These Sandalwood Colognes Smell Amazing on Anybody

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In the world of men’s cologne, there are a few notes you find used over and over. Tobacco, leather, vetiver, cedar: they’re all common because of their distinctive scents that lend gravitas and a certain masculinity to a cologne. But perhaps even more common than those is sandalwood, a classic standby that has stood the olfactory test of time for thousands of years. It’s popular for a different reason: Its versatility.

Sandalwood has a distinct scent: creamy, smooth and woody. It’s not a pungent wood like pine or an overpowering wood like cedar. Sandalwood can ground a fragrance into something elegant, sensual and way more wearable. What’s so interesting about the ingredient, though, is that it’s also extremely versatile. Depending on the other notes it’s mixed with, it can take on smokey, sweet, spicy and earthy elements that allows it to enhance these other notes without taking away their thunder. That’s why a sandalwood cologne isn’t always an attention grab; it can also be about quiet power. No matter what vibe you like in your fragrance, chances are there is a sandalwood scent out there that fits you. These are the best.

Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

At this point, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more ubiquitous sandalwood scent than Santal 33. That’s not a bad thing. The smooth, warm scent is distinctive, but not overpowering with warm notes of cardamom and ambrox, subtle floral notes of iris and violet and a trifecta of smokey woods from cedarwood, papyrus and, of course, sandalwood. There is literally nowhere this cologne isn’t appropriate, or identifiable.

For Them Sandalwood

You don’t always have to shell out big bucks for a really good cologne. Case in point, this inexpensive unisex scent by Urban Outfitters, which smells just as rich and layered as the designer scents you find at the department store. Sandalwood comes center stage with this one but is freshened up with a bouquet of botanical notes like jasmine and bergamot with a shot of incense for spice and vanilla for smoothness.

Original Santal Fragrance

LIke all Creed fragrances, this sandalwood-forward cologne just smells expensive (and it is). There is a spicy warmth to it that dries down to expose the smooth sandalwood that’s bolstered by musk, cedar and tonka bean for a fresh, sweet, almost soapy vibe that not only smells masculine but lasts (and lasts and lasts) for hours. It might not be as in-your-face as some other of the brand’s bolder scents, but it’s just as distinctive.

Santal Blush

Tom Ford might be known for his bold fragrances, but no one does refined subtlety like Mr. Ford either. This warm woody cologne is all about smooth warmth with top notes of spices like cinnamon, caraway and fenugreek, middle notes of ylang-ylang and jasmine and a base of sandalwood, oud and musk. It’s the type of cologne that begs people to lean in closer.

Read more: Best Tom Ford Colognes

Cool Water

Chances are you don’t need an introduction to Cool Water. It’s one of the most popular (and iconic) men’s fragrances ever created (in 1988, in fact, and still going strong). What makes it stand out, particularly when it comes to the use of sandalwood, is the aquatic freshness. Many colognes lean into the woodiness of the ingredient, but this fresh cologne uses it to round out the aquatic elements with a smooth earthiness.

Sandalo Eau de Parfum

Paired with fresh notes of orange, calabrian bergamot, lemon and lavender, this version of sandalwood takes on a masculine, almost barbershop feel. It’s traditional, but not heavy, and has a soapy clean quality that many other sandalwood-forward fragrances lack. It’s ideal for daytime, when you don’t want to overpower the room, but also appropriate for a quick refresh in the evening.

Legend Eau de Toilette

This legendary cologne is almost instantly recognizable because it somehow smells unique and familiar at the same time. It’s sweeter and fresher than most of the other fragrances on this list thanks to the top notes of pineapple, lavender, and bergamot as well as middle notes of red apple and dried fruits. These fruity notes give it a freshness, not an overly sweet feeling, that complements the smooth, earthy sandalwood at its base for an incredibly wearable scent.

Eternity for Men

Another icon in the men’s fragrance world, smelling Eternity is like an instant time warp back to the 90’s. In a very good way. Crisp, fresh and woody, it’s a romantic, youthful fragrance that has stood the test of time and remains a guaranteed attention getter. It can be subtle or it can be bold depending on how you wear it but it’s always a crowd pleaser.

Eau de Parfum Spray

There’s a complexity to this cologne that makes it extremely versatile. It’s fresh at first spray but dries down to a woody, sexier base that is modern and masculine. This parfum version is bolder and stronger, and lasts longer, but doesn’t lose any of the versatility that makes this iconic cologne appropriate for day, night and any time in between.

Somewhere Extrait de Parfum

What makes this sandalwood-based scent so good is how it evolves on your skin. At first spray is fresh and floral with notes of bergamot, neroli and blood mandarin and then the musk emerges to give it a sweaty, skin-like element. Finally, the neroli stays around but gets brought down to earth with the help of sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss. The subtly evokes the way your skin naturally smells; only way, way better.

Inverness Eau de Parfum

Inspired by the mossy, green, earthy landscape of Scotland, this warm, soothing fragrance is as cozy as they come. Grounded in cedarwood and sandalwood, there are also notes of orris butter and amyris oil to give it a smooth, creamy, almost powdery finish. It’s less “sitting by the fire” and more “a cup of tea after traversing the forests.”

Sandalwood Cologne

Ok, let’s not forget that sandalwood is still a wood, which means it lends itself incredibly well to outdoor-inspired scents. This manly mix of amber, vanilla, sandalwood and vetiver is fresh and smooth and undeniably woody; the type of scent for guys who would rather be hiking. It’s also surprisingly long lasting so less is more with this one.

What Is Sandalwood?

When you see sandalwood listed in cologne notes, it’s probably referring to sandalwood oil, which comes from the Santalum album tree, which is native to India and Southeast Asia. there are 19 species of sandalwood trees and can also be found in places like Hawaii and Australia, but Indian sandalwood is the most desireable for fragrance. It is still an extremely rare type of tree; and is very, very expensive because of how rare it is. In fragrance, using pure sandalwood oil can make the price of a cologne skyrocket, so you’ll often find synthetic sandalwoods which are molecules created in labs that smell like the real thing.

How is Sandalwood Used in Cologne?

Most often, you’ll find sandalwood used in the base notes of a fragrance. Base notes are the foundation of a fragrance and these notes tend to linger on the skin for the longest period of time. Deeper notes like woods, amber, vanilla and oud tend to work well in base notes. Increasingly, you’ll find sandalwood used in middle notes as well, which are the “heart” of a fragrance and act as the bridge between the top notes and base notes.

What Does Sandalwood Smell Like?

Sandalwood is an extremely common note in fragrance, particularly men’s cologne, because of its versatility. Pure sandalwood has a warm, smooth, woody scent to it, which makes it ideal for wintertime scents. But depending on what it’s mixed with, it can take on sweet, creamy, smokey, light and amber elements in addition to the woodiness. It mixes well with all the fragrance families like fresh, floral, spicy and amber.

How We Selected

For this story, editor Garrett Munce tested over a dozen sandalwood colognes to find the best ones from a variety of fragrance families and price points. And as a grooming expert with more than a decade of experience trying colognes, Munce is constantly researching the best men's fragrances worth shopping.

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