Tom Ford isn’t your father’s perfume brand. We are talking about the guy that named a fragrance Fucking Fabulous, after all.
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That cheekiness and intensity make the Tom Ford brand incredibly appealing. It can also be a little off-putting and make it hard to know where to start sampling their scents. But while Tom Ford perfume for men can feel intimidating, there’s great stuff waiting for you.
Here are my top 10 best Tom Ford fragrances – hopefully, these will explain a little more about the brand and help you find your best Tom Ford cologne.
Let’s get started.
Our Best Tom Ford Colognes
Best Overall
For the best overall, I had to go with Tom Ford Oud Wood, probably the Tom Ford perfume best seller. This brand is expensive, and you may only be in the market for one bottle. In that case, Oud Wood is easy to wear, has broad appeal, and is quite versatile.
Notes in the fragrance include oud, sandalwood, cardamom, vetiver, and Sichuan pepper. It’s warm, luxurious, and spicy. And it also wears close to the skin, making it a good fragrance to wear to the office or while running errands.
You may think oud scents are a little passé at this point, but Oud Wood is so rich, creamy, and luxurious that it’s hard to resist. As with all Tom Ford fragrances, I recommend trying before you buy. But for me, Oud Wood is intoxicating, masculine, and polished.
| PROS | CONS |
| A rich, masculine scent | Not the greatest projection |
- Sillage: Good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: The office, errands
- Price: $$$$
Best for Spooky Season
Tom Ford is too big to be a niche brand, but they do make distinctive fragrances that are quite intentionally not for everyone. This is a way to say that while I love Noir EDP, your mileage may vary. I find it spicy, mysterious, gothic, and, yes, a little spooky.
The top notes in Noir are violet, pink pepper, and bergamot, with heart notes of iris, rose, and black pepper. The dry down features (synthetic) civet musk, vetiver, and leather. Most people get incense from Noir, even if it isn’t listed as an official note.
So yes, Noir smells like an old church, but in the best way possible. The notes do tend to skew a bit mature, so this may not be the best choice if you’re young. With moderate projection, though, it’s a great way to make an impression on an autumn evening out or even at the office.
| PROS | CONS |
| Those who love it really love it | Those who don’t like it really don’t like it |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: Dinner out, quirkier offices
- Price: $$$$
Best for Winter
I don’t want to condone smoking, but when I say Tobacco Vanille smells like the inside of a tobacco shop, I mean it as a high compliment. The mixture of tobacco and vanilla creates a very sweet scent but one with plenty of texture and interest.
Top notes of tobacco and spice flow into a heart of vanilla, cacao, and tonka bean. The dry down in this 2007 unisex fragrance by Olivier Gillotin has dried fruits and woody notes. It’s a classic winter scent with a bit of spice.
For me, this is a perfect daily wear fragrance in the colder months. It’s both comforting and slightly mysterious. If you wish Replica’s Jazz Club had more spice (or less booze), you’re in the right place.
| PROS | CONS |
| Rich unisex scent | Some complain it’s too sweet |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: Colder weather
- Price: $$$$
Best for Vacation
Wearing Neroli Portofino is the perfect accompaniment to drinking an Aperol spritz in Rome, but it works just as well for drinking hard seltzer on your patio. This 2011 fragrance from Rodrigo Flores-Roux will have you solidly in vacation mode, no matter what else you may be doing.
Top notes of bergamot, lemon, and bitter orange move into a heart of orange flower, neroli, and jasmine. The dry down has amber, angelica, and musk mallow. The result is a fizzy unisex citrus scent with white flower notes – sweet but not cloying.
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino isn’t the most original fragrance out there, but sometimes you just need a warm-weather go-to. As with many citrus or fresh scents, the longevity isn’t the greatest, but it holds up long enough for a dinner out. Wear this one anywhere in warm weather.
| PROS | CONS |
| Fresh and invigorating | Expensive, can fade quickly |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Good
- Appropriate for: Warm weather
- Price: $$$$
Best for a Late Summer
Costa Azzura EDP is a 2022 reboot of the 2014 EDT scent. Most fans think they smell similar, though, so you’re in good hands no matter which bottle you get.
I’m on the record as not being a big fan of “marine” or “blue” fragrances, so my expectations for Tom Ford Costa Azzura weren’t high going in. But this is a complex, natural-smelling fragrance that really captures an actual beach.
Top notes of driftwood, seaweed, and celery seeds move into a heart of lavender, juniper, and lemon. Vetiver and oak help to ground the dry down.
The result feels like taking a walk on the beach the week after Labor Day. The crowds are gone, the weather is cooler, and you can finally smell the ocean. Wear this anytime you want to capture that late summer vibe.
| PROS | CONS |
| An oceanside fragrance that really smells different | Expensive, not sweet enough for some |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: The office, every day
- Price: $$$$
Best for the Office
The name of Grey Vetiver is a play on that most ‘70s of fragrances, Grey Flannel. And in many ways, this 2009 scent by Harry Fremont feels like a modern luxury take on the classic.
Top notes of orange blossom, sage, and grapefruit lead to a heart of nutmeg, pimento, and orris root. The dry down features vetiver, oakmoss, and amber. It’s a green, aromatic vetiver, not too smoky or complex.
Think of Grey Vetiver as the unofficial scent of the “quiet luxury” trend. This is the perfect fragrance for work, and it’s great if you want a fresh scent that can stand up to cold weather. If you’re looking for a fresher, greener take on Guerlain’s Vetiver, this one is for you, too.
| PROS | CONS |
| Luxurious, masculine, and inoffensive | Opening is too harsh for some |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Excellent
- Appropriate for: The office
- Price: $$$$
Best for Weekends
Tom Ford for Men EDT is a breezy, easy-to-wear scent. One of the more accessible fragrances in the Tom Ford line, you can throw this 2007 Yves Cassar scent on before running errands or hitting brunch. It’s light enough for summer but hearty enough for colder weather.
Top notes of ginger, bergamot, and lemon leaf move into a heart of pepper, tobacco, and orange blossom. Vetiver, cedar, and amber help to round out the dry down. It’s aromatic, warm, and fresh all at once – the perfect casual fragrance.
True fragrance fans may find this one a bit boring, but Tom Ford for Men is a great go-to. The one downside: this isn’t the best Tom Ford cologne for longevity and sillage.
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy-to-wear, casual | Longevity isn’t the greatest, may be too staid for some |
- Sillage: Good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Weekend errands
- Price: $$$$
Best Barbershop Scent
Beau du Jour is an interesting and modern spin on the traditional barbershop fragrance. Being a big fan of barbershop scents, I had high expectations for Beau du Jour, and it did not disappoint.
The main top note is lavender, which leads into a heart of rosemary, oakmoss, and mint. The dry down is warm and rich with patchouli and amber. With the oakmoss, Beau du Jour is a bit grungier than a typical barbershop scent, though still clean and fresh.
The longevity is also amazing – you can easily get 12 hours or more out of a couple of spritzes. Beau du Jour can read as mature, and it’s definitely not a good choice if you don’t like lavender. Still, if you’re looking for a classically masculine fragrance with a bit of a twist, I think this is a great one.
| PROS | CONS |
| Great for barbershop fans | Can read as quite mature, intense lavender isn’t for everybody |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Phenomenal
- Appropriate for: The office, every day
- Price: $$$$
Best for a Signature Scent
Bitter Peach may be the most divisive fragrance in the Tom Ford collection, which is saying something. But those who love it (including me) really love it. It’s the fruit scent for fruity scent skeptics and a lovely, natural-smelling fragrance.
Top notes of peach, blood orange, and cardamom move into a heart of rum, cognac, and jasmine. The dry down includes vanilla, tonka bean, and patchouli. The peach here isn’t sweet or artificial – it’s realistic, green, and, yes, bitter.
The contrast between the freshness of the peach and the warmth of the other notes really makes this something special. It’s almost akin to the alchemy in Killian’s Apple Brandy on the Rocks.
This unisex scent from 2020 isn’t for everyone. But for me, it’s the scent of a spicy peach cobbler in early fall.
| PROS | CONS |
| Distinctive and unexpected | Not for everyone |
- Sillage: Very good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Year-round wear, day-to-evening
- Price: $$$$
Best for Gourmand Fans
The best word to describe Noir Extreme is extra. This is not a scent to wear if you’re ambivalent about fragrances or content blending into the background. But it’s also refined, expensive, and surprisingly not in-your-face.
Top notes of cardamom, nutmeg, and neroli lead into a heart of jasmine, rose, and creamy notes. The dry down is warm and rich with vanilla, amber, and sandalwood. This one has a richer, more gourmand feel than the notes alone show.
This 2015 Sonia Constant isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t my favorite Tom Ford. But if you need to feel like the kind of guy who wears a trendy tailored suit to the club, a spritz of this will do it.
| PROS | CONS |
| Loud and luxurious | Not for everyone, sillage isn’t great |
- Sillage: Good
- Longevity: Very good
- Appropriate for: Bottle service, date night
- Price: $$$$
Who Makes It?
Tom Ford, famous for his role as creative director at Gucci, branched out to develop in own line in 2005. He released his first fragrance in 2007.
Which Tom Ford Cologne Is the Most Popular?
It’s hard to say without exact sales numbers, but Oud Wood and Tobacco Vanille appear to be the most popular Tom Ford fragrances.
Which Tom Ford Cologne is Best-Smelling?
Oud Wood appeals to the greatest number of people, but you may have your own best Tom Ford cologne. Give all the ones on the list a sniff and see what you think.
What Is The Best-Smelling Tom Ford Cologne According to Women?
Fans say that Noir Extreme is an absolute compliment bomb when they’re out on weekends.
Final Thoughts
Tom Ford is a relatively new name to the fragrance world, but one that’s brought a lot of drama and excitement. The brand makes scents for true perfume fans – you won’t like every kind, and that’s the point.
When you do find your new favorite, it’ll be a lifelong love. Give your sense of smell a treat by finding your best Tom Ford cologne.
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Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.