8 Best Pine Colognes for Men (2023) – Full Review
As a kid, I grew up in the woods. Always building tree forts and playing tag and whatever else pre-pubescent boys do.
Thus, these colognes are very reminiscent. If you had a similar childhood, it might bring back some memories.
The eight best pine colognes for men are authentic and raw. Some head in the direction of more thick and tarry-like pine sap.
While others have more of the “spice” from pine needles. All of which are masculine scents that have near all-year-round versatility.
This review will describe how the top eight smell and perform and if they are the right choice for you.
Without further ado, let’s jump into this review.
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Table of Contents
#8 – Ralph Lauren Polo EDT
The opening is intense from the start. There are prominent green and fresh accords. With this many notes in the fragrance, it’s difficult to determine which is the most prevalent. However, the overarching emphasis is fresh aromatics and masculinity.
There are subtle spices in the background but never too in your face. I smell more of the lively spice that jumps off the skin and invigorates the senses.
As the scent develops, you’ll find that it lacks a strong mid. Wood, tobacco, and leather are lingering in, preparing for the base. It’s equal parts fresh aromatics and woods an hour into the wear.
The wood accords get significantly stronger in the dry down, led by a prominent pine needle note and subtle vetiver. It is a very forest-type aroma. There’s greenness, earthiness, and a degree of a conifer nature.
In the background is warm, sweet tobacco that helps break up the woods. Fresh aromatics are present. And leather is only present if you “search” for it.
Polo is not a blind buy or must-have fragrance. Yet it is a great special occasion cologne for cool weather use.
#7 – L’Artisan Parfumeur Fou D’Absinthe
Fou D’Absinthe is inspired by the famous drink of Bohemia Paris. I’ve never tried this drink, but I smell an alcoholic nature from the start.
You can think of the opening as a refreshing drink on a hot day. It opens with a cool and bright alcoholic aroma. In the background, bitter green undertones support the prominent top notes.
A variety of notes create the mid. The one that sticks out most is the anise note, with its slightly sweet, spicy, and green accents. This blends perfectly with the numerous other herbal notes in the heart.
The spices linger in the background at this point, and the opening has lost its cool and refreshing nature. The briskness of the alcoholic notes is replaced by evergreen notes.
The rest of the wear continually gets more intense.
The easiest way to describe the dry down is warm woods. There’s a pop of pine needles. That perfectly blends and contrasts with the patchouli, amber, and vetiver depth.
On my skin, it’s a light projector from start to finish and only lasts 5 hours tops. However, this works to its benefit as it can be enjoyed all year round.
#6 – Bottega Veneta Pour Homme
In relation to the smell of pine, Veneta Pour Homme wastes no time.
It opens with a mix of fir balsam and spicy additions. The spiciness adds warmth and richness but doesn’t detract from the prominent fir note.
As the wear continues, the scent only gets more subtle. The mid is lighter yet still outdoorsy. It has added herbal and grassy touches of sage and hay. Other notes support these two. However, they aren’t prominent enough to be explicitly smelled.
Finally, in the base, the quiet woods from the top have melted with leather and musky accents. They create the rest of the scent.
The performance is just right.
It lasts 7 hours on the skin and has average projection during that time. It’s not so loud that it consumes the room or can’t be worn in the summer. But it’s also not so subtle that it’s an intimate scent and can’t be worn in the winter.
#5 – Diptyque L’Eau Trois
An interesting start with L’Eau Trois. The opening has a greasy/fuel-like aroma.
This quickly fades and transcends into dry and sweet myrrh. Mainly coming across as woody, warm, and aromatic. The subtle “spice” from pine needles emerges but sits in the background.
From start to finish, myrrh is present and only gets sweeter.
As the scent continues, other greens and woods provide support. Adding to the already present pine needles. The rest of the wear is just myrrh and supporting coniferous notes.
There is a trend with Diptyque scents. The one I reviewed as my newsletter’s fragrance discovery also had below-average performance. L’Eau Trois lasts up to 5 hours on the skin and only projects intimately during that time.
However, this works to its benefit as it is an excellent choice for all-year-round wear.
#4 – Histories de Parfums 1828
The more Histories de Parfums scents I try, the more I like the brand. 1828 is enjoyable as it has a unique twist on many commonly used notes.
The opening is led by a burst of bitter nutmeg combined with tart, zesty, and sweet citruses. The spiciness from the nutmeg tries to overpower the citruses.
However, the fresh and sweet accords keep it at bay. The first 5 minutes are a pretty even mixture of nutmeg and citrus.
After this period, these notes transcend into a heart of pine and green eucalyptus. They are the stars of the show and add a forest-like aroma to the spicy nutmeg.
As the scent dries down, it settles into itself. The forest-like accords get slightly deeper. The nutmeg and citrus accords in the background add great contrast.
Similar to Bottega Veneta, the performance is just right. Lasting 7 hours on the skin and having average projection during that time. It is a little weak in the winter, but you can just spray more on it.
The rest of the year, it works great.
#3 – Caron Yatagan
There is simply nothing else like Yatagan. It’s a unique and interesting mixture that will capture anyone’s attention.
The opening starts with a hefty dose of aromatics. The most prominent are sweet herbal tones from basil, dry lavender, and smoky incense in the background peaking from the base.
Next comes the watercress. Many people will call it the smell of celery. The main idea is green and “wet.” It’s like an aquatic fragrance with an organic/earthy touch.
There’s not much of mid. I catch faint wafts of oakmoss, adding a mossy and slightly woody nature.
The scent completely changes into the dry down. The subtle smoky incense from before washes over the base like a total wave. There are mild woody notes and musk nuances, but they mostly keep the smoky incense in check.
The performance is excellent. It lasts 8 hours on the skin and has decent projection during that time. It is best used in the cooler months and on formal occasions as it’s a very unique scent.
#2 – Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles
Serge Lutens is another brand that heavily focuses on natural and unique fragrances. If you want to smell different, you pick Serge Lutens.
Fille en Aiguilles’ opening is led by a blast of coniferous wood and sweet dried fruits.
In the background is strong smoky frankincense; they are slightly smoky and musty. It’s a great combination with the pine accord as it comes off as smoky woods. The overarching emphasis is a rich and warm opening.
Fille en Aiguilles lacks a mid. After an hour transitions into the heart of the fragrance.
Much of the woods and smoky accents fade away. Their void is filled by a heavy cranberry emphasis and bay leaves. The rich and warm resins are still present and will give Fille en Anguilles depth.
If you’re unfamiliar with bay leaves, they are herbal and aromatic, similar to thyme and oregano. They give the base a degree of “spice,” which is just the intensity of the herbalness.
The rest of the wear is sweet dried fruits, herbal bay leaves, and warm resins.
A pretty simple scent, yet intriguing.
The performance is average. Lasting 6 hours on the skin and projects moderately during that time. This isn’t great for spring and summer but shines during fall and winter. Though it is expensive, it can really make an impression.
#1 – Profumum Roma Arso
This is another brand that the more I smell, the more I enjoy. So, how did Arso make it to the top spot? It is both authentically piney and has excellent performance.
Arso has an opening that is quite memorable. A Pine accord is present right off the bat. The scent beginnings with pine-sap, cedar, and sticky amber. The pine sap has a chilled and tarry briskness but doesn’t feel heavy on the skin.
Slightly salty, musky, and sweet ambergris projects the amber accord.
As the scent transcends into the heart. The smokiness gains strength, bringing dark and green coniferous notes with it. It’s like a fall campfire with a touch of warm amber.
The rest of the wear stays the same. However, the notes get darker and more coniferous the longer the wear.
The performance is outstanding. Lasting 12 hours on the skin and projecting multiple feet for hours, never becoming a skin scent.
As for the season, it is exclusively fall and winter wear. Yet, a show-stopper during those times.
Conclusion
Are pine colognes right for you?
Well, first, you need to like wood-dominant fragrances. Once you know that, I recommend pine perfumes for men. Many have interesting aromas that will grab nearly anyone’s attention.
In comparison to other woody fragrances, these are ultra-unique. Cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver are commonly the dominant woody accords.
However, you get the same warmth here but with a coniferous “spice.”
Many of these pine colognes are very masculine fragrances. However, don’t limit yourself to just pine scents. Discover the best masculine fragrances for men.
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