Colognes Every Man Should Own

Colognes are an important part of a person's daily routine, enhancing their personality and the experience of those around them. The right cologne can punctuate one's style and leave a lasting impression. With a wide variety of fragrances available, choosing the perfect scent can be daunting. However, some classic and trendy options are consistently ranked among the best and most popular colognes for men.

Some of the most popular and best-selling men's colognes include Chanel Bleu de Chanel, Dior Sauvage, Ralph Lauren Polo, Creed Aventus, Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, and Tom Ford Noir. These colognes offer unique and enticing fragrances that cater to different preferences, from fresh and aquatic to woody and spicy.

When choosing a cologne, it is essential to consider your personal preferences for scents such as musk, wood, or fresh fragrances. Testing different options is crucial, as body chemistry varies, and a scent may smell different on each person. Sample or travel-sized bottles are a great way to experiment with different fragrances before committing to a full-sized bottle.

Woody fragrances

Tom Ford Oud Wood

A classic fragrance with earthy notes of rare oud wood, sandalwood, and Chinese pepper. It is a simple yet distinctive scent, perfect for those new to woody fragrances and seasoned users alike.

Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

A subtle and minimal scent that evokes the sea rather than the earth. It is rooted in minerals, with notes of ambrette seeds, sage, and sea salt. While it doesn't last very long, it is a distinctive fragrance.

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

A trendy, unisex fragrance with a rich, spicy scent and warm notes of cardamom, violet accord, iris, and ambrox, and a base of cedarwood, sandalwood, and leather. It is a versatile scent, perfect for day or night.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel

Chanel's woody fragrance captures the woodiness of the earth in a refined, elegant way. It is a fresh and masculine scent with aromatic cedar and New Caledonian sandalwood. While it is on the expensive side, it is a staple in men's grooming.

Terre d’Hermes Parfum by Hermes

A great value-for-money woody fragrance with an addictive earthy and spicy accord. It has a strong initial projection, so a little goes a long way. It has a cult-like following among fragrance collectors and is perfect for those who want a woody, spicy, and earthy cologne.

Masculin Pluriel by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

A fresh and woody fragrance that is both long-lasting and potent. It is soft yet strong, with notes of lavender, patchouli, vetiver, and wood. It is an expensive but elegant and perfectly aromatic scent.

Gentleman Society by Givenchy

A creamy and vanilla-scented fragrance with a twist of mint and sage notes. It is a unique, enduring, and versatile scent, perfect for everyday wear. While some may find it confusing and not very masculine, it stands out as a mature and bubblegum-like fragrance.

Bleu Noir for Him Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez

A sexy, subtle, and versatile fragrance with musk notes that give it a sensual scent. It is uncomplicated and creamy, with a soft and playful character. While it may not have the best projection and longevity, it is an excellent choice for those wanting a woody and creamy scent.

Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford

A supremely masculine and luxurious fragrance featuring three types of vetiver. It is a bold, clean, citrusy, and refreshing scent, perfect for date night or special occasions. While it is on the expensive side, it is a potent and refined fragrance.

Wonderwood by Comme Des Garcons

A distinctive and extremely spicy woody fragrance that is great for everyday wear. It has excellent performance and scent on the skin. While it may not have the best longevity, it is a versatile and affordable option.

Bois d'Argent

A smoky and powdery fragrance with a sultry and mysterious character. It is a beloved unisex woody scent, perfect for those who want a smoky and exotic fragrance.

Bvlgari Man Wood Essence

A unique woody fragrance with a lighter expression of woody notes, making it perfect for year-round wear. It has excellent performance and longevity, with a fresh and woody scent.

Boy Smells Woodphoria Eau de Parfum

A warm and welcoming woody fragrance that is light on its feet. It features notes of coconut and fig balanced with richer cedar and sandalwood. It is a clean and slightly tropical scent, perfect for summer or fall days.

Citrus fragrances

Blu Atlas Atlantis

This vegan and cruelty-free eau de parfum has a crisp and energetic fragrance profile with top notes of bergamot and lemon. These bright, citrusy scents are balanced by blackcurrant, peach, and apricot, along with herbal and floral notes of clary sage and lavender. The base notes of violet, orris, oakmoss, ambrette seed, and musk add depth and warmth, making this cologne perfect for any time of day or season. Atlantis is known for its longevity, transitioning well from day to night and lasting throughout the day on the skin. The sleek and modern packaging and reasonable price point make it an excellent choice.

World of Chris Collins Citrus Grandis

Citrus Grandis is a 2022 unisex fragrance centered around citrus notes. The top notes feature pomelo, yuzu, and cedrat, creating a sparkling and zesty aroma. Woody and earthy base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and vetiver add depth and warmth. The classic white and copper flask-shaped bottle is inspired by 1920s speakeasy flasks. While this cologne is a splurge, its excellent longevity and bright, lively scent make it worth the investment for a daily citrus cologne.

Clinique Happy for Men

Happy for Men by Clinique is a refreshing and zesty fragrance guaranteed to uplift your mood. The top notes include mandarin orange, kaffir lime, calamansi, and lemon, paired with green notes for added freshness. Floral middle notes of jasmine, freesia, rose, and lily-of-the-valley add a soft touch. The base notes of woody cypress, cedar, guaiac wood, and musk provide a solid foundation. This affordable and flexible eau de toilette is perfect for any occasion, from the office to a night out.

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria

This eau de toilette, introduced in 2010, is a classic fresh and citrusy scent inspired by the coast of Calabria, Italy. The top notes feature bergamot and citron, while middle notes of red ginger and cedarwood add a spicy and woody touch. Base notes of musk, vetiver, and sweet benzoin provide warmth and earthiness. The bold art deco bottle with its deep blue color reflects the Italian sea. While it has shorter longevity due to its eau de toilette concentration, it makes an impression without being overpowering.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Celestia

Aqua Celestia is a splurge-worthy unisex eau de toilette with excellent longevity. It opens with top notes of lime and neroli, followed by mint and blackcurrant. The middle notes include mimosa, rose, and greens, while the base note of white musk adds warmth. This clean and classic fragrance is perfect for spring and summer and can be worn day or night, play or rest.

Commodity Rain

Commodity Rain is a crisp and revitalizing unisex fragrance that layers citrus with aquatic notes. The top notes of lemon verbena and bergamot are complemented by dewy green accord. Middle notes of jasmine, lotus blossom, and freesia add a soft floral touch. As the fragrance dries down, white amber, sheer woods, and water musk provide depth and warmth. The minimalist white label and black text on the packaging give it a classic and clean look. This vegan and cruelty-free cologne is also free of phthalates and parabens.

Byredo Sunday Cologne

Byredo's Sunday Cologne combines citrus with spice and herbs for an irresistible aroma. The key citrus note is bergamot, complemented by cardamom and star anise. The middle notes include geranium, incense, and lavender, while the base notes of vetiver, moss, and patchouli ground the crisp scent. This eau de parfum has good longevity, making it a worthwhile splurge. The signature minimalist bottle with a round magnetic cap adds to its sophistication.

Calvin Klein CK One

CK One by Calvin Klein, launched in 1994, was one of the first fragrances to be marketed as unisex. This energizing and refreshing eau de toilette combines citrus and fruit notes, featuring bergamot, pineapple, papaya, and cardamom. The middle notes include floral jasmine, rose, and violet, spiced with nutmeg. The base notes of musk and amber add warmth. The simple frosted glass bottle has stood the test of time, and the affordable price point makes it an excellent choice for a daily citrus cologne.

Hermès Eau de Mandarine Ambrée

Eau de Mandarine Ambrée by Hermès is a cheerful and bright citrus fragrance with a unique twist of sweet warmth. The top note of mandarin adds zesty brightness, while passion fruit in the middle brings a fresh and slightly sweet touch. The base note of amber provides a cozy, musky finish. The deep orange bottle reflects the citrusy brightness and warm sweetness of the fragrance. As an eau de cologne with lower fragrance oil concentration, it is ideal for daily wear and transitions well from warmer to cooler months.

Ralph Lauren Polo Red

Ralph Lauren's Polo Red is an eau de toilette that combines the freshness of citrus with woody and spicy notes. The top notes feature lemon and bergamot, paired with aromatic juniper. Middle notes of red saffron, lavender, and clary sage add spice and herbiness. The base notes of cedarwood, vanilla, and vetiver bring depth and sweetness. This versatile and affordable fragrance has good longevity and is suitable for various occasions, with a sleek red bottle that makes a statement.

Maison Margiela Replica Under the Lemon Trees

Under the Lemon Trees by Maison Margiela is a bright and sunny unisex fragrance designed to evoke memories of summertime. The top note is a zesty and slightly bitter calamansi lime accord, layered with spicy cardamom and sweet petitgrain. The middle notes include coriander, mate absolute, and green tea extract, while the base notes of Virginian cedarwood, musk, and cistus absolute provide a woody and dry finish. This eau de toilette has impressive longevity and leaves a fresh scent on the skin throughout the day. The apothecary-inspired bottle features a classic and clean look, with a rope-wrapped pump and a cotton label.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Acqua di Giò

Aquatic fragrances

Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani

Acqua Di Gio is a timeless, versatile, and refreshing fragrance that has been a fan favorite for over two decades. It has punchy citrus and watery nuances, with top notes of bergamot, neroli, and tangerine, followed by marine heart notes balanced with florals and rosemary. The base notes are cedar and a hint of patchouli.

Nautica Voyage

Nautica Voyage is a budget-friendly option that smells like a sunny day on a sailboat. It has top notes of green apple and green leaves, followed by softer coastal scents of water lotus, and a base of cedarwood, amber, and musk.

Wood Sage and Sea Salt by Jo Malone

This fragrance is a personal favorite of one reviewer, who describes it as "overwhelmingly fresh, with enough dimension to make it a true head-turner." It has top notes of ambrette seeds, middle notes of sea salt, and base notes of sage.

Ralph Lauren Polo Blue

Polo Blue is a classic, masculine, and versatile scent suitable for year-round wear. It has top notes of watery melon, cucumber, and bergamot, followed by an aquatic accord, sage, and basil. The base notes are washed suede, patchouli, and musk.

Chanel Allure Homme Sport

Chanel Allure Homme Sport is a well-known and bold fragrance with an earthy freshness. It has top notes of mandarin, a crystalline accord, and middle notes of cedar. The base notes are tonka bean and white musk.

Guess Seductive Homme Blue

This fragrance is a great option for young men, with top notes of citrus caviar, cardamom, and black pepper, and middle notes of blue coral aquaspace. The base notes are cashmere wood and moss.

Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme Marine

This aquatic fragrance blends maritime elements with charged citrus, with top notes of grapefruit and bitter orange, and heart notes of seaweed and fresh water. The base notes are amber and cedar.

Creed Green Irish Tweed

A classic, charming, and charismatic fragrance with an Irish twist.

Tom Ford Noir

A stylish, clean, and sophisticated fragrance with a sexy edge, perfect for dates or environments with lots of women.

Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch

A citrusy and playful fragrance that is perfect for young men in high school or college.

Aventus by Creed

A fruity and smoky fragrance that exudes confidence and attracts a lot of female attention.

Dior Homme Intense

A seductive and head-turning fragrance with strong sexual overtones, perfect for dates or situations where you need to win someone over.

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

A fragrance for successful individuals who work in tall elevator buildings or meet abroad, with a polished and elegant vibe.

Spicy fragrances

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme

This cologne is an excellent choice for men seeking a bold and spicy fragrance. With over 2,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating, it's a high-quality product with a pleasant and attention-catching scent. The warm and inviting fragrance is perfect for winter and autumn, adding a cosy feel to your outfit. Its long-lasting power is impressive, ensuring you smell amazing all day. The top notes are tobacco, followed by amber and citrus, and the base note is vanilla.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

This cologne is an ideal choice for those wanting to evoke the feeling of a jazz club. It has a warm and spicy scent with notes of pink pepper, rum, and tobacco. It's perfect for autumn and winter and is long-lasting, so you only need a few sprays. The bottle design is sophisticated, but it lacks a cap, making it less travel-friendly.

Dior Sauvage Elixir

This reinterpretation of the iconic Dior Sauvage fragrance is spicier and longer-lasting. It's a sensual and memorable scent, perfect for date nights or important meetings. The fragrance opens with florals, spice, and a pinch of citrus, followed by notes of lavender, pepper, and grapefruit, rounded off with patchouli and woodsy notes. The Instagram-worthy bottle and velvety sensory experience make this cologne feel luxurious. However, the sprayer tends to dose out a bit too much with one spray.

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l'Homme

This cologne is the perfect blend of spicy and sexy. It's the irresistible bad boy older brother of the beloved L'Homme Eau de Toilette. While it has fresh notes of bergamot and lavender, it's not overly spicy, thanks to the zippy cardamom. Woody cedar and earthy lavender balance out the fragrance, making it smooth and present without being attention-seeking. The bottle design is substantial and a bit heavy, so be careful when picking it up.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette

This cologne is a modern take on a classic, making it a great choice for younger men. It has a sophisticated and masculine scent with heavy leather, woody, and amber notes, settled with a touch of rose and citrus. The gold brick-shaped bottle is ostentatious and fun. However, the spray mechanism can be a bit tricky to use.

Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla

This cologne offers excellent value for money. It's a warm, slightly sweet, and spicy fragrance with a surprising staying power. The cardamom and tobacco notes are prevalent, with a subtle sweet vanilla note. The rectangular glass bottle is simple yet sophisticated, and it's convenient to purchase on Amazon Prime.

Leather fragrances

The scent of leather is usually not derived from natural ingredients but is instead created through a combination of synthetics and/or natural ingredients, particularly birch tar. Perfumers use synthetic molecules or a combination of natural molecules (called an accord) to mimic the smell of leather, allowing for a wide variety of interpretations.

Tom Ford Ombré Leather

This fragrance has a strong leather note that permeates the entire package. However, instead of being aggressive, it comes across as sophisticated and surprisingly wearable for both day and night, thanks to the amber and patchouli at the base that give it a warm, herbal vibe.

Tom Ford Tuscan Leather

While Ombré Leather is Tom Ford's easy, toned-down version of leather, Tuscan Leather is the aggressive, literal version. The leather almost overpowers everything else, but the sweeter top notes add a delicious opening that smooths out the leather, and the warm, woody dry down lends a layered elegance.

Perfumehead Cosmic Cowboy

This boozy, smoky juice is inspired by the cowboy-filled honky-tonks of the 1970s Sunset Strip. The final effect is not especially Western or aggressive, but more cozy and sensual, like finding a vintage leather jacket that miraculously fits you like a glove.

D.S. & Durga Leatherize

This interpretation of leather is designed as an enhancer—a lighter fragrance meant to be layered with others. It smells almost exactly like the real thing: slick, smooth, and warm, with a sharp edge that’s masculine in a '70s Camaro kind of way.

Louis Vuitton Nuit de Feu

This deceptively simple formula is all about unexpected luxury. It’s very incense-forward, giving it a spooky, smoky, otherworldly aura. Soon the smoke parts to reveal smooth leather, before the fragrance grounds itself in musk and oud, giving it a seductive, sweaty skin feeling without losing its mysteriousness.

Memo Paris African Leather

Instead of being peppery, the spices in this fragrance are warm and smooth, perfectly complementing the distinctive leather note. The overall result is bold enough to last for hours but doesn’t take over. The spices add texture to the smooth leather and give it a bright, sunny vibe.

Chanel Les Exclusifs de Chanel Cuir de Russie

This fragrance offers a subtler, drier take on leather. Inspired by Coco Chanel’s brief affair with Russian Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich in the 1920s, it has a distinct Slavic influence and a bouquet of fresh, clean florals that’s the perfect complement to a snowy day.

Frequently asked questions