Rum, cognac and bourbon are the alcohol notes that make a cologne feel like a night out. Anecdotes by Artists Wild Cousin is a rum-soaked cake with crème chantilly and oakwood, a dessert with a rebellious streak. Miu Miu Miutine Intense mixes blackberry liquor and vanilla with gardenia, and it is more fruity floral than woody. BORNTOSTANDOUT Cola Addict is cola foam, lime, cinnamon and rum, which I find funny in a good way. TOM FORD Black Orchid Parfum adds golden rum and black plum to ylang ylang. KILIAN Paris Old Fashioned smells like wheat, cedarwood and aging whiskey barrels. NEST New York Vanilla Bourbon is vanilla, brown sugar and night blooming jasmine. Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum has toffee, red ginger and bourbon vanilla, and Yves Saint Laurent MYSLF Le Parfum finishes with spicy vanilla bourbon and orange blossom.

Pairing tip: these smell best in cool weather and in the evening, so one spray on the chest under a sweater does the job.

What I would skip: Cola Addict when you want to smell serious. It is playful, and it works best when you are in on the joke.

Vanilla and tonka are warm without being flowery, which is why they suit cold weather so well. TOM FORD Eau d'Ombre Leather is a glowing leather with ginger, cardamom and vanilla tincture, inspired by a new day rising over the American West. Jo Malone London Ginger Biscuit is a just-baked biscuit with ginger, cinnamon and hazelnut, and the brand calls it a limited-edition favorite for the holidays. KAYALI Oudgasm Vanilla Oud | 36 pairs vanilla with praline, saffron and oud. Commodity Gold is vanilla, sandalwood and amber, and it is vegan. Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood is the fresh one, a forest bathing scent with hinoki wood and tonka bean. GUERLAIN Aqua Allegoria Bosca Vanilla Forte puts vanilla next to a driftwood accord and hints of sea. Montale Arabians Tonka mixes tonka, rose, oud, saffron and brown sugar. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir is lavender, benzoin and tonka bean.

How to wear them: dab the sweeter ones on pulse points and let them warm up. Layering a fresh wood over a vanilla is a low-risk way to cut the sugar.

What I would skip: Montale Arabians Tonka for the office. It has a big trail, and it is not shy in a shared room.

Start with how sweet you want to be. If you like the chestnut and vanilla of Stronger With You, keep going up the family until you find the strength you like. If you want less sugar, look at the woods and leather. If you want a novelty, go boozy. Try any of them on skin, wait for the dry down, and wear it for a full day. The one that still smells good at dinner is the one to keep. If you are buying for someone else, pick the family they already wear and go one step deeper.