Cold by Benetton is a fresh citrus aromatic fragrance from the late 1990s that delivers exactly what its name suggests: a crisp, cool, clean scent built around citrus, herbs, musk, vetiver, and patchouli. Released in 1997, it belongs to the memorable Hot and Cold fragrance pairing from Benetton and remains an affordable option for anyone who enjoys refreshing fragrances with a distinctly nostalgic character.

The fragrance opens with bright bergamot, sparkling aldehydes, and spicy caraway before moving into an aromatic heart of lavender, geranium, and coriander. White musk, vetiver, and patchouli create a clean, earthy finish that keeps the fragrance grounded without making it heavy.

What does Cold by Benetton smell like?

Cold by Benetton smells crisp, citrusy, aromatic, herbal, musky, and lightly woody.

The opening is immediately refreshing. Bergamot creates a bright citrus effect, while aldehydes add a sparkling, almost chilled cleanliness. Caraway contributes a dry aromatic spice that prevents the opening from becoming a simple citrus cologne.

As Cold develops, lavender and geranium bring a familiar clean aromatic character. Coriander adds another layer of herbal spice, giving the heart a sharper and more distinctive personality.

The drydown becomes softer and earthier. White musk creates a clean skin-like finish, while vetiver provides dry green woodiness and patchouli adds subtle depth.

Overall, Cold smells like a cool, freshly showered citrus aromatic fragrance with herbal spice and a clean musky woody finish.

What are the top, heart, and base notes of Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton was released in 1997.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Aldehydes, Caraway

Heart Notes: Lavender, Geranium, Coriander

Base Notes: White Musk, Vetiver, Patchouli

The fragrance moves from sparkling citrus and aromatic spice into a clean lavender and geranium heart before settling into musk, earthy vetiver, and patchouli.

Some historical fragrance references list a slightly expanded note pyramid for Cold, but the composition above reflects the profile currently presented by South Beach Perfumes and other major fragrance databases.

Is Cold by Benetton for men, women, or unisex?

Cold by Benetton is best described as a unisex fragrance with a masculine lean.

Several fragrance references classify Cold as suitable for both women and men.

Anyone who enjoys crisp citrus aromatics can wear it regardless of gender.

How long does Cold by Benetton last?

Cold by Benetton generally provides approximately 4 to 6 hours of noticeable wear for many users.

The bright bergamot and aldehydic opening is the most energetic part of the fragrance and naturally fades first. Lavender, coriander, white musk, vetiver, and patchouli remain closer to the skin as the fragrance develops.

Cold is an Eau de Toilette designed around freshness rather than extremely long-lasting intensity, so moderate longevity suits its character.

Skin chemistry, temperature, humidity, application, and bottle age can all influence performance. Applying the fragrance to moisturized skin may help it remain noticeable longer.

How strong is the projection?

Cold by Benetton has soft to moderate projection.

The first hour provides the strongest scent trail, with bergamot, aldehydes, caraway, lavender, and coriander creating a noticeable clean aromatic presence.

Afterward, the fragrance becomes more intimate as white musk, vetiver, and patchouli settle closer to the skin.

Cold is not designed to dominate a room. Its controlled projection is one of the reasons it works particularly well for offices, warm weather, travel, and everyday casual use.

What fragrance family is Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton belongs primarily to the citrus aromatic and fresh woody fragrance family.

Its most noticeable characteristics include:

• Citrus
• Fresh aromatics
• Aldehydes
• Lavender
• Herbal spice
• White musk
• Vetiver
• Patchouli
• Clean woody notes

The overall effect is fresh and invigorating rather than sweet, dense, or gourmand.

What seasons is Cold by Benetton best for?

Cold by Benetton performs best during spring and summer.

Its bergamot, aldehydes, lavender, geranium, coriander, musk, and vetiver feel especially refreshing in warm weather. The fragrance also works well in humid climates because it remains relatively light and clean.

Early fall can also be a good season for Cold, particularly during warm daytime temperatures.

Winter is its weakest season. Cold weather can suppress the fragrance's lighter citrus and aromatic character, making it seem softer and shorter lasting.

Is Cold by Benetton better for daytime or nighttime?

Cold by Benetton is best suited to daytime wear.

Its clean citrus aromatic profile feels natural for mornings, work, errands, travel, outdoor activities, lunch, and casual weekend plans.

It can certainly be worn at night, especially during warm summer evenings, but it does not have the sweetness, richness, or intensity commonly associated with dedicated nighttime fragrances.

For everyday versatility, Cold works best from morning through early evening.

What occasions should Cold by Benetton be worn for?

Cold by Benetton works particularly well for:

• Everyday wear
• Office environments
• School or university
• Casual meetings
• Weekend outings
• Travel
• Running errands
• Outdoor activities
• Lunch
• Gym-to-shower situations
• Spring and summer events
• Warm-weather vacations
• Casual daytime dates

Cold is especially useful when the goal is simply to smell fresh, clean, and approachable without wearing something overly formal or attention seeking.

What age range is Cold by Benetton best suited for?

Cold by Benetton can work for almost any adult age group.

Younger fragrance wearers may appreciate its affordability, clean scent profile, and easy versatility. More experienced fragrance enthusiasts may enjoy it as a nostalgic example of late-1990s fresh aromatic perfumery.

Its straightforward citrus, lavender, musk, vetiver, and patchouli structure makes it particularly easy to recommend to teenagers, men in their 20s and 30s, and anyone who prefers uncomplicated fresh fragrances.

There is no strict age requirement. Personal fragrance preference matters more than age.

Is Cold by Benetton office appropriate?

Yes. Cold by Benetton is very office appropriate.

Its clean citrus aromatic character and soft to moderate projection make it well suited to professional environments. It smells fresh and presentable without normally becoming distracting to coworkers.

For an office setting, 2 to 3 sprays should usually be enough.

One spray on each side of the neck and one on the upper chest can create a clean personal scent bubble without excessive projection.

Is Cold by Benetton good for dates?

Cold by Benetton can be a good choice for casual daytime dates, particularly during spring and summer.

Its clean musk, fresh bergamot, aromatic lavender, and vetiver create a freshly showered effect that feels approachable and easygoing.

Cold works well for coffee dates, lunch, beach outings, outdoor activities, casual walks, and relaxed warm-weather plans.

For formal dinners or romantic nighttime occasions, someone looking for more depth or sensuality may prefer a richer woody, amber, or spicy fragrance.

Is Cold by Benetton a safe blind buy?

Cold by Benetton is a relatively safe blind buy for fans of fresh aromatic fragrances.

It is particularly easy to recommend to someone who enjoys:

• Bergamot
• Lavender
• Clean musk
• Vetiver
• Aromatic herbs
• Fresh woody fragrances
• Classic 1990s men's colognes

The main potential challenge is its caraway and coriander. These spicy herbal notes can give Cold a sharper and more old-school aromatic character than modern aquatic fragrances.

Someone who exclusively prefers sweet, gourmand, fruity, or very modern blue fragrances may want to sample it first.

What fragrances smell similar to Cold by Benetton?

If you enjoy Cold by Benetton, these three fragrances from the South Beach Perfumes catalog explore similar fresh, citrus, aromatic, musky, and woody territory:

CK One by Calvin Klein

CK One is one of the most natural comparisons to Cold because both emerged from the 1990s unisex fragrance movement and share bergamot, citrus freshness, soft florals, musk, woods, and an easy everyday character.

CK One is greener, fruitier, and slightly softer, with lemon, mandarin orange, pineapple, papaya, green tea, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, and musk creating a more layered composition.

Choose CK One if you enjoy Cold's fresh unisex character but want something greener and more complex.

Azzaro Chrome by Azzaro

Azzaro Chrome is another excellent alternative for someone who likes Cold's clean citrus and vetiver profile.

Chrome combines bergamot and lemon with ginger, pineapple leaf, cypress, juniper, jasmine, oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and fir resin. It feels brighter, more aquatic, and more polished than Cold while maintaining the same easy warm-weather versatility.

Choose Azzaro Chrome if you want Cold's refreshing personality with a smoother aquatic edge.

Cool Water by Davidoff

Cool Water shares Cold's lavender, coriander, geranium, musk, and fresh aromatic character, but adds sea water, mint, rosemary, neroli, sandalwood, oakmoss, cedarwood, tobacco, and ambergris.

The result is greener, more aquatic, and more traditionally masculine.

Choose Cool Water if you enjoy Cold but want a stronger marine and herbal character.

What is the difference between available concentrations?

Cold by Benetton is primarily available as an Eau de Toilette, including the 3.3 oz spray offered by South Beach Perfumes.

The original Cold fragrance is not commonly offered across multiple mainstream concentrations such as Eau de Parfum or Parfum.

Its Eau de Toilette format complements the fragrance well because Cold is built around freshness, citrus, aromatics, musk, and dry woods rather than a dense or highly concentrated scent profile.

An EDT generally provides a lighter, fresher wearing experience than an EDP or Parfum, although actual performance always depends on the individual fragrance formula.

To understand how EDT, EDP, Cologne, and other fragrance strengths compare, learn more about fragrance concentrations.

Is Cold by Benetton discontinued?

Yes. The original Cold by Benetton is generally considered discontinued.

Major fragrance reference databases identify Cold as a discontinued fragrance, although authentic bottles remain available through fragrance retailers and distributors that still have legitimate inventory.

Discontinued does not mean unavailable. Fragrances can remain in retail channels for many years after regular production ends.

Cold by Benetton: Notes, Longevity, Review & Complete Guide

Cold by Benetton is a fresh citrus aromatic fragrance from the late 1990s that delivers exactly what its name suggests: a crisp, cool, clean scent built around citrus, herbs, musk, vetiver, and patchouli. Released in 1997, it belongs to the memorable Hot and Cold fragrance pairing from Benetton and remains an affordable option for anyone who enjoys refreshing fragrances with a distinctly nostalgic character.

The fragrance opens with bright bergamot, sparkling aldehydes, and spicy caraway before moving into an aromatic heart of lavender, geranium, and coriander. White musk, vetiver, and patchouli create a clean, earthy finish that keeps the fragrance grounded without making it heavy.

South Beach Perfumes currently lists Cold as a men's fragrance, although the original Benetton Cold is also widely documented as part of a unisex fragrance concept. Its aromatic lavender, vetiver, patchouli, and fresh citrus profile gives it a traditionally masculine lean by modern fragrance standards.

What does Cold by Benetton smell like?

Cold by Benetton smells crisp, citrusy, aromatic, herbal, musky, and lightly woody.

The opening is immediately refreshing. Bergamot creates a bright citrus effect, while aldehydes add a sparkling, almost chilled cleanliness. Caraway contributes a dry aromatic spice that prevents the opening from becoming a simple citrus cologne.

As Cold develops, lavender and geranium bring a familiar clean aromatic character. Coriander adds another layer of herbal spice, giving the heart a sharper and more distinctive personality.

The drydown becomes softer and earthier. White musk creates a clean skin-like finish, while vetiver provides dry green woodiness and patchouli adds subtle depth.

Overall, Cold smells like a cool, freshly showered citrus aromatic fragrance with herbal spice and a clean musky woody finish.

What are the top, heart, and base notes of Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton was released in 1997.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Aldehydes, Caraway

Heart Notes: Lavender, Geranium, Coriander

Base Notes: White Musk, Vetiver, Patchouli

The fragrance moves from sparkling citrus and aromatic spice into a clean lavender and geranium heart before settling into musk, earthy vetiver, and patchouli.

Some historical fragrance references list a slightly expanded note pyramid for Cold, but the composition above reflects the profile currently presented by South Beach Perfumes and other major fragrance databases.

Is Cold by Benetton for men, women, or unisex?

Cold by Benetton is best described as a unisex fragrance with a masculine lean.

South Beach Perfumes currently categorizes Cold as a men's fragrance, and its lavender, vetiver, patchouli, coriander, and aromatic freshness fit comfortably within traditional men's cologne territory.

Historically, however, Cold was associated with Benetton's Hot and Cold fragrance pairing, which was promoted around the brand's broader unisex aesthetic. Several fragrance references still classify Cold as suitable for both women and men.

Anyone who enjoys crisp citrus aromatics can wear it regardless of gender.

How long does Cold by Benetton last?

Cold by Benetton generally provides approximately 4 to 6 hours of noticeable wear for many users.

The bright bergamot and aldehydic opening is the most energetic part of the fragrance and naturally fades first. Lavender, coriander, white musk, vetiver, and patchouli remain closer to the skin as the fragrance develops.

Cold is an Eau de Toilette designed around freshness rather than extremely long-lasting intensity, so moderate longevity suits its character.

Skin chemistry, temperature, humidity, application, and bottle age can all influence performance. Applying the fragrance to moisturized skin may help it remain noticeable longer.

How strong is the projection?

Cold by Benetton has soft to moderate projection.

The first hour provides the strongest scent trail, with bergamot, aldehydes, caraway, lavender, and coriander creating a noticeable clean aromatic presence.

Afterward, the fragrance becomes more intimate as white musk, vetiver, and patchouli settle closer to the skin.

Cold is not designed to dominate a room. Its controlled projection is one of the reasons it works particularly well for offices, warm weather, travel, and everyday casual use.

What fragrance family is Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton belongs primarily to the citrus aromatic and fresh woody fragrance family.

Its most noticeable characteristics include:

• Citrus
• Fresh aromatics
• Aldehydes
• Lavender
• Herbal spice
• White musk
• Vetiver
• Patchouli
• Clean woody notes

The overall effect is fresh and invigorating rather than sweet, dense, or gourmand.

What seasons is Cold by Benetton best for?

Cold by Benetton performs best during spring and summer.

Its bergamot, aldehydes, lavender, geranium, coriander, musk, and vetiver feel especially refreshing in warm weather. The fragrance also works well in humid climates because it remains relatively light and clean.

Early fall can also be a good season for Cold, particularly during warm daytime temperatures.

Winter is its weakest season. Cold weather can suppress the fragrance's lighter citrus and aromatic character, making it seem softer and shorter lasting.

Is Cold by Benetton better for daytime or nighttime?

Cold by Benetton is best suited to daytime wear.

Its clean citrus aromatic profile feels natural for mornings, work, errands, travel, outdoor activities, lunch, and casual weekend plans.

It can certainly be worn at night, especially during warm summer evenings, but it does not have the sweetness, richness, or intensity commonly associated with dedicated nighttime fragrances.

For everyday versatility, Cold works best from morning through early evening.

What occasions should Cold by Benetton be worn for?

Cold by Benetton works particularly well for:

• Everyday wear
• Office environments
• School or university
• Casual meetings
• Weekend outings
• Travel
• Running errands
• Outdoor activities
• Lunch
• Gym-to-shower situations
• Spring and summer events
• Warm-weather vacations
• Casual daytime dates

Cold is especially useful when the goal is simply to smell fresh, clean, and approachable without wearing something overly formal or attention seeking.

What age range is Cold by Benetton best suited for?

Cold by Benetton can work for almost any adult age group.

Younger fragrance wearers may appreciate its affordability, clean scent profile, and easy versatility. More experienced fragrance enthusiasts may enjoy it as a nostalgic example of late-1990s fresh aromatic perfumery.

Its straightforward citrus, lavender, musk, vetiver, and patchouli structure makes it particularly easy to recommend to teenagers, men in their 20s and 30s, and anyone who prefers uncomplicated fresh fragrances.

There is no strict age requirement. Personal fragrance preference matters more than age.

Is Cold by Benetton office appropriate?

Yes. Cold by Benetton is very office appropriate.

Its clean citrus aromatic character and soft to moderate projection make it well suited to professional environments. It smells fresh and presentable without normally becoming distracting to coworkers.

For an office setting, 2 to 3 sprays should usually be enough.

One spray on each side of the neck and one on the upper chest can create a clean personal scent bubble without excessive projection.

Is Cold by Benetton good for dates?

Cold by Benetton can be a good choice for casual daytime dates, particularly during spring and summer.

Its clean musk, fresh bergamot, aromatic lavender, and vetiver create a freshly showered effect that feels approachable and easygoing.

Cold works well for coffee dates, lunch, beach outings, outdoor activities, casual walks, and relaxed warm-weather plans.

For formal dinners or romantic nighttime occasions, someone looking for more depth or sensuality may prefer a richer woody, amber, or spicy fragrance.

Is Cold by Benetton a safe blind buy?

Cold by Benetton is a relatively safe blind buy for fans of fresh aromatic fragrances.

It is particularly easy to recommend to someone who enjoys:

• Bergamot
• Lavender
• Clean musk
• Vetiver
• Aromatic herbs
• Fresh woody fragrances
• Classic 1990s men's colognes

The main potential challenge is its caraway and coriander. These spicy herbal notes can give Cold a sharper and more old-school aromatic character than modern aquatic fragrances.

Someone who exclusively prefers sweet, gourmand, fruity, or very modern blue fragrances may want to sample it first.

What fragrances smell similar to Cold by Benetton?

If you enjoy Cold by Benetton, these three fragrances from the South Beach Perfumes catalog explore similar fresh, citrus, aromatic, musky, and woody territory:

CK One by Calvin Klein

CK One is one of the most natural comparisons to Cold because both emerged from the 1990s unisex fragrance movement and share bergamot, citrus freshness, soft florals, musk, woods, and an easy everyday character.

CK One is greener, fruitier, and slightly softer, with lemon, mandarin orange, pineapple, papaya, green tea, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, and musk creating a more layered composition.

Choose CK One if you enjoy Cold's fresh unisex character but want something greener and more complex.

Azzaro Chrome by Azzaro

Azzaro Chrome is another excellent alternative for someone who likes Cold's clean citrus and vetiver profile.

Chrome combines bergamot and lemon with ginger, pineapple leaf, cypress, juniper, jasmine, oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and fir resin. It feels brighter, more aquatic, and more polished than Cold while maintaining the same easy warm-weather versatility.

Choose Azzaro Chrome if you want Cold's refreshing personality with a smoother aquatic edge.

Cool Water by Davidoff

Cool Water shares Cold's lavender, coriander, geranium, musk, and fresh aromatic character, but adds sea water, mint, rosemary, neroli, sandalwood, oakmoss, cedarwood, tobacco, and ambergris.

The result is greener, more aquatic, and more traditionally masculine.

Choose Cool Water if you enjoy Cold but want a stronger marine and herbal character.

What is the difference between available concentrations?

Cold by Benetton is primarily available as an Eau de Toilette, including the 3.3 oz spray offered by South Beach Perfumes.

The original Cold fragrance is not commonly offered across multiple mainstream concentrations such as Eau de Parfum or Parfum.

Its Eau de Toilette format complements the fragrance well because Cold is built around freshness, citrus, aromatics, musk, and dry woods rather than a dense or highly concentrated scent profile.

An EDT generally provides a lighter, fresher wearing experience than an EDP or Parfum, although actual performance always depends on the individual fragrance formula.

To understand how EDT, EDP, Cologne, and other fragrance strengths compare, learn more about fragrance concentrations.

Is Cold by Benetton discontinued?

Yes. The original Cold by Benetton is generally considered discontinued.

Major fragrance reference databases identify Cold as a discontinued fragrance, although authentic bottles remain available through fragrance retailers and distributors that still have legitimate inventory.

Discontinued does not mean unavailable. Fragrances can remain in retail channels for many years after regular production ends.

When was Cold by Benetton released?

Cold by Benetton was released in 1997.

It appeared as part of Benetton's memorable Hot and Cold fragrance concept. Both fragrances became known not only for their scent profiles but also for their unusual faucet-inspired bottle design.

Cold represented the fresher side of the pairing, using citrus, aromatics, musk, vetiver, and patchouli to create a crisp scent that fit the growing popularity of fresh unisex and aquatic-inspired fragrances during the 1990s.

Who created Cold by Benetton?

Cold was released by Benetton in 1997, but an individual perfumer is not consistently credited by the major fragrance references currently available.

Because no reliably verified perfumer attribution is widely documented, it is more accurate to credit the fragrance to Benetton rather than assign it to an unconfirmed nose.

How many sprays of Cold by Benetton should be used?

For most situations, 3 to 5 sprays of Cold by Benetton should be sufficient.

For the office or close indoor spaces, use 2 to 3 sprays.

For normal daytime wear, use 3 to 4 sprays.

For outdoor activities or very warm weather, use 4 to 5 sprays.

Cold is relatively light, but overspraying can make the aldehydes, caraway, coriander, and patchouli feel sharper than intended.

Good application points include the sides of the neck, upper chest, and wrists.

Is Cold by Benetton authentic?

When purchased from South Beach Perfumes, Cold by Benetton is covered by the store's authenticity guarantee.

South Beach Perfumes states that it sells 100% authentic, original brand-name fragrances and sources inventory through established distributors. The company does not sell counterfeit, imitation, or knockoff fragrances.

Authenticity is particularly important when buying discontinued or older fragrances because legitimate inventory can continue circulating long after regular production has ended.

Learn more about our product guarantee policy.

Who should buy Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton is a strong choice for someone who:

• Enjoys clean citrus aromatic fragrances
• Likes bergamot and lavender
• Appreciates vetiver, patchouli, and white musk
• Wants an affordable everyday fragrance
• Prefers fresh fragrances over sweet fragrances
• Needs an office-friendly scent
• Lives in a warm or humid climate
• Enjoys classic 1990s fragrances
• Likes unisex scents with a masculine lean
• Collects discontinued fragrances
• Wants something easy for travel or casual wear
• Enjoys fragrances such as CK One, Azzaro Chrome, or Cool Water

Its biggest appeal is simplicity. Cold is easy to understand, easy to wear, and easy to incorporate into an everyday fragrance rotation.

Who may not like Cold by Benetton?

Cold by Benetton may not appeal to someone who:

• Wants very strong projection
• Wants all-day longevity from a few sprays
• Prefers sweet gourmand fragrances
• Dislikes lavender
• Dislikes caraway or coriander
• Wants a rich nighttime fragrance
• Prefers modern fruity blue fragrances
• Dislikes fragrances with a 1990s character
• Wants a heavy amber, vanilla, leather, or oud scent

The combination of aldehydes, herbs, musk, and vetiver can feel somewhat old-school compared with today's sweeter and smoother mass-market fragrances.

Final South Beach Perfumes Expert Review

Cold by Benetton remains a surprisingly enjoyable example of the fresh aromatic style that became hugely popular during the 1990s. Released in 1997, it opens with bergamot, sparkling aldehydes, and aromatic caraway before moving into lavender, geranium, and coriander. White musk, vetiver, and patchouli provide a clean, earthy finish.

Its greatest strength is wearability. Cold is light enough for hot weather, restrained enough for the office, fresh enough for everyday use, and affordable enough to wear without thinking twice about every spray.

It also carries genuine fragrance nostalgia. Anyone familiar with the era of CK One, Azzaro Chrome, Cool Water, and similar clean fragrances will immediately understand the style. Cold is simpler than many of those classics, but that straightforward character is part of its appeal.

Performance is moderate, and its herbal spice may feel somewhat dated to fragrance lovers accustomed to today's sweeter blue fragrances. For someone seeking an inexpensive, discontinued citrus aromatic fragrance with a fresh musky vetiver drydown, however, Cold remains well worth discovering.

South Beach Perfumes Expert Rating: 8.2/10

Cold by Benetton is best for shoppers who want an affordable, clean, nostalgic warm-weather fragrance that is easy to wear for work, travel, casual plans, and everyday life.

Still deciding which fragrance style suits you best? Explore our Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Signature Scent.