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Homemade Men’s Cologne

By Joe Boland

June 10, 2025

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Many colognes contain synthetic fragrances that can be toxic. Instead, try this homemade men’s cologne recipe.

It’s easy to make, and the essential oils, including cedarwood essential oil, bergamot essential oil and sandalwood essential oil, provide health benefits while smelling amazing. Try it today!

Key ingredients

While there is no shortage of cologne options out there, it’s incredibly difficult to discern what goes in to each commercial scent. Oftentimes, toxic ingredients are part of these formulas, which can irritate the skin and trigger other symptoms in some men.

That’s not the case with this homemade men’s cologne recipe. In fact, it uses just three essential oils and a glass of alcohol to provide a pleasant, natural scent that makes for a great Father’s Day gift or present for any special man in your life.

Here are the key essential oils used to make this homemade men’s cologne:

Cedarwood oil

Cedarwood essential oil works wonderfully in men’s cologne thanks to its rich, warm, woodsy aroma and scientifically backed effects on stress, skin and mood.

For instance, a controlled trial using cedrol, the key aromatic compound in cedarwood, had 26 healthy volunteers inhale vaporized cedrol. Results showed noticeable drops in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Importantly, heart rate variability shifted toward increased parasympathetic (relaxation) activity and decreased sympathetic (stress-related) activity, demonstrating a true calming effect when inhaled. When it comes to men’s cologne, cedarwood calms the senses and evokes a mood boost, not just masking odor but enhancing presence.

Cedarwood essential oil also offers anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it useful for mild acne and skin conditioning. In colognes, this adds practical benefit by maintaining skin health under fragrance applications and boosting appeal via gentle skin care.

It works particularly well in this homemade men’s cologne because its scent profile is universally appealing with a warm, slightly smoky and subtly masculine aroma.

Emotionally, cedarwood supports stress reduction and confidence through direct effects on the nervous system. Functionally, it aids skin comfort and balances microbial conditions.

Thus, cedarwood enhances fragrance beyond aroma. It works neurologically and dermatologically, offering men a more complete sensory experience.

Bergamot oil

Extracted from the rind of the Citrus bergamia fruit, bergamot oil contributes to men’s cologne and personal care products for several reasons.

For starters, its aroma blends bright citrus (limonene) with floral undertones (linalool, linalyl acetate), offering a clean, masculine freshness with depth. This balance makes bergamot oil ideal as a “top note” in colognes: vibrant on application and elegantly melding with woodier or spicy base notes.

Research also has shown it has mood-enhancing effects, as a controlled pilot with adult participants showed that just 15 minutes of inhaling bergamot significantly increased positive mood by about 17 percent versus a control group.

In cologne, this translates not just to wearable fragrance, but an emotional uplift, helping wearers feel more confident, alert and/or balanced.

Bergamot oil also exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action on the skin, and research has revealed it also provides bone, cardiovascular and inflammatory support.

For example, a clinical nano-carrier study combining bergamot essential oil with ammonium glycyrrhizinate applied topically to healthy human skin found improved anti-inflammatory effects compared to the compound alone. Another review of clinical trials involving roughly 1,700 people concluded that bergamot extracts (including oil) improved cardiovascular markers by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and reducing blood pressure and inflammatory responses.

Cologne formulators love bergamot oil because it’s more than just a scent; it’s a multi-sensory, mood-enhancing, skin-friendly ingredient supported by research, and that’s why it’s included in this homemade men’s cologne recipe.

Sandalwood oil

Sandalwood essential oil is a prized ingredient in men’s cologne for several compelling reasons. One, it has a rich, long-lasting base note along with fixative properties.

Sandalwood oil contains high levels of α‑santalol and β‑santalol, woody, creamy sesquiterpene alcohols that are heavy and slow-diffusing. This gives colognes a warm, deep finish and excellent longevity on skin.

The dense molecular structure of santalols helps stabilize and extend the life of more volatile top and middle notes, making sandalwood an ideal base that preserves and balances the fragrance.

Inhalation studies have shown sandalwood oil and α‑santalol can significantly affect physiological and psychological responses in healthy adults. One transdermal study found decreased blood pressure and skin conductance alongside increased behavioral activation, suggesting a relaxation/arousal split.

Another trial revealed that inhaled α‑santalol improved mood and attentiveness while sandalwood oil raised pulse, skin conductance and systolic blood pressure, highlighting olfactory-driven boosts in alertness.

Meanwhile, a pilot trial with 32 participants showed inhaling East Indian and Australian sandalwood oils significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and salivary cortisol during a recovery phase after stress, pointing to calming, restorative effects.

Sandalwood also has many benefits for skin. In psoriasis models, for example, sandalwood oil lowered phosphodiesterase‑4 expression, helping calm skin inflammation.

Additionally, a randomized, double-blind clinical trial in 22 adults found that topical sandalwood oil significantly reduced lipid oxidation markers in sebum after exposure to urban dust and blue light, outperforming even α‑tocopherol.

That’s not all. A 10-person trial applying topical sandalwood oil to warts twice daily resulted in complete resolution in eight participants and moderate improvement in two, with no observed skin irritation.

Broader dermatologic trials also have indicated that sandalwood provides benefits for acne, eczema, psoriasis and molluscum contagiosum.

Sandalwood’s scent elevates cologne, while its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and calming properties can soothe skin post-shave or cleanse, making it a functional as well as olfactory hero. Especially in products like aftershaves or beard oils, sandalwood helps defend against oxidative and irritative environmental damage.

Its ability to enhance alertness and reduce stress can enhance morning routines or evening rituals, adding a subtle psychological boost.

In men’s grooming and cologne, sandalwood delivers a powerful trifecta: a long-lasting, rich fragrance; mood-lifting effects; and genuine skin health benefits validated by clinical evidence.

How to make homemade men’s cologne

Making this DIY men’s cologne could not be quicker or easier. In fact, it only takes two minutes … really!

All you need to do is mix five drops of cedarwood oil, three drops of bergamot oil and two drops of sandalwood oil with eight ounces of 70 percent alcohol or even vodka in a glass bottle. That’s it! It’s ready to use.

It’s a good idea to shake the cologne before each use, and you only need to apply a little bit since essential oils are so potent.

Note: Citrus essential oils are highly concentrated and full of healthy acidic properties. Because of this, it’s recommended you use glass containers when storing them so they don’t eat away any of the plastic.

More men’s DIY recipes

In addition to men’s cologne, here are some other personal care recipes for men: