On a blind smell, I’d have a hard time believing some of the best Cremo colognes are so cheap.
I love a bargain, but most budget colognes usually fall down on either scent (they smell synthetic) or longevity (they only last an hour or two).
But this isn’t the case for the best Cremo fragrances – they can compete with far more expensive colognes.
I’ve been wearing them for the past few years, and they’ve been an affordable way for me to build out my collection with different note profiles and moods to suit different occasions.
My favorite, Spice and Black Vanilla, is a perfectly balanced blend that is stunningly good value for money. It delivers a delicious-smelling, sophisticated scent that rivals designer houses for a very impressive 8 hours.
I also love the freshness of Blue Cedar and Cypress. The menthol and eucalyptus barbershop vibe is an excellent pick-me-up in warmer weather that punches way above its weight.
Professionals will appreciate the creamy woodsiness of Palo Santo, while Bourbon and Oak offers a deeper and darker blend perfect for as the nights draw in.
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Office Choice
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Best Overall
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Pick for Freshness
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Best for Winter
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4.6
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5.0
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4.8
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4.3
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$22.96 ($6.75 / Fl Oz)
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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.
- Sweet vanilla bourbon paired with a spicy/woody dry down.
- Perfect for a night at the bar or for a chilly winter date.
I’ll step you through 8 Cremo cologne reviews, and let you know when and where to deploy these scents, based on:
- Note profile (what does it smell like)
- Longevity (how long does it last)
- Projection (how subtle/strong is it)
- Value for money
- Occasion (season, time of day, setting)
I am going to rank them in order of my personal preference, from favorite to least favorite.
The first six are, in my opinion, all worth buying. The last two? Well – each to their own I guess…
So let’s get on with it.
Best Cremo Colognes for Men in 2024
Spice and Black Vanilla – Best Cremo Cologne for Men Overall
Blue Cedar and Cypress – Best Cremo Cologne for Freshness
Palo Santo – Best Cremo Cologne for the Office
Bourbon and Oak – Best Cremo Cologne for Colder Weather
Silver Water and Birch – Best Cremo Cologne for Casual Dates
Leather and Oud – Best Cremo Cologne for Power and Projection
And two to avoid…
Bergamot and Musk – Not the Best Smelling Cremo Cologne out There…
Citrus and Mint Leaf – Poor Projection Compared to Other Cremo Colognes
The Best Cremo Scents Ranked
Spice and Black Vanilla – Best Cremo Cologne for Men Overall
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.
Hazy tobacco, sweet vanilla, and aromatic spice.
Cremo products are affordable and cruelty-free.
| 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.
| Top Notes: | Cardamom |
| Middle Notes: | Cashmere Wood |
| Base Notes: | Bourbon Vanilla and Vetiver |
Blue Cedar and Cypress – Best Cremo Cologne for Freshness
Blue Cedar and Cypress was originally my number five, but this one takes the number two spot for uniqueness.
A bright, citric opening that puts a pep in your step.
Hints of fresh eucalyptus and mint to keep you feeling fresh.
| 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.
| Top Notes: | Lemon Leaf |
| Middle Notes: | Cypress |
| Base Notes: | Cedar |
Palo Santo – Best Cremo Cologne for the Office
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.
Natural-smelling, creamy woodiness that's perfect for professional settings.
A great budget alternative for fans of Le Labo's Santal 33.
| 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.
| Top Notes: | Light Citrus |
| Middle Notes: | Cardamom and Palo Santo |
| Base Notes: | Papyrus |
Bourbon and Oak – Best Cremo Cologne for Colder Weather
Number four is Bourbon and Oak. Another very, very good scent.
Sweet vanilla bourbon paired with a spicy/woody dry down.
Perfect for a night at the bar or for a chilly winter date
| 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.
| Top Notes: | Spicy Notes |
| Middle Notes: | Whiskey |
| Base Notes: | Oak |
Silver Water and Birch – Best Cremo Cologne for Casual Dates
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.
90% similar to the original Silver Mountain Water.
An excellent price for a long-lasting, expensive-smelling alternative.
| 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.
| Top Notes: | Water Notes |
| Middle Notes: | Oakmoss |
| Base Notes: | Birch and Woody Notes |
Leather and Oud – Best Cremo Cologne for Deep Masculinity
This Cremo cologne projects really well with a powerful and earthy leather and oud partnership.
| 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.
Need to Know: What does Oud smell like?
| Top Notes: | Saffron and Bitter Orange |
| Middle Notes: | Leather, Smoke and Incense |
| Base Notes: | Agarwood (Oud) |
And 2 Cremo Scents to Avoid…
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!
Need to Know: What does Musk smell like?
| Top Notes: | Bergamot |
| Middle Notes: | Exotic Fruits |
| Base Notes: | Musk and Amber |
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.
| Top Notes: | Citron and Moss |
| Middle Notes: | Mint |
| Base Notes: | Cedarwood |
How to Choose the Best Cremo Cologne for You – Need to Know
What is the best Cremo cologne?
The best Cremo cologne 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 colognes, 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.
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Office Choice
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Best Overall
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Pick for Freshness
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Best for Winter
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4.6
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5.0
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4.8
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4.3
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$22.96 ($6.75 / Fl Oz)
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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.
- Sweet vanilla bourbon paired with a spicy/woody dry down.
- Perfect for a night at the bar or for a chilly winter date.
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.
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