What are aromatic perfumes? They’re a subgroup of the fresh family, which also includes citrus, watery, and green scents. They really are aromatic, meaning the spicier and more pungent side of fresh – think notes like coriander, rosemary, sage, or anise.
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This subgroup generally leans masculine, though there are plenty of great unisex and feminine aromatics, too. And while you can wear them year-round, aromatics really shine as warm weather scents.
The late 90s, 00s, and 10s were full of aromatics, many of them cheaper drugstore sprays that weren’t that great. But don’t cast aside the whole subgroup if you’ve had a few bad experiences. Instead, check out our top 9 picks culled from aromatic fragrances international reviews.
Our Top 9 Aromatic Perfumes Picks
Best Overall
Don’t be confused by the name of Viking Cologne by Creed – this 2021 release by Olivier and Erwin Creed has little in common with the company’s 2017 scent by the same name. But this complex and masculine scent is both green and evocative, just what you want from fougere (fern-like) aromatic perfumes.
Top notes of mandarin, lemon, and pink pepper move into a heart of lavender, rosemary, and sage. The dry down is warm with notes of vetiver, sandalwood, and cedar. This is a pricey scent, but well worth it.
Wear this one on a summer date night or consider making it your new daily scent.
| PROS | CONS |
| Complex, refined | Pricey, can read as mature |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Everyday, day-to-evening
- Price: $$$$
Best Aquatic Aromatic Fragrance
Embruns d’Essaouira by Montale, a 2009 scent by Pierre Montale, has an aquatic note.
Our main complaint with aquatic scents is how similar they can smell – no matter the price point, most use the same synthetic ingredient, calone, to impart a watery smell.
But this is different.
This is a salt-forward aquatic that’s a little “dirtier” than most of its cousins – think of the scent of bodies in the sea rather than the sea itself. Along with the salt and watery notes, there are spicy notes on a base of musk and sandalwood.
| PROS | CONS |
| Unique aquatic scent, great summer fragrance | Not for fans of “clean” aquatic scents |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: The office, summer, the gym
- Price: $$$
Best Aromatic Men’s Fragrance
We could list Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger as a budget pick, but this 1995 citrus aromatic scent by perfume royalty Alberto Morillas and Annie Buzantian is worthy of being listed among the best aromatic colognes, period.
Top notes of mint, bergamot, and lavender transition into a heart of green apple, cranberry, and rose. The dry down is both warm and fresh, with amber, cactus, and cotton flower.
If you wore this in high school or college, it’s worth a revisit. And if you’re only familiar with the dozens of imitation aromatic perfumes Tommy has spawned, you really need to smell the original.
| PROS | CONS |
| Affordable, classic scent | Can smell a bit young |
- Sillage: Good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Everyday, summer
- Price: $
Best Aromatic Fruity Fragrance
4711 Acqua Colonia White Peach and Coriander may be a “budget” cologne from a slightly fusty brand, but trust us: it’s really something special. This 2017 unisex scent from Alexandra Monet is bright and playful without being juvenile.
The note of white peach is natural, rich, and complex. It’s paired with coriander, herbal notes, and citruses that give it depth and sophistication. If you find most fruit fragrances cloying or artificial (or if you’re a fan of Philosykos below), try out this one.
| PROS | CONS |
| A wearable, unisex, fruit-forward scent | Peach note leans feminine, requires multiple sprays |
- Sillage: Good
- Longevity: Good
- Appropriate for: Warm weather, daytime
- Price: $
Best Aromatic Green Fragrance
Philosykos by Diptyque is a cult classic fragrance for a reason. There are only a few notes (fig leaf, fig, and fig tree), yet it’s a complex scent that changes and evolves on the skin. Developed in 1996 by Olivia Giacobetti, this unisex fragrance is as contemporary as ever.
This fragrance is both very green and very fruity – if you struggle with either of those families, you should try before you buy. But we think you’ll be hooked by this fresh, jammy, and creamy scent – it really smells like walking through a fig orchard.
| PROS | CONS |
| Complex, unique | Too green for some |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Everyday, warm weather
- Price: $$$$
Best Aromatic Spicy Fragrance
Lavender & Coriander Cologne by Jo Malone London is a bit understated and circumspect, as you’d expect from the brand. But the combination of the two named scents in this unisex 2020 composition is really something special.
Coriander adds a rich, spicy, and slightly dirty earthiness to the lavender – if you find other lavenders too soapy or floral, this is right up your alley. Tonka bean in the dry down adds a bit of skin-hugging creaminess, too.
| PROS | CONS |
| Complex, unexpected lavender | Coriander is too funky for some |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Warm weather, daytime
- Price: $$$$
Best Aromatic Women’s Fragrance (Budget)
Bath and Body Works is a love-it-or-hate it brand, but White Tea and Sage is worth checking out even if you’re not normally a fan. This 2022 scent is fresh, wearable, and not too cloying, with notes of white tea, sage, and bergamot.
If you’re a fan of Elizabeth Arden White Tea or Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Au The Vert, or if you just need a new warm weather scent, this is worth checking out.
| PROS | CONS |
| Clean, good sillage without being overwhelming | Sweeter than some tea scents |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Good
- Appropriate for: Warm weather, everyday
- Price: $
Best Niche Aromatic Fragrance
Karagoz by Nishane is named after a brash but playful character from traditional Turkish shadow plays. That gives you an idea of this 2017 Jorge Lee scent’s vibe – exotic, bold, and irreverent.
Top notes of grapes (some get grape soda) and pineapple move into a heart of patchouli, neroli, and jasmine. Vetiver, oud, and amber feature in the dry down. It’s a bit like getting progressively drunker and louder on fruity cocktails in an exotic desert.
Not a safe blind buy, but if you like this unisex fragrance, you’ll really like it.
| PROS | CONS |
| Truly unique | Can be overwhelming, not very versatile |
- Sillage: Excellent
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: Big night out
- Price: $$$$
Best Luxury Aromatic Fragrance
There’s one thing most people can agree on when it comes to Comandante by Xerjoff – it really smells expensive. This 2012 unisex fragrance is a bit divisive, but it truly does smell like the high-end cigar lounge it’s meant to evoke.
Top fruity and floral notes give way to a heart and dry down of tobacco, honey, cedar, and spice. It’s worth trying before buying – the notes you pick up will depend on your body chemistry.
| PROS | CONS |
| Complex and refined | Quite busy, not very versatile |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: Date night
- Price: $$$$
| TOP PICKS AT A GLANCE | ||
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Best Overall
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Best Aquatic Aromatic Fragrance
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Best Aromatic Men’s Fragrance
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Final Thoughts
Aromatic perfumes have something for everyone and are especially great if you’re looking for a new warm-weather fragrance.
Our selection includes the deepest and heaviest aromas, as well as those so light and heady that they leave you floating like a butterfly. No matter your budget or preferred notes, you’re sure to find something.
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Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.