also Read: How to Apply on Cologne Properly