Ever since the 1963 launch of the first Aramis men’s fragrance by the Estée Lauder company, the best Aramis fragrances for men have become the epitome of daring masculine confidence.
Their original slogan ‘the impact never fades’ could not be closer to the truth. The first woody chypre fragrance, with its almost shocking animalic note, defines the ultimate macho man and still possesses the power to thrill.
Over the years there have been over 30 enticing Aramis men’s fragrances released. These manly scents are not for the faint-hearted, but rather for the modern man who wants to add a splash of macho daring to his multi-faceted fragrance collection. Feeling man enough?
- Top 10 Best Aramis Fragrances For Men
- 1. Aramis Tobacco Reserve Eau de Parfum
- 2. Aramis Modern Leather Eau de Parfum
- 3. Aramis Special Bend Eau de Parfum
- 4. Aramis Eau de Toilette
- 5. Aramis Tuscany Per Uomo Eau de Toilette
- 6. Aramis Black Eau de Toilette
- 7. Aramis JHL Eau de Cologne
- 8. Aramis 900 Herbal Eau de Cologne
- 9. Aramis Havana Eau de Toilette
- 10. Aramis Voyager Eau de Toilette
- Conclusion
- Further Reading
Top 10 Best Aramis Fragrances For Men
The best Aramis fragrances for men combine woods, musks, manly florals and even a touch of the animalic. We review 10 fantastic Aramis scents for your consideration.
1. Aramis Tobacco Reserve Eau de Parfum
Review
Aramis Tobacco Reserve is an indulgent aromatic tobacco fragrance enhanced by creamy tonka bean, oakmoss and sage for a mature gentleman’s club feel.
Although this contemporary scent was only introduced in 2018, there are rumours of it being discontinued so grab a bottle of this classy fragrance while you can. Smells incredibly expensive.
The opening of Aramis Tobacco Reserve is discreet and mild, with clary sage and blackcurrant creating an intriguing herb/fruity combo. A heart of fresh tobacco leaf really draws you in, giving an almost cigar boutique vibe.
Nutmeg adds some spice whilst orris brings a powdery sweetness with floral hints. Upon dry-down, spicy/sweet tonka bean is most prominent, adding a delicious vanilla note that blends so well with the tobacco.
As for when to wear, this spicy/sweet tonka bean and tobacco seems almost tailor-made for the chilly autumn and winter months. I would say better suited for later afternoon and evening. Very classy.
Performance is excellent and lasts 6+ hours with good sillage and projection. Perfectly balanced, not a room clearer but undoubtedly present. Lasts incredibly well on clothing.
Finished in a dark glossy colour, the square design bottle storing this exotic, warming liquid, represents clean and crisp lines.
Presented in an elegant looking straight-lined bottle with gold cap and tobacco coloured label with gold surround.
Overall, Aramis Tobacco Reserve is a refined and dignified tobacco scent with hints of vanilla/tonka and herb that oozes confidence and style.
Top Notes:
Clary Sage, Blackcurrant
Mid Notes:
Tobacco Leaf, Nutmeg, Orris
Base Notes:
Tonka Bean, Oakmoss
Price & Reviews
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2. Aramis Modern Leather Eau de Parfum
Review
If like me, you don’t love a full-on leather fragrance, then Aramis Modern Leather is a brilliant choice. Released in 2017, this masculine fragrance injects herbs and green geranium into the mix that seems to calm the overall leather note beautifully.
Aramis Modern Leather opens like a fresh herb garden, with basil and thyme both being clearly noticeable. Geranium soon creeps in from the heart to add its floral greenness, plus a dash of patchouli adds some earthiness.
At this point, I am really reminded of my late grandmothers garden where geranium always bloomed to beautifully. Upon dry-down, oakmoss appears first, yet is soon overtaken by a quality leather note that is both classy and refined.
As for when to wear, Aramis Modern Leather is a perfect day or night frag for spring and autumn when the weather is temperate rather than too hot or too cold. Can be worn as a casual scent or more formal.
Durability is excellent with decent sillage/projection and good staying power of 5+ hours. Excellent price/performance.
Presented in true Aramis style with its elegant straight-lined bottle with gold cap and brown leather coloured label with gold edging.
Overall, Aramis Modern Leather is a refined masculine leather scent with aromatic herbs and manly floral tones that break from the traditional heavy leather fragrances. Highly recommended if you are looking for a leather fragrance that is not ‘all-leather.’
Top Notes:
Basil, Thyme
Mid Notes:
Geranium Patchouli
Base Notes:
Leather, Oakmoss
Price & Reviews
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3. Aramis Special Bend Eau de Parfum
Review
Aramis Special Bend is a luxury scent consisting of boozy/woody/musky notes that is undeniably extravagant and rather Clive Christian-esque in its delivery.
The opening begins with the earthy floral note of clary sage entwined with zesty bergamot and spicy-sweet cinnamon. A boozy heart of whiskey works incredibly well with the rich earthy/spicy note of cypriol, both adding masculine depth and a touch of mystery.
Upon dry-down, a sensual base of rich, spicy (and slightly fruity) cashmeran becomes the star of the show, with cedar and warm amber close behind producing a rather luxurious finish. Although tonka bean is listed, I did not personally detect any.
As for when to wear, Aramis Special Bend is a glamorous autumn/winter evening fragrance that is well suited for dates, evening meals, theatre, fancy bars. Not a full-on clubbing fragrance, it’s more refined.
Performance is pretty good, although sillage and projection are not huge, yet longevity is a more than reasonable 5+ hours.
Presented in a classy straight-lined bottle with gold cap and matching gold label. Not the highest quality bottle up close.
Overall, Aramis Special Bend is a sensual masculine fragrance with notes that are very well blended. Mature and incredibly stylish, it receives compliments from both guys and girls.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Clary Sage, Cinnamon
Mid Notes:
Whiskey, Cypriol Heart
Base Notes:
Cashmere, Virginian Cedar, Ambertonic, Tonka Bean
Price & Reviews
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4. Aramis Eau de Toilette
Review
And now for the animalic woody chypre classic launched in 1963, simply known as Aramis by Aramis. This confident, masculine fragrance is living proof that a leather/woody scent does not always need to be softened with vanilla or a bouquet of florals to stand out from the crowd.
Aramis Eau de Toilette begins with a strong wave of aldehyde and myrrh with touches of herbs and a splash of zesty bergamot. A heart of vibrantly and earthy patchouli is first to shine, sprinkled with herb notes of anise, caraway and tarragon.
Upon dry-down, leather is most dominant and accompanied by oakmoss. Dry, smokey vetiver and deep woody notes also creep in. Settles into a rich leather scent with manly woods, exotic herbs and an animalic castoreum note.
As for when to wear, although the notes suggest autumn/winter, I would say this is an any-season fragrance for any occasion. Equally suitable for a jacket and tie dinner or jeans and a T-shirt when out for Sunday brunch.
Performance is excellent as Aramis by Aramis is really long-lasting with strong sillage and projection. Longevity is 7+ hours, longer on clothing.
The bottle itself remains pretty much untouched from the 1960s. It’s manly, weighty, straight-lined bottle emits the golden glow of the fragrance lurking inside. Completed with a gold cap.
Overall, Aramis by Aramis is a classic gentlemen’s scent, period. It’s old school and makes no apologies, probably the manliest scent you will ever encounter. Every man should own a bottle, simply for their fragrance education.
Top Notes:
Aldehydes, Myrrh, Clover, Artemisia, Thyme, Gardenia, Bergamot
Mid Notes:
Patchouli, Sage, Jasmine, Cardamom, Orris Root
Base Notes:
Leather, Oakmoss, Musk, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber, Coconut
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
5. Aramis Tuscany Per Uomo Eau de Toilette
Review
Tuscany Per Uomo is a bright, refreshing and utterly luxurious combination of citrus and herb notes that drys down to a sumptuous leather base. Extremely versatile, this feel-good masculine fragrance brings the Italian Tuscan coast to your fragrance collection.
The opening is sharp and zesty with lemon, bergamot and lime all jostling for your attention. There is also a touch of lavender that subtly creeps in. A heart of mixed herbs, in particular the liquorice scent of anise and caraway blend with orange blossom for a sophisticatedly fresh masculine vibe.
Upon dry-down, leather provides the main base note, closely followed by oak-moss and a dash of sweet-smelling patchouli. A light combo of sweet tonka bean and cinnamon also rise after an hour or two.
As for when to wear, Tuscany Per Uomo feels like an any-season daytime fragrance that is bright and cheerful. Makes a great office scent, holiday scent, or casual every-day fragrance.
You can expect 4+ hours of performance with moderate sillage and projection. Pretty good price/performance, however, watch out as seems this particular scent is getting more expensive. Keep an eye out at any decent fragrance discounter.
Tuscany Per Uomo is presented in a modern clear-glass bottle with sloping neckline and silver cap. The label that for some reason, reminds me of Tommy Hilfiger.
Overall, Tuscany Per Uomo is an any-season fragrance that just feels good on. It is discreet yet present, citrus-fresh and herby with a classy leather side—a feel-good fragrance.
Top Notes:
Lemon, Lavender, Bergamot, Lime
Mid Notes:
Anise, Caraway, Tarragon, Orange Blossom
Base Notes:
Leather, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Cinnamon, Basil, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
6. Aramis Black Eau de Toilette
Review
Aramis Black is an extravagant attention-grabbing combination of woody and boozy notes with touches of resin that provides a formalwear feel. Nothing daytime about this fragrance, unless you still have it on from the night before!
The opening of Aramis Black is bright and zesty, with the clean sharpness of grapefruit that is softened by resinous elemi. Mid notes of cognac, woods and juniper reveal a boozy/woody heart that remains part of the fragrance throughout.
Upon dry-down, a refined base of rich leather notes and smokey incense add to the speakeasy feel. A dash of sweet tonka bean and lightly woody vetiver stick to the sidelines but are noticeable.
As for when to wear, Aramis Black is a glamorous autumn/winter evening fragrance that is great for the office, and other formal dress occasions.
Performance is good and lasts 5+ hours with decent sillage and projection. Lasts longer on clothing but be careful of staining.
Presented in a mysterious looking straight-lined clear-glass bottle that emits the dark hue of the fragrance inside. A black cap and black label with red writing complete the dark look.
Overall, Aramis Black is a woody, boozy, resinous male fragrance that’s slightly zesty. Leans more towards formal wear. It’s a crowd-pleasing scent that both men and women can enjoy wearing.
Top Notes:
Elemi, Grapefruit, Mastic
Mid Notes:
Cognac, Woody Notes, Juniper
Base Notes:
Leather, Incense, Vetiver, Tonka Bean
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
7. Aramis JHL Eau de Cologne
Review
Launched in 1982, Aramis JHL is a traditional cologne that blends spices and woods. Delicate floral notes such as carnation, ylang-ylang and rose also appear for a well rounded masculine scent.
Aramis JHL opens with a refreshing burst of citrus and fresh aldehydes that can catch you by surprise. Spicy-sweet cinnamon is the most prominent heart note. It is soon joined by a floral trio of soft carnation, rose and exotic ylang-ylang.
The base is deep and rich; resinous benzoin and woody notes shine the most and are backed up by vanilla, amber, patchouli, and musk. Delightful.
As for when to wear, Aramis JHL is an excellent choice for autumn/winter evenings when the warming and spicy notes will hold their own.
JHL has considerable sillage and projection. Expect 5 to 6 hours of wear from each application.
Presentation is classy and modern. The stout glass bottle with its sloping neckline and silver cap are pleasing on the eye, and feel weighty in hand.
Overall, Aramis JHL Eau de Cologne is a warm and spicy woody cologne with a cheeky floral twist. A worthy addition to your collection.
Top Notes:
Aldehydes, Orange, Fruity Notes, Bergamot, Lemon
Mid Notes:
Cinnamon, Carnation, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Fir, Jasmine
Base Notes:
Benzoin, Sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli, Labdanum, Musk, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
8. Aramis 900 Herbal Eau de Cologne
Review
Aramis 900 Eau de Cologne is a real blast from the past. Released in 1973, it’s incredibly masculine yet refined enough to not feel overly Anchorman. Leaning heavily on the florals with a liberal splash of civet and oakmoss, you know you are in for a wild ride.
Opening with a blast of green notes, coriander, citrus and rosewood, you could be fooled into thinking that’s it. Patience is needed for this beauty to fully reveal itself.
A blooming heart of rose, carnation and slightly bitter geranium effortlessly cast their magic. Upon dry-down, the animalic note of civet combines with oakmoss and a touch of patchouli to complete this sophisticated male scent.
This is an incredibly versatile and refined cologne which is pretty much an any-season fragrance. More suited to daytime smart-casual wear rather than full-on formal evening attire, it feels great on.
The presentation of Aramis 900 is classy enough, the stout glass bottle has a sloping neckline with a silver cap. The label has a bronze coloured centre with a navy blue border.
Overall, Aramis 900 Eau de Cologne was clearly ahead of its time. Although having seen several reformulations, the 2020 version we sampled is still delightfully woody and floral with a splash of underlying civet.
Top Notes:
Coriander, Green Notes, Brazilian Rosewood, Bergamot, Lemon
Mid Notes:
Rose, Carnation, Geranium, Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, Orris Root
Base Notes:
Civet, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Amber
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
9. Aramis Havana Eau de Toilette
Review
Havana Eau de Toilette is a tobacco lovers dream. This stylish blend of tobacco, spices, herbs and woods was first released in 1994 and still oozes class. Perfect for pretty much any occasion, formal or smart-casual.
The opening is incredibly luxurious and masculine, with orange, basil, caraway and a touch of artemisia. The dominant tobacco note from the heart is dusted with bitter-sweet cinnamon, and the slight freshness of pine trees is also apparent.
Upon dry-down, patchouli and oakmoss provide additional punch, with woody notes coming into play once this scent has fully settled.
As for when to wear, for autumn/winter Havana Eau de Toilette is perfect for daywear and nightwear, but equally happy as a warmer season scent but more for evening wear when its dark and rich notes come nicely into play.
Performance is 5+ hours of longevity and decent sillage and projection. Not a beast-mode frag but certainly keeps up with far more expensive scents.
The presentation of Havana Eau de Toilette is discreet with its stout glass bottle and sloping neckline. A silver cap and tobacco leaf design label complete the Havanna vibe.
Overall, Havana is a rich tobacco fragrance with a patchouli kick. The woods and herbs peek through rather than dominate, yet the tobacco is firmly on show. Gives a nice boost of confidence every time you catch a whiff of it.
Top Notes:
Mandarin Orange, Basil, Artemisia, Caraway
Mid Notes:
Tobacco, Cinnamon, Fir, Carnation
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
10. Aramis Voyager Eau de Toilette
Review
Aramis Voyager is a modern male fragrance that emits a JPG Le Male vibe. Lavender is sprinkled with a multitude of spices and then bathed in the creamy vanilla scent of tonka bean for a sexy masculine scent.
The opening of Aramis Voyager begins with spicy ginger and black pepper that are softened by crisp juniper. A heart of lavender blooms nicely and is accompanied by nutmeg and sage for that Le Male vibe mentioned earlier.
Tonka bean from the base rises after 30 minutes or so to provide a smooth but slightly dirty almond/vanilla note. Very suave smelling.
As for when to wear, Aramis Voyager is a bright spring/summer/fall fragrance that works well as a daytime scent, either casual or formal. You would need to layer it with a woody/amber heavy scent for full-on nightwear.
Performance is not the best on this list, longevity is 3-4 hours with moderate sillage and projection. Could certainly make a decent office scent or discreet but classy daywear fragrance.
Presented in a straight-lined bottle with a gun-metal grey cap and complementing grey coloured label with white surround. The fragrance itself emits a golden glow.
Overall, Aramis Voyager is a spicy male scent with lavender and herbs and a splash of tonka bean. Reminds me of a diluted version of Le Male so well worth a look when you want something along those lines that is a bit more discreet.
Top Notes:
Ginger, Black Pepper, Juniper Berries
Mid Notes:
Lavender, Nutmeg, Sage
Base Notes:
Tonka Bean
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online:
Conclusion
Since the 1966 launch of their first male fragrance, Aramis has dominated the luxury male grooming market. They make no apologies for the sheer masculinity of their decidedly daring fragrance collection. The brand continues to be an integral part of the Estée Lauder stable. Each of these 10 best Aramis fragrances for men that we have reviewed balances the traditional with the modern to create a true mans-man retro-vibe.
Interestingly, Aramis was one of the first luxury men’s fragrance brands to be sold in department stores. The brand single-handedly redefined male fragrance, taking it from an afterthought at the barbershop to the point where most men now own a collection of scents.
You may also enjoy our article on the best Dunhill fragrances for men.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, designer handbags, luxury accessories and more.
