Overall, Spice and Black Vanilla is the best Cremo cologne.
It stands out as the best due to its perfectly balanced blend of warm spices and sweet vanilla. The sophisticated scent profile rivals designer fragrances, and it’s really great value for money. It also has an impressive longevity of up to 8 hours, so it maintains its allure throughout the day.
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Office Choice
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Best Overall
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Pick for Freshness
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4.2
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4.8
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4.5
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$22.96
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$22.99
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- Natural-smelling, creamy woodiness that's perfect for professional settings.
- A great budget alternative for fans of Le Labo's Santal 33.
- Hazy tobacco, sweet vanilla, and aromatic spice.
- Cremo products are affordable and cruelty-free.
- A bright, citric opening that puts a pep in your step.
- Hints of fresh eucalyptus and mint to keep you feeling fresh.
Another excellent option is Blue Cedar and Cypress. This cologne is ideal if you love a fresh, invigorating scent. Its menthol and eucalyptus notes provide a refreshing barbershop vibe, perfect for warmer weather and casual settings.
For professionals, Palo Santo is a fantastic alternative. This cologne offers a creamy, woodsy scent with a fresh and clean profile. It’s suitable for any occasion, making it a versatile addition to any cologne collection.
Here’s my full recommendations for Cremo fragrances. I’ll cover their note profiles, longevity, projection, value for money, and suitable occasions to help you choose your perfect scent.
Best Cremo Scents for Men in 2024
- Best Overall: Spice and Black Vanilla
- Best for Freshness: Blue Cedar and Cypress
- Best for the Office: Palo Santo
- Best for Colder Weather: Bourbon and Oak
- Best for Casual Dates: Silver Water and Birch
- Best for Power and Projection: Leather and Oud*
And two to avoid…
- Not the Best Smelling Cremo Cologne out There: Bergamot and Musk
- Poor Projection Compared to Other Cremo Colognes: Citrus and Mint Leaf
*discontinued
1. Spice and Black Vanilla – Best for Men Overall
Hazy tobacco, sweet vanilla, and aromatic spice.
Cremo products are affordable and cruelty-free.
Okay, guys. If you haven’t smelled Spice and Black Vanilla, I highly recommend it. You just will not get better value at this price point.
Spice and Black Vanilla is a powerhouse for me.
| Spice and Black Vanilla Cologne | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: Luxury scent at a budget price | Longevity: 8 hours |
| Season: Spring/Fall/Winter | Projection: Strong |
| Age group: 22 – 45 | Value for money: 5/5 |
I can’t speak for any of you, but for me, it projects extremely, extremely well. This stuff just lasts forever on me.
With sweet vanilla tempered by hazy warm cardamom in a perfectly balanced blend, SPice and Black Vanilla smells very similar to Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille. It’s in that same world of “spice rounded out by sweetness”- but it’s far, far cheaper.
And just like the Tom Ford Classic, Spice and Black Vanilla projects exceptionally. During this test, it filled up my truck on the way to work. It was a delicious ride.
I had a solid bubble for 4 – 5 hours from 2 sprays, with another 3 – 4 hours of more intimate scent. I feel like anything more than 2 sprays of this stuff is overkill – it really packs a punch.
A great buy for this price point, and not to be missed.
| Spice and Black Vanilla Cologne by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Cardamom |
| Middle Notes: | Cashmere Wood |
| Base Notes: | Bourbon Vanilla and Vetiver |
2. Blue Cedar and Cypress – Best for Freshness
A bright, citric opening that puts a pep in your step.
Hints of fresh eucalyptus and mint to keep you feeling fresh.
Blue Cedar and Cypress was originally my number five, but this one takes the number two spot for uniqueness.
| Blue Cedar and Cypress EDT | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: A fresh signature scent | Longevity: 6 – 7 hours |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Projection: Moderate |
| Age group: 20 – 40 | Value for money: 5/5 |
I don’t get a lot of Cyprus or the Cedar in it, to be honest with you. This is old-time, barbershop freshness more than anything.
It reminds me of my first baller haircut when I moved to London. I’d arrived, and I was going to look the part.
The citric, tart opening is strong and persists for the 6 – 7 hour duration of the fragrance. This “zing” might be my favorite part of the whole thing.
It’s clean-smelling and bold, with hints of eucalyptus and menthol wafting through the zesty lemon.
It’s bright enough to feel fresh in warmer weather, and would suit a casual date to an alfresco bar or a city walk on a sunny day.
| Blue Cedar and Cypress Spray by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Lemon Leaf |
| Middle Notes: | Cypress |
| Base Notes: | Cedar |
3. Palo Santo – Best for the Office
Natural-smelling, creamy woodiness that's perfect for professional settings.
A great budget alternative for fans of Le Labo's Santal 33.
Palo Santo is one of the newer Cremo colognes – and it’s a really solid addition to the line for fans of sweet woody fragrances.
This is the perfect Cremo cologne for Gents who want to present masculine confidence in the office while still smelling natural and professional.
| Palo Santo Cologne EDT | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: Subtle sophistication | Longevity: 7 – 8 hours |
| Season: Year-round | Projection: Subtle/Moderate |
| Age group: 27 – 45 | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
It has a bright opening that soon makes way for the woodsy, lightly smokey aroma. The woodiness here is sweet, creamy, and very pleasant.
Palo Santa is a masculine fragrance, with a central sage note that adds a dose of herbal maturity, and the lightest of cardamom touches bring a little warmth.
The papyrus in the base reminds me a little of fresh paper – that “new book smell”.
Overall, it’s a fragrance that will regularly pick you up compliments. It’s an absolute steal at this price point, particularly when you consider how long it lasts. Palo Santo projects a nice arms-length scent bubble for the first few hours and sticks around more intimately for 7 – 8 hours of overall wear.
It stacks up with colognes several times the price, and comparisons with Santal 33 are inevitable. I’d say Palo Santo is about 80% similar – it lacks the florals and the slightly acerbic pickle note of the popular Le Labo fragrance, but it’s definitely in the same creamy/woodsy ballpark.
| Palo Santo Cologne Spray by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Light Citrus |
| Middle Notes: | Cardamom and Palo Santo |
| Base Notes: | Papyrus |
4. Bourbon and Oak – Best for Colder Weather
Sweet vanilla bourbon paired with a spicy/woody dry down.
Perfect for a night at the bar or for a chilly winter date
Number four is Bourbon and Oak. Another very, very good scent.
| Bourbon and Oak Spray | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: Romancing on a cold night | Longevity: 5 – 6 hours |
| Season: Winter/Fall | Projection: Moderate |
| Age group: 30 – 50 | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
The opening is pretty sweet, with gourmand-like vanilla feel competing with a spicy/woody dry down. The bourbon and oak become increasingly prominent, throughout the lifetime of the cologne.
It’s a cooler weather scent for sure, perfect for a night at the bar or on a chilly winter date.
It gets very close to Polo Red Extreme (one of the best Ralph Lauren colognes) for the first hour, full of creamy vanilla-chocolatey spicy tonka woods. It’s a cold-weather beauty.
In the heart, it’s more bourbon and oak backed up by tonka/sweet vanilla for a skin scent that lasts all day.
Bourbon and Oak is one of the cheapest colognes in my collection but I don’t feel cheap wearing it.
I sprayed myself this morning and five minutes later my GF gave an unsolicited compliment about what I was wearing.
It’s only down here in fourth because I have a lot of bourbon base colognes that give me the same sort of feel that is just better done – Bentley Intense Man being one of them.
- Check our guide to the best winter fragrances for men for more.
| Bourbon and Oak by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Spicy Notes |
| Middle Notes: | Whiskey |
| Base Notes: | Oak |
5. Silver Water and Birch – Best for Casual Dates
90% similar to the original Silver Mountain Water.
An excellent price for a long-lasting, expensive-smelling alternative.
If you couldn’t have guessed already, the subtly titled Silver Water and Birch is certainly inspired by Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. If you’re not familiar, we covered it in our best Creed cologne roundup last month.
| Silver Water and Birch Cologne | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: Tropical relaxation | Longevity: 5 hours |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Projection: Subtle/Moderate |
| Age group: 24 – 50 | Value for money: 4/5 |
Though it might not be quite as good as the real thing, Cremo does a good job and produce a relaxing cologne ideal for being at peace in spring or summer.
This fresh, vibrant fragrance has been known to get the occasional compliment from passersby. I normally wear it for casual activities where I want to smell effortlessly good. Coffee dates, farmers’ markets – that sort of thing.
It makes me think of the passing of seasons, and the cycle of rebirth. Rejuvenating mountain waters overflowing onto dry arid land, soaking up rainfall and blossoming into luscious vegetation.
This was originally my number two on this list, but on reflection, I have plenty of other Silver Mountain Water alternatives that smell as good, if not better than this one – like Tommy Bahama Set Sail St Barts.
| Silver Water and Birch Cologne by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Water Notes |
| Middle Notes: | Oakmoss |
| Base Notes: | Birch and Woody Notes |
6. *Leather and Oud – Best for Deep Masculinity (discontinued)
This Cremo cologne projects really well with a powerful and earthy leather and oud partnership.
| Leather and Oud by Cremo | Rating |
|---|---|
| Occasion: Nights at the bar | Longevity: 6 – 7 hours |
| Season: Fall/Winter | Projection: Strong |
| Age group: 30 – 50 | Value for money: 4/5 |
Apparently, Leather and Oud smells a lot like Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather. I tested TL for our Tom Ford roundup but I honestly don’t remember it well enough to give a confident comparison.
What I can tell you is that my dentist once asked me, unprompted, whether I was wearing Tuscan Leather, while I was, in fact, wearing Leather and Oud. A grand total of one time.
So take that for what it’s worth. I can’t sit here and tell you it does or doesn’t. But somebody else sure thought it did.
Either way, it smells very masculine and confident. This is not a subtle fragrance, and emphasizes deeper, darker notes that would be most suited to cooler weather and evening wear.
It projects really well for a few hours, and overall longevity is anywhere between 6 – 7 hours.
P.S if you spray Leather and Oud on your clothes you’ll get an even stronger projection for the first hour and a half, two hours.
| Leather and Oud Spray | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Saffron and Bitter Orange |
| Middle Notes: | Leather, Smoke and Incense |
| Base Notes: | Agarwood (Oud) |
And 2 Cremo Scents to Avoid…
1. Bergamot and Musk – Not the Best Smelling Cremo Cologne out There…
In general, I find Cremo scents to be very appealing. But that’s not the whole story!
There is one scent in particular – Bergamot and Musk- which is not really what you would call “my cup of tea”.
There’s just nothing here that grabs my attention beyond those titular notes, and it’s just a little too “white” and safe for me.
This is supposed to be Cremo’s take on Aventus by Creed, but for me, it misses out on too many important notes. The exciting parts, like the fruity pineapple opening and the smokiness in the dry down, just aren’t there.
Don’t get me wrong – the bergamot and musk still smell nice, and this cologne could easily be on anyone else’s ranking – it just isn’t my personal favorite. It’s too safe.
Again no offense meant here either way 🙂
It seems like I’m experiencing some fatigue from the seemingly endless supply of bergamot/musk combinations on the market these days.
In terms of longevity, it’s fine, but it doesn’t quite stack up to the other Cremo colognes. I get four to five hours out of it before it’s pretty faded out, which isn’t disappointing given the price – but not spectacular, either.
P.S (Updated) It appears Bergamot and Musk has been discontinued – so I have the last laugh!
| Bergamot and Musk Spray by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Bergamot |
| Middle Notes: | Exotic Fruits |
| Base Notes: | Musk and Amber |
2. Citrus and Mint Leaf – Poor Projection Compared to Other Cremo Colognes
Personally, I’m not huge on the opening. It’s a pretty strong lemony blast with a mossy note that I can’t quite get on board with.
That said, the dry down is more pleasant. The cedar and mint elements are nicely balanced, offering a breezy yet masculine scent that smells natural and refreshing.
Within a couple of hours the lemon and mint have died off, and you’re left with a laid-back woodsy scent that clings pretty close to the skin.
In terms of long-term projection, it’s probably the worst-performing Cremo cologne out there, and you’ll definitely need to reapply Citrus and Mint Leaf throughout the day if you want it to last.
Compared to the other Cremo colognes I reviewed I really expected better. It smells pleasant once the opening has calmed down, but I really wish it hung in there a little longer.
| Citrus and Mint Leaf by Cremo | Fragrance Notes |
|---|---|
| Top Notes: | Citron and Moss |
| Middle Notes: | Mint |
| Base Notes: | Cedarwood |
FAQs:
What is the best Cremo fragrance?
The best Cremo spray is Spice and Black Vanilla. It’s a perfectly balanced blend between sweet vanilla and warming carsamon, delicately balanced on a base of vetiver and cashmere wood.
It’s a sophisticated and expensive-smelling scent that I’d recommend for any Gents looking for a budget cologne that smells great and lasts a long time.
How long does Cremo cologne last?
Cremo colognes tend to last for between 4 and 7 hours on average. Considering the enjoyable fragrance and competitive pricing, that’s pretty reasonable.
The longest-lasting Cremo colognes, like Spice and Black Vanilla and Palo Santo, last for 8 hours. That’s as long as plenty of designer colognes that can cost hundreds of dollars.
Just be aware that if longevity is an issue for you, make sure you avoid Citrus and Mint Leaf. It starts out fairly brightly, but fades to almost nothing within 2 hours.
How strong is Cremo cologne?
Cremo colognes are moderately strong. They usually emit a scent bubble of around 1 – 2 ft for the first few hours, before fading to a subtler skin scent for the remainder.
There are exceptions, too. For example, Leather and Oud kicks out more than most, and will turn heads pretty consistently when you enter a room. On the other hand, Citrus and Mint Leaf is a little too subtle for me, to the point of becoming pretty undetectable after the first couple of hours.
How much do Cremo colognes cost?
They’re firmly on the budget end of the spectrum, and perform very well given their affordable price point.
Is Cremo cruelty-free?
Yes, all Cremo products are cruelty free. Sometimes, cheaper products mean you have to cut corners on your principles, but not with Cremo.
I’ve got to admit, I’m nowhere near as conscious of animal testing as I should be. It’s not something I usually check for before making a purchase.
I’d rather just get what I want.
However, with the best Cremo fragrances, there’s an opportunity to have the best of both worlds.
I get the fragrance I want, at a price I like – and no bunnies were harmed in the process. Learning more about Cremo for this review has reminded me to take that a little more seriously in the future.
Besides – after a bit of research, it turns out that most of my favorite brands are being responsible already. Which is good news.
Did you know that all Cremo products are:
Cruelty-free – Cremo products are NOT tested on animals.
Vegan – Cremo products only contain natural ingredients like aloe, lemon, papaya, and olive oil.
Eco-friendly – The company has made impressive commitments toward environmentally responsible production, packaging, and shipping practices.
For more colognes that outperform their pricetags, check out the guides below:
- What are the best cheap colognes overall?
- Check out the best Armaf colognes for men on a budget.
What’s Changed?
We updated this guide in January 2024 to reflect the most recent pricing information.
24th June 2024: This guide was overhauled with changes to our recommendations, latest reviews, and was re-fact checked to make sure our reviews are as up to date as possible.
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