The Ultimate Guide To Must-Have Men's Colognes

Choosing a cologne can be a daunting task, especially with the market overflowing with options. The best colognes for men should have the right balance of notes, wearability, and shelf appeal.

Some of the most popular colognes for men include Chanel Bleu de Chanel, Dior Sauvage, Ralph Lauren Polo Black, and Creed Aventus. These colognes typically feature woody, spicy, or citrusy notes and are designed to be worn during the day or at night.

When choosing a cologne, it is important to consider the occasion, the season, and your personal preferences. For example, fresh and aquatic colognes are ideal for summer, while spicy and woody colognes are perfect for winter.

Additionally, the concentration of fragrance oil in colognes varies, with eau de toilette containing a lower percentage of fragrance oil than eau de parfum or perfume. This affects the longevity of the scent, with higher concentrations lasting longer on the skin.

Ultimately, the perfect fragrance does not exist, and the best cologne for you will depend on your personality, the season, and your mood. So, don't be afraid to experiment with different fragrances and find one that suits you best.

Woody and Aromatic

Woody fragrances are inherently masculine and inviting. They are well-balanced and play on other accords, adding depth to the warm, structural aspect of freshly cut wood.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel

Chanel Bleu de Chanel is one of the most popular men's fragrances in the world. While it is an earthy, woody cologne with notes of cedar and sandalwood, it is the zesty grapefruit that balances the earthiness and brightens the overall scent. It is long-lasting and smells great across fabrics. The cologne is bright and understated, making it easy to wear, especially for guys who are looking for their first cologne.

Le Labo Santal 33

Le Labo Santal 33 is a trendy scent that thrives in the cooler months. It is a unisex fragrance whose notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, and leather are rounded out by a floral sweet powderiness thanks to violet accord and iris. It is earthy but dry, like a campfire on a chilly evening.

Terre d'Hermes Parfum by Hermes

Terre d'Hermes Parfum by Hermes is one of the best-smelling woody colognes for men. It has an addictive earthy and spicy accord with notes of vetiver, flint, and oak moss. It is a more affordable option that can often be found at a discount.

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Oud Wood by Tom Ford is a signature scent that combines the woody scent with cardamom, sandalwood, and vetiver—with hints of tonka bean and amber. It is a cozy fragrance, like warming up to a nice fire.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club is a well-balanced, long-lasting, and confident fragrance. It is a unisex scent with notes of sweet rum, spicy pepper, smoky tobacco leaf, and warm vanilla. It is a perfect fall fragrance.

Dior Sauvage Elixir

Dior Sauvage Elixir is a reinterpretation of Dior's iconic Sauvage fragrance. It is a spicy and long-lasting iteration of the classic. It has notes of florals, spice, citrus, lavender, pepper, grapefruit, patchouli, and woodsy notes.

Citrus

Ormonde Jayne Gatsby 22 EDP

This cologne from Ormonde Jayne is a blend of bergamot, lemon, musk, and vetiver. It is an uplifting and positive scent that will make you want to get outside and be seen. It is a nuanced and sophisticated fragrance, perfect for those looking for a more mature and complex citrus cologne.

Acqua di Parma Colonia

Acqua di Parma's Colonia is a versatile and well-balanced citrus cologne with notes of lemon, sweet orange, Calabrian bergamot, lavender, vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli. It is a timeless and elegant fragrance that can be worn during the day or at night and is suitable for all seasons and genders. While the scent is long-lasting, it may need to be reapplied at the end of the day.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel EDT

Chanel's Bleu de Chanel is a bright and understated citrus cologne with notes of grapefruit, cedar, and sandalwood. It is an easy-to-wear fragrance, perfect for those looking for their first cologne. It is long-lasting and versatile, suitable for various fabrics and occasions. However, it may stain satin fabric.

Maison Margiela 'Replica' Jazz Club EDT

This cologne from Maison Margiela is a warm and spicy fragrance with notes of pink pepper, rum, tobacco leaf, vanilla, and woody notes. It evokes the feeling of ordering a cocktail at a jazz club on a crisp fall evening. It is a well-balanced and long-lasting scent, perfect for those who want a confident and sophisticated fragrance. However, it may stain satin fabric and does not come with a cap for easy travel.

Clinique Happy for Men EDT

Clinique's Happy for Men is a refreshing and zesty fragrance with top notes of mandarin orange, kaffir lime, calamansi, and lemon, along with green, floral, and woody notes. It has a playful and simple bright orange bottle, and its scent and packaging are sure to elevate your mood. It is affordable and suitable for various occasions, but it does not have the longest-lasting power.

Additional Tips

To make your citrus cologne last longer, apply it to damp skin, focus on pulse points, spritz directly onto the skin, and avoid rubbing the skin after application. Store your cologne in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a closet or dresser drawer, to prevent spoilage.

Spicy

Free d'Homme by CoSTUME NATIONAL

Free d'Homme is a unique blend of citrus and amber, featuring top notes of lime and lemon, and a base of incense and labdanum. It offers excellent performance, with longevity of more than 6 hours and strong projection. This affordable fragrance is best suited for cold winter days and can be overpowering in warmer weather.

Bonne Chauffe by Frapin

Bonne Chauffe is a photorealistic bourbon, cognac, and whisky scent. It features prominent notes of plum and oak, with hints of pepper and a rich vetiver presence. This ultra-masculine and serious fragrance is ideal for older gentlemen and special occasions, as it is quite potent and long-lasting.

Écrin de Fumée by Serge Lutens

Écrin de Fumée is a unique and smoky fragrance with outstanding performance. It features a perfect blend of cocoa, tobacco, and rum, resulting in a serious and masculine scent. This niche fragrance is best reserved for special occasions as it may be too unique and smoky for everyday wear.

L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Vetiver by Issey Miyake

This vegan and natural fragrance opens with spicy vetiver and ginger, followed by warm sage. Although it offers a well-balanced and affordable scent, it lacks longevity, requiring frequent reapplication. It is a great everyday option for cold months and can be worn by men of various ages.

Bad Boy Dazzling Garden by Carolina Herrera

Bad Boy Dazzling Garden is a well-rounded fragrance with a sage-heavy middle balanced by pepper and bergamot. It has excellent projection, but its longevity is not impressive, requiring touch-ups throughout the day. This fruity spice cologne is perfect for everyday wear and formal occasions and suits men of various ages.

Bleu Noir Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez

Although this fragrance has a subtle spice, it stands out for its soft warm spice that emerges during the dry-down. It features top notes of mandarin, musk, and suede, balanced by bergamot and cypress. With great longevity and sillage, this versatile cologne is a safe blind buy and suits a wide range of ages.

Dior Sauvage Elixir

Dior Sauvage Elixir is a reinterpretation of the iconic Sauvage fragrance, offering a spicier and longer-lasting experience. It features floral, spicy, and citrus notes, including lavender, pepper, grapefruit, patchouli, and woodsy notes. This sensual and luxurious fragrance is ideal for date nights and important meetings, but use caution as one spray goes a long way.

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l'Homme

La Nuit de l'Homme is the perfect blend of spicy and sexy, making it ideal for date nights. It features fresh notes of bergamot and lavender, with snappy cardamom that shines without being too aggressive. This approachable and cool-guy scent has excellent longevity and suits men looking for an evening fragrance.

Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb

Spicebomb is a classic spicy men's cologne, featuring warm spices like cinnamon, saffron, and paprika, blended with pink peppercorn and grapefruit. This addictive and sensual fragrance is perfect for those who want to stand out and make a statement.

Leather

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfum Spray for Men

This higher-priced option from Tom Ford is bold, heavy, and leathery. Tuscan Leather grows darker, warmer, and deeper with amber and a bit of smokiness. It has amazing performance and longevity, making it a fabulous fragrance.

Fendi Fan Di Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men

Fan Di Fendi is a line that has been overlooked for years, but this fragrance sits in the same ballpark as Spicebomb. This cologne amps up the leather, giving you the pink pepper and cardamom combo, with a solid woody base. It's smooth with a bit of citrus, not too rough, and can venture into warmer weather.

Ralph Lauren Polo Supreme Leather Eau de Parfum Spray for Men

This fragrance starts out with the spiciness of nutmeg and cardamom, along with honey, creating a warm and 'thick' feeling, with an underlying sweetness. All of this is surrounded by the smell of fine leather. The spice isn't too strong, and Supreme Leather functions as a gourmand leathery scent.

John Varvatos for Men

This cologne features fresh leather with a bit of fruit, such as dates and lime, at the beginning. It's smooth, fresh, and inviting, with the leather put together with a warm and enveloping amber note on top of a woody base. It has a very nice development over its life, sometimes sweet, then dry, and finally a crispy spice. A great scent for daily wear.

Juicy Couture Dirty English for Men

An inexpensive option from Juicy Couture, but surprisingly good. The leather note is prominent but isn't the only attraction. Dirty English is smooth, rich, and complex, with a very woody blend featuring leather and oud as the other main ingredient. It's very dry, but you get hints of citrus juiciness and smooth leather. Oud, cypress, and a slight boozy note are paired with the leather.

Armani Code by Giorgio Armani for Men

A smooth blend of leather, citrus, and tobacco notes creates a masculine and somewhat powdery cologne that has become a classic. It's not everyone's favourite Code scent, but it is the one with the most leather. The newer formulations start with citrus and star anise, then dry down to give you more leather, paired with tonka bean and a nice tobacco note. Not a pure leather fragrance, but a cologne led by the note while being well-rounded.

Tom Ford Ombre Leather Eau de Parfum Spray

A new release from 2018, this is a unisex scent but leans more masculine. It is very dry and warm, with leather being the main star. Amber and moss play in the background, and jasmine is another important part, shockingly good when put together with the leather. The leather is rich and smooth, reminding the wearer of a supple leather jacket. The dry-down period is mostly about the jasmine and leather notes.

Christian Dior Fahrenheit for Men

A classic from the 1980s, this fragrance has as many fans as it does detractors. Leather plays a major role in this manly scent, along with violet leaf, which brings about a famous 'gasoline' smell. With honeysuckle and violet leaf so heavy in the opening, that's what you get with this composition. Nonetheless, it does settle down, and you get a floral accord, mostly jasmine. It still packs a punch but isn't the same as it was 30+ years ago. Another dry, grassy, and interesting use of leather.

Parfums de Marly Godolphin Men's Edp Spray

This fragrance opens with a blend of herbal notes and a hint of fruit, mainly saffron. However, the main note that comes into play is a smooth and beautiful leather that mixes with a woody base. The leather note with the saffron is remarkably great. It's invigorating to smell and has a layer of floral notes, giving the scent complexity and balance.

Musk

Best Overall Musk Cologne:

Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue EDT has an aquatic and citrusy scent, with musk as one of its most prominent base notes. It is a versatile, crowd-pleasing fragrance that can be worn all year round.

Best White Musk Cologne:

The Body Shop's White Musk EDT is a budget-friendly option that delivers a fresh, clean scent. It blends crisp white musk with soft lavender, creamy sandalwood, and citrusy geranium.

Best Vanilla Musk Cologne:

Chanel Allure Homme EDT is a complex fragrance with 25 notes, including vanilla and musk. It offers a unique experience as different notes will appeal to the wearer's skin type, pH levels, and hormones.

Best Summer Musk Cologne:

Jimmy Choo Man EDT is a fruity and musky fragrance, perfect for the warmer months. It has notes of pineapple leaf and melon, creating a sweet and boozy tropical cocktail scent.

Best Winter Musk Cologne:

Narcisco Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir EDT captures the spirit of winter with its warm and spicy notes. It has a musky heart surrounded by ebony wood, cedar, and vetiver, reminiscent of sipping hot mulled wine on a Christmas tree farm.

Best Unisex Musk Cologne:

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold EDP is an inviting, gourmand scent with notes of amber-wood, warm musk, and creamy vanilla. It is perfect for transitional seasons like spring and fall.

Best Luxury Musk Cologne:

Creed Aventus EDP is a masculine, compelling, and elegant fragrance inspired by the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It has fruity and floral notes, transitioning to a musky, vanilla base.

Best Everyday Musk Cologne:

Burberry Touch for Men EDT is a timeless, fresh, and powdery fragrance. It is simple, smart, and inoffensive, making it suitable for work and everyday wear.

Best Date Night Musk Cologne:

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man EDT is a bold fragrance with excellent sillage and projection, making it perfect for date nights and special occasions. It has notes of pineapple, blackcurrant, apple, and musk, similar to Creed Aventus but at a more affordable price point.

Other Notable Mentions:

• Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray: A classic, affordable musk with warm tonka nut, musk, and white patchouli, blended with fresh florals and citruses.
• Tom Ford Ombré Leather Parfum: A sophisticated and wearable scent that balances light and dark with floral and masculine notes of black leather and cedarwood.
• Chanel Bleu De Chanel: A fresh and sophisticated fragrance with amber and woody notes, perfect for impressing a date.
• Ralph Lauren Polo Blue: A smooth and masculine blend of fresh melons, cool clary sage, earthy patchouli, musk, and washed suede.
• Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur: An ultra-sexy and distinctive scent with a double helping of musk, combined with amber, sandalwood, and vanilla.
• Molton Brown Milk Musk: A subtle eau de toilette that blends musk with warm vanilla, amber, and white cedar for an attention-grabbing, yet understated vibe.
• Creed Aventus: A bold, masculine fragrance with fresh citrus, warm woods, and earthy musk.

Frequently asked questions