Cedar perfumes
Cedar smells dry, clean and woody, a little like pencil shavings. It’s one of the most common base notes in fragrances marketed to men because it adds structure without sweetness, and it lasts. In fresh scents it’s a quiet frame; in woody ones it’s the backbone. Editorial inference
Perfumes with cedar notes
Cedar is a key note
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Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette
- Woody / aromatic
- Citrus
- Cedar
- Sandalwood
Bright citrus over smooth, clean woods. Polished, and easy to wear to work.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Acqua di Giò Eau de Toilette
- Aquatic / citrus
- Marine notes
- Bergamot
- Cedarwood
The ’90s marine template: salty, citrusy and clean. At its best on hot days.
Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
-
Light Blue Eau de Toilette
- Citrus / fruity
- Sicilian lemon
- Apple
- Cedar
Sparkling lemon and crisp apple over clean cedar. A breezy summer classic.
Perfumer: Olivier Cresp
-
Million Gold Eau de Parfum Intense
- Woody / spicy
- Mandarin
- Cedarwood
- Sandalwood
Juicy mandarin and warm spice over creamy sandalwood and cedar. A smooth, woody take on the Million line, much less sweet than the original 1 Million.
Perfumers: Christophe Raynaud, Quentin Bisch
Cedar in the full note list
These don’t lead with cedar, but it’s in their published notes, usually in the base.
-
Sauvage Eau de Toilette
- Fresh / spicy
- Bergamot
- Pepper
- Ambroxan
Sharp pepper and bergamot over a dry, mineral base. Loud for an EDT, so one or two sprays is plenty.
Perfumer: François Demachy
-
Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum
- Woody / amber
- Amber
- Musk
- Sandalwood
Soft citrus over sandalwood, amber and a little incense. Smoother, warmer and longer-lasting than the EDT, and just as easy to wear.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette
- Woody / mineral
- Orange
- Flint
- Vetiver
Orange peel over dry, flinty vetiver. Earthy and bitter-fresh rather than sweet.
Perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena
Compare Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette with Man Wood Essence
-
Idôle Eau de Parfum
- Floral / fresh
- Rose
- Jasmine
- White musk
Fresh rose and jasmine over clean white musk, with a touch of pear. Bright, easy and far less sweet than most rose perfumes.
Perfumers: Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina-Baez, Nadège Le Garlantezec, Sonia Constant
-
Black Opium Eau de Parfum
- Amber / gourmand
- Black coffee
- White flowers
- Vanilla
Coffee and vanilla softened by white flowers. Sweet, dark and made for evenings.
Perfumers: Nathalie Lorson, Marie Salamagne, Olivier Cresp, Honorine Blanc
-
Libre Eau de Parfum
- Floral / fougère
- Lavender
- Orange blossom
- Vanilla
French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom over vanilla and musk. Polished and floral, clean enough for the office, warm enough for the evening.
Perfumers: Anne Flipo, Carlos Benaïm
-
Y Eau de Parfum
- Aromatic / fougère
- Bergamot
- Ginger
- Sage
- Geranium
Crisp apple and ginger over sage and a warm, sweet amberwood base. Fresh enough for daytime, rich enough for the evening, and often named among the most complimented men’s scents.
Perfumers: Dominique Ropion, Claire Liégent
-
Man Wood Essence Parfum
- Woody / spicy
- Sichuan pepper
- Cypress
- Vetiver
Peppery spice over dry, dense woods. Warm, earthy and grown-up.
Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
-
Eros Eau de Toilette
- Aromatic / sweet
- Mint
- Green apple
- Vanilla
Cool mint and green apple over sweet vanilla and tonka. Loud, sweet and built for nights out, so go easy on the sprays.
Perfumer: Aurélien Guichard
-
Aventus Eau de Parfum
- Fruity / woody
- Bergamot
- Pineapple
- Birch
Juicy pineapple and bergamot over smoky birch and musk. Famous, expensive and much copied; sample first, because batches vary.
Perfumers: Jean-Christophe Hérault, Olivier Creed
-
Le Male Eau de Toilette
- Amber / aromatic
- Mint
- Lavender
- Vanilla
Cool mint and lavender over warm vanilla and tonka, like a barbershop that smells of cake. Soft, sweet and comforting, and a 1990s icon.
Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian
-
Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum
- Woody / floral
- Sage
- Narcissus
- Vetiver
Fresh sage and cardamom, a rich wild-daffodil flower and four vetivers over creamy woods and vanilla. Elegant and a little unusual.
Perfumers: Karine Dubreuil-Sereni, Maïa Lernout
-
Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum Intense
- Gourmand
- Pistachio gelato
- Hazelnut
- Whipped cream
- Cotton candy
- Marshmallow
Creamy pistachio and hazelnut with whipped cream, marshmallow and cotton candy over soft woods and tonka. A sweet, nutty dessert perfume.
Perfumers: Olivier Cresp, Sébastien Cresp
Comparisons
- Comparison Sauvage EDT vs EDP Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Dior lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Acqua di Giò Dior Sauvage vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh bestsellers compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel Dior Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel: the two best-known fresh men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Dylan Blue vs Sauvage Versace Dylan Blue vs Dior Sauvage: two fresh, peppery blue men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel EDT vs EDP Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Chanel lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel vs Acqua di Giò Bleu de Chanel vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh classics compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Terre d’Hermès vs Man Wood Essence Terre d’Hermès vs Bvlgari Man Wood Essence Parfum: two dry, woody vetiver scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Black Opium vs La Vie est Belle YSL Black Opium vs Lancôme La Vie est Belle: two sweet vanilla perfumes compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Good Girl vs Black Opium Carolina Herrera Good Girl vs YSL Black Opium: two warm, sweet evening perfumes compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Le Male vs Eros Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male vs Versace Eros: two sweet mint-and-vanilla men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Light Blue vs Devotion Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue vs Devotion: two lemon-led perfumes by the same perfumer compared, with the notes the brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.