Have you considered switching from traditional perfume to one of the best vegan colognes made using plant-based ingredients?
If you’re one of the world’s 88 million vegans or looking to make more ethical choices, then you’ll know that following a vegan lifestyle is about more than what you eat.
Many of the best colognes for men use synthetic ingredients. However, others are created using animal-derived ingredients like ambergris, musk, civet, honey, and beeswax. They may also contain harmful parabens, which affect your body’s hormone balance.
Vegan beauty products are free from toxic additives and are kinder to the skin. They can help to reduce inflammation, breakouts, eczema, acne, and more.
Like a lot of guys, I suffer from time to time with skin flare-ups. So, not only does my fragrance collection feature some of the best-smelling colognes, but it also includes a carefully chosen selection of vegan colognes.
What’s more, the best vegan men’s colognes often contain fewer allergens, which helps to halt my hay fever and seasonal sniffles in their tracks.
The vegan industry is growing, from food and fashion to fragrances. Just ask celeb vegans Travis Barker, Kevin Hart, and the Jonas Brothers, who have all launched vegan companies.
Do you want to spritz and spray with a clear conscience so you can feel good while smelling great? Then scroll on and check out my 7 best vegan colognes.
Key Takeaways
I cast my net wide to hunt down the top vegan colognes for men. I scrutinized ingredients and brand ethics to ensure that their green credentials were up to scratch. So, I can say with confidence that these 7 best vegan colognes are a guilt-free treat for fragrance fanatics looking to make conscious cologne choices.
Top of the class is Malin + Goetz Dark Rum, a fun, fruity fragrance that’s a real hit with the women in my life! Close on its heels is Hawthorne Warm and Aromatic. It’s sweet, warm, and sultry with stellar staying power.
Why it’s great: This vegan cologne is sweet and fruity, with notes of juicy plum, heady rum, and a creamy base. With recyclable packaging and an eco-friendly formula, it’s a worthy winner of my best overall vegan cologne title.
Better yet, Dark Rum is part of a full range of feel-good fragranced products, from body lotion to roll-on perfume oil. So, if you want to boost your cologne’s longevity, then you can layer it up with its perfumed partners.
Who is this for? Dark Rum was love at first sniff for me, and it’s a real compliment-getter. If you like to have fun with your fragrance, then this vegan cologne for men has signature scent potential. I enjoy spritzing this vegan cologne all year round, although I skip it in summer in favor of a more citrusy scent.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Dark Rum is best suited to guys who enjoy sweet scents.
Top Notes: Plum, bergamot | Middle Notes: Leather, rum | Base Notes: Amber, milk, patchouli | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: This classic cologne recently turned 25, which begs the question, is it still relevant today? Heck, yes! Fresh, green fragrances will never go out of style, especially when they cost less than 15 dollars and linger for up to 6 hours.
What does it smell like? Imagine if Davidoff Cool Water and Creed Green Irish Tweed met somewhere in the middle.
Who is this for? If I were to sum up Aspen by Coty in just a few words, it would be “the great outdoors in a bottle.” Well, maybe several words.
If you’re a nature-loving guy whose idea of a great weekend is a brisk hike rather than a lazy lie-in, then Aspen is the best vegan men’s cologne for you. With aromatic spices, crisp citrus fruits, and warm woody notes, Aspen is truly timeless.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some guys find Aspen to be soapy-smelling, but to me, this is a selling point because I enjoy shower-fresh scents.
Top Notes: Bergamot, galbanum, lemon | Middle Notes: Juniper, jasmine, geranium, orange blossom | Base Notes: Cedar, amber, oakmoss, musk, balsam fir | Type: Eau de Cologne
Why it’s great: Cowboy Kush checks two boxes. Not only is it a sexy-smelling vegan cologne, but it’s also from a niche brand. This is important because there’s a big difference between someone asking, “Are you wearing *insert generic fragrance name here*?” and “Wow, what’s that cologne?”
The price tag is a little higher than many of the best vegan colognes. But, with a staying power of 7–8 hours, your bottle will be around for a while.
Who is this for? Have you ever found yourself wishing for a dope fragrance that captures the vibe of your favorite herb? With hippy patchouli, animalic oud, and smoky leather, Cowboy Kush smells like weed but better.
This is one of the best vegan colognes. Even so, it’s blend is rich and intense. Stick to spritzing it in cooler months, or you’ll blow your socks off.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Cowboy Kush is an acquired taste and works best for guys who enjoy bold fragrances.
Top Notes: White leather, mandarin, hazelnut | Middle Notes: Suede, cannabis. Saffron, labdanum| Base Notes: Oud, patchouli, tonka bean | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: Hawthorne Warm and Aromatic is a masterclass in how to make sweet notes masculine. The cologne opens with an attention-grabbing burst of minty citrus and lavender, which settles into a woody base with a hint of spice.
If you’re a Versace Eros guy ready to swap your scent for a vegan cologne, then Warm and Aromatic is your perfect pick. It’s one of the best vegan colognes you can get.
Who is this for? There’s a misconception that vegan colognes don’t have staying power. I disagree, and so does this Redditor and Hawthorne fan:
“It lasts a really long time. I can’t stress that last part enough. I can put some on in the morning (on my wrists and neck), take a shower at night, and literally still smell a hint of it the next morning. And that’s just with a single squirt.”
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Warm and Aromatic is a youthful fragrance for fun occasions. It’s not ideal for everyday wear.
Top Notes: Bergamot | Middle Notes: Lavender | Base Notes: Tonka, cedarwood | Type: Cologne
Why it’s great: Has Creed Aventus been sitting on your cologne wish list for a while now? If you’re still not ready to splash the cash, then let me suggest an alternative.
Dossier Musky Oakmoss is a cruelty-free, vegan cologne designed to be a dupe of this cult Creed offering. Featuring the same signature notes, Musky Oakmoss is the perfect way to enjoy Aventus vibes without breaking the bank or spritzing harsh chemicals.
Who is this for? Whether you’re a Creed wearer trying to make more ethical choices or an Aventus STAN looking for a budget-friendly alternative, Dossier Musky Oakmoss is a no-brainer.
It features the same fresh, fruity opening and refined, musky dry down that we’ve come to know and love. I’ve owned both the OG Aventus and this alternative, and I would say they’re pretty darn close.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If I’m being picky, then Dossier Musky Oakmoss is a little less pineapple-y than the original Aventus.
Top Notes: Pineapple, bergamot, apple | Middle Notes: Rose, patchouli, birch leaf | Base Notes: Oakmoss, musk, amber | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: Calling all party boys: I just found a hot new vegan cologne for men for sexy soirees. Inspired by Miami’s nightlife, Miami Duppy is vibrant, bold, and intoxicating. Here, spicy saffron and boozy rum meet creamy vanilla and a dark chocolate base, but it’s the passionfruit that has me hooked.
Miami Duppy may be a rebellious fragrance, but its ingredients are practically angelic. This vegan cologne is free from silicones, sulfates, synthetic colors, and parabens.
Who is this for? In a club full of Dior Sauvage, do you dare to stand out? If so, then spritz on this best vegan men’s cologne before your night on the tiles. Despite its bold notes, Miami Duppy sits on the right side of the line that separates loud from overpowering.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is a sexy cologne for clubbing and parties. If you don’t have a full social calendar, then you may not get much wear out of this one.
Top Notes: Saffron, licorice, tonka bean | Middle Notes: Passionfruit, pepper, jungle lily | Base Notes: Vanilla, amber, dark chocolate | Type: Eau de Parfum
Why it’s great: Vince is a classy summer fragrance that smells like the beach at sunset. Picture this: you’re sitting on the sand sipping an ice-cold mojito with the scent of zesty lime and fresh mint filling the air. That’s Guy Fox Vince in a nutshell.
It strikes the ultimate balance between longevity and projection for a summer scent that’s noticeable but never cloying. More importantly, it does all this while remaining vegan, natural, and non-toxic.
Who is this for? Guy Fox Vince is the vegan cologne for sophisticated summer occasions. I love wearing this for a nice dinner with my wife or a garden party with friends. Vince is modern, super wearable, and masculine; it’s a perfect pick for guys on the hunt for a warm-weather wonder.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although Vince is an Extrait de Parfum (with a high fragrance concentration), its staying power is more in line with an Eau de Parfum.
Top Notes: Lime, cedar, lavender, grapefruit, mandarin, cardamom | Middle Notes: Mint, gin, pink pepper, frangipani, geranium| Base Notes: Musk, amber, tonka bean, cedar, sandalwood | Type: Extrait de Parfum
Buying Considerations for The Best Vegan Colognes
Season
Choose the right scent for the season, and you’ll master the art of smelling amazing all year round. In fall and winter, your vegan cologne will have to work harder to make itself known. Why? Because colder temperatures minimize projection. You’ll need to choose vegan colognes for men with more intense and rich notes.
My go-to cold-weather colognes are Hawthorne Warm and Aromatic, Malin + Goetz Dark Rum, and Boy Smells Cowboy Kush.
When things start to heat up, you need a seductive spring and summer fragrance. Think zesty citrus, clean musk, fresh spices, and juicy fruits like those in Guy Fox Vince, Dossier Musky Oakmoss, and Coty Aspen.
If you’re on the hunt for a hook-up-worthy scent for summer parties and hot dates, Scotch Porter Miami Duppy is the ultimate wingman.
Price
The best of any colognes cater to every wallet size. For guys looking for a cheapie scent with a premium feel, Coty Aspen is the one. It’s a rugged, manly fragrance that smells like the outdoors. Sitting in the middle of the pack at 40 dollars is, everyday hero and Aventus dupe, Dossier Musky Oakmoss.
If your comfort zone is around the 50-70-dollar mark, you’ll find many choices, including Guy Fox Vince, Scotch Porter Miami Duppy, and Hawthorne Warm and Aromatic.
Finally, if you’re feeling fancy and want to indulge yourself with a premium vegan cologne for men, then consider Malin + Goetz Dark Rum and Boy Smells Cowboy Kush.
Cruelty-Free
Vegan and cruelty-free aren’t the same thing. Peta explains, “Cruelty-free means that the product was developed without any tests on animals, while vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.”
If you want to take the extra step that to ensure no animals are involved in any part of the creation process of your vegan cologne, then you need one that checks both boxes.
My 7 top vegan colognes are cruelty-free. So, you can spritz Malin + Goetz Dark Rum, Boy Smells Cowboy Kush, Hawthorne Warm and Aromatic, Dossier Musky Oakmoss, Scotch Porter Miami Duppy, and Guy Fox Vince guilt-free.
You may notice that Coty Aspen is missing from that list. Coty is a cruelty-free brand committed to boycotting animal testing. However, the brand sells its products in China, where animal testing is mandatory in many cases. I’ll leave that information there for you to make your own choice.
How We Chose
A quick search for “vegan cologne” will present you with an overwhelming number of options. So, how did I go about narrowing it down to the 7 top vegan colognes? I homed in on a strict set of criteria to separate the forgettable fragrances from the signature scent potentials.
Reviews: Even if you’re a self-proclaimed eco-warrior, a vegan cologne is never going to take pride of place in your scent stash unless it smells amazing. When picking my colognes for this list, I researched reviews and spritzed samples to ensure that only the sweetest, sexiest scents made it onto the list.
Brand Ethics: As we discovered, vegan and cruelty-free surprisingly don’t always go hand in hand. I scrutinized each brand to discover who truly cares about minimizing their impact on the world around us. That’s why my picks go the extra mile and are cruelty-free.
Ingredients: One of the best features of vegan colognes for men is that they’re free from toxic chemicals and animal-derived products. Even still, I put the ingredient lists of my 7 picks under the microscope to verify that there were no hidden nasties.
Why Trust Us?
As a regular fragrance expert, grooming guru, and FashionBeans contributor, Mal is used to helping guys of all ages feel, look, and smell great. He’s no fragrance freshman when it comes to researching, reviewing, and unveiling the best blue, oud, teakwood, tobacco, and vanilla colognes.
For this project, Mal carefully studied the ingredients used to create natural perfumes. It was no surprise that ethically sourced ingredients are kind to the environment and the skin. So, it makes sense to include vegan colognes in your scent stockpile.
Mal examined countless product labels and packaging to check for terms like vegan-friendly, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and paraben-free. Satisfied that he’d successfully explored the vegan qualification of countless brands, he got up close and personal to bring you his final selection.
What you spray onto your skin absorbs into your bloodstream, meaning that your cologne becomes a part of you. So, Mal tested each vegan cologne directly on his skin to discover how well each one performed regarding fragrance, longevity, and expiration.
Final Verdict
Not only are the 7 best vegan colognes more ethical and humane than their mainstream counterparts, but they also smell fantastic! Despite the rumors, vegan cologne for men can be just as long-lasting, unique, and compliment-worthy as your favorite classic colognes.
My top pick, Malin + Goetz Dark Rum, is the perfect example. This noteworthy fragrance is a harmony of ripe fruits, rich rum, smoky leather, and warm amber.
FAQ
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Vegan perfumes are made using zero animal-derived ingredients. You’ll find no beeswax, ambergris (whale vomit!), honey, milk, or animal musk here. Instead, vegan colognes are plant-based and contain synthetic ingredients, botanical extracts, and essential oils. When you choose one of the top vegan colognes, you can spritz guilt-free.
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