I Tried Elijah Craig’s Sold Out Bourbon-Inspired Cologne—And I Have Thoughts

In addition to being a lover of cocktails, I’m also a huge fragrance fan. So when I received a note about the return of Elijah Craig Char No. 3 Cologne, the fragrance that sold out in December, I knew I had to get a whiff. And that I did.

First released late last year, Elijah Craig Char No. 3 Cologne is described as capturing “the warm, smoky, and sophisticated essence of the charred oak barrels that shape Elijah Craig's signature depth.” While you can expect layers of charred wood, spice and subtle sweetness, the specific fragrance notes include birchwood, cocoa, juniper berry, lavandin, nutmeg, oak barrel, orange blossom, pineapple and tonka bean. As you can tell, that’s already quite the powerhouse of scents.

Read ahead for my thoughts on the fragrance and to learn how you can get a bottle of Elijah Craig Char No. 3 Cologne for just $14.

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My Scent-iments: What I Liked & What I Didn’t

So one of my toxic traits is that whenever I read about a fragrance that’s rum or bourbon-inspired, I immediately think it’s going to smell like Jazz Club. Jazz Club is a Maison Margiela REPLICA fragrance that’s described as a “spicy cologne where vibrant pink pepper, warm rum, and woody tobacco leaf blend.” It’s intoxicating, and easily one of my favorite fragrances. Jazz Club is also about as unisex as it gets as a fragrance.

Enough about old faithful, let’s get back to Char No. 3. First off, I did find the box it was in to be a little bit dated. It was very much giving 90s fragrance aesthetics. But upon opening it, I was impressed by the look of the cologne bottle. The cork top was a welcome touch and the bottle had an overall clean look to it. There was a garnet-colored “Elijah Craig Char No. 3” label that seemed to serve as a visual ode to the bourbon maker’s bottles.

To make sure I had all bases covered, I sprayed Char No. 3 onto my wrist, in the air and on a sheet of paper. In my opinion, this is not a unisex fragrance. Ladies, please stick to your Black Opium, Lost Cherry and other rivers and lakes that you’re used to. For me, the notes that stood out the most were oak barrel and juniper berry.

The fragrance was both oaky and bright, and it’s that brightness that was a turn off for me. Char No. 3 leads heavily with juniper berry, orange blossom, pineapple and a touch of oak. The boozy, bourbon-y notes like cocoa, nutmeg and tonka bean come in as an afterthought when they should be the star of the show. For that reason, I’ve got to give Char No. 3 a 6.5 out of 10. I do have to give the cologne credit for longevity, because after hours of wear, the scent didn’t go away until I showered.

I did feel it was necessary to get a male opinion on this one, so I asked my younger brother (30-something) what his thoughts were. He said Char No. 3 smelled good and he would wear the fragrance, but did add that it was “woodsy” and something an older man might wear. He gave it a 7.8 out of 10, overall.

Here’s How You Can Get A Bottle For $14

If you’d like to try out Char No. 3 for yourself, there’s good news. For a limited time, Elijah Craig is making 100 bottles of the fragrance available for just $14 on February 2nd to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday. If you don’t want to try your luck, you can purchase it now for $49.99.

If you’re able to snag a bottle, be sure to let me know how you rate it!