The Best Colognes For Men: A Definitive Guide

Choosing a cologne can be a daunting task, but it's worth it to find a scent that punctuates your personality and enhances everyone else's experience. The best cologne for men will vary across budget, preference, and occasion, but there are some clear standouts. Chanel's Bleu de Chanel is a happy-go-lucky, versatile scent that's been a bestseller for years. For something more niche, Arquiste's Misfit is a sexy, vibrant, and extroverted option. If you're after a classic, you can't go wrong with Ralph Lauren's Polo EDT, which has endured for nearly half a century. For a fresh, woody blend, Chanel's Bleu de Chanel EDT is a great option, and for a citrusy kick, try Ormonde Jayne's Gatsby 22.

Woody fragrances

Wonderwood by Comme des Garcons

This cologne is an excellent blend of various woody notes, including guaiac wood, cedarwood, sandalwood, and oud. Wonderwood also has hints of smokiness from incense and patchouli, spiciness from Madagascar pepper, and depth from vetiver. It is well-balanced, fresh, and earthy without being too heavy, making it a great choice for any season.

Terre d'Hermes by Hermes

Terre d'Hermes is a well-known woody cologne with a cult-like following. It has addictive earthy and spicy accords, with top notes of orange and grapefruit, middle notes of flint, and base notes of oak moss and benzoin. This cologne has great longevity and is perfect for those who want a woody, spicy, and earthy fragrance.

Gentleman Society by Givenchy

Gentleman Society is a creamy and vanilla-scented cologne with a touch of mint and sage. It has a unique blend of cardamom, French narcissus, two types of vetiver, vanilla, palo santo, and cedar. This cologne is perfect for everyday wear and offers a mature, bubblegum-like fragrance.

Bleu Noir for Him by Narciso Rodriguez

Bleu Noir is a sexy and subtle cologne with musk notes. It has top notes of ambery and ebony, middle notes of musk, and base notes of cedar and vetiver. This fragrance has excellent performance, with longevity of more than 8 hours and good projection. It is a versatile scent that can be worn during the day or at night.

Gucci Guilty

Gucci Guilty is a well-known and popular woody cologne. It has a blend of floral and citrus top notes with a woody dry-down, including cedar and patchouli. This cologne is straightforward and safe, making it a great choice for those new to the fragrance game. It is attractive and approachable, with a clean opening and a spicy middle.

Tom Ford Oud Wood

Oud Wood is a luxurious cologne with oud wood, one of the most precious and expensive ingredients in perfumery. It also has notes of cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, and Chinese pepper. This cologne is warm and cozy, like sitting by a nice fire.

These colognes offer a range of woody fragrances, from spicy and earthy to fresh and clean. They are well-balanced and inviting, making them excellent choices for men's fragrances.

Aromatic colognes

Ralph Lauren Polo Black

This timeless classic features a sensual, woody base with a subtle burst of mango and citrus. It's a bold and aromatic scent that's perfect for men who want to get noticed. The fusion of iced mango, lemon, tangerine, sandalwood, sage, and patchouli noir creates a bittersweet fragrance.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel

A fresh, clean, and sensual scent, Chanel Bleu de Chanel includes notes of citrus, labdanum, sandalwood, and cedar. It can easily transition from day to night, making it perfect for a date. The musky undertone adds to its versatility.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club

Sweet and spicy, this scent is reminiscent of a jazz club with notes of rum, tobacco, pink pepper, and a sensual vanilla bean finish. It's perfect for the fall and winter months when you want to cosy up in full comfort mode.

Le Labo Another 13

A collaboration with Another magazine, this cologne contains a blend of musk and moss, and a hint of floral jasmine. It's equal parts musky and fresh, with notes of ambroxan, jasmine petals, and woody amber.

Nautica Voyage

Nautica Voyage is a subtle, fresh, and long-lasting scent that evokes a salty sea breeze, woods, and coastal herbs. It can be worn casually or formally, making it a versatile fragrance for any occasion. It's an affordable option that smells more expensive than it is.

Ralph Lauren Polo Red

Why try to beat the classics? Ralph Lauren's Polo Red is bold and aromatic, with a spicy mix of citrus, saffron, and redwood. It gives you the same impact as designer brands at a slightly lower price.

Aquatic scents

Prada Luna Rossa Ocean

This fragrance is described as oceanic, bold, and modern, blending citrus bergamot with vetiver and a top note of iris. It is a long-lasting scent that will make you feel like you are by the ocean.

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio

This is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time. It is inspired by the ocean and combines citrus, musk, bergamot, neroli, rosemary, and patchouli for a fresh finish. It is the perfect everyday scent.

Nautica Voyage

Nautica Voyage is a romantic and fresh fragrance. It features woody, aquatic notes of apple, water lotus, cedarwood, and musk. It is ideal for day wear and will make you feel like you are on a romantic ocean voyage.

Versace Pour Homme

This fragrance is perfect for those who want to feel irresistible. It has woody, fresh, and Oriental notes, with warmer fragrances like Tonka beans and Venezuelan ambroxan, mingled with mint oil, green apple, and Italian lemon.

Creed Millesime Imperial

Creed Millesime Imperial is a super aquatic-smelling fragrance with a mix of notes, including mandarin, lemon, bergamot, jasmine, and orange. It is a long-lasting and luxurious scent.

Davidoff Cool Water

This fragrance is perfect for everyday wear. It has elegant and well-designed notes of mint, amber, and lavender, with fruity notes of pineapple, melon, and blackcurrant. It is a refreshing and sexy scent, ideal for summer.

Leather fragrances

Memoir Man by Amouage

Memoir Man is an alluring and philosophical scent that defies conventions. With top notes of absinthe, wormwood, basil, and mint, it has heart notes of rose, frankincense, and lavender. The scent is rounded out with base notes of sandalwood, vetiver, Guaiac wood, amber, vanilla, musk, oakmoss, leather, and tobacco.

Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

Inspired by Tom Ford's love of fine leather, Tuscan Leather has a raw yet refined, sensual yet sophisticated fragrance. With key notes of leather, saffron, black suede, and a touch of night-blooming jasmine, this cologne has a warm woody leather scent.

Accord Oud by Byredo

Byredo's Accord Oud has an intricate and enticing scent built around a fresh accord of leather and blonde woods, with a bouquet of spices all rounded up with powdery musks. The complex fragrance has base notes of patchouli and powdery musks, middle notes of leather accord and clary sage, and top notes of blackberry, saffron, and rum.

Fahrenheit by Dior

Dior's Fahrenheit is structured around fresh notes of Sicilian mandarin, a surprising blend of masculine wood and leather notes, and a unique violet accord. This majestic and masculine scent has a hint of citrus and will leave a powerful, lingering trail.

Leather by Acqua di Parma

Acqua di Parma's Leather combines citrus accents of Sicilian lemon with leathery notes of cedarwood and guaiac, resulting in a refreshingly modern aroma. With base notes of leather accord, cedar, and Paraguayan guaiac oil, it has middle notes of red thyme, honeysuckle, petitgrain, and rose accord, and top notes of Brazilian orange, Sicilian lemon, and raspberry accord.

Royal Leather Eau de Parfum by By Kilian

By Kilian Royal Leather Eau de Parfum is a decadent, masculine leather fragrance that is bold, luxurious, and effortlessly classy. It has a warm, spicy opening of exotic black tea and musky/floral hawthorn, which leads to a heart of sumptuous leather and powdery heliotrope, with oud and patchouli in the base.

Godolphin Eau de Parfum by Parfums de Marly

Parfums de Marly's Godolphin is a thoroughbred of a leather fragrance with a cheeky fruity twist. Sweet and musky saffron, along with sweet mixed fruits, are joined by a heart of rose, iris, and jasmine. The scent rests on a base of glamorous leather, supported by vanilla and musk.

Gucci Guilty Absolute

Gucci Guilty Absolute is a delicate fragrance that starts with leather and gradually builds to a woody and musky scent. With cypress and patchouli in the heart adding pine and musk, it is an incredibly masculine scent perfect for dirty man-work.

Ombré Leather by Tom Ford

Ombré Leather by Tom Ford is a refined, high-quality leather scent. It starts with refined, animalic leather and dries down to a more refined, less animalic scent.

Oud and Rose by Cartier

If you like skanky floral leather, check out Cartier's Oud and Rose. It's a sour take on the quince in Galop.

Cuir de Russie by Chanel

Chanel's Cuir de Russie is a charming leather scent that blends florals, fruits, resins, and even tobacco. With a feminine opening of orange blossom, bergamot, and orange, it's greeted by exotic ylang-ylang and jasmine in the heart. The fragrance then pivots with manly leather in the base, mixed with pipe tobacco and warm resin.

Gourmand colognes

Gourmand fragrances are not limited to dessert-like scents, however. There has been a rise in gourmands that capture the scent of more savory foods, such as chilies, coffee, and whiskey.

Uomo by Salvatore Ferragamo

Uomo by Salvatore Ferragamo is a classy-smelling gourmand fragrance. It has notes of citrus, spices, tiramisu, and woods, making it perfect for nighttime or chilly days. While the opening can be a little harsh, the fragrance eventually turns into a sweet coffee and chocolate scent, closing with vanilla and tonka bean sweetness.

L’Homme Ideal Eau De Parfum by Guerlain

L’Homme Ideal by Guerlain is a smooth, sweet, cherry almond gourmand fragrance. It has notes of cherry, spices, almond, and woods, with a boozy feel to it. This fragrance is versatile and can be worn casually or dressed up.

Rochas Man by Rochas

Rochas Man by Rochas is a lavender, coffee, and vanilla fragrance. It is perfect for nighttime and cooler weather, providing a deep, warm, and inviting experience. It is a great choice for those who want an introduction to the world of gourmand fragrances.

Replica By The Fireplace by Maison Margiela

Replica By The Fireplace by Maison Margiela is a soft, warm, and comforting fragrance. It has sweet, nutty, and warm notes with a soft vanilla base. It is perfect for wearing during cooler months when you want to feel cozy.

Paco Rabanne Black XS Cologne

Black XS by Paco Rabanne is a sweet citrus and chocolate fragrance for men. It also has notes of strawberry and pralines, resulting in a super syrupy and sweet scent. This fragrance is sure to be a hit with the ladies.

Boss The Scent Absolute by Hugo Boss

Boss The Scent Absolute by Hugo Boss is a unique gourmand fragrance that stands out due to its use of the Maninka fruit note. It is sweet, smoky, and spicy, with hidden notes of chocolate and vanilla. It is an underrated cologne that is definitely worth trying.

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